How long should a chapter be?

[Nouh_Bdee]

I’m writing a Sci-Fi Serial, and the editor helping me has suggested that I cut my chapters in half. They’re currently about 12,000 to 15,000 words. Is Ideal Chapter Length something that varies by genre? I know I’ve seen some SF/F chapters that were twice as long as mine or longer. I kind of like a bit more meat to a chapter, but I wouldn’t mind shortening mine. Is there a general consensus out there?

 

[oggbashan]

Consensus? No.

A chapter should be as long as it needs to be.

 

[RandyD1369]

There doesn't seem to be any real consensus on that. Generally, works/chapters of around 7500 - 8500 words (about 2.5 Lit pages) get the best scores, but even that doesn't mean longer or shorter stuff won't score well. Some stories simply need longer to tell. Some fully novella length works score massively--look at some of Chloe Tzang's beautiful works--and others are massive flops, with the majority being somewhere in between. All of my stuff is quite short by Lit standards.

Take as long as it takes, but tell a good story. If it's truly good enough, interesting enough to keep the readers involved and reading, it hardly even needs sex! Write for yourself and take us with you on that magical journey.

My Stories https://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=5198496&page=submissions

 

[MassiveGiantBrain]

How long should a man's legs be?

Lincoln was asked that question. His answer applies here. He said: "Long enough to reach the ground."

There is no universal numerical answer to the question. The author needs to ask the question, "What is my goal for chapter one." Once they have reached that goal the chapter is long enough... the story now has legs... it has reached the ground.

 

[SimonDoom]

The answer depends on what you want to know.

From an artistic/narrative point of view it all depends on the needs of your story.

But if you are concerned about how your chapters will be received by readers -- how many will read them, and what score they will give them, then don't cut them in half.

8Letters did some useful research on story/chapter length and score and posted it to the Author's Hangout about a year and a half ago. Generally speaking, scores for chapters and stories go up as they increase from 1 page to about 4 pages, and 3-6 pages probably is a good length. I've noticed that the stories that win contests often are quite long -- over 6 Lit pages.

So if you care about reader response and if your chapters are 12,000 to 15,000 words right now, do NOT shorten them.

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

8Letters did some useful research on story/chapter length and score and posted it to the Author's Hangout about a year and a half ago. Generally speaking, scores for chapters and stories go up as they increase from 1 page to about 4 pages, and 3-6 pages probably is a good length. I've noticed that the stories that win contests often are quite long -- over 6 Lit pages.

That's interesting. I had wondered about that. I feel like chapters here aren't really the equivalent to chapters in a book, because a chapter in a book doesn't need to complete a story arc. I feel like here, each chapter should be a satisfying story by itself, even if it only represents a fraction of the whole story. That's been leaving me with longer chapters than I intended.

I wonder if the scoring works out that way because readers who aren't enjoying the story don't make it to the last page of a long chapter to vote?

 

[ElectricBlue]

That's interesting. I had wondered about that. I feel like chapters here aren't really the equivalent to chapters in a book, because a chapter in a book doesn't need to complete a story arc. I feel like here, each chapter should be a satisfying story by itself, even if it only represents a fraction of the whole story. That's been leaving me with longer chapters than I intended.

That's pretty much it - a self-contained sub-story within a longer story arc. 8k- 12k words seems to be a sweet spot.

 

[SimonDoom]

That's interesting. I had wondered about that. I feel like chapters here aren't really the equivalent to chapters in a book, because a chapter in a book doesn't need to complete a story arc. I feel like here, each chapter should be a satisfying story by itself, even if it only represents a fraction of the whole story. That's been leaving me with longer chapters than I intended.

I wonder if the scoring works out that way because readers who aren't enjoying the story don't make it to the last page of a long chapter to vote?

Absolutely, I think there is an element of attrition at work. I'm convinced that's one reason that long stories so often win contests -- the only people who get through them are the ones who like them.

But, cutting somewhat against this view, is the fact that many long chapters and stories seem to do just fine in terms of attracting views and votes.

What counts as a "short" story here at Literotica is very different from what counts as a short story out in the world of publication. The "short" stories here at Literotica that do best are usually quite a lot longer than the average short story published in the New Yorker, for example.

 

[loquere]

You kinda have to feel out the natural pause, in my opinion.

 

[gordo12]

That's interesting. I had wondered about that. I feel like chapters here aren't really the equivalent to chapters in a book, because a chapter in a book doesn't need to complete a story arc.

