Writer’s Shop Talk: ‘Reunion: Coda’ Update – 22 Chapters Down…Only a Few More to Go!

Late Morning, Friday, December 20, 2024, Miami, Florida

I’m pleased to report that yesterday’s afternoon writing session was delightfully productive, and Chapter 22 of Reunion: Coda is, pending my Beta Reader’s seal of approval, officially complete. It’s a rather succinct chapter, perhaps one of the shortest in the novel, clocking in at a mere three pages.

But who’s counting, right? There are no hard and fast rules about the length of a chapter. In the wild and wonderful world of literature, you’ll find chapters that are just a single paragraph long, and some that dare to be only one sentence. The story dictates the flow, and sometimes brevity is the soul of wit, as our dear friend Shakespeare liked to say. So, I’ve learned not to overstuff the pudding with unnecessary twists and turns but to let the narrative breathe and unfold at its own pace.

I’m not sure if I’ll be equally productive today. Every time I finish a section of Reunion: Coda, it’s like my brain goes on a mini-vacation, lounging in a hammock under a palm tree, sipping a metaphorical piña colada. I need to rest my little gray cells before I can dive into the next scene or chapter.

In any event, I’m thrilled to have finished yet another chapter! It’s been 21 months of hard work, and I’ve never once thought about giving up. So, I’m super happy with my progress and excited to be one step closer to finishing my first novel!