When writing a thriller novel, how long should a chapter be? This is an important question, as it can affect your book’s pacing and overall strategy.
This blog post will discuss how long chapters should be and offer tips on making the most of them. We’ll also provide some word count guidelines to help you stay on track.
Length of a typical chapter in a thriller novel
When writing a thriller, keeping the pacing tight and the suspense high is essential. You should carefully craft to move the story forward and keep readers engaged. But how long should each chapter be?
There is no one answer to this question, as it will vary depending on the type of book you’re writing and your personal preferences. However, there are some general guidelines you can follow. Generally, chapters in a thriller should be shorter than in other genres, focusing on action and suspense.
Pacing and how chapter length affects it
If you’re not sure how long your average chapter length should be, start by brainstorming the key events that need to happen in each one. Once you understand the flow of the story, you can begin to map out how many scenes will be required to tell it effectively. Each set should advance the plot and keep readers engaged, so err on the side of shorter chapters if you’re unsure.
Remember: When editing your novel, it’s essential to pay attention to the pacing. If a chapter is too slow or fast, it can throw off the entire book. Generally, you want each chapter to end with a cliffhanger or some suspenseful moment, which will keep the reader engaged and ensure that they keep turning the pages.
Why do some authors choose to break chapters into shorter, more manageable pieces?
The benefits of breaking your chapters into shorter pieces:
When you break your chapter into smaller pieces, it becomes easier to see the overall structure of your book. You can visualize each chapter’s beginning, middle, and end, which can help you map out your book’s flow before you start writing.
It’s also much easier to write a chapter when it’s broken down into smaller pieces. You don’t have to worry about outlining the entire thing before you start writing – you can focus on a tiny section at a time. This makes the writing process less daunting, and it helps you to stay focused on your task at hand.
Generally, a chapter in a thriller novel should be around 2-4 pages long. This will help keep the reader engaged and keep the pacing of the story moving along. Too much information or plot twists in one chapter can confuse or overwhelm the reader, so it’s important to spread the action evenly throughout the book.
The benefits of keeping your chapters longer
There are certain benefits of keeping your chapters longer
1. When writing a thriller, it’s essential to maintain a fast pace. Longer chapters can help you do that by providing more opportunities to build tension and suspense.
2. In a thriller, the end of every chapter should leave readers wanting more. Keeping your chapters longer will create more opportunities for cliffhangers and page-turners.
How to determine the length of your own chapters
Keep in mind that the length of your chapters should also be strategic. For example, shorter chapters can be practical if you’re trying to build suspense.
On the other hand, longer chapters may be appropriate if you want to slow things down and focus on character development.
The best way to determine how long your chapters should be is to look at how many stories you have to tell. If you have a lot of action and plot twists, you’ll need longer chapters to accommodate all the information.
On the other hand, if your story is more character-driven, you can get away with shorter chapters.
The power of the chapter break
One of the key elements in a thriller is keeping the reader hooked and turning the pages. A well-placed chapter break can help to do just that by providing a sense of anticipation and excitement.
It also allows the author to control the pacing of the story, which is especially important in a thriller where suspense is key.
That said, there’s no set rule on how many chapters a thriller should have. It really depends on how long the story needs to be in order to build suspense and keep the reader engaged.
As a general guideline, it’s usually best to keep chapters short and concise so that they don’t slow down the pace of the story.
Chapter word count goals
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as the word count goal for each chapter will vary depending on the genre, book length, and other factors.
However, here are some general tips to help you achieve the correct word count for your thriller:
– Before you start writing your novel, outline the plot and brainstorm ideas for each chapter. This will help you stay on track while writing and ensure that each chapter is well-rounded and contributes to the story arc. (More on that in the November 14, 2022 blog: The Thriller Writing Process. To find it, use the link at the end of this blog.)
– During the actual writing process, aim to complete at least 1,000 words daily. This may seem like a lot, but it’s doable if you break it down into smaller chunks (i.e., 500 words in the morning and 500 words in the evening).
– After you’ve finished writing the first draft of your novel, it’s time to start editing. You can worry about sentence structure, grammar, and word choice during this process.
One of the most important aspects of editing is trimming the word count. While it’s important to include enough detail to paint a picture for the reader, you don’t want to include unnecessary fluff. In general, each chapter should be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
Examples from popular thrillers to illustrate different chapter lengths
– Chapters can be short or long, depending on the author’s preference and the story’s pacing. For example, in the thriller Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, most chapters are around four pages long, while some are just one paragraph long. This gives the reader a sense of quickly progressing tension throughout the novel.
– On the other hand, in Stephen King’s horror classic It, most chapters are much longer, spanning anywhere from five to thirty pages. He uses this slower pacing to build suspense and tension throughout the novel. It also allows for more development of characters and plotlines. Ultimately, it’s up to the author to decide what works best for their story.
– In The Da Vinci Code, the first chapter is thirteen pages long. The rest of the chapters are about five pages long.
– The first chapter in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is eight pages long. The rest of the chapters are about four pages long.
– Christopher Nolan’s thriller Memento is divided into five chapters, each of which is approximately 20 minutes long. This film tells the story of Leonard Shelby, a man with short-term memory loss, as he attempts to track down his wife’s killer.
– The classic Hitchcock thriller Psycho is divided into four chapters, each approximately 30 minutes long. This film tells the story of Norman Bates and his twisted relationship with his mother.
– Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster Jaws is divided into three chapters, each of which is approximately 45 minutes long. This film tells the story of a giant shark terrorizing a small town.
– The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is an excellent example of a thriller with short chapters. The chapters are usually less than two pages long, and there are around 25 chapters in the book. This makes for a page-turning read that keeps you engaged throughout the story.
– If you’re looking for a thriller with longer chapter lengths, I suggest checking out Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. The chapters in this book are around 7-10 pages long, and there are only 16 chapters. Even though the chapters are longer, they’re still easy to read because of the exciting characters and plot.
These examples show no set rule for how long a chapter should be in a thriller novel. It ultimately depends on the author’s style and what they think will work best.
The takeaway
When it comes to how long a chapter should be in a thriller novel, there are a few things to keep in mind.
1. First, think about the overall pacing of your story.
2. Consider the average word count that feels comfortable for you.
3. And finally, take a look at some examples from popular thrillers to get a sense of what other authors are doing.
Ultimately, the decision is up to you, but following these guidelines will help you make the best choice for your novel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the length of a chapter in a thriller novel can vary depending on the author’s intent. Pacing is vital when determining how long or short your chapters should be. Breaking up chapters into shorter pieces can be beneficial to keep readers engaged, but there are also advantages to longer chapters.
Ultimately, it is up to the author to decide what will work best for their story. However, by looking at examples from popular thrillers, you can better understand what has worked well for other authors and use that as guidance for your writing.
I hope this has been helpful!
If you’re working on your first novel and are looking for more help with your writing, please check out my other writing articles at https://ullahakanson.com/blog/
All the best,
Ulla