The Psychology of Powerful CHAPTER BREAKS

[@JennaLockwood.author]

My editor will appreciate me watching this LOL. I tend to be the queen of chapter breaks and ending scenes too quickly in my first drafts...

[@j.o.t.4212]

Arguably the most underrated but vitally important aspects of a good story. Good topic 👍

[@serox8887]

I think there's a bit more to this. You can also have longterm question loops that reach over multiple chapters. If you place small reminders of this question and indicate progress towards the answer of that question, you got a very powerful way of hooking your reader not only for the next chapter but for the next few chapters or even the whole book. You can also play with story tension. If the readers feels like the story inevitably progresses towards disaster, the reader is hooked as well because they want to know what happens to the character. This only works if you can make the reader care about the character though. In their core those techniques all rely on the same question and answer concept but they have all different usecases to them. Unfortunately the video only shows this core concept and shortterm hooks. But the longterm hooks are really important as well. And if you weave all of them together the reader will probably inhale your book.

[@Sharkuterie327]

I'm glad you mentioned this. There can be multiple questions at once, some short-term and some long-term, where some loops remain open for many chapters or perhaps, if we're talking about the ultimate question of the entire book, it might not be answered until the end, and that doesn't betray the reader as long as there is progress towards answering it with the shorter loops, and it is ultimately answered. I hate it when you get to the end of story that promises to answer a question and then never does.

[@justguy-4630]

Good catch.

[@gracenewsom4694]

Ooh, excellent point! I'm not always the best at the longterm hooks (or at least at keeping it in people's minds), so this is a good tip!

[@TheDoctor398]

I like how you compare chapters to TV episodes. The best shows like Lost and Breaking Bad always end opening a loop. It even works with reality TV like Survivor. Every episode ends with someone being eliminated which opens the loop for how losing someone will impact the others.

[@marikothecheetah9342]

I don't like both shows for many reasons and cliff-hangers there are simply annoying for me. I DNFed both at some point. If I had to choose tv series with good loops it would be Veronica Mars - incredibly well constructed main plot and subplots, characters, unexpected turns of events but more of a: I didn't see it coming than creators doing turns for the turns sake. And it has one of the best character writings I've seen in a long time - you think you know what the character will do next and then... yeahno, you don't. And it's fun :P

[@Dragonmoon1598]

For me, it's seeing small ways characters grow and change as the story progresses.

[@elizabethstump4077]

In fanfic circles, we call that the "evil cliffie". I have set up some evil cliffies that have had readers jumping up and down begging me to post the next chapter online ASAP. And when I set up an evil cliffie, I cackle with mad delight knowing my readers will be twisting in the wind, and it's such a power trip.

[@Tail_sez]

Ah, I was scrolling specifically to find another fanfiction author (that, and to further procrastinate my first draft XD)

[@elizabethstump4077]

@@Tail_sez Hello fellow writer from the fanfic trenches! I have my first book with my beta, editing my second and 20% way through writing the third, all part of the same series. Don't procrastinate too much.

[@NethaliSusanna]

I wrote a book. I listened to your advices and did it. Im typing it in the word to print it and publish it. The story is about a boy with mental stress because his parents didn't understood him. How he missed his two old friends in elementary school, after he moved schools because of a thing. Its my first novel I wrote so far. Im happy about how it came out. I struggled, it was hard but somehow i did it. The story is sad. Hopefully i could release it to the public, its one of my most needs. Love to show it to the public. Thanks abbie. Love you❤❤❤

[@Wabby_]

Congratulations on finishing it!

[@christophersmith3695]

I always called it the "tune in next week" hypothesis. In older shows, the announcer would speak at the end of the show giving a quick run down of the episode and raising questions...all while ending the blurb with "tune in next week...."

[@akvsdiary]

I'm a psychology student myself and I've imagined that Zeigarnik effect can so useful in terms of storytelling thank you so much Abbie

[@The-Mediator]

Good luck!

[@cosmicprison9819]

Video games do the same via “unfinished quests”.

[@chalonhutson]

This morning, I was literally listening to an interview with George RR Martin where he went into depth about his chapter break mentality! He mentioned his time in television writing helped him do this for Ice and Fire.

