Question about prologue\chapter 1.

[RepresentingWrath]

Recently, I started writing another story. Everything was going well until I finished my prologue\chapter 1. Usually, I try to write a 2000-2500 words long chapter, it somehow comes naturally, so I stick with this length. And here lies the problem, the introduction, the first chapter of the story I've written this time, is 5200 words. Even after a round of editing, it would still be around 4500-4900 words. Thus I have a question to ask all of you, should I divide it into two parts?

I know that some of you would probably say to trim the stuff that isn't necessary for the story and blah-blah. I won't do it. I like how this chapter comes out, and I'm not pursuing the highest quality. I'm just having trouble deciding should I divide it into two parts or not.

 

[Deleted member 58005]

If it was to be divided, would the parts both be of equal word count?

Either way, I think one chapter is fine. Just to not break the immersion.

 

[Agentt]

Depends on how clickbaity the first chapter is. Most prologues are filled with a trim out version of the story, and end with a cliffhanger. If that's the case, keep it short and divide it.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

If it was to be divided, would the parts both be of equal word count?

Either way, I think one chapter is fine. Just to not break the immersion.

After checking it, yes, they will be of equal word count if I want to. But it would ruin the structure? I don't know if it's the right word. I also don't want my prologue to scare away casual readers. And from my experience, they prefer chapters around 2000 words in length. Yes, I'm going after more views and readers, and I have no qualms admitting it.

 

[LostLibrarian]

Depends on the content... if it has a good flow and interesting information, then keep it.
If I want to close it halfway through because it's an infodump without any connection, then even a two-parter won't help.
If the quality is good, I would go with one long chapter. No need to break it in two if there isn't a natural stopping point...

 

[Cipiteca396]

If there's a good place to break it, then yes. Otherwise, no. For example, if the POV ever changes, or if the topic changes, or if the scene changes.

If you somehow managed to talk about the same thing for 5000 words... Um, good job?

 

[Lloyd]

I came not to unite, but to divide!

 

[LynaForge]

Recently, I started writing another story. Everything was going well until I finished my prologue\chapter 1. Usually, I try to write a 2000-2500 words long chapter, it somehow comes naturally, so I stick with this length. And here lies the problem, the introduction, the first chapter of the story I've written this time, is 5200 words. Even after a round of editing, it would still be around 4500-4900 words. Thus I have a question to ask all of you, should I divide it into two parts?

I know that some of you would probably say to trim the stuff that isn't necessary for the story and blah-blah. I won't do it. I like how this chapter comes out, and I'm not pursuing the highest quality. I'm just having trouble deciding should I divide it into two parts or not.

Personally, when I'm reading and I'm into it and then it ends abruptly and I'm asked to go to the 'second part' then I'm less interested in doing that. I mean, sometimes I can, but usually it'll be hard. So I for one would rather a full SINGLE chapter but I know that's not the norm necessarily.

 

[CarburetorThompson]

If there's a good place to break it, then yes. Otherwise, no. For example, if the POV ever changes, or if the topic changes, or if the scene changes.

I also don’t think it would be terribly hard to go and write in a place to break it up through adding a few things. However I haven’t seen it.

 

[greyblob]

how about posting the actual thing and pointing out where you'd divide it

 

[RepresentingWrath]

how about posting the actual thing and pointing out where you'd divide it

There is no need. Also, I copy how NotaNuffian does things, which means I can't post my stuff on the forums. I can only ask questions.

 

[greyblob]

There is no need. Also, I copy how NotaNuffian does things, which means I can't post my stuff on the forums. I can only ask questions.

what I know about NotaNuffian is that he doesn't actually write anything. he just talks about writing.
the answers you received are mostly dependant on the material, nothing objective, so I thought it'd be best to put it into practice. but eeh it's your decision. personally I'd divide them into two and insert a cliffhanger inbetween, or cut half of it down - introductions are boring.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

what I know about NotaNuffian is that he doesn't actually write anything. he just talks about writing.
the answers you received are mostly dependant on the material, nothing objective, so I thought it'd be best to put it into practice. but eeh it's your decision. personally I'd divide them into two and insert a cliffhanger inbetween, or cut half of it down - introductions are boring.

