Chapters in a Book

Welcome to Writers Realm!
This is a community dedicated to writing, what it takes to be a writer. Anyone can join! We'd love to see you around the site. Take part in our writing discussions, give feedback on stories posted and maybe share some of your own! But don't think you have to be a writer to join Writers Realm - there are plenty of other forums. Take part in a club or play a forum game with us. We're all friendly and we'd love to welcome you into our community!
Click here to register! Completely free of charge.

Chapters in a Book; 8 question survey
Topic Started: Mar 19 2009, 10:26 AM (136 Views)
UnknownSoldier	Mar 19 2009, 10:26 AM Post #1
iBelieve Posts: 435 Group: Writers Member #57 Joined: Oct 25, 2008	1> Is there a certain length you prefer chapters to be? (ie. 7-10 pages, nothing below 3 pages, etc.) 2> How much length variation can chapters within a book have? (ie. 1st chapter is 3 pages, 2nd chapter is 15 pages, 3rd chapter is 10 pages, 4th is 2 pages.. would that bother you?) 3> Do you have a preference on where the chapter starts? (some books start new pages for new chapters, some just have them start in the middle of a page) 4> What do you think about chapter-less books? 5> A lot of books written in verse don't have chapters (but sometimes they have "parts"), do you think they should? 6> If a book has parts, do you think the chapters should start at 1 for each part or just continue? 7> The highest amount of chapters in a book (that isn't non-fiction, obviously) you've read? (an estimate if you can't remember) 8> Cheez Whiz (cheese spread) or Singles (processed cheese slices)? ;) Edited by UnknownSoldier, Mar 19 2009, 10:36 AM.
	Faith. Hope. Love. Vengeance. Heart. Pain. Charisma. Fate.


UnknownSoldier	Mar 19 2009, 10:35 AM Post #2
iBelieve Posts: 435 Group: Writers Member #57 Joined: Oct 25, 2008	My answers: 1> As long as they're not super short.. maybe less than 4 pages, or super long (16ish pages), I don't mind. It depends on book length, too. 2> Yes. I was reading a book that had average chapter lengths of 8 pages, and then there was a 3 page chapter.. awkward, but I am nitpicky. :P 3> I think it's easier to find chapters if they start on a new page. 4> They're okay if it's in verse form, or loose paragraphs (for lack of a better term.. Brian James' stuff is like that). Then when I think about it, I don't know what's so important about a word and a number. 5> I like them better without chapters. 6> Just continue. 7> Um, I think it was 30ish. 8> I'd take the slices. I shudder at the thought of Cheez Whiz.
	Faith. Hope. Love. Vengeance. Heart. Pain. Charisma. Fate.


RedHead97	Mar 19 2009, 04:02 PM Post #3
Writes 50 Words Per Chapter Posts: 276 Group: Writers Member #81 Joined: Feb 21, 2009	1> Is there a certain length you prefer chapters to be? (ie. 7-10 pages, nothing below 3 pages, etc.) Depending on the print, but usually around 10-20 pages. 2> How much length variation can chapters within a book have? (ie. 1st chapter is 3 pages, 2nd chapter is 15 pages, 3rd chapter is 10 pages, 4th is 2 pages.. would that bother you?) It doesn't bother me at all, but I like them to stay within 5 pages of each other. 3> Do you have a preference on where the chapter starts? (some books start new pages for new chapters, some just have them start in the middle of a page) New page. 4> What do you think about chapter-less books? Blobby and disoriented. :P 5> A lot of books written in verse don't have chapters (but sometimes they have "parts"), do you think they should? No. 6> If a book has parts, do you think the chapters should start at 1 for each part or just continue? Just continue. 7> The highest amount of chapters in a book (that isn't non-fiction, obviously) you've read? (an estimate if you can't remember) Around 50ish. (I think it was Harry Potter. 8> Cheez Whiz (cheese spread) or Singles (processed cheese slices)? Singles. Edited by RedHead97, Aug 21 2009, 12:05 PM.



Allyson	Mar 20 2009, 12:38 PM Post #4
Observer of all Posts: 2,337 Group: Root Administrator Member #1 Joined: Jan 29, 2008	Awesome topic...this is a good one for writers to see what people write, so that they can take note for when they write their own stories! :) 1> I usually like 5-7. 2> If I understand the question right, I hate it when there are lots of chapters and barley any pages in between I think because you can't really get a lot of depth with short chapters...for me it's harder to get into a book if a chapter keeps stopping me ever page or so. 3> Definitely a new page! 4> Ugh...don't talk to me about that. ^_^ 5> Parts are alright, but only if the book also has chapters. 6> I don't understand the question... :huh: 7> I can't remember! :blink: 8> Singles.
	Check out my deviantART page!


Tempest	Mar 24 2009, 03:33 PM Post #5
Gasp! Posts: 63 Group: Writers Member #19 Joined: Apr 23, 2008	1> I really don't care. 2> Any, as long as there's a reason for such a great difference. I saw a book that had fairly large chapters, and then there was one that was only three words, for emphasis. I rather like the idea, actually. 3> I sort of like the new page thing myself. It makes it easier to process, but that's because I'm used to it. I could easily get used to it the other way around (I used to be) and then I'd find chapters starting right where the other ended less disconcerting. 4> Sure. I'll read them. It doesn't make much of a difference to me, and sometimes chapters are a little baffling. The thing I like about chapters is that it makes the story easier to write (churn out some chapters on a deadline rather than the whole thing), and chapters should probably separate instances and ideas. 5> No. It would effect the verse. Emphasis in verses and the separation of ideas is different than in prose. It would hurt the content of the thing. Imagine Beowulf with chapters. I shudder. 6> As long as there's an index, I don't care. Personally, I start at one for each part. 7> I think Harry Potter Five had a ridiculous amount of chapters. I almost want to say something in the forties? Because there's a lot. 8> Singles.



1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)


« Previous Topic · Writing Discussions · Next Topic »