How many words should the first chapter be?
How many words should the first chapter be?
Most agree that under 1,000 words would be rather short and that over 5,000 might be rather too long. As a general guideline, chapters should be between 3,000 to 5,000 words. All of them agree that the chapter length should be defined by the story and that any chapter length targets you decide on are merely guidelines.
How do you write a good chapter?
Above all, be sure to give each chapter a purpose that ties into the bigger story.Start with action. Shape around plot development. Approach each chapter with a specific goal. Use chapter titling to distill your focus. Consider pacing. Show a different point of view. Seek balance.
When should I end a chapter?
Any chapter that doesn’t further the overall story in some way should be cut. This means that every chapter has a little part of the story to tell. And as soon as the chapter has told its part of the story, it should end.
Can you end a scene with dialogue?
Only end on dialogue if it makes sense to do so. Only use description to end a scene if there is something happening after dialogue. As long as you put the transition at the end, like FADE OUT or CUT TO, then any reader with half a brain will get it.