[@icona3406]

Where was this? Would like to listen to it too 😊

[@chalonhutson]

@@icona3406 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqXZm4WVa7uUgZIsi=scWf1Wx4KVZX3vpx if this video shares, it's around 10:30 is starts talking about it. The whole interview is interesting IMO though :)

[@chalonhutson]

@@icona3406 I think it doesn't like links, but you can find it on KZbin here, it's simply titled "George R. R. Martin Interview" and posted by the channel "buzzymultimedia" so you can probably find it like that. Pretty interesting interview.

[@worthfightingfor2299]

I'm curious too lol, was it on KZbin?

[@chalonhutson]

@@worthfightingfor2299 yeah so the one I'm referring to is from a channel that hasn't posted in years, buzzymultimedia, they have a ton of interesting author interviews including brandon sanderson. (although Sanderson can be guilty of longer chapters IMO lol)

[@damsnPul]

Abbie you have no idea how much I love your channel😭 I found it like two months ago and today I finally finished the first draft of the project I had been putting off for yearsss. Your videos were a pivotal part of it and helped me to figure out how to give it a proper structure. Thanks a lot!

[@КсенияКраснова-ъ6р]

I absolutely cannot stop when there is an interesting and deeply conflicted hero in the story. When there is uncertainty - what will they choose, who will they become in the end? And each subsequent plot point raises the stakes and puts them before an increasingly radical choice.

[@IreneSubin]

It's my first time actually realising that chapters hold meanings.I did't even notice there were open loops until you said so.thankyou.

[@NatBekas]

So cool that I started studying the Zeigarnik Effect recently, and now I run into your video mentioning the very same concept! I've been studying it in order to cope with procrastination in writing, and I had no idea it might help in chapter breaking structure... Sooo cool and helpful! Thank you so much for your video! I missed them 💜

[@allycat2836]

I was listening to an audiobook on Audible the other day, and I couldn't stop listening. Now, thinking about it, I know the reason why from what you said. There really was no good place to stop. I was up literally until 2:30 in the morning finishing it. Open loop and closed loop. So simple. Thanks Abbie ☺️

[@AdamCollings]

I completely agree with you on the short chapter thing. I definitely keep reading for longer when a book has short chapters.

[@onyxhat]

I feel that all of these suggestions are a great way to keep the reader glued to the pages, but it also keeps the writer continuing to the next chapter as well.

[@valentineboudaud1887]

Abbie ! I don't know if you've read any of her books but Jandy Nelson is the most addicting YA contemporary author for me. Her last book, when the world tips over, made me stop and tell myself, this is a book Abbie Emmons would appreciate. Tension between brothers, family drama, curiosity leveraged throughout and great internal conflicts for the main characters and the side characters. Plus, the writing style is impecable !

[@StickInMudd]

5:03 It’s also called false dilemmas. So many bad tv shows have them and makes the viewer roll their eyes.

[@CatTubeVideosOfficial]

😭😭😭. Not my chapters being at least 25 pages long. Thanks Abbie, I really needed thisss 💛💛

[@penrilfake]

It's not necessarily wrong, though! Putting a book down for the night can also help with internalizing what you just read and fully processing the information. I think a mix of both is healthy for a book.

[@SamaraBerriel-i8s]

There's nothing wrong with the amount of pages your chapters have. Just aply the others tips of this video and make sure your protagnist has a great internal conflict 😉

[@CatTubeVideosOfficial]

@@SamaraBerriel-i8s sureeee👍👍👍

[@emilyrln]

The books I often read average 20-30 page chapters. It's not about length; it's about keeping your readers hooked through conflict and progress.

[@grondhero]

As someone who has literally written 250+ pages with only four (4!) chapter breaks, I needed this. My current biggest hurdle is knowing _when_ or _where_ to create a chapter break. I have actually been asking about this recently, so I really love this video. I'm a slow reader, but I read "One Hundred Days of Sunlight" in four days, but it was all when I'd lie down for bed. (I will read one book at work on breaks and I read another book at home before going to sleep.) Also, I like how you did your hair in this video. I know it has zero to do with writing, but I don't think you (or women in general) get enough compliments on how they do their hair. One of the reasons I love long hair is that women can make it look different every day for a month if they want to. Have a great day and thanks for the video!