I would disagree somewhat with that notion. We simply write in a different format. Often a shift of character, viewpoint, timeline, or other changes are marked with something like ********* and then the story continues. Obviously it doesn't complete a story arc either.

They are natural breaks in a story and if I was formatting a book those would be marked as ch1 ch2 instead.

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

I would disagree somewhat with that notion. We simply write in a different format. Often a shift of character, viewpoint, timeline, or other changes are marked with something like ********* and then the story continues. Obviously it doesn't complete a story arc either.

They are natural breaks in a story and if I was formatting a book those would be marked as ch1 ch2 instead.

That's absolutely true. That's kind of what I mean, though. We use ******* because it's not a good place to end the chapter for a Lit story, even though it's where we would end the chapter in a book. That's why we keep going with the Lit chapter past what the chapter break would be. But maybe I misunderstood what you're saying?

It doesn't bother me when authors use that sort of break (*******) in a Lit story, but if a chapter ended without coming to the conclusion of some sort of mini-arc within the main arc of the story, I would feel unsatisfied. I might feel differently if all the chapters were published at once, or as close to at once as Lit will permit. That's my own preference, though. I don't mean to suggest that there's a right way and a wrong way for other people to do it.

 

[RejectReality]

Sci-Fi&Fantasy readers are hardly averse to long reads. Quite the opposite in fact.

I wouldn't artificially cut anything down. Stick to the breaks where you feel they belong.

 

[oggbashan]

I need to expand on my response in #2 above.

It depends on your definition of chapter.

If you intend to post it as a separate chapter then it should have a beginning, development, and an end and preferably a link or cliffhanger to the next chapter.

If you just need to have a break in a longer post, for example for a change of scene, change of time, or change of narrator then there is no need for it to complete in itself.

I have posted separate chapters, chapters as a part of a part work, or chapters as part of a longer complete story posted as an entity.

 

[gordo12]

That's absolutely true. That's kind of what I mean, though. We use ******* because it's not a good place to end the chapter for a Lit story, even though it's where we would end the chapter in a book. That's why we keep going with the Lit chapter past what the chapter break would be. But maybe I misunderstood what you're saying?

It doesn't bother me when authors use that sort of break (*******) in a Lit story, but if a chapter ended without coming to the conclusion of some sort of mini-arc within the main arc of the story, I would feel unsatisfied. I might feel differently if all the chapters were published at once, or as close to at once as Lit will permit. That's my own preference, though. I don't mean to suggest that there's a right way and a wrong way for other people to do it.

For me it's just laziness. We use a format for stories here that disappears once it gets into book form. To tell the truth I never thought about it much. On Lit, it's more like you're the campfire storyteller. No need for formality.

 

[karaline]

I try to break chapters up according to what works in terms of structure. my longest Lit chapter is approximately 12600 words and 4 pages, my shortest 3700 words and only just over one page -which felt too short, but seemed like a good place to stop.

I have to admit to having a bit of an aversion to longer chapters. If a story goes on for longer than 4 Lit pages I'm reluctant to started reading -I don't know why, I'm a bit of a commitment phobe I guess, or maybe it's a worry that if I don't finish reading in one sitting then I won't be able to figure out where to pick up again. That's just me though, might not be reflective of the general readership of this site.

 

[RejectReality]

The Sci-Fi&Fantasy readers are a special breed. There aren't very many of them, but very few of them hesitate at story/chapter length. The primary draw is the genre with spice you can't get in the mainstream, rather than genre flavored sex, so they're used to long stories full of world-building and such.

I try to break chapters up according to what works in terms of structure. my longest Lit chapter is approximately 12600 words and 4 pages, my shortest 3700 words and only just over one page -which felt too short, but seemed like a good place to stop.

I have to admit to having a bit of an aversion to longer chapters. If a story goes on for longer than 4 Lit pages I'm reluctant to started reading -I don't know why, I'm a bit of a commitment phobe I guess, or maybe it's a worry that if I don't finish reading in one sitting then I won't be able to figure out where to pick up again. That's just me though, might not be reflective of the general readership of this site.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Thank you!

Thank you all for your input. You made some very good points. I feel better about it now.

 

[GroverLang]

End of a good meal

The end of the chapter should leave the reader wishing there was more and wanting to read the next chapter. Whether that is after 8000 words or 15000 words doesn’t matter as long as the chapter itself is interesting.

