How many chapters should be in a book? If you are an aspiring writer who wants to write the next bestseller, then you must have wondered about this question. In fact, it is a pretty common one. Having an idea of the number of chapters you create helps with the setting and the pacing of the story.
If you are unsure about the book-length and the list of chapters in a book to consider, then you will find this guide quite useful. We will explore everything about it, from the average length of a book chapter to the number of chapters to consider.Â
In addition, we will also answer some related questions, such as whether chapter names are important or whether you should discard the idea. So, before you get down to writing your first book, here is what the book experts have to say.
What is a Book Chapter?
Before we dive deep into the discussion of book chapters, it is only fair that we first discuss what a chapter is exactly. While some may have a general idea, for those new to writing, a chapter refers to the division of a book, mostly novels of fiction.Â
In a book, the chapter marks the pagination. They serve a purpose to both readers and writers. For writers, it helps structure their content and break it down to make it easier for readers to understand.Â
On the other hand, the book chapter serves as a natural stopping for readers to take a break. You cannot expect a reader to finish a lengthy book in a single sitting; through chapter divisions, it makes the book reader-friendly.Â
How Long Should a Chapter Be?
Chapters offer a great way to break down the book to make it easier to understand. Without them, readers could get overwhelmed by a never-ending wall of text that lasts till the last page. But you can say the same about the chapter. If kept too long, it could do harm rather than good. Â
For that, let us consider the average length of a book chapter first. A book chapter needs to be of a length that ensures they do not feel reading is an obstacle rather than enjoyment. In addition, it should be lengthy enough that the reader does not get tired of reading before the chapter finishes.
To understand how long a book chapter needs to be, let’s first consider the average time a person spends with a book in the UK. Recent data indicates that the average person spends about 44 minutes reading. And if we exclude breaks and other distractions, then the reading time would go down to half an hour. Now, you cannot expect a person to keep their eyes glued to the page. Even if they did, there is a limit to their attention span. After the interval ends, they cannot fully concentrate on what they are doing. Your book chapter also needs to consider it as well.Â
Attention span can vary from person to person, as a study on attention span during lectures revealed that the average person can have different attention spans. But for the sake of argument, let us consider the average person to keep their attention for 15 minutes. That should be the average time a person should spend on a chapter.Â
Considering the average reading speed is 230 words per minute, we can assume that during the 15-minute length, a person can read around 3,450 words. Rounding it off to 3,000, and that should be the benchmark you should set for each chapter.Â
However, the average length of the book chapter should be the least of your concerns while starting your book. While writing your book’s first draft, you should only concentrate on completing it with minimal length in mind. As it progresses to publishing, the chapter standards are set throughout the book.
How Many Chapters in A Book- Standard Book Chapters?
Now that we got the chapter length out of the way let us now consider the number of chapters in a book. In reality, the number of chapters in a book may seem random to readers, but for writers, it is a completely different story.Â
Writers have to give a lot of thought to the total chapters they want to include. In general, you may find some books to have around 10 chapters, while others may have 30-50 chapters in the list of chapters in their book, being around 30-50.Â
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to deciding on the number of chapters. The better way of solving this problem is to think like a reader rather than a writer. Consider the pacing of the story and its plot. Having an idea of how your story unfolds can help how many pages in a chapter to include in a book.Â
Another way you can get an idea of the number of chapters is by investigating your genre. Consider some popular titles and assign them genres. Observe how many words are in a chapter and the total number of chapters it has. It could help give you an idea of how many chapters you should have, depending on your word count.Â
Book Title |
Author | Parts/Chapters | Word Count (rounded to the nearest 1000) |
Genre |
The Lord of the Rings | J.R.R. Tolkien | Book 1, Book 2, Book 3 | 455,000 | Fantasy, Adventure |
The Catcher in the Rye | J.D. Salinger | Chapters 1-26 | 73,000 | Fiction, Coming-of-Age |
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe | C.S. Lewis | Chapter 1-17 | 38,000 | Fantasy |
The Great Gatsby | F. Scott Fitzgerald | Chapters 1-9 | 50,000 | Fiction |
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone | J.K. Rowling | Chapter 1-17 | 77,000 | Fantasy, Young Adult |
The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien | Chapter 1-19 | 95,000 | Fantasy, Adventure |
To the Lighthouse | Virginia Woolf | Part 1, Part 2 | 60,000 | Modernist, Fiction |
Which Books Need Chapters?
