Interspersing relevant filler

[Zubi-Ondo]

I'm hoping that building tension, and then resolving it (or building tension, then complicating things, and then resolving things) is a concept that is familiar to some/most of you. I'm doing this in my first chapter (obviously it's just an introduction to the main conflict in the story, and doesn't get resolved at the end of chapter 1). Anyway, the conflict is introduced in dialogue, I've got some environmental information dispersed throughout, but the chapter just doesn't seem long enough (which is the real issue I'm asking for help with). All that needs to be said by the two characters has been said, the setting has been established, and I've got about 1 1/2 pages. (3 page sides if it was in paperback). These are avenues I've explored:
A) I've thought of interspersing more setting info (the landscape, the weather, the time of day, etc).
B) I could have the protagonist go into a rant (he's just been told he doesn't have approval for something), but it really doesn't fit his character, so forget that.
C) I could explain background of characters, but that's exposition and hmm... I was trying to avoid that at least for now in chapter 1.

 

[Pyan]

Welcome, Zubi-Ondo!

Sorry, not a writer (not of anything I'd care to let anyone else see, anyway!), but if you post here with something about yourself, (likes, dislikes, why you're here, that sort of thing), I'm sure you'll find lots of great people willing to give you the benefit of their experience!

 

[Kissmequick]

Well, your character would do something if he's not got the approval he's after, even if it's not a rant, he would surely have some reaction

Would he:
Get drunk?
Kick the cat?
Think * bugger that for a game of soldiers, I'll show them!*
Sulk?
Talk to his favourite dog?
Cry like a baby and get bullied because of it?

Whatever he would do, try to show his reaction in actions, and maybe intersperse a few more background details (*it's just like the time X happened* - showing his character through his actions / reactions to things, past experience that may explain his current emotions etc) That way you are giving more information, but in the form of action to avoid teh exposition trap.,

Besides, who says that's too short for a chapter( one of my favorite writers commonly has chapters about 2-3 pages long)? Or it could be a prologue?

 

[The Pelagic Argosy]

I suggest moving on to chapter 2 and beyond. As you continue to write, you're bound to get new insights into your characters and world, and then, if necessary, you can fill in more detail in chapter 1 on your next pass.

The short length is probably a result of your style, which we can't comment on. Maybe you want to post your chapter in the critiques section?

 

[Zubi-Ondo]

I suggest moving on to chapter 2 and beyond. As you continue to write, you're bound to get new insights into your characters and world, and then, if necessary, you can fill in more detail in chapter 1 on your next pass.

The short length is probably a result of your style, which we can't comment on. Maybe you want to post your chapter in the critiques section?

Thank you all. I like this advice. I think adding anything I didn't want to add would detract from it anyway.

Zubi.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

The chapter doesn't have to be any set length, and it doesn't have to consist of a single scene. So you could keep it as it is, or expand it simply by the way you divide your chapters rather than by padding it out with background information.

However, the fact that you are asking this question could mean that you are sensing that your writing is a little thin. If this is the case, you don't have to use background information to make it feel more substantial. Body language, "stage business," sensory impressions, and a small amount of description might be what the scene needs instead.

 

[JDawg2.0]

Yeah, go with what Teresa said, because anything else would just be filler, and that's never a good thing. Describing the world for description's sake does NOT add to the atmosphere of the story, nor does it advance the story, so don't do it. Serving your word-count will only get your story rejected.

Anyway, I too have been a victim of the short chapter. Sometimes--not always, but sometimes--I feel that a chapter is too short. Here's my take on it...

When I write, I'm best when I'm just flowing, just going with the idea, not stopping to think about what I'm doing. If I stumble into a chapter or scene that strikes me as too short, I step back for a second and actually think about my story. As in, what am I trying to accomplish in this chapter/scene? Where does this particular narrative sit in the grand scheme of things? Do I need to say more here, or is this brief glimpse enough?

It is at times like this when having a grasp on your story really helps.

But whatever you do, don't add for the sake of addition. You'll waste valuable, precious creative energy on word-count, and that's an unforgivable sin.

 

[Zubi-Ondo]

I agree completely. I have moved on, and I'm into chapter 3. Chapter 2 was longer, and 3 will be longer too. I mentioned in the introductions thread that I have the book more or less laid out the way it was in my mind, in outline form. That being said, don't get the wrong idea - I remain flexible. I've written an entire book once before, and so far I like this process. The first book was practice/experiment in another genre, and wasn't published. My heart wasn't in that one, but it's completely in this one. (I love SF in general) In fact if there were some advice I would give - it's that. Make sure your heart is in the story. Heck, that's good advice for life but I'd better control myself now.

- Zubi.

 

[Pyan]

No need to worry about chapter length at all, Z-O - I'm reading Stephen King's Dark Tower series at the moment, and there are several chapters which are very short indeed. And it hasn't done him any harm!

 

[JDawg2.0]

Dark Tower for LIFE, dude.

Anyway, congrats on finding a system that works for you! That is, like, half the battle right there.

 

[Kissmequick]

Dark Tower for LIFE, dude.

Anyway, congrats on finding a system that works for you! That is, like, half the battle right there.

Yep, it's finding the way that works for you that's the hard part.

For me, I can't carry on if I know there are things not right in a scene / chapter or it'll jump up and down in my brain and kick me behind the eyes till I go back and fix it. ( minor tweaks / sentence composition problems are fine just I have to make sure I've got the main parts in there, even in the first draft) I'm aware that this isn't usual, but it's the way that works for me ( and means less revisions \o/) - and it obviously does colour my advice. But hey, there are probably as many methods of writing as there are writers. A friend of mine has his first drafts go like this: So X does something nasty to Y. Y gets angry. Y breaks X's nose.
That would drive me bonkers lol.

Glad you've found your way.

As for the chapter length - James Patterson probably doesn't have any chapter in his Alex Cross novels more than 3-4 pages - and if they make a film with Morgan Freeman as your main hero you aren't doing too bad.

Glad you've got past your little block - GO GO!! *does cheerleader dance*