Friday 16 September 2011

The love of chapters

I've just read a novel which has no chapters; it was just one lengthy narrative, with no sub-divisions of any kind. And it made me realise something: I love chapters.

I love the way they break the story up; the "I'll just read to the end of this chapter" thing; the way each one is a link in a chain, with a hook (of excitement/uncertainty/mystery/expectation or whatever) to lead the reader on to the next. They also give the opportunity for a clear change in POV or scene. They are a useful device, for both reader and writer.

I always write in chapters, generally quite short ones, and I don't think I could write in any other way. I tend to edit each one as I go along (which is probably bad practice, but never mind), and so each one has several little drafts of its own (I think this is probably a relic of my short story days).

How does anyone else feel? Do chapters really make that much difference?

15 comments:

  1. Chapters mean organization! How can a full length work of fiction or non fiction not have chapters?

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  2. I didn't even think novels without chapters existed. Chapters are a good thing - organisation, POV, scene change and direction all spring to mind. Good post Frances!

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  3. Yes, chapters are a "must" - they divide the book and our reading time in reasonable and practicable bits, just like mealtimes divide a day and well-deserved breaks divide the busy working hours.

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  4. Where do you stop reading if there are no chapter endings? I like to finish at the end of a chapter, especially if it has a 'turn one more page' ending. That's something to look forward to in the next reading session.

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  5. I absolutely prefer chapters, partly for that delicious sense of anticipation. Can't imagine reading a book without them!

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  6. Karen, this is so true, both for reader and writer.

    Diane, I think it's yet another gimmick; like having dashes instead of quotation marks (I've read two novels using this device in the last week!).

    Librarian, I think you put that very well!

    Lynne, I agree. Chapters help you structure your reading, don't they.

    Hi, Rosemary. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever read a novel without chapters before. I just hope this doesn't catch on!

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  7. You have to have chapters. Where else would you stop to make tea and collect biscuits, or have a night's sleep, or go and phone your dentist? Honestly, don't authors conSIDer that people have to LIVE?

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  8. The lack of chapters is my only real beef with Terry Prachett's books. but then he cheats and separates bits with *** which might as well be chapter ends.
    Actually, come to think of it, in recent times even TP has resorted to chapters.

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  9. I find that I read a book that has short cahpters much quicker than one with long ones.

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  10. Alis, I've never read any TP, but I agree. That sounds like cheating.

    Colette, that's a very good point. I think I do, too.

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  11. I like chapters when I'm writing as they make the book feel more manageable - I think the same applies to reading although I've never tried reading a book without chapters. I did try writing that way and dividing later, but didn't take long to change my mind.

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  12. Hi, Patsy. I can't imagine writing without chapters. I think life is naturally broken up into chunks (days, nights, summer, winter, term, holidays etc), and anything long and unbroken seems almost unnatural (I don't think I put that very well. Hope you see what I mean!).

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  13. I can't imagine reading a novel without chapters!

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  14. Anonymous, I'm beginning to think that Christopher Wakling's novel What I Did - the novel I was talking about - must be the only book ever written without chapters! I certainly can't remember another.

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