Not every book requires a chapter. Chapters are required for the setting of the story’s pacing and to ensure readers are kept engaged. For instance, children’s picture books would not need chapters to tell the story. They are kept short and simple and portray the story via pictures rather than words. The same can be said for a poetry collection. You cannot structure poems, as each poem serves as a standalone piece. Â
However, there are certain types of books that do require chapters. These are:
- Fiction
- Novels
- Memoir
- Novellas
- Short Stories
Let’s take a look at each of them to learn how many chapters are in each book type:
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Fiction:
Fiction stories are all about bringing ideas to life. These books let the writer unleash their creativity, which is why they are far more descriptive compared to other book types. This can be evidenced by this chart:
Book Title |
Author | Chapters |
Word Count (rounded to the nearest 1000) |
“The Great Gatsby” | F. Scott Fitzgerald | Chapters 1-9 | 50,000 |
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” | J.K. Rowling | Chapter 1-17 | 77,000 |
“The Catcher in the Rye” | J.D. Salinger | Chapters 1-26 | 73,000 |
“The Lord of the Rings” | J.R.R. Tolkien | Book 1, Book 2, Book 3 | 455,000 |
“To the Lighthouse” | Virginia Woolf | Part 1, Part 2 | 60,000 |
Depending on the fiction genre, the chapters may vary. If we look at fantasy, then we can easily find books with more than 10 chapters. These are the most descriptive genres in fiction. It focuses on world-building. However, if you consider other genres in fiction, you’ll notice the chapter count to be around 10-12. So, if you’re aiming to write a fiction book, aim around this number.Â
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Novels:
If you’re wondering how many chapters to have in a novel, they are pretty much the same. Novels can have around 10-12 chapters. However, the number can vary depending on the author’s preference. The best way of finding the right number of chapters for a novel depends on how you divide the story. Some authors can add an epilogue at the end. It is the shortest chapter in the book. They focus on wrapping up the story and removing any loose ends before the story ends.Â
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Memoirs:
Memoirs are non-fiction pieces that focus on storytelling based on memories they want to share. If you are wondering how many chapters are in a memoir, then memoirs typically range around 10-20 chapters. Some memoirs may have more, but it depends on the author’s preference.Â
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Novellas:
Think of novellas as mini versions of novels. Being short novels, they will have fewer chapters than a novel. As typical novels are around 10-12 chapters, a novella may have 7-10 chapters. Novellas are just as enjoyable as novels as they have a concise and focused story.Â
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Short Stories:
Do short stories have chapters? Just because they have short in their name does not mean they are actually short. Although they are shorter compared to other book types, they are great to read on the go. Short stories can have around 3-5 chapters.Â
Is It Necessary to Have Book Chapters of the Same Length?
Apart from the question of how many chapters to have in a book, another related common question that new writers have is whether each chapter has the same length. To answer this, you should know that as there are no hard and fast rules in deciding the number of chapters, similar can be said about the word count.Â
However, you should consider the benchmark to be around 3,000 words, but you should first consider the story to determine the number of chapters. Think of the chapter as pauses. Rather than breaking them at regular intervals, focus on whether the pause is necessary or not.Â
As a general rule, a chapter of similar length does not really matter. If you have the first chapter around 4,000 words, then it is fine for the next chapters to be around 1,200 words, 3,000 words and 1,500 words. Â
Tips for Writing a Book Chapter
When you get down to writing, you need to ensure each chapter flows smoothly and tells an engaging story. Here are a few tips that you can use to write more effectively:
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Start with a Hook:
Never go for generic openings like “once upon a time.” Readers are bored of hearing stories like this. To keep them engaged, you should start with a hook. What do we mean by that? Well, start with something that makes them curious. Rather than build a story, throw them into it. This can turn your plain old story into a real page-turner.Â
For instance, here is something that you can use for a crime fiction novel:
In the dim glow of a single streetlamp, the city held its breath, shrouded in an unsettling silence. That night, a single gunshot fractured the stillness, echoing through the alleyways and setting in motion a series of events that would entwine my fate with the enigma of a life taken too soon.
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Keep Chapters Short:
Rather than portray long scenes, consider keeping them short for their first novel. This will allow you to progress at a fast pace. Rather than 5,000 words per chapter, go for shorter ones, around 3,000 words. But do remember that there is no hard and fast rule in writing. If you believe your story pacing requires that you write longer chapters, go ahead.Â
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Ensure Each Chapter has a Purpose:
Rather than just write to meet word count, focus on the purpose each chapter plays. A novel or story will be meaningless if they do not have a purpose. So, ensure that your novel has a clear purpose that you want every scene of your story to focus on.Â
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Keep your Novel Clutter Free:
Although it is crucial that you paint the picture and offer a comprehensive description of the scene playing out in the novel, ensure that you do not get hung on the details. Rather than focusing on every detail, clear out the parts that are unnecessary or redundant.Â
Names Should Be Assigned to Chapters Yes OR No?
Another question that writers have is whether you should give each chapter a name. Again, we recall the same statement we made earlier that there are no hard and fast rules to writing. If you feel that a chapter title is necessary, then be sure to read it. There is nothing against using chapter titles. It can help readers get a better understanding of the chapter.Â
If you consider self-help books, you can notice that these books have chapters with titles. On the other hand, if you believe titles to be unnecessary, then avoid using them. It can help build suspense in the story while keeping the readers in their seats.Â
Now, Write Your Book Chapters with Our Guidance
With this, you now know how many chapters to keep in your book. If you are new to writing, then 3,000 words for each chapter is a good chapter, but if you believe your story pacing requires more or less, then consider changing that length. For any genre you write about, be sure to research them first and how many chapters they use. Through it, you can plan out how many chapters to put in your novel or book.Â
FAQs:
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How to Cite Chapters in a Book?
When citing a chapter in a book, follow this general format: Authors. (Year). Tite of the Chapter. In Editors Initials, and last name (Ed(s).), Title of the Book (pp. Page range). Publisher.Â
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How Long Is the Average Chapter in a Book?
The typical chapter should be around 3,000 words. However, this length can vary depending on your story’s pacing.Â
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How Many Chapters Are in a Fiction Book?
A fiction book can have around 10-12 chapters. But more can be added depending on the author.Â
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What Is the Average Number of Words in a Chapter?
A chapter should have around 3,000 words.Â