I am writing the first chapter of a potential novel.
Unfortunately it seems most awfully finished, but quite short still. I will of course go back and touch up on it. But it is only 2 pages and 3 lines long. How does one extend their writing?
I am writing the first chapter of a potential novel.
Unfortunately it seems most awfully finished, but quite short still. I will of course go back and touch up on it. But it is only 2 pages and 3 lines long. How does one extend their writing?
Hi Andrew,
I don't think there is a 'standard' length for any chapter. Some books I read have hundreds of chapters that are only a page and a half each whereas other books have about 15 chapters that are 30 pages long each etc. It really depends on what you are trying to write.
I personally use chapters as a way to separate parts of my story be it a change of scene or a change in time. I have also sometimes written and decided where there was almost a natural break in the story that would lend itself to me inserting a new chapter.
When you say 2 pages long do you mean in a word document? Remember, a word document is larger than an average book would be anyway, so say each page of a book is 350 words long, you may have at least three or four pages written so far.
I also find that extending my writing doesn't happen straight away. Sometimes I just carry on with my story and as I learn more about my characters and where they are going, I can go back and add other bits in and play around with what I've written.
The novel I am currently writing started with, what I thought, was a brilliant first chapter. But looking back now I am 10,000+ words through, I can see it no longer fits in with my story so I will, sadly, have to change it! So don't worry too much now. As Ernest Hemingway said 'The first draft of anything is s**t'! There is plenty of time to change things and add bits and change chapter lengths so I wouldn't worry too much now. Just enjoy writing and see where your story takes you.
Laura
Oh, sorry I should have added that!
I made a plan for a potential novel, I call it potential because it only a novel in my eyes when it is finished. So this is the first chapter in that novel.
My problem is/was that the chapter felt too short, but the more I added the more it seemed to lack in inspiration when I read back, it starts to seem like I am writing for the sake of writing - not really adding anything good to the novel.
When it comes to writing, I like to have clear ends to chapters - so even if I were to write the whole thing out, and then go back and split it up, it would be evident - but sometimes they end short, and especially with a first chapter, that is where you first meet the characters - so you have to describe them correctly.
I think that we could use a little clarification here.
Are you saying that you have the idea for a whole story, have written the first chapter and now need some advice...
OR...
Have you written the first chapter of something that could turn into a book but now don't know where to go next?
There's no great problem with either - but it would help us to know if we are to offer suggestions.
A Chapter can be half a page. That is unusual these days but not impossible.
One option when writing is to just plough along getting everything on paper/screen and then go back and sort it into chapters later.
When sorting it is sometimes useful to relocate parts from their original positions.
Another possibility - is what you have so far more in the nature of a short story? If so why not work on developing it in that format?
Then again... If something won't move on immediately letting it mature - even for a year or two - doesn't hurt it. (What can hurt it is trying to force it along).
Hope this helps.
David