How long should a chapter be? Does each chapter have to have a 'mini plot'?

Question

How long should a chapter be? Does each chapter have to have a 'mini plot'?

Answer 1

Well it depends on how long your story is if its short put a lot of chapters to make it seem longer, and if its long just make the chapters longer and put less chapters in it so it will seem shorter. And yes i think the chapters should have a mini plot, like don't just put a random chapter in there make them all tie together. Make each chapter more interesting than the last then the reader will want to read more.

Answer 2

your style needs to make sense to the reader...

if you are asking us, why dont you check out some real writing, like sartre or something, then you can see what the "Great" writers were up to.

my advice, do more reading before you try to write if you dont know what you are going to write. this is called preconception and its the first step to writing, having a preconcieved idea of what effect you want to have on your reader

the problem with modern day writers is that their "structure" does not really mean anything to the reader and does not add to the meaning of the book.

good luck.

Answer 3

     First of all, thank you very much for making me a contact.

     A chapter is a building block, really.  The first chapter introduces everyone, then as each chapter progresses, we read about what all the people do, how they resolve their conflicts, (or not), and as you go on, you use chapters to build to the climax of your story.  The mini plots, or secondary plots, run like threads through the novel, making it more interesting, 'fleshing out' the characters.  

     I hope all this is of some help

Good luck

Mike B

Answer 4

They can be as long as you like, even a sentence or a word, or a blank page or black page.

Answer 5

Read Dr Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, there are two page chapters, so as long as you like. The chapter has to be about something specific, it can last how ever long...most book chapters have names, something specific to the plot will happen in each chapter.

Answer 6

A chapter can be as long as you like.... There is no limit, and no minimum to how it can be. Use your creativity!  

Answer 7

As long as you want.

Maximum Ride has two page chapters whereas other books hav 50 pages.

Mini-plots seem to work better in longer chapters. In 1-2-3-4 page chapters they just don't work.

Answer 8

i'd say a chapter should be at the very least 10 to 14 typed pages.. as for the plot thing, i think it needs its own mini plot. a chapter needs to have a purpose, it can't just be there to take up room in your book. that's just my opinion...

Answer 9

No but yeah.

They can be as long as you like.    Start your own style

Answer 10

A chapter shouldn't be any length necessarily.  It should reflect however long the scene is, if you are using chapters.

You could look at it like mini plots, but you might do things with chapters you might not do with short stories, like cliffhangers etc.

Answer 11

The length of chapters is just how long you want it to be. I've seen books that have chapters that are 10 pages long and others that are 3 pages. Not all chapters have to have a mini plot, just make them relatively interesting. As long as they have a point/are on topic.

Answer 12

5 pages

Answer 13

One thing to remember which will help you with writing anything - never include any detail that isn't necassary. e.g don't invent characters or events unless they have a big role in your storyline. That way your chapter won't be too long, and won't be drivel.

A chapter can vary between 3-15 pages, so however long you NEED it to be is how long it SHOULD be.

Answer 14

It dose not matter the length of the chapter I have read books where the chapter consists of a paragraph and others where it is twenty pages. Where ever you feel there should be a pause is a good place. I do believe that something should happen in each chapter that leads to the climax It dose not have to be heart pounding or extra exciting but should lead us through the story. Perhaps it informs us about the characters or gives us background information. We might learn about the surroundings or history.  

Answer 15

go to school dumb ***!

Answer 16

It just depends upon your writing style. For example, James Patterson's books have very short chapters in which only a few minor things may happen. I like this because it makes the book go much faster. Other authors, however, like J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer use longer chapters where a lot happens. I like this at times because the story is less interrupted and flows better. It just depends on how you like to write and what you're writing. If you're writing a very fast-paced story, I suggest shorter chapters. If you're writing a story with a slower plot, longer descriptions, longer chapters are better.