Hello, I am new here and just finding my feet.

I wasn't sure of the best place to put this question so just thought I'd ask here - as it's a bit of a silly question.

I was wondering if there is an average number of chapters I should aim for? I'm not too worried about the word count, that will be what it will be but just thinking about the chapters - what is normal?

Hi, popple, not a silly question at all; a lot of writers agonise over chapter length and number of chapters, but it's all a bit arbitary really. Flicking through a few Novels beside me, one has 22 chapters, the next 24, a third 27, and another 41, and individual chapters vary in length from 2 pages, to 16.


- NaomiM

I think this is one of those areas in which it's impossible to generalise. You just have to go with what feels right for what you are writing.

As a reader, though, I do sometimes find very long chapters annoying when, because of time constraints, I have to stop reading and put in the book-mark at some point where there is no convenient break in the text.

Chris

Good point Chris. I've been doing a lot of reading recently and I do like to read in short bursts so shorter chapters work well for me.

Hi Joanna,
I see you've joined us in beginners, so I've put a welcome there as well in the 'New Members' thread.

All the best,
Jim.

Hi popple
I stressed over this too for a while when first starting my book, but as work progressed I found myself moving and chopping and repositioning chapters so much that I totally lost track - which was probably the best way. In the end there were about 27, I think, mostly quite short, in a book of c.80,000 words. I have no idea if that's average or not though.
Good luck!

It's really the overall word length which matters to a publisher, not the number of chapters. As others have said, chapters can be extremely varied in length.

Rosy x

Popple, I read a chick lit book last year that had about 120 chapters. They were very short!

Try not to worry about it - just follow your gut and end each chapter where it seems right for your story.