As Authors, Do You Mind Writing or Reading Short Chapters?

[Omarfaruq]

Fellow authors of Scribble Hub ?
As a writer, I usually end up with chapters around 800–900 words, especially when I focus on one scene, a bit of humor, or a family interaction.
I personally don’t mind shorter chapters as long as:
1.Something meaningful happens
2.The pacing feels right
3.The chapter doesn’t feel padded
But I’m curious about other authors’ experiences:
1.Do you intentionally keep chapters short?
2.Do readers ever complain about smaller chapters?
3.Do you think consistency matters more than word count?
I’d love to hear how other authors handle chapter length.

 

[Fairemont]

Ive discovered that there is a minimum length of chapters that I will tolerate. Im not sure exactly what it is but I'd say its somewhere in the 1-1.5k word range.

Anything less than that and it feels like it is too short to achieve anything meaningful and content will often get broken up into multiple chapters when one would have made more sense.

 

[Omarfaruq]

Ive discovered that there is a minimum length of chapters that I will tolerate. Im not sure exactly what it is but I'd say its somewhere in the 1-1.5k word range.

Anything less than that and it feels like it is too short to achieve anything meaningful and content will often get broken up into multiple chapters when one would have made more sense.

Thanks for your advice, but I am getting a mental breakdown even when writing a 900 words chapter ?

 

[lkal92]

900 is too short. 2000 is basically the minimum. If you're having a mental breakdown writing 900 words, stop writing, or do it consistently enough that it's not that hard. I'm pretty average when it comes to writing speed and I can do 900 words in an hour or less.

 

[Omarfaruq]

900 is too short. 2000 is basically the minimum. If you're having a mental breakdown writing 900 words, stop writing, or do it consistently enough that it's not that hard. I'm pretty average when it comes to writing speed and I can do 900 words in an hour or less.

Good for you, I am a new author ?

 

[lkal92]

Okay? Don't ask for responses then be a snotty little brat when you get one that doesn't hold your hand and tell you it's okay to do whatever you want.

 

[Omarfaruq]

Okay? Don't ask for responses then be a snotty little brat when you get one that doesn't hold your hand and tell you it's okay to do whatever you want.

Bro i didn't mean it like that, you are taking it too seriously ?, I was just praising you.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

You can add more than one scene in a chapter, then release it once they are all done.


Something really has to pique my interest for me to read a web novel with chapters less than 1500 words. When they are half that length, it doesn't even feel like you are reading a novel anymore, just a few paragraphs of some verbal diarrhea that you cannot bite into.

I get the same feeling when I read a web novel that doesn't use spacing between paragraphs or uses run-on sentences.

 

[Omarfaruq]

You can add more than one scene in a chapter, then release it once they are all done.


Something really has to pique my interest for me to read a web novel with chapters less than 1500 words. When they are half that length, it doesn't even feel like you are reading a novel anymore, just a few paragraphs of some verbal diarrhea that you cannot bite into.

I get the same feeling when I read a web novel that doesn't use spacing between paragraphs or uses run-on sentences.

It will hurt my consistency, I am having a major dilemma, I will try to add atleast 1.5k words from now on.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

t will hurt my consistency,

How?

Seriously, put a line break in, then voila you have a new scene. Kind of like the next chapter would be.

You do you, though. It is your writing, not mine or anyone else's here. You asked, and we answered.

 

[Omarfaruq]

How?

Seriously, put a line break in, then voila you have a new scene. Kind of like the next chapter would be.

You do you, though. It is your writing, not mine or anyone else's here. You asked, and we answered.

Why everyone today is in a bad mood, did i do something wrong ?

Why everyone today is in a bad mood, did i do something wrong ?

I worded that poorly—my bad. I wasn’t trying to accuse anyone.
Thanks for the feedback, I’ll take it into account.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

Why everyone today is in a bad mood, did i do something wrong ?

LOL

I'm in a great mood, you are just reading too much into people replying to you because we are not agreeing with your opinion.

As for the remainder of your questions;

1.Do you intentionally keep chapters short?

No, because I am an avid reader as well and know what I like to read, and I try to emulate it.

