Are your chapter titles long or short?

by Adrian Sroka
11th October 2012

I am now editing my chapter titles. I will keep them short. I have been guided by some of the best examples of contemporary literature. Two to four words appears to be the average. The less said in the chapter title the better. It is better to keep the reader in suspense than to spill the beans. My chapter titles will merely act as a basic signpost to the reader.

Replies

I have them in my first draft, however, I used them more as a signpost to myself when writing the chapter.

Once I have finished with my edits, I will remove them, as I do not think they are terribly necessary - I also think without them adds a bit more mystery.

Profile picture for user antglenn
Anthony Scott
Glenn
330 points
Developing your craft
Short stories
Fiction
Business, Management and Education
Middle Grade (Children's)
Picture Books (Children's)
Comic
Speculative Fiction
Adventure
Historical
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Anthony Scott Glenn
12/10/2012

Joanne Harris uses dates to excellent effect in Blackberry Wine

The Day, Month, and Year are good signposts.

Some authors use symbols, quotes and poems.

Profile picture for user Adrian
Adrian
Sroka
19900 points
Ready to publish
Fiction
Historical
Middle Grade (Children's)
Young Adult (YA)
Adventure
Adrian Sroka
12/10/2012

I've not used chapter titles as such - I've not seen the need. And nowadays they seem more common in non-fiction.

My two stories are broken down into parts, with those split by date (year or month). The second has certain chapters headed by placename, but these locations may include one or more chapters before the action moves on. Because I write fairly short chapters, often from a single character's POV, I thought readers would follow it more easily that way :)

Profile picture for user oldchesn_4270
Jonathan
Hopkins
6735 points
Practical publishing
Fiction
Historical
Adventure
The writing process
The publishing process
Self-Publishing
Jonathan Hopkins
12/10/2012