When do you start reading a novel?

[greyliliy]

One chapter. Usually I can tell if I want to keep reading by that point.

On a Serial fiction site, initial momentum is important so giving new stories a chance is generally good. XD

 

[melchi]

I don't know if there is a specific number of chapters though that is a part of it.

Usually if I'm looking for a new fiction I'll do the following

1.) Do a search, include tags I like, exclude tags I don't like.
2.) Sort by word count.

So while word count will be #1 important, things like number of chapters, chapter length grammar quality is sorta mushed together. Fictions that have chapters with less than 1500 words is a count against them IMO. So a fiction with 30 chapters that average 1000 words vs one that has 30 chapters of 1500+ words would be taken into consideration.

It not being dropped is important, but not as important as having a big chunk already. There are some unfinished works that end abruptly and I appreciate them even if they are not finished.

 

[RepresentingDesire]

The content of the novel is more important than chapter amount to me.

 

[esThr]

Usually I see it through a processing filter of sort

Does the premise interest me? If yes next
Is the chapter per week decent? If 2> above next
Is the chapter count to word count ratio normal? If yes 1 chapter rule

 

[TsumiHokiro]

This bird has grown from the novel chapter phase. In the past, it would only consider reading things with a minimum amount of chapters/words, but it now looks for quality over quantity, therefore the synopsis, grammar quality, content of the first chapter is much more important than any amount of available the book has. After all, why should this chick cares if it has 100k+ words if it will be dropping the book before reaching 10k words?

 

[Ruti]

I start reading whenever it is I'm both interested in it, finished the remaining chapters for ones I'm currently reading primarily, and find it in my reading list (I put ones I'm interested in then go back later when me is bored)