[@gristlevonraben]

Just before a serious or action scene is the best place to break up a chapter. Good luck! 😊

[@samiam.402]

Thanks for the great video!

[@andrew20nguyen]

Wow, your explanation on short chapters could explain a part of how "The Stormlight Archive" series by Brandon Sanderson is so popular, because I noticed as I was reading the series a lot of the chapters were pretty short

[@breezlee59]

In boxing, there is such a thing as "stealing" rounds. Your chapter breaks remind me a little bit of that. For the first 30 seconds in a 3-minute round, you fight like crazy and do the same for the last 30 seconds. For the 2 minutes in between you coast or get bested. The initial start and finish cause you to bias the boxing judges to score the round for you as it appears you dominated the round even though 2/3 of the round you did nothing. I like your closed and open closed loop better than the choice and consequences with conflict I have been studying. Thanks for your insight!

[@bethanycox6143]

My writing mentor and I were JUST talking about this yesterday!

[@anyfeed-su5te]

Hii

That sort of explains the crash I get when a story ends. There are times when I get towards the end of a book when I start getting a little down and when the story ends (if it's not part of a series so there is no more to the story) no matter how good it was, especially if its really good, I get sad because it's over and there will be no more of it.

[@Aliosdragneel]

Abbie's vids are always so helpful for writers!!

[@dscplwatgktlss]

4:50 Can't over emphasize this enough! As a reader & writer, I will most likely put down a book with fake tension as soon as it shows up, and as a writer I avoid it like the plague. Maybe not all readers are like me, but I'm JS as for myself, fake tension is one of the biggest turn-offs. Hence why I avoid doing it so much in my writing, that I struggle to keep my chapters at a reasonable length lol.

[@thewilltowakeup]

This was exactly what I needed for the stage I'm in with plotting my WIP! This is so helpful, thank you, Abbie!

[@kurtlance7713]

Abbie, thank you for all of the videos you have made. You have made me actually learn how to be an author in a way that is understandable. You and your sister are amazing people and even though I have never read any of your books before. I can tell you guys are great authors. I hope in your busy schedules, you can make a little time for God. Either by praying, going to church, or reading His Word. Please always remember that Jesus died on the cross for you two and He loves you two so much! ❤️🙏

[@ankitmazumder4506]

A famous author who is notorious for resolving cliffhangers in the first few lines of the next chapter but never get's criticised for it is R.L. STINE!

[@mandiechase3308]

What keeps me hooked is when books feel cold. If I am reading, and it feels like a cold fall or winter day, I'm hooked. It's strange, but I feel the best when it's cold outside, and that kind of book makes me feel immersed and addicted. (Morgan L. Busse does a phenomenal job of this in both Winter's Maiden and Mark of the Raven.)

[@brookedenison1422]

This sounds like such obvious advise but hearing you say it and explain it felt like a lightbulb moment!! I’ve almost been treating each chapter like and ending and new beginning. This makes me so excited to see how I can push myself and level up my writing!!

[@rita.l.russell]

I totally love short chapters! I often peek ahead at the length of the next chapter to decide whether to continue or stop. Yep, short chapters keep me going!

[@TMscifiwrtr]

Hi Abbie, I am doing most of these already. But! It is always good to get refresher info. Thanks again Abbie 😊

[@madison_n12]

this was the exact video i’ve been looking for! i’ve been wondering how and when to start/end a chapter. i’ve always thought about using cliffhangers at the end as a trick…but this is exactly the video i needed! thank you!

[@sanecatlady]

Funny timing! I've been tracking my reading progress on Notion and having the visual progress bar has motivated me to continue reading, even though I have a ton on my read list. It's like even when I read 2 chapters, the percentage jumps in a considerable way that is encouraging to me. I love short chapter books lol

[@millersam3171]

Stories with shorter chapters are my thing. But more importantly, I need a character with whom I can bond with. I mean, their psychology and their backstory which grips me. The character, or characters need to be solid, well rounded and grounded to keep me invested. So characters that don't follow the usual tropes. Your Tessa and Weston already seem like characters solid and real that I want to read more of them.

