[stylist] why do chapters?

Tue Apr 7 14:14:55 UTC 2009

Every fiction writer, like any other writer, works in a format that is good 
for them.  Chapters work for me.  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barbara Hammel" <poetlori8 at msn.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 11:15 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] why do chapters?


> If I were a fiction writer, which I do when my poet mind quits, I would 
> write the whole story first before deciding where chapter breaks would be. 
> I think chapter breaks are needed for the reader to come up for air.
> I know when reading "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy there were times when 
> I thought I'd drown because the chapters were so long.  If they'd had no 
> chapters, I wouldn't be sitting here today.  They would have forced all 
> the air from my lungs and I'd be six feet under.  LOL!
> Barbara
>
> If wisdom's ways you wisely seek, five things observe with care:  of whom 
> you speak, to whom you speak, and how and when and where.
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "James Canaday M.A.  N6YR" <n6yr at sunflower.com>
> Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 4:22 PM
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] why do chapters?
>
>> 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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>
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