Reading the previous answers, I came to my conclusion. Thinking about the chapter again, I understand that I can't cut it in two. I would need to rethink and rewrite the whole thing from the beginning. But I like the current chapter, so I decided to keep it as is. At least for now.

As for NotaNuffian, he probably writes something but doesn't post a single thing.

 

[NobleTalon]

Recently, I started writing another story. Everything was going well until I finished my prologue\chapter 1. Usually, I try to write a 2000-2500 words long chapter, it somehow comes naturally, so I stick with this length. And here lies the problem, the introduction, the first chapter of the story I've written this time, is 5200 words. Even after a round of editing, it would still be around 4500-4900 words. Thus I have a question to ask all of you, should I divide it into two parts?

I know that some of you would probably say to trim the stuff that isn't necessary for the story and blah-blah. I won't do it. I like how this chapter comes out, and I'm not pursuing the highest quality. I'm just having trouble deciding should I divide it into two parts or not.

For my novel I had the same problem, so I just divided it into prologue and chapter 1.

They are describing the same scene but the prologue is at the 3rd person and set up the ambiance while chapter 1 focus on the MC thoughts and his own feelings/emotions.

Someone left a comment saying that I shouldn't have done it like that but because I post my novel on webnovel site as well I know a lot of people reading on this site just skip the prologue and everything else before chapter 1, so it made sense for me at the time I wrote it. I might change it later tho

As long as your prologue serves well as an introduction, you can cut it in half and edit the other half to look more like a first chapter

 

[Ai-chan]

Recently, I started writing another story. Everything was going well until I finished my prologue\chapter 1. Usually, I try to write a 2000-2500 words long chapter, it somehow comes naturally, so I stick with this length. And here lies the problem, the introduction, the first chapter of the story I've written this time, is 5200 words. Even after a round of editing, it would still be around 4500-4900 words. Thus I have a question to ask all of you, should I divide it into two parts?

I know that some of you would probably say to trim the stuff that isn't necessary for the story and blah-blah. I won't do it. I like how this chapter comes out, and I'm not pursuing the highest quality. I'm just having trouble deciding should I divide it into two parts or not.

Yes, that's way too long for a prologue. The problem with long chapters is that reading becomes a chore for your readers. This wouldn't have been a problem with paperbacks, as you can simply put a bookmark at the part that you want to stop and continue after lunch or something. If you're halfway down the page, you don't know exactly where you are and spend a minute or two just trying to find out where you stopped reading.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Yes, that's way too long for a prologue. The problem with long chapters is that reading becomes a chore for your readers. This wouldn't have been a problem with paperbacks, as you can simply put a bookmark at the part that you want to stop and continue after lunch or something. If you're halfway down the page, you don't know exactly where you are and spend a minute or two just trying to find out where you stopped reading.

Yep, that's the thing I want to avoid and worry about. But the thing is, it's not a prologue. It's more of a chapter one that introduces the MC and the first few characters. It's the start of the story itself, without any foreshadowings, showcase of the future story, etc.

 

[Deleted member 22388]

Just came here to tell you that I'm in your shoes but the different thing is I like to make my prologue long until 10,000 words just to troll the readers, and see if they can get past it well if I did made a physical book. No further comment.

 

[SakeVision]

Recently, I started writing another story. Everything was going well until I finished my prologue\chapter 1. Usually, I try to write a 2000-2500 words long chapter, it somehow comes naturally, so I stick with this length. And here lies the problem, the introduction, the first chapter of the story I've written this time, is 5200 words. Even after a round of editing, it would still be around 4500-4900 words. Thus I have a question to ask all of you, should I divide it into two parts?

I know that some of you would probably say to trim the stuff that isn't necessary for the story and blah-blah. I won't do it. I like how this chapter comes out, and I'm not pursuing the highest quality. I'm just having trouble deciding should I divide it into two parts or not.

Yesn't.

I would divide it tbh. But then some of my chapters are like 4000 words so whatever.