I have currently released about 25k words and wanted advice on some things.

[Dreamingstar]

Currently I have released about 22 chapters which is about 25k words and I want to ask advice on when I should end the first arc of my novel as this is my first time deciding it. Currently I am thinking of choosing one of these word counts 50k or 65k.
Other than this I would also greatly appreciate any and all advice regarding how I could improve the novel.

 

[GreenBlue17]

It's upto you if you want to divide your story in arc.

 

[SsemouyOnan]

End it when all the important plot points are resolved. Or if you're a pantser, when you feel like it should end.

It's not like you're being paid per volume or word count, so putting a hard limit will just cause you to either rush things or write unnecessary filler.

 

[Dreamingstar]

End it when all the important plot points are resolved. Or if you're a pantser, when you feel like it should end.

It's not like you're being paid per volume or word count, so putting a hard limit will just cause you to either rush things or write unnecessary filler.

Hmm then I think I will probably end it in 50k words as at that point a major plot will end, and thanks for the advice. Also I was just a little nervous if 50k would be too small or big for the first arc.

It's upto you if you want to divide your story in arc.

Okay ? thanks for the advice.

 

[Roseofblades]

I write my stories in Arcs. I wrap up each Arc when I feel the entire focus on what my MC is doing shifts.

Think of a game of D&D: Get the quest for the thing. Travel to do the thing. Do the thing. Climax about the thing. Aftermath after doing the thing. Traveling back from doing the thing. Getting rewards and celebrating from completing the thing.

Some of my Arcs are ~20 chapters, which ends up being roughly 40k words. Others are either that length or longer. It all depends on the natural conclusion of whatever "the thing" is. Don't constrain yourself to a set limit of words, otherwise, like others said you'll end up either with filler content or going over what you planned. What happens if you reach that many words and you are still not through wrapping everything up? Are you going to shorten it? Instead of going for Arc word count, stick with an average chapter word count. For me that's at least 2k words.

 

[Dreamingstar]

I write my stories in Arcs. I wrap up each Arc when I feel the entire focus on what my MC is doing shifts.

Think of a game of D&D: Get the quest for the thing. Travel to do the thing. Do the thing. Climax about the thing. Aftermath after doing the thing. Traveling back from doing the thing. Getting rewards and celebrating from completing the thing.

Some of my Arcs are ~20 chapters, which ends up being roughly 40k words. Others are either that length or longer. It all depends on the natural conclusion of whatever "the thing" is. Don't constrain yourself to a set limit of words, otherwise, like others said you'll end up either with filler content or going over what you planned. What happens if you reach that many words and you are still not through wrapping everything up? Are you going to shorten it? Instead of going for Arc word count, stick with an average chapter word count. For me that's at least 2k words.

Thanks a lot for this advice I will make sure to not focus on word count and I suggested 50k words as I have already written the major event ending at that point in the backlog. I will probably end the first arc “Evergreen Beginnings” at chapter 48 which is a little after the end of the major event to show the aftermath of the event and what other characters think of that event in a POV chapter.
That D&D advice of yours is a very good example actually, will make sure to keep that in mind.

 

[Comiak]

the arc ends when the arc ends. Don't force it. Listen to your instincts even if it goes against your plans or have to rethink major plot points.

 

[Dreamingstar]

the arc ends when the arc ends. Don't force it. Listen to your instincts even if it goes against your plans or have to rethink major plot points.

Understood I will make sure not to ignore my instincts and follow them to end the arc. Thanks for the advice.

 

[prognastat]

Depends on how you write. If you plan out your story in arcs you should at least have a rough idea when a particular arc is going to end. If you pants it then if there are arcs they likely aren't going to be near as defined as such. Even when planning it out though there is no way you are going to know exactly how long an arc is going to be because it kind of depends on how long it needs to be. Sure you can pus and pull the word count on things a bit as you go, but depending on your pacing and how things go as you write it's hard to plan all that exactly how much is going to be needed to get your arc done while having good pacing on the way to the climax.

