Tonight I was going over the next chapter for Trust but Verify when I discovered it was over 35 pages. That is just way too long. Any strategy to where to end a scene and creating a new chapter to continue the action? Everything I have tried so far is awkward and makes the transition choppy. Anyone have any idea on how to make a smooth transition?
I have read stories that contain chapters with very high page counts.
If there is no workable breakpoint, post the entire chapter regardless of the number of pages.
J just don't want the reader to loose interest or get overwhelmed by the story line. I have read novels in the past, classics even where a paragraph just ran on and on. And it carried on to chapters. I remember it being a struggle at times and did not increase my enthusiasm for the book.
I just don't want the reader to loose interest or get overwhelmed by the story line.
I don't know about other readers, but that doesn't happen to me. When I have more than enough time to read, a really long chapter is totally fine.
Check this story:
https://storiesonline.net/library/storyInfo.php?id=30656
from chapter 39 to 46, each chapter is almost a novel length, and it's doing fine.
35 pages, typically 500 words a page if single spaced--that's 17,000+ words for a chapter. In other words, it's almost a novella.
Is that entire scene completely contiguous in time, space, and action?
If not (and I find it unlikely) you look for the discontinuities and insert your breaks there.
Specifically, Any time you have a break in time (e.g., "after a few hours..."), you can insert a chapter break. Any time the characters move to a new location, you can insert a chapter break. Any time there's a change in the action (like moving from oral sex to intercourse), you can insert a chapter break.
Ideally, you end a chapter with enough of a hook to get the readers interested in the next chapter. Then at the beginning of the next chapter, you have a sentence or two or maybe a paragraph or two that "reset" where you're at.
For example:
"...I exploded in her mouth. I couldn't believe how good it felt. She grinned at me and straddled me..."
can easily become:
"...I exploded in her mouth. I couldn't believe how good it felt! I wondered how she would top it.
Chapter Break
We both sat there catching our breath. Me, because I'd just had a huge orgasm. Her, because her jaw was tired. But she wasn't done. She straddled me..."
Hope this helps,
Big Ed
Any time you have a break in time (e.g., "after a few hours..."), you can insert a chapter break. Any time the characters move to a new location, you can insert a chapter break.
And the most common is a change in POV (when the story is told from more than one POV).
My impression is that readers prefer consistent chapter lengths.
SOL used to chop long chapters into pages, but now that facility has been removed I find very long chapters overwhelming.
AJ
I think I found a good place to make the chapter break. A lot of good advice was offered. This neophyte thanks you.