Chapter Lengths

[Jocelyn_Uasal]

So I've just finished up and posted my third chapter, but I realized at some point that in between this and the start of chapter four there is a detail that I absolutely need to add. All of my chapters so far have been about 3,500 words, but if I turn this little detail into a whole chapter to go in between it'll be more like just 1,000 words.

I'm kind of worried that would be jarring, especially since it's not like I'm posting multiple chapters a week, got any input? I could also just add it into chapter four, but than that chapter would be closer to 5k words. Thanks

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Hope it's not that big of a deal - my chapters have been of wildly different lengths!

 

[Cipiteca396]

The general consensus is ~2k words per chapter. That said, it doesn't matter at all.
(Actually I haven't checked in a while. Hopefully the number hasn't changed since I last checked.)

 

[melchi]

Personally, if the chapter takes less than 15 mins to read than it is kinda annoying. That being said, lots of people post chapter 1000 words so not really much to worry about.

 

[FallenMoon3]

I prefer chapters around 1.3k-1.5k, I don't like long chapters

 

[JayMark]

I've been aiming for 1.6k words per chapter, never under 1.1k words and never over 3k. I can't always manage to lengthen or shorten a chapter without a pause point that isn't awkward so there is a variance. I don't know how acceptable this is to readers.

 

[theInmara]

It's so hard for us to write consistently under 3K. Some chapters end up only 500 words, though. But we try not to do that in stories we post here.

We, personally, have no problem with wildly variable chapters in typical print books. It seems to be the web serial where that's an issue. But to us, if there's a longer chapter, that's gravy, that's wonderful. It's bonus reading! Makes our day.

Our ideal chapter length, for both reading and writing web serials, is between 5k and 10k. Keeping it consistently at 2K is weird. But we shoot for 3K as a compromise.

 

[LoneQuack]

Always overperform never underperform. Just make a bigger chapter. Don't post a 1k words if your viewers know you for posting a 3k word chapter. It's, quite simply, better marketing.

 

[Elmir_Arch-Ham_of_Omega]

if you're worried about it, then just cut it up to two or more chapters, just find a logical conclusion to one subplot or something.

 

[The_Monarchy]

I would say that more would be appreciated, and if you are scared that they might be expectant of 5k every chapter, you can write a concluding note as to why the chapter was long today (There should be a level of communication with your readers so that you can easily compromise with them about certain issues in the future).

Also, check my novel Rise Of The Crime Lord: https://www.scribblehub.com/series/1238516/rise-of-the-crime-lord/

 

[wresch]

If you want to see short chapters, look at James Patterson, supposedly the most popular writer in America. Two pages. Maybe three. It's like he gets paid by the chapter. I find it annoying, but there must be something to it. He's the one getting rich, not us.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

If you want to see short chapters, look at James Patterson, supposedly the most popular writer in America. Two pages. Maybe three. It's like he gets paid by the chapter. I find it annoying, but there must be something to it. He's the one getting rich, not us.

If I recall correctly, Patterson runs a "writing farm" - finds promising new writers willing to write under his name, works out an outline with them (and sometimes another author or a "guest celebrity" writer), and then edits what they come up with. I'm not sure he has done any "real" writing in 20 years, but churns out about a book every two or three months. I've heard he has up to twenty authors at a time, and up to five per project but not sure if that's accurate.

 

[Jocelyn_Uasal]

The general consensus is ~2k words per chapter. That said, it doesn't matter at all.
(Actually I haven't checked in a while. Hopefully the number hasn't changed since I last checked.)

I'm pretty long winded so there's not a small chance I'll accidentally turn this new chapter from 1k to 2k without realizing it lol Thanks for the advice! I'll take the 'it doesn't matter' advice because you're probably so right

 

[QuercusMalus]

I don't care as much if the chapters are posted on a regular basis. If it's sporadic and could be a week, could be three months between chapters? Then yeah, 1000 words is a bit light. If you post 3 times a week, no big deal.

 

[Samsonchui]

My chaps are 1350-1500. Sometimes I go over. And very very very rarely I have 1000 word ones, because of a mega edit. I had one chapter I just brutally ripped apart after readers suggested that bits of it were just nonsense

 

[fayethemouse]

eh i'm just starting out here but i come from microfiction where 300-700 words isn't unusual. I try to keep mine roughly consistent, but sometimes a chapter needs more.