Personally if you are going to plan out pretty lengthy arcs I would probably make them around 40k-60k words which is usually around the size of what a light novel tends to be which more often work on an arc structure. This is entirely preference though, but would likely work since your book seems heavuily inspired by Japanese web/light novels and manga. If you want to write a 100k arc and you plan it well and that's how much it takes to write the major arc you want to write go for it. It really only matters if you want to publish it physically in which case generally the size of the books for printing starts mattering more than it does on a website like here.

 

[Dreamingstar]

Depends on how you write. If you plan out your story in arcs you should at least have a rough idea when a particular arc is going to end. If you pants it then if there are arcs they likely aren't going to be near as defined as such. Even when planning it out though there is no way you are going to know exactly how long an arc is going to be because it kind of depends on how long it needs to be. Sure you can pus and pull the word count on things a bit as you go, but depending on your pacing and how things go as you write it's hard to plan all that exactly how much is going to be needed to get your arc done while having good pacing on the way to the climax.

Personally if you are going to plan out pretty lengthy arcs I would probably make them around 40k-60k words which is usually around the size of what a light novel tends to be which more often work on an arc structure. This is entirely preference though, but would likely work since your book seems heavuily inspired by Japanese web/light novels and manga. If you want to write a 100k arc and you plan it well and that's how much it takes to write the major arc you want to write go for it. It really only matters if you want to publish it physically in which case generally the size of the books for printing starts mattering more than it does on a website like here.

Thanks a lot for this in depth advice and you are completely right in that I took inspiration from Japanese isekai novels and especially the litrpg genre itself. And I will certainly take it to heart, thanks for the advice.

 

[Deleted member 68927]

Like @SsemouyOnan said, just trust your gut. If you have resolved something major or story changing, you can easily end the arc there. Don't worry that it is too short or too long. Let your characters play their roles and show you where the arc ends.

It is their journey, after all.

Happy writing, and best of luck with your story! =)

 

[TheEldritchGod]

Well let's see... my book1 is 288k three acts, first plot arc is act 1, divide by three, so 96k words per plot arc.

 

[J_Chemist]

First arc came out to be around 520k across 75 Chapters + Prologue + Epilogue.

Write what you want, how you want. Word count is arbitrary. So long as you tell the story you want, at the pace you want, with the plot points and substance you want, word count doesn't matter. Use it as a yard stick to measure your distance but don't use it to confine yourself. You don't need to break your story into Arcs if you can tell everything in one go, but Arcs will help you organize your plot and lineate your story. It'll break your story down into cubes/chunks/bricks and allow you to focus on each section at a time, rather than the entire story all at once.

 

[Sylver]

Well I'm a bit jealous, at this rate you're stats will overpass mine in about four or five weeks. This whole keep adding chapters to maybe see if people give my stuff a shot is becoming a bane to my insecurities

Don't think about the word count as the deciding factor for where to conclude your first arc. Do it once you feel it's the right time. You can resolve some arcs and conclude on the introductions of your main cast, and leave some intrigue and unanswered questions for higher intrigue for the readers to come back to start the second act.

It depends on the genre and what you're looking for in your story, but I think my advice applies to any genre overall. The first act sets up the main cast of characters, character development, establishing the plot, and whatever goal is set for the characters to accomplish. Act 2 is the rising action, further progress leads to greater or more obstacles, and the third act is the climax and falling action, where the biggest obstacle is overcome and all stories are concluded once the conclusion arrives.

Good luck with your story, you're doing great!

 

[Syahardian]

just end it with the way you want to end it. Like others said, if the plot point of that arc is going to be resolved soon and the major plot point for further arc has already been introduced to be used later (foreshadowing, etc), you can end the arc there.

My first arc still ongoing with 17 chapters and more than 40k words, gonna end soon tho.

Personally, word count or the amount of the chapters are not necessarily the primary calculation for the arc structure. It's the way the arc are written, introduced, and executed things to be the way the writer wants it to be. Good luck with your story and don't forget to have fun with it!