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Post by Sai on Mar 30, 2008 21:51:12 GMT
What is your acceptable length of a chapter that you are reading/writing? I've noticed that a lot of stories update later, but their chapters are extremely long (around 10k and up) and the ones that are updated a bit faster (like me) tend to only get about 3-5k words. Now, which one is better to you?
Someone that updates once every three weeks with a 15k word chapter, or someone who updates every three days with a 3-5k word chapter?
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Post by T. Costa on Mar 31, 2008 1:28:23 GMT
I think it depends on the story, and how the author feels when they are writing it. I've done both and I like both, although I tend to write quite fast and it's not unheard of for me to get 4 very long chapters a week out, depending on how fast my beta edits them for me. It's also not unheard of for me to post three short chapters in one day, once again, depending on how fast I'm writing and where I feel things need to be cut off. When reading, I prefer an author who updates at least once a week, although obviously I can't really whine about it because we're running on their schedule. Whether that chapter is short or long is not really a concern so long as I'm getting an update on the story. Although I won't discount the absolute pleasure that comes from reading a long, well-written, un-boring chapter.
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Post by unwinding fantasy on Mar 31, 2008 4:22:40 GMT
In my opinion, chapters should be between 7000-10 000 words. I've found that is a decent length. I prefer authors to take their time and hand me a good-quality, meaty piece of fiction rather than something they've churned out quickly just for the sake of updating.
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Aardy
Recruit
The power of Elmo compels you!
Posts: 121
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Post by Aardy on Mar 31, 2008 7:44:46 GMT
My perfect chapter length is between 4 to 5000 words, for both writing and reading. Whenever I decide to write a new chapter I always begin early in the morning. I can usually churn out about 4,500 words after accumulative short bursts of creativity and I think it's also the perfect length because you can advance the plot enough without giving too much away. I tend to find that it is my threshold level before I start nodding off and getting bored. It's especially bad when one scene drags out to more than 10k - I get really bored then, even if it's written quite well. That's not to say I have a short attention span; it's just that reading a story on a computer is a lot different to reading in a book.
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Post by T. Costa on Mar 31, 2008 11:38:14 GMT
What I meant to say last time and completely spaced on is that I, when writing, do not pay attention to chapter length or word count; I write until I feel that part of the story has completed itself. Sometimes it's really short, sometimes it's extremely, painfully long. For someone like me, chapter length means pretty much nothing. When I am writing, however, I do tend to write about the same amount; generally I'll write about 5,000 - 10,000 words in one sitting, depending on what I'm writing. This is one advantage to being able to type about as fast as I think - 125 words per minute. If I finish up a chapter and I still have the itch to write, I start a new one. When I get bored with writing, I set it aside and come back when the itch does (which usually, but not always, is relatively frequently). However, this formula, with me, can't really be relied upon. I've been known to pump out smallish novel-sized fics (both original and fanfiction) in one week, depending on how much free time I have, how much caffeine I have consumed, and how frantic my writing urge is. It's almost like a compulsion within my OCD, so when I have the itch I really do need to do it until it's gone. Sometimes I can sate it otherwise; sometimes I can come online and post on a message board like this one (which I'm doing write now because I have the urge but am drawing a blank as far as what I should be writing), or I can just blog or write essays. Sometimes I'll write longhand instead of on a computer; it takes longer to produce and it stills the itch as well. But it's infinitely there and I am only done when my muse says so. XD I'm a special case, I guess, because I've never met anyone who operates the same way I do. I'm just weird, I suppose.
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Post by piedflycatcher on Mar 31, 2008 12:49:44 GMT
I prefer slightly shorter chapters. Somewhere between 2 and 5K is fine with me. Reading anything really long on a computer gives me a headache.
As for writing, my chapters average around 3000 words.
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Ink
SOLDIER First Class
Jashin's going to smite your arse. Smite! SMITE, I say!
Posts: 1,681
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Post by Ink on Mar 31, 2008 13:27:10 GMT
I have to agree with Pied, both when it comes to reading and writing.
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Alma
Materia Dealer
Look at me still talking when there's science to do!
Posts: 74
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Post by Alma on Apr 1, 2008 7:11:37 GMT
I, when writing, do not pay attention to chapter length or word count; I write until I feel that part of the story has completed itself. Sometimes it's really short, sometimes it's extremely, painfully long. For someone like me, chapter length means pretty much nothing. That's exactly what I was going to say! ;D
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Post by Sylla on Apr 1, 2008 16:37:23 GMT
Hm, I don't have a set length I go for, either. I just write either a) I come to a good stopping point, of b) I can't write anymore (if b, I just try to cut it off as best I can).
But as for reading... I tend to prefer chapters longer than 5000 words. Unless it's a drabble, I usually find short chapters, well, unsatisfying.
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Post by Kysic on Apr 1, 2008 17:01:53 GMT
I also have a habit of just writing and not paying too much attention to word length. However, I sometimes limit how much I write in certain situations. For example, if I only have a little free time to work on a new chapter, I try to keep the chapter short. If big things are coming up and I know I could be busy for a while, I usually try to type of a long chapter to satisfy my readers until I can get back to my fanfic. How much I put in a chapter often depends on the following: my mood, my inspiration, how much time I have, when I think I can update again, the part of the story I'm at (if I'm at an important event I try to handle it with care), and etc. I'm one of those few people that can be hard to predict. Sometimes even I can't predict myself.
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Post by leafonthebreeze on Apr 2, 2008 23:37:37 GMT
I'm the same with not concentrating on chapter length.. but then I've only ever written two chaptered fics (one was awful, one is my fic-baby but I'm APPALLING at updating)
I tend to go for oneshots, that's just the kind of ideas I usually have...
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Post by T. Costa on Apr 3, 2008 4:56:06 GMT
Never underestimate the awesomeness of a good oneshot (although my oneshots tend to be rather long). They can be amazing, both to read and write.
Very therapeutic, too, if you're like me and going through a MUST WRITE phase but don't want to concentrate on a chaptered fic.
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Post by Sylla on Apr 3, 2008 15:15:36 GMT
Yeah, oneshots are really funn to do - partly because they're so versatile. You can write about pretty much aaaanything. =D
Actually, most of my ideas are usually for oneshots, anyway. I guess it's just easier to come up with an isolated idea than dream up the outline of a totally epic story (or heck, even a non-epic, garden-variety multichapter).
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Post by leafonthebreeze on Apr 3, 2008 20:36:47 GMT
Indeed... and when I do get an idea for a multi chapter I freak out at the thought of having to commit to actually writing it and turn it into a oneshot anyway
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Post by ladyvaltaya on Apr 5, 2008 15:28:51 GMT
I tend to find my best stopping point for each chapter somewhere in the neighborhood of just over 3,000 words.
I've written dozens of oneshots that are far longer (16,000+ words) than that though. Really the word count for me isn't that important to me, I'd rather focus on plot, characterization and character interaction.
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