I know this question has many different answers (meaning, it doesn't really have an answer), but how many words do YOU normally write in a normal chapter?
I guess I write longer chapters than most. Mine average 10,000 to 12,000 words. Dunno why. Maybe I just don't like chapters and want to have as few of them as possible.
I think as a reader I enjoy chapter breaks a lot. It gives me a stopping point, and breaks down the reading so a longer book don't seem so daunting. Just some food for thought.
The first draft of my YA novel I was having 6000-8000 words a chapter, but in my 2nd draft I have cut it down to about 3000-4000 words per chapter.
I don't like too many chapter breaks. They make a story annoyingly choppy. As far as stopping points go, I like to read, not to stop! I also like long books - they're luxurious, not daunting.
I don't like too many chapter breaks. They make a story annoyingly choppy. As far as stopping points go, I like to read, not to stop! I also like long books - they're luxurious, not daunting.
It's been a fair while since I last wrote a novel, but I've never been a fan of regular chapter sizes. Chapter size is an important weapon in a writer's arsenal to help him or her get the pacing right. Shorter chapters speed up the pace, whereas longer chapters can slow it down. So I used to go more by where it felt right to put the breaks. I think they're like breathing -- if you do it right, then you shouldn't particularly notice them.
My current project's chapters range from 1,500-6,000 words, averaging about 4,500. But I think chapter length is something to be given some thought; it can have more of an impact on the pace of the book than I think some writers realize. I do want to try writing something with very long chapters in the future, though.
I try to stick close to 5000 words per chapter. However I have noticed that the my novels tend to end with a longer chapter followed by a shorter chapter.
i don't have and would never have a 'normal' chapter... chapter length would vary according to each book's needs and each chapter's... standardizing chapters should be avoided, imo... as should any sort of formula parameters in re 'creative' writing...
I tend to average 5K for each chapter (but I've gone REALLY high), but since I have so many sub-chapters of varying sizes, it's possible (and even likely) I'll split them up them later.
It depends. But they usually go from 1,500 to 2,000. I don't measure them up and make a chapter. I make a chapter and then I look at the word count.
I don't often think about where I want my chapter breaks. most the the time, it's just natural to cut at a certain place so I just do. I write a couple scenes and when one finishes in a way I think would ''hook'' the reader, I change chapter. Oddly enough for me it's always close to 2000 words. 1500 at minimum and sometimes it goes up to 4000.
I agree that standardising chapter lengths can be a problem if it effects the pace or tone of the book. Forcing a chapter break at the wrong time or not having enough can effect the reader's experience. Having said that, I guess my chapters usually range from 2,000 to 4,500. Sometimes a long chapter follows a really short one or vice versa. I usually just write as many words as are necessary for that particular part of the story.
