I think I’m really lucky because pacing has always come
naturally to me. Having said that comes
the question, how do you know when to end a chapter? Again, that just comes naturally to me. I decide how long my book will be and how
many pages I want in each chapter. Let’s
say that number is fifteen. My style is
to write from my hero and heroine’s point-of-view; one chapter hero, next
heroine, etc. I jot down what page (give
or take) my chapter should end . . . and keep on writing. The strange thing – when it starts feeling
like the end of a chapter, that’s about fifteen pages.
Now that I have the pacing down, I always keep in mind the
chapter should end in a way that makes it nearly impossible for the reader to
put my book down. Yep, I want them
reading into the wee hours of the morning.
I want the reader to struggle closing the cover. So let’s discuss how to do just that.
Strange as it may sound, this is one area of writing you should not
turn to the classics for help. In the days of Dickens, the first few pages of
each chapter served to get the reader ready for the events to come. Let’s face
it; today’s readers have less patience.
Creative chaptering is more imperative than ever. Think about
it, by starting and ending in the right places, chapter breaks assist in
building suspense and keeping your readers reading. Unlike sentences or
paragraphs, chapter breaks can assist by producing intense pauses.
I have a tentative, pacing chapter break in mind. But I never hold myself to that fifteen pages
if the story isn’t unfolding or intensifying on that fifteenth page. Don’t be so restrictive that your chapter
break is forced, or not leading into the next chapter. I believe the most effective chapter breaks
are created by writing first, and evaluating as the chapters unfold.
As I mentioned earlier, only as you begin actually writing the
novel should you give any thought to the chapter structure. As a chapter
unfolds, I wait until I get to a point that jumps out as a good place for a
break. To me the chapter break feels
right . . . it’s a jolt of excitement.
It’s a question or a statement.
It should make my reader ask; Really? Why? Could it be? or just plain
leave my reader gasping.
Sometimes a chapter break serves the purpose of a changes of
place or changes of time. My chapter changes
always involve a change of point of view.
But even though this is the case, they are also ending in suspense,
drama, internal conflict, or a suggested change of some kind—of place, of
perspective, of plot direction.
Not realizing it, chapter breaks offer stability and pacing—both
of which are essential for balancing your story. So how
can you end a chapter so that the sleepy reader is forced to keep the light on?
If you want your reader to say; I couldn’t-put-the-book-down, the
good old-fashioned cliffhanger is often the key.
But let’s face it, every chapter can’t end this way. It becomes expected, which is something you
don’t ever want anybody to say about your novel. It’s obvious that after a while this tactic
loses its punch. Suspension of disbelief can go just so far. Never forget that any cliffhanger has to be an
integral part of the whole story, not a superfluous red-herring inserted just
for effect.
Another thing to consider is that a cliffhanger chapter ending doesn’t
have to be an action scene. If you leave your reader “hanging,” you’re chapter
break works for you.
Use techniques like these to your sleepy reader fighting to keep
her/his eyes open all night, page by page, chapter by chapter, book by book.
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