Short chapters vs long chapters?

[freethrow]

I know that a whole lot comes into play when writing. Especially if it is Quality writing such as Fel does. But, how do you feel about shorter chapters on a more regular basis vs longer chapters with much more time between them?

It seems, though I do not know since I do not write, that writing short chapters would be much easier to do. Easier to keep the storyline in your head, less time to think about what is to happen in a given chapter, less possible guilt if your readers haven't had anything in a while etc. IMO, there are more positives than negatives with shorter chapters. Even though I do appreciate a much longer read of a longer chapter when finished, I think I would like a shorter chapter on a more regular basis. How do you feel?

[Wicketklown001]

Well with longer chapters there is a greater sense of immersion into the story. I've read tons of stories online with regular updates so I've seen both short and long chapters and personally I'd rather wait for a longer chapter than get several chapters over the same amount of time.

With a short chapter I tend to find myself just getting into the story and come to find I'm already done with the chapter. With a longer chapter I get into it more and am slightly more satisfied when I get to the end.

And if a chapter is long enough it can even keep me from looking for another chapter for a whole 10 minutes.

[freethrow]

Maybe I am just getting too old but I find waiting so long, I think April 4 was the last chapter. that I forget too much.

I prefer long chapters, but IMO if there is going to be such a long wait that a 2 or 3 page chapter every week or so would be better. Easier for Fel to knock out a couple of pages in an hour or two when he felt like writing without such a daunting effort of writing 50 or 60 pages before release. Either way, I prefer Fel does it in a way he is most comfortable with.

[J-Man5]

Ah but this is Fel's work. He can write it however he wants. If he want's long chapters then thats what we'll get. If they are short then so be it. We have no RIGHT to demand any type of chapter. If he decided to close shop tomorrow then that's what would happen. Would we be upset and sad and even angry. Yes. But for us to tell him how and when and how much to write is almost funny. It's like here go be creative on a schedule. Most writers and artists don't do that. The comics seems to be an exception. I'm not mad or anything I just don't want to piss off the writer who has Real Life to contend with (school, work, etc.).

If you asked Fel he probably does more sit down and write long sessions than short spurts consistently every day. I know that when my creative juice are really working I can go for hours and hours. Where as when I have a deadline to perform on I seem to procrastinate the living daylights out of it. I would think we'd rather have Fel not think of writing any of his stories as work. I know what we all think of that horrible four letter word (work).

If Fel would only weigh in on some of these weighty issues. Like What color should we dye Michael's hair and what types of funny clothes should we make him wear. Or if it would be better to string Lochar up as a pinata or Fiferguy (personally I think Fiferguy cause he can play music while being strung up). Or how many more kids should MommyDoom have. And if she would start to name them after online people.


J-Man5

[Mizriath]

Hmm, I would go for whatever length as long as the creative juices set in and Fel most of the time, IMO, ties in all the story up so that it flows. He releases a chapter when it is done and available. Fel does not keep 2 to 3 chapters in hand when he release a chapter or worse release abook when it is ready... GF. The virute of waiting for Fel's writing is rewarding.

[Fiferguy]

I can't speak for Fel, but I know that with my book I try to write at least 8-10 MS Word pages before I post. The real determining factor of chapter length is the story. If I'm at page 8 and I have a good place to stop, i.e. a really good cliffhanger, or just a good pause in the story, that's where I'll stop. But if I'm on page 10, and still haven't found a good pause because of some long dialog or something, I'll keep going till I find a good place to stop.

Fel tends to write more in the 30 page range for his chapters, but then again, he's about three times the author that I am.

[freethrow]

""Either way, I prefer Fel does it in a way he is most comfortable with.""

Above is what I ended my earlier post with, and I mean it. But, maybe Fel has not really considered writing shorter chapters and the possible advantages of doing so? I am sure that thoughts cross his mind from time to time about what he wants to do with the story. Maybe committing to that direction and writing it down while he has a few minutes would be easier than collecting thoughts for a month or so and then go over them all over again when he is ready to write? Fel does such quality work that I doubt the book would suffer any.

I understand that ending a chapter with a Cliffhanger is preferred, but a chapter can end at most any change of direction in a story. Heading out for a new location or making a decision to perform some act for example.

[Downdude]

This whole discussion is moot. Fel will do what he wants and what we feel he should do has no meaning. Fel has decided to throw away big chunks of a chapter before and if he was releasing much shorter chapters then we would end up having to delete old chapters to replace them with rewrites. I think trying to force shorter chapters would hurt the overall story. Do not fix what is not broken.

[Wicketklown001]

Do not fix what is not broken.

Exactly. Or like my Dad says. "If it ain't broke, hit it with a hammer til it is" ... oh wait .... that won't work here.

[J-Man5]

Who can we hit with a hammer? That sounds like fun. At least for those who hold the hammer.

J-Man5

[MommyDoom]

If Fel would only weigh in on some of these weighty issues. Like What color should we dye Michael's hair and what types of funny clothes should we make him wear. Or if it would be better to string Lochar up as a pinata or Fiferguy (personally I think Fiferguy cause he can play music while being strung up). Or how many more kids should MommyDoom have. And if she would start to name them after online people.


J-Man5

Bite your tongue, little man. This baby factory is CLOSED.

MD

[Lochar]

If Fel would only weigh in on some of these weighty issues. Like What color should we dye Michael's hair and what types of funny clothes should we make him wear. Or if it would be better to string Lochar up as a pinata or Fiferguy (personally I think Fiferguy cause he can play music while being strung up). Or how many more kids should MommyDoom have. And if she would start to name them after online people.


J-Man5

What is it with you people and f'ing pinatas? They want to make me one at work too!

Bite your tongue, little man. This baby factory is CLOSED.

Did you close it down permanently, or is it only closed by willpower?

[MommyDoom]

Bite your tongue, little man. This baby factory is CLOSED.

Did you close it down permanently, or is it only closed by willpower?

Willpower alone... and a strong desire to never again suffer through three solid weeks of contractions. This is a powerful inducement to avoidance of anything than can cause reproduction.

MD

[Lochar]

Bite your tongue, little man. This baby factory is CLOSED.

Did you close it down permanently, or is it only closed by willpower?

Willpower alone... and a strong desire to never again suffer through three solid weeks of contractions. This is a powerful inducement to avoidance of anything than can cause reproduction.

MD

My friend's wife suffered 3-4 weeks of contractions and 26 hours of labor. And that was after they induced labor on her.

She wants to do it again.

[MommyDoom]

Bite your tongue, little man. This baby factory is CLOSED.

Did you close it down permanently, or is it only closed by willpower?

Willpower alone... and a strong desire to never again suffer through three solid weeks of contractions. This is a powerful inducement to avoidance of anything than can cause reproduction.

MD

My friend's wife suffered 3-4 weeks of contractions and 26 hours of labor. And that was after they induced labor on her.

She wants to do it again.

She's a better woman than I am.