tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post1341679687734045525..comments2023-10-15T03:20:42.697-04:00Comments on Blog of Author Michelle McLean: When to Break ItMichelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-4898370813562145342011-05-17T11:50:11.846-04:002011-05-17T11:50:11.846-04:00Hmm, good question. For me it depends on the book ...Hmm, good question. For me it depends on the book and the feel I want. For Monarch, for instance, I wanted relatively short chapters to intensify the quick pace. In my novellas, I don't even do chapters, but large sections. In general, I usually only do 1 or 2 scenes for a chapter.Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-48859960708127610192011-05-17T08:39:39.228-04:002011-05-17T08:39:39.228-04:00I never use as many chapter breaks as I should. I&...I never use as many chapter breaks as I should. I'm trying to add more as I revise, because I have only like 20 chapters in 120,000 words.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-9426104254798705232011-05-17T07:04:21.710-04:002011-05-17T07:04:21.710-04:00What a great question. I'd have to say that ki...What a great question. I'd have to say that kind of like ending the story - when the scene twist/turning point has been revealed I get out as fast as I can. And sometimes it's not always a cliff hanger but an introduction to the next scene. And congrats on finishing a wip!Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-83558939438714187162011-05-16T21:58:48.859-04:002011-05-16T21:58:48.859-04:00Congratulations! What an accomplishment. That ha...Congratulations! What an accomplishment. That has to feel sooo good to have done!Hannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936315047570120258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-74442192169649377182011-05-16T20:01:11.745-04:002011-05-16T20:01:11.745-04:00Oh, and congratulations on finishing!!!Oh, and congratulations on finishing!!!Stephanie McGeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16507025637411479409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-21167716443546753192011-05-16T20:00:56.082-04:002011-05-16T20:00:56.082-04:00I may have to analyze this more in the future. I&#...I may have to analyze this more in the future. I've never really thought much about how I decide that portion of it. Although with the book I'm currently just about to finish is broken basically by time frame. Chapter 1 is night one, chapter 2 is the next day. I skip to August and that's a chapter, etc.Stephanie McGeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16507025637411479409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-31349863736184357652011-05-16T19:58:13.956-04:002011-05-16T19:58:13.956-04:00I do the same thing with the cliff hangers that le...I do the same thing with the cliff hangers that leaves me with a lot of four-page scenes. I think I settled on just putting two such scenes together to make one eight or nine page chapter from two scenes. It's one of those tricky writer questions, but for me my scenes always get to about four pages before my inner cliffhanger dispenser activates. <br /><br />I'm also with Donna on using the page count to measure my pacing.Katrina L. Lantzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06871272394922775923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-2826911427551242632011-05-16T18:18:59.201-04:002011-05-16T18:18:59.201-04:00Congrats. I like Christine's reasoning. It has...Congrats. I like Christine's reasoning. It has depended on the book for me, but I think ten pages is a good goal.Sharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05184772057308479564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-15754912891088890112011-05-16T15:56:09.955-04:002011-05-16T15:56:09.955-04:00Congratulations!
I aim for ten pages per chapter....Congratulations!<br /><br />I aim for ten pages per chapter. So by the time I hit eight pages, I know I should have created tension and moved the story along.<br /><br />It's a number thing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-61102212630009039562011-05-16T15:17:16.558-04:002011-05-16T15:17:16.558-04:00Congratulations!!
I'm afraid I think of chapte...Congratulations!!<br />I'm afraid I think of chapter breaks as something intuitive at this point. Although now I think I'm going to have to analyze a lot more.Faith E. Houghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03823750019164801104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-90407644491594335642011-05-16T13:42:19.184-04:002011-05-16T13:42:19.184-04:00Congrats, congrats!
I hate breaking up chapters, ...Congrats, congrats!<br /><br />I hate breaking up chapters, especially if scenes are too long and I know they need a break... but I have no idea where to put it! I'm not help at all, I realise...Talli Rolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780882465745107715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-72137550737661685532011-05-16T12:32:26.189-04:002011-05-16T12:32:26.189-04:00Alright, big congrats!!! It's a heck-of-a-bigg...Alright, big congrats!!! It's a heck-of-a-bigger accomplishment than most people realize, so power to ya!Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-62537378071707475302011-05-16T11:46:45.098-04:002011-05-16T11:46:45.098-04:00All my chapters (well MOST of them) end at the pin...All my chapters (well MOST of them) end at the pinnacle of the climax, with the resolution coming at the start of the next chapter. That, or when there is a natural pause in the storyline. I find the pacing is better that way.<br /><br />Congrats on finishing! WOOTChristine Fonsecahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16986034666903054819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-33493667713384090352011-05-16T11:11:15.183-04:002011-05-16T11:11:15.183-04:00I guess I insert chapter breaks as I write, whatev...I guess I insert chapter breaks as I write, whatever feels like the best break. Congrats on finishing!!L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.com