Chapter headings

[snooper]

Some authors, including many indisputably good writers, give a number as the only chapter heading:

Chapter six

Others give some indication of what is in the chapter:

Chapter six - Happenings In The Bedroom

There was a vogue in Victorian times (Queen Victoria reigned 1837-1901) for descriptive chapter headings:

Chapter six
In which our hero has an unexpected experience in his bedroom, loses something he can never recover, and learns much about his own abilities.

What do other editors think of these?
and
Should we press our authors to adopt a particular style?

Naturally we will press for consistency; all chapters should have the same heading style.

 

[palisa]

Naturally we will press for consistency; all chapters should have the same heading style.

Within a single story, do you mean?

If not, why should everyone do things the same way? This isn't the "Literotica Street Journal" that should have a single look and feel.

 

[fieryjen]

I think it wholly depends on the author's taste and intentions. They should not be pressed to adopt a particular style. For example, I read a book once that used the third, most descriptive type of chapter headings to great hilarity. I don't usually titles my chapters, but I have one story in progress where I felt an urge to do so in order to foreshadow certain events in the chapter.

What I mean to say is, they all have their uses, it's not just a formality but it can be used as a literary device. I would think it quite sad if we tried to push for one particular style (except within a single story, of course).

 

[snooper]

Within a single story, do you mean? ...

Yes, of course.

... I don't usually titles my chapters, but I have one story in progress where I felt an urge to do so in order to foreshadow certain events in the chapter. ...

Yes, I always use them, and I don't really see untitled chapter headings as anything more than an invitation to stop reading, or at least the author saying "Here's a good place to stop reading".

 

[emap]

So what about when someone writes and posts the chapters as seperate stories?

 

[fieryjen]

So what about when someone writes and posts the chapters as seperate stories?

Well they still would be separate chapters of the same story, no matter whether they are submitted together or separately. So there should be consistency.

 

[snooper]

So what about when someone writes and posts the chapters as seperate stories?

Well they still would be separate chapters of the same story, no matter whether they are submitted together or separately. So there should be consistency.

Again, some writers use each of the three possibilities. Some just have CH. 01 etc., some have short hints in the title, and some use the description box to give, effectively, the third option.

 

[emap]

So probably a silly question, but why would an editor want to push a style of chapter denotation on an author? Doing so would probably mean the author finds a new editor.

 

[snooper]

So probably a silly question, but why would an editor want to push a style of chapter denotation on an author? Doing so would probably mean the author finds a new editor.

I would certainly push for the consistency within a single story that seems to be an agreed good thing.

I would not push for a particular style usually, but if someone is trying to write an historical novel exposé, such as the "Inside Story of what happened to Phineas Fogg" (which I read recently) then I would probably suggest adding authenticity by using the longest (choice three) version to improve the "look and feel" of the work.

 

[emap]

Is it possible to post a really long name or would you have to add it into the description?

Which actually brings to mind an interesting little problem, those descriptions can't be terribly long. I think it was 70 letters, don't recall it's been a bit since I posted a new one, I am working on it though don't look at me like that.

 

[fieryjen]

I like mine to be even shorter, depending on how long the title itself is. I absolutely hate when the description spreads out over two rows. It's just a personal pet peeve.

 

[CopyCarver]

I like mine to be even shorter, depending on how long the title itself is. I absolutely hate when the description spreads out over two rows. It's just a personal pet peeve.

Me too, unless it's done for humorous effect. The one absolute is that nobody should ever slug a chapter "The Whiteness of the Whale"