[@Amazon.Prince]

Also also: LOVE your use of background music. That really really helps with my own ADHD-addled mind to stay focused. You'd be an amazing teacher

[@p.c.n.b.6112]

I honestly don't know how this channel was recommended to me by KZbin, I'm not a big reader and I have zero desire to be a writer, now or in the future, besides I'm Brazilian and English is my second language, but I've been simply hooked ever since I started watching! For a long time, I didn't understand why I liked one book, but didn't like another, and now everything is simply being explained, flashbacks of story passages come into my memory, and I now recognize the reasons, I liked it or not of something in particular, this is just blowing my mind. About chapters, short or long, I've always hated short chapters, because I have ADHD and they always made me spend hours without realizing it. I loved your channel congratulations!

[@KaylieghHereford]

Yessss! I need this!!! :D

[@thejoanzone140]

Great advice! I was sort of doing that but I didn't know the science of it. And as an extra bonus pretty sure you just explained chronic gossipers. It's the dopamine.

[@natashafoster9969]

Interesting how we don't notice things till they're pointed out to us. 😅 I did the, "Oh! That's a short chapter. I can read that real quick!" thing last night with the book I'm currently reading. 😂

[@FlippinGurtrude]

I love short chapters, espcially after reading a really long one before. Makes me feel like I'm being rewarded.

[@cobralily]

Super helpful!! Thank you, Abbie!!

[@esthykechan]

I like overarching subplots that progress / build up little by little until the final reveal/resolution. I am definitely inspired not just from books but from comics and tv shows as well, as those mediums also utilize these hooks

[@Joeyp1208]

Loving this video, I think you worded it very well. A few thoughts; I never thought of chapter length possibly having a similar influence on behaviour as episode lengths on watching. You hear everyone talking about how odd it is that no one has the energy or attention to watch a full-length movie, but they can easily binge a 10-episode season with 60 minutes per episode in a day. Because 'generally' fantasy novels are longer and chapters are longer, I sometimes felt a bit forced to push more of the story into a single chapter (not as in, making up new scenes to get more words, but to simply not make a chapter break where it would naturally fit, but continue onto the next part of the story within the same chapter). This is really an eye opener that I do have some shorter chapters and I should definitely just go with what feels most natural. One addition I would like to make with regards to the 'do not use fake tension'. I would also say; do not overuse tension/use cliffhangers EVERY chapter. I think your examples from 100 days of sunlight showed really clearly that that question/tension can be small things. They don't have to be massive. Even if you are paying off the massive tension that you create at the end of every chapter (the uncoming cliff and they actually do fall off and lord knows what happens next), having that EVERY chapter, gets really boring, really fast as well. Balance life and death tension with psychological tension, informational tension etc. to keep things interesting. I read a book once where basically at the end of every chapter a new assassin or something appeared, and I DNFed so hard!

[@Aeras89]

You put this video out at a perfect time for me. I finished my first chapter a couple weeks ago and am working on chapter two. This video just made me realize that while my first chapter did end with potential catastrophe, the next chapter revealed all to be well. The chapter contains a character unable to properly control their magic and collapses part of a building down onto where people were scattering to run away from. There were no deaths or seemingly any consequences for losing control in the next chapter. It is filled with the lingering question on if he will be barred from training, but the first chapter had ended with the fake consequences. I think I'll be going back to this and inserting some heavier consequences to their actions. I don't think it will be death, but I do have an idea that can mirror one of the other characters who faced a similar conflict in their past.

[@whatever_art]

7:18 that's me the whole time I was reading Shadow Slave...

[@Kittiiiiiii]

Thanks for posting this RIGHT when I started writing a book!! Now I know just how to make it not boring :D

[@miajones6302]

I’m new to this channel and I love it already I just purchased your book 100 days of sunlight by Amazon so I can read it and learn from your style. Thank you for sharing I’m a new fan.😊

[@S3mi7]

What addicts me to books is when the author makes the character relatable. Or they make you care about them a lot by giving them alot of humility. I find it so comforting just hoping good things and good character development for a character I care about. (Also why I CANNOT handled sad endings!!!😭)

[@aryahasey6298]

I am torn between wanting to watch this to make me improve, and not wanting to put it any of my stories because it’s terrible to have to stop at the end of a chapter with a cliffhanger😂

[@Art1tseL1lac]

Rlly sry if this sounds rude, its not meant to be, but thats kinda the point tho. They aren't supposed to stop. 😅

