[stylist] why do chapters?

Wed Apr 8 03:14:39 UTC 2009

On a lot of the books on tape that I've read the chapters are numbered 
rather than named.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 9:06 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] why do chapters?


> Hello,
>
> Yes Judith,  I have noticed a number of authors who mention a character in
> the first sentence of each chapter.  This makes it easy for the reader to
> follow a scene change or a change of point of view.
>
> Regarding numbering or naming chapters, I kind of like named chapters,
> though they are more of a riddle for me than a guide post.  I guess I am a
> little dense, sometimes.
>
> Warm Regards,
>
> Fred
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Judith Bron
> Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 10:50 PM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] why do chapters?
>
> JC, For me making chapters draws lines between certain actions, actions of
> different characters, new twists in the plot and other separations when
> necessary.  aListening to other books by different authors this seems to 
> be
> what they do when creating chapters in their fiction.  Judith
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "James Canaday M.A. N6YR" <n6yr at sunflower.com>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 5:22 PM
> 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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