What Moby Dick Taught Me About Pace and Momentum

The simple truth

I write novels for the creative joy. There is great satisfaction in sitting down and immersing myself in a fictitious world. I build places, shape scenes, and listen to characters talk as if they are across the table. Through their choices I explore life. I also explore myself. I write the stories I want to read. If a scene does not pull me forward, I cut it. If a chapter ends without giving you a reason to turn the page, I fix it.

Why I favor short chapters

Readers juggle a lot. Short chapters respect your time and keep the story moving.

• Focus. A tight scene keeps the goal clear.

• Pace. Quick turns build energy and momentum.

• Breathing room. A clean break gives space to think.

• Progress. Turning pages feels good.

• Convenience. You can stop at a natural point. No losing the thread.

What Melville showed me

I loved Moby-Dick, all 700 plus pages, in large part because Herman Melville used short, discrete chapters with intent. That structure let him break up complex ideas, control suspense and rhythm, and weave in non-narrative sections about whales and whaling lore. The form served the story. It carried dense science, philosophy, and character work without stopping the journey. The lesson stuck with me. Length does not have to mean drag. Short chapters can carry big themes.

How this shows up in my books

You will find tight chapters, forward motion, and characters facing real stakes. Family. Estrangement. Guilt. Forgiveness. Contemplation. I do not obsess over checklists or what a chapter is supposed to contain. I am not chasing rules from the literary geniuses. I listen to the story and let the characters talk. Scenes unfold with simple exposition and clear, natural dialogue. I do not force a twist or plant a theme. My life experience often steers the work because experiences shape people. I follow the most honest next step, end on a true beat, and move on. What happens happens. If it rings true to me, I trust it will ring true to you.

Writing to discover

Every draft teaches me something. Sometimes I learn more about a character. Sometimes I see a blind spot in myself. Writing gives me a safe way to ask hard questions and test possible answers inside a story. That is the joy of the work. It is play and it is practice. It is craft and it is reflection.

Writing outside, where I feel most at home

Only my love of the outdoors surpasses the creative satisfaction I get from crafting a story. I hike, I breathe, I listen. Then I bring that energy back to the page. My next goal is simple. Write more of the work outside, where the wind, light, and sound find their way into the sentences. A goal, may seem silly but, write a future novel entirely in the outdoors. I guess I better get to building that cabin in the woods. Perhaps it will be Hidden Beneath the Pines.

An invitation

If you enjoy character driven fiction with clear momentum and short chapters, my books are written with you in mind. Start with Memories of an Ash Covered Sky or explore my other titles. Leave a comment and tell me what keeps you turning pages. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks, as always.

Mike