 

[karaline]

I am a sci-fi and fantasy reader IRL, and yet I rarely read the genre on Lit, because I find the chapter lengths prohibitive. Happy to read long series, just not long chapters. Again, this might just be me, and my dyslexic/adhd brain, but I wonder why there aren't very many of them and if this is a factor.

The Sci-Fi&Fantasy readers are a special breed. There aren't very many of them, but very few of them hesitate at story/chapter length. The primary draw is the genre with spice you can't get in the mainstream, rather than genre flavored sex, so they're used to long stories full of world-building and such.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I need to expand on my response in #2 above.

It depends on your definition of chapter.

If you intend to post it as a separate chapter then it should have a beginning, development, and an end and preferably a link or cliffhanger to the next chapter.

If you just need to have a break in a longer post, for example for a change of scene, change of time, or change of narrator then there is no need for it to complete in itself.

I have posted separate chapters, chapters as a part of a part work, or chapters as part of a longer complete story posted as an entity.

Ogg almost got there. Now a novel or a novella are long(er) works that are usually broken up into chapters. Some of those chapters will be small others may be long. Most will not be 12,000 - 15,000 words long.

Now what most people here submit as chapters are usually parts made up of chapters and broken out of the novel length work for submission purposes.

Pull a book off the shelf and take a look at how long the chapters in it are. Maybe three to five pages? Maybe a little longer or shorter.

I really stopped posting chapters here as within the story I have chapters, what I was submitting was a Part of the whole, not a single chapter but many chapters.

Now I have submitted works as chapters but they were short, one to two lit pages at most. Around 7,000 words with scene breaks.

 

[LupusDei]

I would agree that what we have here is rather parts than chapters. It takes effort and breaks immersion to traverse parts, even if the next part is readily available. (I compare to experience on another site where traversing chapters is technically no different than changing pages of a long chapter, and thus very short chapters are much more tolerable.)

My preference as a reader is between 3 and 5 Lit pages. Less than 3 full pages is a bit lacking, and over 5 may trigger committment avoidance.

 

[sbrooks103]

I’m writing a Sci-Fi Serial, and the editor helping me has suggested that I cut my chapters in half. They’re currently about 12,000 to 15,000 words. Is Ideal Chapter Length something that varies by genre? I know I’ve seen some SF/F chapters that were twice as long as mine or longer. I kind of like a bit more meat to a chapter, but I wouldn’t mind shortening mine. Is there a general consensus out there?

That's like -5 Lit pages, not too long. More important is whether the story is at a clean break point. You don't want to end a chapter in the middle of a conversation or the middle of the action.

 

[sbrooks103]

Lincoln was asked that question. His answer applies here. He said: "Long enough to reach the ground."

There is no universal numerical answer to the question. The author needs to ask the question, "What is my goal for chapter one." Once they have reached that goal the chapter is long enough... the story now has legs... it has reached the ground.

But DON'T write one page chapters! If a story is long enough to need chapters, it's long enough for the chapters to be at least a couple of pages.

 

[sbrooks103]

I try to break chapters up according to what works in terms of structure. my longest Lit chapter is approximately 12600 words and 4 pages, my shortest 3700 words and only just over one page -which felt too short, but seemed like a good place to stop.

I have to admit to having a bit of an aversion to longer chapters. If a story goes on for longer than 4 Lit pages I'm reluctant to started reading -I don't know why, I'm a bit of a commitment phobe I guess, or maybe it's a worry that if I don't finish reading in one sitting then I won't be able to figure out where to pick up again. That's just me though, might not be reflective of the general readership of this site.

One page chapters MIGHT work if they're chapter 3 or 4, but if I read a chapter 1 and it's only one page, I question why couldn't the writer simply continue?

For that matter, if chapter 3 is only one page, why not make it the last page of chapter 2, or the first page of chapter (which would then be chapter 3, of course!).

 

[ChloeTzang]

I would agree that what we have here is rather parts than chapters. It takes effort and breaks immersion to traverse parts, even if the next part is readily available. (I compare to experience on another site where traversing chapters is technically no different than changing pages of a long chapter, and thus very short chapters are much more tolerable.)

My preference as a reader is between 3 and 5 Lit pages. Less than 3 full pages is a bit lacking, and over 5 may trigger committment avoidance.

Yes, I get annoyed by 2 page chapters. 3 pages is fine but shorter than that is just distracting. Long stories are fine by me, but there’s different viewpoints on that. I think my longest is about 30 Literotica pages and nobody complained, except about staying up to 5am to finish it. But for me, a 3 page minimum with a visible cut off point that hooks me on moving to the next chapter.