Ask Jerry
First time writer
Asked by Don Fisher on August 13, 2020
I am not clear on what the recommended number of words per chapter should be. I am six chapters in and still questioning whether I want to do an autobiography or memoir. Also, should I give names to all the people I am including in the book?
Jerry's Answer
There are no rules on number of words per chapter, Don. I've seen chapters as short as one sentence. I don't recommend that necessarily, but when the chapter feels over, end it. :)
And yes, if someone is worthy of being included, they should be named. If you say something negative about them, however, you'd be wise to change the name and anything else about them or the incident that would camouflage who you're writing about.
When writing a book, you should first know to what audience you're writing to and which genre.
https://jerrysguild.com/how-to-write-a-powerful-memoir/