How to decide if your chapter is too long

Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re tackling a crucial question for fantasy writers: How long is too long for a chapter?

We start by digging into whether long chapters are a turnoff for readers or if length doesn’t matter as long as the content is engaging. With epic fantasy novels often stretching the boundaries of chapter length, we explore the real issue: scene structure, pacing, and reader experience.

Is 7,000 words too much for one chapter? How do you decide when to break up a chapter? And most importantly, how do you keep readers turning the page without overwhelming them? Let’s break down the craft of chapter structure and how you can make the right choice for your novel.

Email your own advice prompt to [email protected] or join our Discord and let us know what's on your mind. You can find the discussion prompt we referenced on the show right here.

Fantasy Writing for Barbarians‘ host is Jon Negroni, author of The Pixar Theory, Killerjoy, and more. Our producers are Natalia Emmons and Bridget Serdock. You can find all our episodes and various podcast app options here.

Intro music: "Adventures in Adventureland" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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