Chapter length

by Rachel N
4th May 2014

Sorry to ask another question! Does anyone know what the average length of a chapter is?

Thanks in advance!

Replies

Just adding - you don't necessarily need chapters. Terry Pratchett did away with them. I'd worry less about length and focus more on making sure the breaks are natural / organic to the story.

And absolutely agree with Adrian - short chapters can be very effective in emphasizing certain points / heightening tension, etc.

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Simon P.
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Simon P. Clark
05/05/2014

Thanks Adrian - that is really helpful!

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Rachel N
04/05/2014

You would struggle to find chapters of more than twelve pages in most contemporary novels. Short chapters of five or six pages are common. Chapters can be as short as three, four pages in length, but it’s not advisable for them to be less than three pages.

However chapters of half a page or a page can be used to great effect. For example, to draw the readers’ attention to a vital part of the storyline and plot that involves the protagonist.

It is not necessary for chapters to be uniform in length.

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04/05/2014