Should chapters be about the same length?

[Stormpirate]

Going back and filling in some of the beginning chapters, I've noticed they're all about the same length. One of them, however, is about 5-6 pages shorter than the other ones so far.

What's the general consensus about chapters? Should they be about the same length? I probably could lengthen the chapter in question, but I'm afraid of using too much filler and boring the reader.

 

[Dean F. Wilson]

If it's only 5 pages in the difference, don't bother, especially not if you're just using filler. If you had 10 chapters of 30 pages and then 1 of 5 pages, or 60 pages, then I might consider changing it, but generally I don't keep my chapters the exact same size - just close enough.

-D

 

[Sapheron]

Telling us the average size of them would help. As Dean implied, if you have ten, a difference of five is a lot. In a chapter of 25, five either way isn't that much of a difference.

 

[the_faery_queen]

as long as they need to be. that's what i think. they should be as long as they need to be. if you can get them to the same ish length, ok. but it's not that important.

most of mine are 7-10 pages in length. i try fro 10, but if i end up with something 15, then i often find a way to split it to 7. one is only 5 pages though. i can't find anyway to merge it, to extend it. it's just going to have to be shorter. *shrug* i try not to worry too much about things like that.

 

[Locksmith]

as long as they need to be. that's what i think. they should be as long as they need to be. if you can get them to the same ish length, ok. but it's not that important.

I'm with the Faery on this one.

<<Blows dust off a book at random>> Hmm, Lord of the Rings, in this edition, the first few chapters are 20, 23, 20, 11, 10, 14, 11.

Thomas Covenant - looks like they vary from 6 pages to 30 ish.

I couldn't have told you that about either book. I'm not sure people notice. If they do, it may be a sign your writing is in trouble.

I suspect that talented authors may also use the length of chapters to add to the pace of their writing. Shortening chapters for exciting bits and lengthening them to slow things down. I don't know if that's true. I just made it up. But it sounds feasible.

 

[Pointfinder]

Doesn't make a bit of difference to me (as reader or writer) as long as the material flows logically and moves the story forward.

 

[Stormpirate]

So far, they're about 11-15 pages in length; the particular chapter is 8 pages. I'll keep it where it stands; who knows, when I go back for the revision process the lengths might change.