Top 10 Chapters of 2024
Chapters matter!
Two readers reached out to me last week and posted similar questions. What was my favorite chapter I wrote that was released in 2024? After pausing and thinking, What a fantastic question!
Let’s do a top ten list.
Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of was released on February 29th, 2024, and Emos, Posers, Goths, & Haters was released on October 31st, 2024. Both books had 74 combined chapters. Going back to when I was younger and would consume books like food, chapters always meant something to me. Named chapters with a theme based on the title always resonated. Now, let’s dive into the top ten without revealing any significant spoilers.
#10 – Limbo (Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of)
Some readers may have differing views on this, making the list. When I first went to college, I wanted to be a sportswriter. The dreams of a Chicago Cubs baseball beat writer were intense. Within two years, that desire turned to film and storytelling. However, I have always envisioned writing a baseball story. Limbo is a long chapter, and trimming it down did not work. I tried, and it lost so much in its brevity. Not only does it work as a baseball story of game seven of a World Series that just will not end. The use of metaphors and foreshadowing gives the impact of the main character, Rodrigo’s plight, in later chapters more depth.
#9 – So, It Begins (Emos, Posers, Goths, & Haters)
This opening chapter of Emos (For short) lays the foundation for the story. We met Gerard Rush, the history teacher, about to start his last year at Evergreen High. Christopher Jansen, the naïve rookie English Teacher, has no idea what is in store. The trope of a soon-to-be-retired character and a rookie always resonated with me. It goes back to my love of the movie Se7en, which used that trope. This chapter outlines the different cliques and why The Empresses rule them all. Eagles soar, but Empresses roar.
#8 – Spring Blooms (Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of) This chapter has much going on. It is one of the few chapters in this book where Rebecca has a first-person POV. We see her in her element of wedding planning, though her motivations for helping Rodrigo are still murky at best. The plot centers around Rebecca’s role in organizing a culturally significant wedding, interwoven with her concern for Rodrigo. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the reader wanting to know more about where Rodrigo is and the government agents looking for him.
#7 – Soul (Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of)
Music plays a significant role in this book. The tension in this chapter stems from several sources: the high-stakes music competition, Rodrigo’s internal conflict, and the unspoken tension between him and one of his part-time girlfriends. The mood shifts throughout the scene from anticipation and excitement to introspection and self-doubt. The narrative explores the tension between authenticity and commercialism in the music industry, from Rodrigo pouring his “Soul” into a song.
Fun Fact: I purchased an LLC to bring the song “Soul” to market but have not gone forward with it.
#6 – Haziness (Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of)
This is my favorite chapter in the first half of this book. The plot is fragmented, presenting two distinct scenes: one focused on physical suffering and the other depicting a seemingly ordinary day at a park. The connection between these scenes isn’t immediately clear; the goal is to create a sense of mystery. This chapter, for the first time, shows the reader a sample size of what Rodrigo’s repressed guilt is holding deep within. The link between these two scenes comes much later in the story.
The desert landscape is harsh and unforgiving, emphasizing isolation and vulnerability. At the same time, the park offers a sharp contrast, highlighting the normalcy of life outside the character’s ordeal. In my opinion, the contrast adds to the overall impact of this chapter.
#5 – Sun and Shadow (Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of)
Fun fact: The cover for Fragmentation Vol I: The Three of Clubs foreshadows this chapter. The plot centers around a beach wedding for our favorite Bridezilla- Jamie-Lynn. Any additional details in this chapter would go into spoiler territory.
#4 – Halloween (Emos, Posers, Goths, & Haters)
The plot of this chapter revolves around Andrea and her friends’ experiences on Halloween. The characters navigate their way through school and eventually end up at a haunted house in the evening. The dynamics between the characters and the tension build as they explore the haunted house.
The characters in this chapter are introduced through their dialogue and actions, giving the reader a sense of their personalities and motivations. Charlotte is portrayed as confident and popular, while Andrea seems more sarcastic and observant. Charlotte wrestles with the pressures of popularity and her own doubts. This chapter is high on foreshadowing and symbolism.
Note: Maxine and Jerry’s characters initially had symbolic experiences in the haunted house, which was cut. Based on their character arcs, it was not needed. The first draft of this chapter was well over fifty pages.
#3 – No Sun for You (Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of)
What happens when Rodrigo is forced to confront his guilt? How fractured is his psyche from an event in his past? The tension slowly builds to a breaking point, both literally and figuratively. An element serves as both a narrative device and a therapeutic tool. Will Rodrigo finally reveal crucial details about his past in this emotionally charged chapter?
#2 – The Final Girl (Emos, Posers, Goths, & Haters)
What is horror? It can occur any day at any time. Getting a phone call early in the morning of a loved one in a car accident? A school calling over something a child did. If you dread public speaking, do you have to speak at a large event? A panic attack? Not getting tacos on a Tuesday?
The final act of this story skirts with the Final Girl trope in horror slasher movies. Additionally, will the climax head into Carrie territory? This narrative for Emos has tried to realistically portray what high school life is like for teenagers during the social media times we all live in. Some issues are universal for many, while a few are significant over the past twenty years.
This final chapter, which concludes Emos, is visceral and emotionally charged. There is little dialogue, and the two songs listed add to the overall experience for readers.
#1 – Two Masks (Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of)
I spent three years thinking and pondering how this final chapter of Vol II would turn out. Where all the subplots converge. Why does Rodrigo count numbers for his arithmomania? Will there be karma for his self-destructive tendencies? Can he ever find redemption? Just how fractured is his psyche? Will the true extent of his repressed guilt finally be revealed? Questions are answered as new ones pop up. How can one escape their own personal hell of suffering?