05-16-2017, 11:44 PM | #16 |
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I was not saying to drop the names, just that they are not as important as the numbers in this case.
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05-17-2017, 01:26 AM | #17 |
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What's short? Under 3,000 words? 2,500?
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05-17-2017, 01:46 AM | #18 |
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James patterson's books have the shortest chapters of any author I've read.
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05-17-2017, 04:05 AM | #19 | |
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Quote:
Since several of us have commented about James Patterson, I'll use him as an example. Kindle reports "When the Wind Blows" as 419 pages (my paperback edition is 468 pages). It has 127 chapters. If we accept 350 words per page as an acceptable average, and use the Kindle page count that gives us: 3.3 pages per chapter 1155 words per chapter In this thread we are seeing fairly universal acceptance that Patterson's books are examples of very short chapters. Take the "very" intensifier into account and I suggest an average under 6 or 8 pages (2000 or 2500 words) constitutes short chapters. Last edited by gmw; 05-17-2017 at 04:10 AM. |
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05-17-2017, 04:22 AM | #20 |
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I've ben reading Robert B. Parker's Spenser series and he uses short chapters. Not James Patterson short but like 3-10 ADE pages.
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05-17-2017, 04:39 AM | #21 | |
cacoethes scribendi
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Quote:
7.8 pages per chapter 2700 words per chapter So my earlier 6-8 pages guess for "short" (as opposed to "very short") isn't too far off. Just checking |
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05-17-2017, 11:52 AM | #22 | |
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05-17-2017, 12:20 PM | #23 | |
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05-17-2017, 12:36 PM | #24 | |
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I like reading books with shorter chapters, or at least breaks in the chapters, so I feel comfortable starting "one more" before meeting some obligation. |
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05-17-2017, 01:19 PM | #25 | |||
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05-17-2017, 01:22 PM | #26 |
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I think Atlas Shrugged hits the record for longest chapters.
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05-17-2017, 01:44 PM | #27 |
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05-17-2017, 02:00 PM | #28 |
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05-17-2017, 02:19 PM | #29 |
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The Chaos Walking Trilogy did somewhat the same thing (as well as Twilight, and other novels.) It was told from the first-person perspective of two characters, and transitioned seamlessly between them without hiccups to the pace of the plot. So that aspect can definitely be done.
Now, as for having lost of short chapters: there are pros and cons to it, like with any story-telling technique. The success of it depends of the story being told and its general structure. Now, with what you described as it being quite a good-sized novel, having so many short chapters may be impractical. If your characters are as diverse as you say, then I believe you’d have no trouble settling for longer chapters (12 - 20 pages or so.) Personally, I plan out my chapters with omniscient third-person, so the reader knows everything the character knows, and when I want to hide something from the reader, I hide that person’s perspective. This makes it easy for me to transition from character to character within chapters. So, I don’t think going for lots of short chapters is the only way you have to go. You’ve got plenty of options. I think the part you mention about the characters coming together presents you with a challenge specific to your story, and will require all of your creativity. But with a challenge comes the opportunity to create an artful style of revelation and conclusion that won’t be easily forgotten by your readers. This definitely is a pro, an advantage of having short chapters. On the other hand, I loved knowing that “The Council of Elrond” in LOTR was going to be 20+ pages long, and all they were doing was sitting around discussing exposition and setting outside of Frodo’s narrative. So, either choice appeals to different readers. |
05-17-2017, 10:47 PM | #30 |
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I'm reading "Witch & Wizard" by James Patterson. I acknowledge that this book was written for the younger crowd, but the short chapters are really annoying to me.
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