As a reader, I don't mind at all. I'm perfectly happy to accept the
convention. As a writer, latterly I've tried to avoid numbering chapters
because, as you say, Rob, it's pointless. Perhaps if we counted backwards
there'd be some sense to it -- you'd know you were getting closer to the end
and there might even be some associated tension as a bonus. But counting
forward to a random number? Page numbers already do that. I did use numbered
chapters in one book, but I can't say I had much of an opinion on the matter
at the time so never gave it any thought. In another book, I gave each
chapter a short, meaningful title instead, but my editor convinced me that
there were too many chapters for it to work, so the headers never made it to
print. I can't think of a good reason for incrementally numbered chapters.
Although that's not to say there isn't one.
Al
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob Kantner" <rob@9sg.com>
> But I've had the thought, in working on the new one -- how important
> is it to break a book into chapters? If you have episodes with an
> obvious break in between them, what is the point of also designating
> chapters with numbers, etc.? Back in the day, chapters often had
> titles, which when done right provided another element of suspense.
> That's not done much any more (and I've never done it).
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