how many words are in a chatper?

sabertooth1217 · **Fri Sep 26, 2003 4:55 pm how many words are in a chatper?**

Sarah Connor · **Fri Sep 26, 2003 4:56 pm**

It doesn't matter realldy. As long as it'snot 2 sentences or something.

sabertooth1217 · **Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:09 pm**

but in general. 2000 - 4000 ?

Voy_Girl · **Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:55 pm**

Depends on how long the story is. If it's a novel (50 000+ words), then about 15-20 chapters are usual, but there can be several more.

If the story is about 5000 words, you don't really need chapters at all. If you're going to do something with it, then divide it into two or three parts, or turning points.

Of course you can have chapters in a story that's 2000-5000 words long too, but then they'll have to be pretty short. It's better to have no chapters than 4 short. And, it's better to have a whole story instead of 20 chapters that have 50 words each.

You have to decide for yourself, depending on how long your story is.
If you post the number of words here, I'm sure a few users can give you their opinions on how to chapterise it.

sabertooth1217 · **Sat Sep 27, 2003 4:35 pm**

yo have just answered my question. it will be a 50,000 and im dividing it by 20 so its 2500 words per chapter on average.

Mark Mag Gloade · **Sun Sep 28, 2003 11:26 am**

i like writing dont get me wrong but i wont count every word i wrote or keep track of them while i write the story, a good 3 and a half pages is what i think is a chapter

Voy_Girl · **Sun Sep 28, 2003 1:36 pm**

Tiberius · Lieutenant Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 140

There is no set length on how long a chapter must be. A good rule of thumb is that each chapter should advance the story in some way. For example, is a Star trek story, you could have:

Chapter 1
An away team beams down to a planet, but they meet the natives who take them prisoner.

Chapter 2
A rescue team beams down, and they find a secret that the natives have been trying to hide.

Chapter 3
The rescue team meets with the natives and says that they'll help them if they return the away team.

And so on. Each chapter adds something to the story. Chapters can be long, or short. Herman Melville's classic Moby Dick has very short chapters, even though it's a long book.

Voy_Girl · **Thu May 27, 2004 12:07 pm**

^
True, that's the best way to make a chapter.

Mac Harm · **Fri May 28, 2004 5:12 am**

Yeah, as long as you think a chapter is long enough and well enough constructed it should be ok.
BTW don't forget to visit my Fan Fic! Link in my Sig!

Sam Kenobi · **Fri May 28, 2004 2:30 pm**

Chapter length really depends on the style of your story. a chapter could be two sentances if those two sentances make a significant contribution to the story. so it doesn't matter. to be a real novelist.../ fanfictionist, you've got to get beyond length and actually worry about what your words themselves mean. remember quality, not quantity