I get this question a lot in my critique groups. How long are my chapters supposed to be?
In the Good Ol’ Days, back when readers appreciated a nice turn of phrase and a complicated, well-constructed sentence, chapters were far longer. The authors would write until they’d said what they wanted to say, then they’d start another chapter. Nowadays, your reader isn’t going to hang on that long. They’ll take one look at that thick chapter and toss your book down in favor of one with more manageable chapters.
Today’s readers want something bite-sized that they can read at the doctor’s office, at the pool, or just before bed. That averages out to be between 10 and 20 minutes of reading time–and that falls somewhere between 2,000 and 5,000 words. Most authors aim for the lower end of the scale and end each chapter with a page-turning twist. That way, when your reader thinks “maybe just one more chapter…” they will know it’s not going to take that long to finish (and maybe they’ll end up getting hooked into the chapter after that, too).
So keep it short, partner.