More short chapters or fewer long ones?

[ThisAdamGuy]

As readers, what do you prefer in a webserial? One that updates more with shorter chapters, or one with longer chapters that updates less often? Say, one that updates five days a week with 500 word chapters, or once a week with a single 2000 word chapter? Or maybe somewhere in between, with two 1000 word chapters per week?

 

[Tempokai]

Less than 1000 words are not chapters, they are scenes. Once a week 2000 words is the NU standard for niche titles, so I choose that

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I found the sweet spot to be between 800 and 1200 words a chapter if you are writing 6-7 days a week. 2000-3000 for when you release chapters 2-3 times a week. 5000+ if it's a once a week or monthly update.

 

[Astrolust]

500 words is such a bite sized scene too. I’m pro author at all costs tho. So if that’s what they enjoy writing then screw everyone else. But I don’t like to read less than maybe 1500 a chapter. 2k words a week is fine to me

 

[Empress_Omnii]

2000 word chapters less frequent is always better, but I prefer long chapters. Though it should be split if it starts getting to 8000+, because it's not a easy to read on the go.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Whatever you need to tell the story. I've seen published novels with a single, short, sentence for a chapter (Peter David's Howling Mad has a chapter that is only "It seemed the polite thing to do."), and others where a scene was broken up and still took about 5k per installment to cover. I do not believe there is a "sweet spot" - or if there IS, it is "whatever leaves the reader wanting more but not feeling cheated."

 

[ThisAdamGuy]

I ask because everyone says the best way to gain readers is to have constant updates. On RR, you're not even supposed to start uploading until you have 20,000 words ready to go all at once if you want to get onto the Rising Stars list. But I don't have the time to write enough 2000+ word chapters that I could release a new one every day and still have a good sized buffer, unless I was okay with not releasing a book for the next decade (I'm not). So instead I thought about taking one normal sized chapter and breaking it up into multiple bite sized chapters. That way I could keep my stories the same length they already are, and still manage to have constant updates.

 

[Daydreamers]

i don't mind but 500 is too short, I think
I prefer chapters to be between 900 and 1,100

 

[Macha]

Depends on the genre. If you write something like litrpg, 1000 words are too short because the actual words are around 500 and the rest are just stats and numbers padding the chapter.

 

[Mystic_Grasshopper]

In truth it's really up to what you feel matches the pace of your story, as an author.

As for the readers, on this site in particular, it's kind of a mish mash, you can get away with as little as 300~ words in an isekai fantasy story assuming there's an interest in the premise you're advertising.

 

[Comatoast]

I'm writing a comedy cluster-truck of a novel and because it's scope is so broad and nuanced, I only make 1000 word chapters at a time.

For my first real novel it helps me organize it scene by scene which helps my brain a ton in organizing thinga like motives and structure.
It's important to think about what helps you the most and what you find to organize your thoughts more.

 

[John_Owl]

I found the sweet spot to be between 800 and 1200 words a chapter if you are writing 6-7 days a week. 2000-3000 for when you release chapters 2-3 times a week. 5000+ if it's a once a week or monthly update.

I personally shoot for 1.5-3k twice a week. My rule of thumb is "The length of time required for a standard poop". Since I write smut, maybe a little longer if it's an NSFW scene.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

I prefer not reading anything over 4k. 1k-3k is a sweet spot for webnovels

 

[ElijahRyne]

As readers, what do you prefer in a webserial? One that updates more with shorter chapters, or one with longer chapters that updates less often? Say, one that updates five days a week with 500 word chapters, or once a week with a single 2000 word chapter? Or maybe somewhere in between, with two 1000 word chapters per week?

As someone who wrote a story with multiple 500 word chapters, it is way too short. I think 2-3x a week 1.5k+ words is the standard here on SH.

 

[Deleted member 167438]

I prefer not reading anything over 4k. 1k-3k is a sweet spot for webnovels

I agree, usually I only have a short amount of time to read and when I open to a massive 4k word chapter, I usually have to bookmark it to come back to later.

 

[Anonjohn20]

As readers, what do you prefer in a webserial? One that updates more with shorter chapters, or one with longer chapters that updates less often? Say, one that updates five days a week with 500 word chapters, or once a week with a single 2000 word chapter? Or maybe somewhere in between, with two 1000 word chapters per week?

Once a week is fine, I'd go with the longer chapters. Now if you were to post once every two months, then no matter how long your chapters are, the fanbase won't grow.

 

[ElijahRyne]

As someone who wrote a story with multiple 500 word chapters, it is way too short. I think 2-3x a week 1.5k+ words is the standard here on SH.

For some reason I decided to go with one 500 word chapter a week…

 

[SternenklarenRitter]

I tend to prefer longer chapters than most people. 8k-10k is about a size I like, but most people like around 4k-6k words. As an author trying to be read, about 3k words may be optimal so you show up on recent chapters more often, but aren't so short as to annoy readers.

 

[Nolff]

As readers, what do you prefer in a webserial? One that updates more with shorter chapters, or one with longer chapters that updates less often? Say, one that updates five days a week with 500 word chapters, or once a week with a single 2000 word chapter? Or maybe somewhere in between, with two 1000 word chapters per week?

Less than 1000 words are not chapters, they are scenes. Once a week 2000 words is the NU standard for niche titles, so I choose that

I personally shoot for 1.5-3k twice a week. My rule of thumb is "The length of time required for a standard poop". Since I write smut, maybe a little longer if it's an NSFW scene.

I tend to prefer longer chapters than most people. 8k-10k is about a size I like, but most people like around 4k-6k words. As an author trying to be read, about 3k words may be optimal so you show up on recent chapters more often, but aren't so short as to annoy readers.

Once a week is fine, I'd go with the longer chapters. Now if you were to post once every two months, then no matter how long your chapters are, the fanbase won't grow.

I prefer not reading anything over 4k. 1k-3k is a sweet spot for webnovels

Me: "Dang, everyone writes that much. I Should be able to write so many words too! Let's do it!"

Me with ADHD, 5 minutes later:

 

[John_Owl]

Me: "Dang, everyone writes that much. I Should be able to write so many words too! Let's do it!"

Me with ADHD, 5 minutes later:

View attachment 34291

Not to worry. I'm ADHD as well. But I can hyperfocus, especially if I have a sort of "ritual" before hand. Bathroom, eat, sound-cancelling headphones, loud music, and keep my eyes on my screen. My most productive day was over 14k words, with breaks every hour to stand, stretch, etc. But I rarely go above 1k words a day. Though I'm trying to get back up to 2k.