《Your Guide to Writing the Perfect Story》Everything You Need to Know About Chapters
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I won't lie, this is going to be a very brief chapter, but I know that some people have questions about the length of a chapter and where to leave off and all that good stuff so I'm going to talk very quickly about that. I'll keep the introduction short because, let's me honest, you're not here to listen to me prattle on about nothing. Without further ado, let me begin.
Here's something that I really want you to think about. People stress themselves out in planning how long their chapter should be and if their followers will be disappointed if one is shorter than another or even annoyed that they have to spend thirty minutes reading a chapter versus fifteen. . . . Here's my tip: don't stress!
Planning is great, but one thing you should never try and dictate is the length of your chapters. If you do, your writing will become constricted. It's no fun trying to fill a chapter with meaningless nonsense so that you can reach two thousand words and it's even worse trying to stuff an intense scene into one chapter for the sake of consistency.
In fact, I am a true believer that a variety of chapter lengths makes the story seem better, almost. You'll probably notice in most novels that the chapters get longer as the story progresses because more is going on. Likewise, some chapters are very short to put emphasis on things. In a book I read, one of the chapters only had one word because the author wanted a huge emphasis on that word. In another, the chapter was absolutely blank because the character whose perspective it was from had died and the author wished to emphasise that in the silence of their thoughts.
All in all, the writing should come first. Stop the chapter when it feels natural, not because you've typed more words than you wanted to.
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People often struggle to find a natural way to end their chapter and transition into the next. I'm going to give you some tips on where to continue. Well, I'll give you three.
Move on to another chapter when a major scene is complete. Whenever you need to switch the focus to another important matter, it's a great opportunity to transition.
You can switch scenes right in the middle of action or right before a big reveal. Who said cliff-hangers had to be at the very end of your story? They are used all the time in books at the end of chapters so that readers keep reading to find out how a situation will end. This is a wonderful way to transition.
My last tip for transitioning is to end the chapter with a thought, question, or realization. Allow your readers to think. Often these conclusive thoughts aren't put in the middle of a chapter because it slows it down. At the end of the chapter, take advantage of the word "end". Throw in what your character is thinking or how they feel about everything that just happened.
Aside from that, just stop the chapter when it feels natural and right. You should know when the chapter is starting to drag on and you'll need to find a way to conclude it then.
See? I told you this chapter would be short. It's pretty basic stuff but, alas, where there are questions I must supply some answers. The title didn't lie: to me that is literally all you need to know about chapter lengths. So thanks for reading and anyone who has voted and commented! You guys make my day.
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Hyphen (Pokemon Emerald)
Leaving the safety of her hidden commune, a Ralts narrowly avoids capture on Hoenn Route 102. Finding a discarded pokeball, she ventures into the human world only to discover that her home is in danger from Humanity's rapid expansion. Now she has one recourse: disguise herself as human and become the pokemon champion before her village is discovered, and prevent the tragedy that is sure to come. It's too bad she has to deal with subterfuge, eco-terrorism, the end of the world, and awkward inter-species friendships along the way.
8 545The Roseguard's Odyssey: The tale of the hunted
Ablan is the home of the most skilled warriors in Aelmion, the brotherhood of bounty hunters. But even these ruthless hunters are kept in line by the Council Shadows, ten apex hunters and their guilds who rule Ablan from the top of the floating oasis casino. Luna is a shadow of Ablan. But when it comes to bounties, she and her guild have two strict rules: no killing, and no contracts involving children or animals in any way. When a criminal syndicate came to her to bring in a group of slavers, it was supposed to just end with her being paid her weight in gold. But aside from her reward, what she found in the slaver’s mines was Elizabeth. Unable to leave the seven-year-old alone, she breaks her own rule and agrees to bring the child home. But as they begin the long journey across the continent, Luna finds out that the child is the missing Princess Elizabeth Balder Van Stahlblut II, the heir of the two powerful empires of the Braenarim Republic and the Iron Nation of Aspana. As if protecting a princess is bad enough, it only gets worse. To get home, they need to go through the United Silvus States, a pro-human nation that is hell bent on taking the princess by any means. But not just Silvus is their problem. A race of murderous machines, mage executioners called the Huntsmen, the enigmatic Chimera trading company, other bounty hunters, and even savage monsters in the dark stand in their way. To protect her, all of Luna’s skills and the limits of her morality are put to the test. But will it be enough? Can both of them survive the Tale of the hunted? =0*o*0= Cover portrait created by the very talented tsuki_desenha at Instagram! Look him up for his incredible work! If you like the story please leave feedback as well and help keep the story going. :)
8 169Temsivar Greengrass and the Mystery on the Hogwarts Express (Harry Potter Fan Fiction)
A boy wizard and his new friends are bound to work their first detective case on impossible thefts even before arriving at their first year at magical school. Temsivar Greengrass is on his way to his first year at Hogwarts, one year after Voldemorts defeat by Harry Potter. His dream is to become an Auror, and he therefore jumps on the opportunity of solving impossible-seeming thefts on the Hogwarts Express. Helped by fellow first-years he has to navigate through various obstacles, not solely external. This young adult story is fanfiction in the world of Harry Potter, but with mostly original characters in the vein of The Three Investigators. Updates twice a week on Sundays and Thursdays.
8 141Here & Now
Best-friends since diapers, Sadie and Jodie were each-others better halves. You wouldn't see one with out the other, the bond they shared was irreplaceable. But when Jodie family had no other choice but to move away for her fathers job, their friendship was tested. The promise they made to stay in touch didn't last longer than a month until there was no communication. Five years later and their paths crossed. What happens when Sadie sees Jodie, the girl who couldn't be seen wearing jeans was now sporting men clothes. Instead she's this whole different person, who Sadie can't seem to get enough of. What was once just two friends sharing the same common interest turns into...two people who can't seem to control their feelings.
8 180Living With Job System On Earth
So, i get Job System from my parents, you see, my father is a hero (former) that got summoned to the other world, met and married my mother, residence of that world. After defeating the demon lord, he can choose one reward from the goddess, the reward he chooses is "bring my mother back to earth with him" Having a three kid, having a job, living a normal life and etc. Until he got summoned to the other world again along with my mother, and leaving the three of us alone I need to make a living for my siblings all of sudden! how do i do that!? Quest system? completes the quest and get a reward? The Quest that i have: kill 10 lions, kill 25 wolves, kill 10 bandits, capture a Yeti, nope sorry sis, don't want to spend the rest of my life in jail and don't expect me to fly all the way to Himalaya to capture a Yeti...wait Yeti exist?
8 166Tulang Dedikado
Tulang aking isinulat upang magbigay inspirasyon sa lahat ng katulad kong tahimik na manunulat.Patuloy susulat sa pamamagitan ng papel at pluma upang ipahiwatig ang aking karanasan at dedikado sa lahat ng mambabasa. Tulang pampamilya, tula sa minamahal, tula sa mga nasaktan o iniwan at tulang pangkalahatan.
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