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I think it's too dull. I think you have to inject an element of anxiety, or at least some conflict and drama. Maybe two characters have an argument prior to going to sleep. Or maybe somebody has to get left behind. Maybe as they're packing, a tire goes flat and they have no spare. Anything to jog the audience and make them want to read the next page -- in this case, the next chapter.

Another common technique is to concentrate on one of the characters, who worries about the events of the next day. Have them run through all the scenarios, most of which wind up in disaster. To me, if there's an element of risk and a question about how things will turn out, this makes things more interesting and less dull.

Last point: Stephen King will take a dull final paragraph to a chapter, and then add one line that completely sends you reeling. A classic in your case would be, "I argued with Joe, but he insisted I pack my stuff on the left side of the trunk. He barked at me all evening while I stewed, deciding not to even bother letting him see how hurt I was. By the time I went to bed, I was exhausted, but determined that I would show Joe tomorrow just how good a camper I was going to be."

(and then)

"Little did I know it was the last time I'd ever see Joe alive."

OK, that's a bit melodramatic, but you can see the point. Never end a chapter on a dull, humdrum event. It has to end with a doubt, an unanswered question, or some story point that builds anticipation. (Or as they used to say in Rocky Horror Picture Show, "antici........................ pation." :)

Thanks. That's some real good advice. I hadn't even thought of the 'going through scenarios' idea. That would work real well because my main characters are visiting Char. 1's family and coming out to them. The scenarios could be the reactions.

Thanks again,

Jeremy

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And that bracing will stave off death? Just joking with you. People really do dislike cliff-hangers. The worst ones are those when the author really dies (or just stops writing) and it remains a cliff-hanger for eternity.

Or when an author stops updating right in the middle of the story and never comes back to writing again. Not saying I don't understand getting bogged down by real life or losing interest in a story but it's still upsetting to never see how a certain story ends.

I would advise to resist the temptation to end the chapter at the end of the day, where the character falls asleep. It's a cliche (which I've been forced to use due to circumstance), but I try to avoid it when I can.

In the story I'm working on now, I just ended a chapter at the end of the characters packing for a vacation and started up the next one when they were getting on the road the next day.

Pecman, do you think that would be too cliched?

Jeremy

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WBMS:

Thanks for the tips. It's cool having such an amazing author giving me advice.

That's usually what I do but I was just wondering what others do.

Thanks again,

Jeremy

1. Write first. Worry about chapters later.

2. Sometimes you reach an OBVIOUS breaking point. You'll know it when you see it. "The plane left for Tunica" and "Two days later, after basking in the sun..."

3. Sometimes you will need to finish a whole stream of writing and you will say "this seems too long" and decide to break it. You need ANY logical place. Don't just stop it.

4. You can use the "cliffhanger" but never do that on purpose. However, if you write, you will find that's an obvious breaking point. Despite the fact my reader(s) think everything I write is a cliffhanger, I rarely do it on purpose and often disagree with what constitutes one.

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Colinian,

I usually write a story all in one block as well and usually just leave them that way. I'll usually put a symbol in between my scenes, such as -666-.

Thanks for replying,

Jeremy

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This is a question to all the writers out there. I was wondering how you write a chapter story. More specifically, how do you know how/when to end one chapter and begin the next.

Any links to information on this subject, greatly appreciated.

Newbie,

Jeremy