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Q&A Is my opening chapter too short?

If to you the chapter seems good, and it seems to be fulfilling your purpose for it, I would not worry about it now. If it is too short, what that really means one of the following: either you did...

posted 10y ago by Standback‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-12T20:06:02Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/12756
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T03:42:58Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/12756
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T03:42:58Z (almost 5 years ago)
If to you the chapter seems good, and it seems to be fulfilling your purpose for it, I would not worry about it now.

If it _is_ too short, what that really means one of the following: either you didn't establish as much in the opening chapter as you think you did, or else there's some other major problem (e.g. it's short because you're [infodumping](http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/info-dump), or because you've forgotten to type in the vowels). In other words, **"too short" _might_ be a symptom, but it's certainly not a problem in and of itself.**

If it doesn't establish enough, you'll find that out as you continue writing. You'll realize you're missing key information which needs to be established earlier, and at some point you'll rewrite to include that. That's fine.

If there's some other problem, you'll find that out when you pass your work around for feedback. Someone will tell you that a character is unclear, and you'll find yourself adding in huge scenes to establish him better. Someone will tell you the opening isn't very gripping, and you'll decide to add in a major sequence to the very beginning.

Or, readers will tell you that it's terrific and you shouldn't change a thing. Because if you know what you're doing, and your only concern about your opening chapter is that _other_ books have _longer_ chapters at their start - well, then that sounds like a pretty strong opening to me :)

**Bottom line: keep writing. "Too short" isn't a problem. If there _is_ a problem, you'll find it - later.**

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2014-08-31T19:54:59Z (about 10 years ago)
Original score: 2