2.Do readers ever complain about smaller chapters?

No. Very few of my chapters are less than 2k, most are 2500-3000

3.Do you think consistency matters more than word count?

Unless you mean every chapter needs to be X number of words, they are not the same thing. You should remain consistent with your content, but sometimes your scene will only be 300 words. That is when you add more scenes to the chapter, continuing your story.

If you have decided that around 900 words is going to be your chapter length, then sure, stick to it, but you shouldn't be stuck on hitting that number for every one of your chapters.

 

[Omarfaruq]

LOL

I'm in a great mood, you are just reading too much into people replying to you because we are not agreeing with your opinion.

As for the remainder of your questions;

1.Do you intentionally keep chapters short?

No, because I am an avid reader as well and know what I like to read, and I try to emulate it.

2.Do readers ever complain about smaller chapters?

No. Very few of my chapters are less than 2k, most are 2500-3000

3.Do you think consistency matters more than word count?

Unless you mean every chapter needs to be X number of words, they are not the same thing. You should remain consistent with your content, but sometimes your scene will only be 300 words. That is when you add more scenes to the chapter, continuing your story.

If you have decided that around 900 words is going to be your chapter length, then sure, stick to it, but you shouldn't be stuck on hitting that number for every one of your chapters.

Thanks for your advice sensei, I will keep it in mind.

 

[Fairemont]

Thanks for your advice, but I am getting a mental breakdown even when writing a 900 words chapter ?

What is the difference between two 900 word chapters and one 1800 word chapters?

:)

 

[Omarfaruq]

What is the difference between two 900 word chapters and one 1800 word chapters?

:)

Yeah, that makes sense. I think it’s more about pressure than word count. Thanks.

 

[Devilish]

Thanks for your advice, but I am getting a mental breakdown even when writing a 900 words chapter ?

One thing I’ve learned from my own experience with chapters is that you should never rush or obsessively count words or characters. Just write and keep writing until the chapter’s purpose is fulfilled. I know some readers hover anxiously asking for more, but both quantity and quality take time. So stay calm and keep writing,don’t rush to get to the central events, take your time to describe the setting and the characters, and to explore deeper thoughts and philosophies, this gives your writing more flow, credibility, and naturally increases the word count

 

[Omarfaruq]

One thing I’ve learned from my own experience with chapters is that you should never rush or obsessively count words or characters. Just write and keep writing until the chapter’s purpose is fulfilled. I know some readers hover anxiously asking for more, but both quantity and quality take time. So stay calm and keep writing,don’t rush to get to the central events, take your time to describe the setting and the characters, and to explore deeper thoughts and philosophies, this gives your writing more flow, credibility, and naturally increases the word count

Thanks bro, i appreciate your opinion.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I prefer chapters to be organic and "as long (or short) as they need to be."
In a comedy, you can get away with much shorter chapters than you can in longer fiction, and in some forms of fiction, you really need over 2000 words to complete much of anything.
I've been training myself (due to Pocket FM requirements) to stay in the 1250 to 2500 range, closer to 1500 but that is not always what "feels" right, either as an author or a reader.

 

[LazyScript]

I've read a lot of compelling short stories or chapters that were below 1k words. For many of them, it just felt right.

Of course, I understand if people feel upset and want more. But overall, I think consistency is key. If all your chapters are over 2000 words, it'd raise some eyebrows if one of them suddenly dropped to 900 words. And vice versa.

Just my opinion.

Good for you, I am a new author ?

I'm also new to this, so I'm rooting for you (ง'̀-'́)ง

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Corner Store — LazyScript

 

[Omarfaruq]

I've read a lot of compelling short stories or chapters that were below 1k words. For many of them, it just felt right.

Of course, I understand if people feel upset and want more. But overall, I think consistency is key. If all your chapters are over 2000 words, it'd raise some eyebrows if one of them suddenly dropped to 900 words. And vice versa.

Just my opinion.


I'm also new to this, so I'm rooting for you (ง'̀-'́)ง

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Corner Store — LazyScript

Thanks bro for your understanding ?