[@aryahasey6298]

@@Art1tseL1lac it’s not rude, and yeah, that is the point. I just feel like it’s terrible when you have to stop at a cliffhanger chapter, is all I’m saying. But of course, that!s just what you have to do. *Cue maniacal laughter*

[@Art1tseL1lac]

@@aryahasey6298 😂

[@КсенияКраснова-ъ6р]

I think it depends a lot on the type of cliffhanger and how it is used. Personally, I find it unhealthy when writers overuse cliffhangers like Schrodinger's cat - "will the hero survive or die?" If you use it too often, the reader/viewer can either fall into apathy or irritation. And maybe swallow all the content quickly, but will not want to reread, will not fall in love with this story. Another thing is an open ending that opens a new door, meets a new mystery, raises a new question. Such a move does not leave the reader "hanging over the cliff", but ignites curiosity, makes the reader think about the story in pauses between reading.

[@КсенияКраснова-ъ6р]

But cliffhangers "between life and death" are also OK in not very big stories in the thriller or horror genre. If the story is small, the reader will not have time to get tired of the constant tension + people go to this genre, among other things, to tickle their nerves. The main thing is to make sure that the tense anticipation of the outcome pays off.

[@bludragonfly180]

I love this! The first time I recognized this in books was when I was little reading the Fear Street books by RL Stine. However, often after his cluffhangers, there wasn't the payoff I'd been seeking, and I hadn't realized that until just now. Love your content! Thanks so much for making videos!

[@misterwolf3817]

Your writing advice help me writer so much better. Thank you!

[@nicholas2827]

Well said Abbie! Btw hope everyone made it out ok with the Hurricanes. Speaking of incomplete task, wife just told me we have number 4 on the way.

[@LoverDebs]

This was really insightful. Thank you for sharing ❤️.

[@Bluefeather7]

I get it about the short chapter thing. I read War and Peace, and yes, it's a long book, but the chapters are only three or four sides of a page long. Makes for a much easier read when you don't get lost in a chapter.😀

[@Pjdude1000]

I think this is particularly interesting in fantasy stories with a large scale, because often there are several chapters in between the 'cliffhanger' and the closing of the loop in the next chapter of the same character(s). I think this is something that both Erikson and GRRM do well in Malazan and ASOIAF, although tbh sometimes it takes a little too long, but that's life in a large-scale epic fantasy I guess

[@elizabeths.3634]

Fantastic video with useful and actionable advice. Some of your previous videos, I can look back on and realize it a method I actually used in my own stories, but this is NOT one of those videos. Thank you for another fantastic video.

[@MrZtones]

I’m not an aspiring novelist but I do create worlds and campaigns for tabletop roleplaying games and I watch allot if these videos for inspiration and I must say that yours are a delight. Why they are so I think is related to todays topic. Your points are very well phrased and how you emphasize them with your body language and facial expressions not only makes them stick but immediatelly makes me engaged in what you are about to say next. I hope you intend on making a video teaching how to keep audiences interested in what you have to say 😃 If anyone needs a good example of how a book with long chapters, and no paragraph breaks, is impossible to read, I recommend reading “Confessions” by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

[@jamescarvey2133]

Thanks for sharing your unique approach to Chapter Breaks. Also, the advice about short chapter benefits. The reference to the Ziegarnik effect can be very helpful to any writer, regardless of prowess or accomplishments. Genuinely appreciate your presence and tutelage along my journey in the direction of incremental progress as a writer. 🙏✍🌹

[@disappearingremedy7400]

I love your content and your expertise. My sister shared this today. It resonates. Love the short chapters.

[@NarrationNation_4455]

Hi Abbie I just want to take a second and ask if you could share everything that you teach over on Petreon here on your KZbin channel since you have covered all the topics that I am interested in. Thank you in advance. I seriously can't wait to learn more from you!

[@FavourAfolabi-l]

I love Abbie's new videos. They are great and super helpful. Thanks Abbie.

[@wyattstevens8574]

When you described the structure of the Zygarnik Effect (closed loop, open loop, true tension, break, etc.) I thought of the TV series example too: [insert example tension here] [break] (e.g. if you have a teaser for the next episode, the "break" is almost the "fake close"/"don't end now" point) and the tension could be, "Next time on..."

