Chapter 165 update! (You'd think I'd know better by now...) · 4:13pm Oct 20th, 2019
Actual picture of me whenever i make story/chapter length predictions
So yeah... you know... I somehow never learn my lesson. Remember in the last blog when i said there were only two chapter's left in the arc and it would be that way no matter how long they turned out? Well i was working on chapter 165 and got halfway through my outline for the chapter. Then i checked the word count.
17,000
There's no way in hell i'm making you guys read a 34k+ word chapter thats not even the arc finale. I'm not saying the finale is going to be that long but-GAH I ALMOST DID IT AGAIN!
Anyway, i decided to cut off the next chapter right at the halfway point of my original plan for it, so it's done, i just need to proofread it and send it off to my editors per usual. I'm a little disappointed because it was planned in a way that has a payoff to parts of the previous chapter and some other older chapters in the second part of it, so it may feel a little cut off from the flow of things, but it was that or make you guys read a chapter thats way too long, and after putting some thought into it and considering i know lots of readers prefer i dont go over 20k words i felt this was the best choice.
I honesty don't know how its humanly possible for me to be so consistently wrong about my length predictions with this story, but i can never seem to break the habit.
Anywho, because of this chapter cut off, the next chapter is drafted and will be out as soon as the proofing and editing process is done. hang in there!
If it’s coming out, I don’t care how long it is.
I just need moar to satisfy my addiction to this story.
I might just be speaking for myself here Calm but if it's actually faster to do the big chungus chapters, word count be damned.
Of course I also read the entire Savage Skies saga in one sitting over a couple days so...
Whatever you think it's gonna be, double it.
But seriously, I love days when I can go sit outside and get absolutely lost in one of your chapters. I'm personally a speed reader so it's great that I can sit back and read for an hour straight.
5142740
More like quadruple it!
Hey, anyone remember how PtH was only suppose to be like 80 chapters long or something like that? The ride never ends... and I love it!
Well i anticipate what you have done soon then, and once more I'll soon be wanting MOAR.
If I had a penny for everytime you misjudged the length of your chapters
<looks at top picture>
This universe could be quite an entertaining television serie.
Wait....
I honestly wouldn’t mind a longgggg chapter
Gives me more if this amazing story 😁👍
i ever tell ya how much i HATE short stories? tease me with a quickie and leave me wanting... taking me to the edge again and again...toying with my emot... er... what's the rating here again? awe 7#|<it!
I was wondering what you were up to.
No updates for nearly 2 months. As for the length, it doesn’t matter. This story has surpassed all expectations for length, a few thousand more words won’t hurt. People here don’t even flinch at that number anymore! 
Sometimes I tell people I read a book that was 2 million words long and they’re like, “What book was it?” And instead of some old stuffy piece of literature I’m like “it’s a My Little Pony fanfic.”
Fire when ready.
I can probably get it done within a day or two, depending on how long it is. I can usually do about 6-7000 words in an hour; might finish it in one sitting if I can be alone for an afternoon.
5143125
5142722
5142731
5142740
5143013
Unfortunately this is not the case for everyone and my choice is between 1.) Chapters that are cut off before they get too long that are satisfying for everyone or 2.) longer chapters where half my readers don't mind and the other half think it's to long.
i purposely tried to set a limit for myself recently because i have spoken to many of my readers who are not fast readers or who have fallen behind because they have a hard time reading longer chapters in one sitting. This was something i first realized after chapter 129 (The Nightshade fight). It was way too long and it has the most page views of any of my chapters due to people being forced to leave and come back later to finish it. Im fortunate to have readers who are interested enough in the story to stick through an impractically long chapter like that, but i dont want to subject them to that. It took me a little while to finally address, but it was on my mind starting around that time. Several of my recent chapters have been cut off and broken up for this very reason. My ideas have been much longer winded than estimated during the outlining process and this coming chapter is just another case of that. Though my chapters are often planned with 2-4 separate scenes depending on the events so i always make sure i have spots i can cut it off if necessary. I had a perfect spot in this chapter to do so (Despite being forced to postpone a payoff to the previous chapter) but on the flip side, that means the chapter after this one is already outlined, so it should take less time to finish and release.
5143152
Gods forbid, whatever shall I do? I have TOO MANY PONY WORDS TO READ!
Seriously though, I understand your dilemma. I was merely suggesting that perhaps not breaking out of the zone and only needing to do the proof/edit/reproof process once as opposed to 4 times might get the ponywords out faster per word.
Edit: but yes, nearly 49k words for 1 chapter MIGHT be a bit much
I read Shogun in a day same for War & Peace , Heris Serrano a 1041 page book by Elizabeth Moon took me 1 day to read, so 34k + words is light reading during lunch...