Kim
Accentuate Writer!
Posts: 683
Registered: 4/1/2009
Location: Ohio
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Mood: Banging my head against the keyboard
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Chapter Layout
Is it better to have shorter chapters or longer chapters broken up by extra spaces?
The longer chapters would be what is happening at the same time to different characters or should each be it's own chapter?
Failure is not an option. I will not fail.
I always had stories in my head and thought I was crazy. I now know those stories are called my muse. Just because I have a name for it doesn't
mean I'm not still crazy.
AC
Bukisa
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raian76
Superlative Writer
Posts: 236
Registered: 5/25/2010
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The novel I am currently working on has chapters that are all about 12 manuscript pages long.
I also try to make each chapter a "story within the story". Meaning I try to start the chapter off with a scene and end it on a bit of a surprise
note that will make the reader want to turn the page and start the next chapter.
This is the ending of the last chapter I wrote:
The tires spun against the gravel but then bit into the driveway as we accelerated away from the safe house.
"You know, it could be another trap," I said.
"In a way, I'm almost hoping that it is," he said.
Then I start my next chapter and take the characters into the next scene. I just feel that by leaving the chapter ending somewhat open for something
exciting to happen, it really drives the story forward.
As a reader, I like shorter chapters. And I also like chapters to be all pretty much the same length, that way I can gauge, as a reader, how much I
can get read before I have to put the book down 
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raian76
Superlative Writer
Posts: 236
Registered: 5/25/2010
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Just wanted to add, if you are writing different scenes involving completely different characters, I would make each have their own chapter so as to
not confuse the reader. You don't have to do it that way, but I think it makes it easier to read.
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