[@Schnee_Gloeckchen]

Your videos are great and so helpful, thank you, Abbie. You explain everything so well.

[@NicoDiAngelo-14]

I was reading the inheritance games, and if you've read this book you would know that the main character mothers dead. Now I wanted to know what EXACTLY caused her death, so I kept reading one more chapter until the end of the book and I still didn't get the answer so then I read the next book. Now I don't know what this I formation is going to two for anyone but maybe it will help someone.

[@غُفران-ض4ه]

I am writing a novella on a woman that is somehow convinced she couldn't be anything in life but a crocodile. She is smart and ambitious, but she can never be anything else other than what she really is. A crocodile (symbolically). She is writing a long confession on how she ended up being the way she is, disqualified as a human being. She is emerged in depression and her tone is always like she is thinking out loud and confessing before the world. This is my first ever book that I am praying to be able to release it soon to the public.

[@debolliff5720]

I love short chapters. Great video, Abbie. Lots of import information there. ❤

[@Wage_Slave_Diaries]

Thanks, abby! you are my fav teacher

[@Art1tseL1lac]

This is why the Harry Potter series rocks!

[@christafrysinger7820]

I think it would be so marvelous if you and your sister would make a video on Mystery writing... a video about types of clues and about the necessary contents of a Mystery. Video about how to build Suspense has been helpful for my writing journey lately. Happy October to the Emmons sisters!!!!!

[@archaeobard1]

I second the short chapter thing. I'm the lead author on a young teen YA archaeological action adventure with time slip/travel series with an old archaeology colleague. I find if I keep to a scene per chapter and about 3 ish standard pages, readers fly through. I use the open loop thing too. My main audience is teens with English as a second language and I've had feedback saying they couldn't put the thing down, read it in 2 nights etc.

[@oleoleep]

Another banger as usual. Just what I needed

[@michaelcain9324]

I'm a sucker for witty, wicked banter.

[@rockbandny]

The short chapter thing is something that has happened to me so many times. Especially in misery and American psycho.

[@lillianlevine8200]

This is so helpful. Thank you !

[@SimpleDesertRose]

Idk how prople polished off your book in a couple hours. It took me the better part of a day to get through it. Mostly becuase it isnt my normal genre. Give me a good fantasy book any day. Ironically I shared my story with a friend and she said that she does better with shorter chapters and even gave me a few jdeas of which chapters could be split into two chapters. I already tried to keep my chapters about 20 pages, but I took her advise to heart and went through and found several places where I could split chapters into two separate chapters. Having gone back through it again to put it into scrivener, I can say it flows even better. I'm going through it again to iron out some sentences that could be rewritten to flow better and not just sound reduant. Little things like she saw her breath. Or there was frost on the ground. I think I'm getting close to where I feel like I could publish it and be happy with how it turned out.

[@forevercatholic243]

Beautiful video! I loved this and will definitely apply it in my own writing!

[@62202ify]

For me getting a novel published means escaping this Godforsaken job of mine that denies me one afternoon off to go to a Cardiologist. I can't take it anymore.

[@consience_sacral]

Fire idea about short chapters! I like it! Thanks!🔥

[@harshgohil2545]

⭐️ totally with you on the short chapter phenomenon...it's a real head game!

[@robertbrumbaugh4634]

Great video! I'm writing my first middle-grade novel and several of my chapters are only a few pages each. I read one of James Patterson's books and he had a few two and three page chapters.

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

I love short chapters - especially if I can read a chapter in 10 minutes (I read on all my breaks at work). My favorite is no more than 10 pages a chapter.. the worst is when it's 20-30 pages plus.... Donna Tartt I'm looking at you with your 40 page chapters and the 100 page middle and end chapters. Though if an author MUST have long chapters for whatever reason, I do appreciate double/triple spacing between sections of paragraphs, or some other symbol denoting the break.

[@leezapaints]

I completely agree about short chapters! lol They always motivate me. Also, an author that's awesome at Open Loop chapter endings is Suzanna Collins of The Hunger Games series. It's hard for me to obsess over what will happen next and these books hook me every time! I wanted to know why and discovered the chapter endings then decided to write my book with this method. It transformed my story tension. ❤

[@deckardcanine]

"Discworld" doesn't have chapters, only mid-page breaks to indicate a change in perspective or time. I'm not sure how to feel about that.

