If you're using a size 12 font, how long (roughly) would you say each chapter is, so far?
I only have a prologue and three chapters written. Prologue is a third of a page, chap 1 is 3 pages, chap 2 is about three pages also and chap 3 (which I've nearly finished) is just over 2 pages. I was just wondering it this was too long per chapter?
Was also wondering if anyone else has named their chapters? If so, have you done 'chapter 1, chapter 2' etc or have you used words?
----------
7,644 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 04 06
Oops, just realised my font is size 10 arial, not size 12!
96,127 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 04 14
heya
My chapters generally are 8 at the smallest and 14 at the longest in pages. I am using Times New Roman size 12 double spaced. My chapters bar one are between 3000 and 4500 depending on how much it runs away with me lol. I havent done anything imaginative, its all chapter 1, chapter 2 etc
24,029 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 04 35
I've named my chapters "one, two, three" etc in non-capitalised words. I was gonna come up with a clever name for each, but I realised I didn't know what would happen in each chapter so it really didn't help. My "prologue" is about a third of a page long, and so far, I have three chapters, one of which is 2 pages long and another is 7 pages long. I like writing in Arial size 10 cos I absolutely dispise Times New Roman. Hahahaaa.... so yeah. :)
19,517 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 09 49
I'm using Courier New size 12 with standard manuscript formatting - double spaced, basically - and I'm on 37 pages. That's four chapters, one of which isn't complete yet. The first one is pretty short, but it's an average of about 9 pages per chapter. I guess in single-line spacing that would be somewhere between 4 and 5 pages, or around 2000 words per chapter. Give or take.
ETA: And my chapter headings are simply '1', '2' etc.
47,861 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 10 15
I'm using Calibri font (which is default in vista's word), at size 11. I'm also leaving a line after each paragraph which is a habit that I've picked up from fanfiction, so it's not actually novel-esque at the moment with indents and such. I'm currently on 20 pages and out of those 20 pages and 12,000 words, I only have two chapters. Which is actually rather amusing, since the other day for my English coursework I was complaining about ridiculously long chapters, yet here I am actually writing them. Haha.
My first chapter is 7 pages long and the second is 13 pages long. I may shift the numbers round a bit though, as the second ended up longer than I really expected. I've been cutting round scenes a lot so I've mostly been throwing them into chapters. When it gets a bit more steady the chapters will probably even out and be shorter, since it's all continous and not all over the place.
Unlike last year when I used to write a bit of a 'letter' than one of the characters was going to get at the end, this year I'm being uncreative and just having numbers. 'Chapter 1', 'Chapter 2', etc.
39,040 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 14 38
I'm using 12pt ariel font, double spaced. Chapter headings are 'chapter 1' etc. although I may go through when I have finished and know what has happened and rename them.
The chapter length is around 2500-3000 words and seem naturally balanced at this length between the scenes. I am averaging 2 scenes to a chapter with no overlap scenes between chapters.
I always try to write with indented paragraphs as I like to go for a fairly complete first draft - enough with editing without having to format as well at the end.
----------Visit my writing website at http://www.dirtysparkle.com
Dirtysparkle Blog http://dirtysparkle.blogspot.com
8,700 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 16 42
Mine are normally just under the 1000 word mark. But it really depends on the scenes.. I hate jumping to the other team in a chapter.
But I jump teams to other teams often.. I had 45 on the last Novel.
----------Visit http://mikesharpewriter.com/ for a Free eBook set in Manchester UK.
8,516 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 18 45
Helvetica!!!! All the way. Well that was just the default setting apparently I used to like helvetica.
I haven't name dmy chapters although really i dont have chapters at the moment. its more like continuous paragraphs with major sections separated by line breaks or stars. (Because in my head I'm terry pratchett)
this post is so badly written all funn grammar and punct. etc. but you know what. im dangling my arms odd my bed to my keyboard so whatever.
man i am so badass sometimes
77,987 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 10 41
Well in this novel they're turning out about 5 pages (size 12 times new roman, because I can't be bothered to change it...). But generally I do them a bit shorter, more like 2/3/4. And I did one novel where no chapter was longer than 2 pages... And they're not named. Just Chapter 1, Chapter 2 etc. I tried using names for chapters when I first started writing, but that was more because it started out as a series of short stories, and I decided to change it to just plain numbers in the end. I think provided they're all roughly the same length, it doesn't matter whether you go for long or short. I've read books which have gone both ways (James Patterson has ridiculously short chapters, some are literally a page in proper book form, Alaistar MacLean has significantly longer chapters, which are even bigger than they appear because for some reason all his books that I have are in really small type). Just go with whatever happens.
----------NutmegAngel
Inspired by chocolate.
Fuelled by tea.
40,000 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 13 42
Well I am using font size 12, double spaced and New Courier. I guess I haven't really been using any traditional chapters.
Not in the traditional sense. Well I guess I am but they are quite short and mixed in length. For some reason I have decided on using quotes from the chapters themselves as chapter titles. Though I don't like to call them chapters ! Confused ? So am I !