When I started writing seriously I often asked the question how long should a chapter be or how long should a scene be. There are definitely specific total word counts for a novel depending on what genre you write in. However, how long should a chapter or a scene be? I am currently reading Siren Song by Cat Adams. Lovely book. However, as I was doing my usual, I’ll just read until the end of the chapter as I was nodding off one night I noticed something. Chapter Six in that book is as long as the previous five chapters combined. And here folks is a visual:
So next time you ask yourself that question you know the answer is, however darn long it needs to be. And in the background is Bjork reminding you to be violently happy.
Since I have never worried about Chapter lengths, this is encouraging because mine can, at times, definitely be all over the place.
I like that “however darn long it needs to be”.
I suppose that however short it needs to be would also apply. 🙂