[stylist] why do chapters?

[James Canaday M.A. N6YR]

why do the chaptering?

I'm assuming that most authors set out the chapter organization 
before they write?

I realized on reflection that I was asking this question about 
fiction book writing.  nonfiction  topics often just fit right into a 
chapter organization.

what's the shortest work appropriate for chapters?  a 
5,000-word  "short" story?  and in that case you don't necessarily 
have a table of contents and title each but you write the text with 
an extra blank line  between the end paragraph of one chapter and the 
beginning of the next chapter.
is that correct?

so far on this there've been four responses: Lori just doesn't and I 
would love to know more about that; Aziza  says it is to 
organize  what's important in the story; Justin points out you can 
use chapters to change perspective or time; and Helene says chapters 
make the reading easier to digest (I hope that's a good choice of words).

I hope we can continue this, as I want to learn   more on making chapters.
jc

Jim Canaday M.A.
Lawrence, KS

At 04:18 PM 4/4/2009, you wrote:
>Chapters make it easier for the reader. Personally I find books that
>don't have chapters or have very long chapters, hard to get into.
>
>Helene.
>
>On 04/04/2009, Justin Williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > It is a good way to segway into something else.  Chapter two can be
> > completely different than chapter one.  It allows you to switch characters.
> > Also, it helps with the setting up of different plot lines in a book.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> > Behalf Of James Canaday M.A. N6YR
> > Sent: Saturday, April 04, 2009 1:06 AM
> > To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
> > Subject: [stylist] why do chapters?
> >
> > Alan and others,
> > I think we should discuss this.  do we set chapters because everybody
> > seems to do it?  because it gives the reader to catch his or her
> > breath?  because it makes changes of perspective easier?  to help
> > readers recollection of what they read?
> >
> > why do we designate chapters?
> >
> > jc
> >
> > Jim Canaday M.A.
> > Lawrence, KS
> >
> >
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