[@BreannaCoffman-wi8dy]

My favorite unputdownable story is Ash & Bramble I think that this example plus this info will better help me write the Criss of the Heart series Thank you miss Abbie!!😍

[@seans9203]

Helpful :O) Thanks Abbie - cheers from beautiful Vancouver, Canada 🍁

[@Sarawinky]

thanks for the video as always

[@annad8917]

This is a dangerous advice. You do need to create places of rest between chapters. It's just for most writers those happen by themselves, I guess. I've read one book once which made me unable to put it down, each chapter end had a massive new hook into the next chapter. They were exactly what you describe here. I was reading it non-stop for about six hours maybe? Almost till the end, and then on another addictive chapter ending I just felt an instant burn out, so I closed the book and never touched it again. It's been more than ten years ago, but I still feel a very special kind of disdain for the experience that book gave me. But it was a good lesson that too interesting is as bad as too boring.

[@RichardJBarbalace]

Yes, I found this advice harmful too, and commented why above. I have had similar experiences where I DNF a book because of this style. Thinking about this more, I would add that I feel a book should be a refuge from the attentional addictions of modern society, not an addition to that dystopia.

[@giuliaidiometri186]

I love long chapters. They make me feel emotionally more attached by a character. For example, I'm currently reading Across The Broken Stars by Jed Herne, and it has forty-seven chapters, and it took me thirteen chapters to feel emotionally attached to the protagonist. And the book is great, as is the plot, as are the characters, but it took me longer than I expected. With your books, Abbie, this was different. I mean, for me 400 words is a too short chapter, and I tend to write chapters that are 5,000 words or more. In a story I'm co-writing, because my friend write shorter chapters, mine are 3,800 words or 4,200 words, because it's easier for her to read them, but I noticed that, in this particular fanfiction, it's natural for me to write like that, after I accostumed to it. In another longfiction I'm currently writing alone, instead, I write longer chapters, and my beta reader says that I improved in Show, Don't Tell, and that word count doesn't matter for her, that she feels immersed in the story een if chapters are 7,000 words or 9,000 words long. I think I have a lot to learn, to study to become a better writer. And I want to do that even if the majority of my writing is fanfiction (and I do that even if I'm thirty, because people can write fanfiction when they are adult, too). I want my fanfiction to be better and better written, more gripping, more unputdownable. So thanks Abbie for your videos, for your Live trainings, and for your show with Kate. They are incredibly helpful. I learned so much from you in three years than I did with other courses in five years.

[@kumaramit4]

It's excellent , Master Abbie my sister , open loop and closed loop 🔥🔥

[@TedMattos]

Thank you, Ms. Emmons. Very much appreciated! :)

[@lornamay2364]

Hi Abbie, I love your videos! I’m planning to join your Patreon soon, but in case you do read the comments here, I wanted to ask: sometimes i have a strong, character-driven plot but struggle to chose the right setting to bring out the best in the story. If others face this too, I’d love to see a video from you on how to select a setting that enhances both the characters and the plot.

[@unicorntomboy9736]

Not related, but I read The Otherworld a while ago, and after reading it, I got the idea to split my WiP gothic fantasy novel into two parts, just like I'm Abbie's book. The first one called 'Innocence' and the second one called 'Corruption'.

[@Striving_Sage]

This is gold right here! 💪

[@VideoGameRoom32]

This video was very helpful.

[@johntabler349]

I have been wondering about this exact topic I fear my chapters are a little long but overall I think I have a reasonably good flow with the story

[@Csillaglepke]

I am able to understand why you giving this advice and use this method. As a writer it's a good tool to hook the readers when done right... I see that many people in the young(er) generation(s) need this to be able to finish reading books. Nowadays short attention span is too common. But when reading, I ABSOLULTELY HATE when a writer use this constantly in every damn chapter. This is the biggest reason I thrown away G. R. R. Martin's works. And never read the next book(s) in some other series. A book that has no point to have a break, agressively pushing me to read and the end of the chapters feels as if the writer cut half a scene only awaken rage in me. And since too many modern writers use this method I lost interest almost entirely in contemporary literature. Which is sad.