In my previous post I touched on short chapters and, to keep my posts short, will make a new one on this topic :-). I prefer short chapters of approx. three to five pages in length (about 700 to 1200 words). When I had finished my major editing of MUTINY I noticed one chapter was close to eight pages. So, I searched for a natural break to make this two chapters and the change worked well, resulting in a better paced plot development. Readers today are conditioned by sound-bites from advertising, film and TV, and social media. I also like to finish my books with a very short chapter – an end-piece for my novel. By doing so it acts as a summary statement. In MUTINY the final chapter is just 662 words, yet these words tie together many elements that have been floating unresolved for my readers. The use of ‘floating’ is appropriate too, since the last chapter opens with a boat scene:
It’s a stunning evening,” I exclaim, easing the genoa. A puff of wind powers the sail and it swings out to leeward, clipping the waves. As we heel, the view of Dubrovnik widens. The walls are bathed in orange and the sea is dotted with boats scurrying home. Our bow dips and rises with the breeze, slicing through the long onshore swells. Rian is a seasoned sailor behind the wheel; happy, tanned and in control, and Chloé sits opposite on the port cushion with her hand in the foam. Like her hair, the moment is golden.
So, we are aboard a yacht and enjoying a sunset moment – a time when the day closes and it’s a closing chapter for both MUTINY and my protagonist. But, for my readers, can I use this moment to usher in the possibility of another follow-up novel? Well, you will need to read for yourself to find out. You see, a brief chapter does not have to remain an empty one.
…with a fabulous reading from Captain Ted Cooper. It is encouraging to hear the words of your novel read aloud and, in this instance, I actually enjoyed the flow and building tension – it made me want to read more. I hope you do too. A side note: Ted Cooper was a good childhood friend who became a captain in the merchant navy. Sadly, he passed away before MUTINY was written.
Well, dear bloggers, this may shock you—I am on a long vacation but have no intention to write another book. That’s right, it’s about celebration—celebrating my wife’s very special birthday in Paris. So, writing will take a back seat, though that’s not to say that I won’t find inspiration in being in different places and watching out for interesting characters or settings for my next novel. Will it be a thriller set in Vienna, or a romantic novel based in France? Who knows? The most wonderful thing about writing is that it has few bounds, and the richer the experience (either good or bad) can result in a more satisfying read. Well, that’s the intention.