Chapter size:

In truth, there is no right answer. Only preferences.

You don't want it so short that a reader finishes it in two minutes, but you don't want it so long that they are scrolling forever and begin to look for a breaking point if they have something else to do.

In a published novel, chapters tend to be longer. On Wattpad, they tend to be shorter.

2500 words takes about 10-15 minutes to read, which is an entire coffee break in many places.

In the past, I aimed for about 2500-3500 words, but the world and people's lives become busier, I've shifted my preference to bite-size chunks around the 2000 mark.

Most feedback I've heard shows that 1500-2500 is a good target.

The length of the chapter is often determined by the scene itself. My shortest chapter is barely 800 words, while my longest currently holds the record at over 5,000.

Try to be consistent without forcing your words into an iron word-limit box. It helps the readers know if they have time to read the next chapter or not.

How often to post chapters:
This is a huge debate - and there's no real right answer as long as you don't give up on writing. Readers like to read, but they want to be able to finish the story, so the most important thing is to keep posting until the story is completed, regardless of how long it might take.

Try to have a consistent update schedule. Life happens. Expect it, and don't fret too much if you miss an update or it is posted late.

I used to post 5 chapters a week and found that the readers loved this method. It also really increased my exposure to those browsing the recent activity sections.

Alas, I can't write that fast, so I slowed down to 3 chapters a week, then to 1-2 chapters a week. There was a decline in people actively following the story, but there were always a few waiting for updates at my usual posting time.

I also know authors who post one chapter a month. And they still get reads. So it comes down to what works best for your life and schedule.

Many authors on Wattpad post as they write, and their posting schedule matches their free time, which is perfectly fine. The reader feedback can be a huge motivation to keep writing and can even help catch plot issues before you've gone too far.

My mind refuses to work like that, so I write the entire book offline, edit it, and then start posting it with regularly scheduled updates. I find this to be the least stressful since I never know my schedule and when I'll have free time. This allows me to regularly update a story without worrying about trying to write if life gets crazy. This also prevents me from posting stories that will never be completed. There are times when we lose interest in stories or write ourselves into corners. I have half a dozen half-written stories saved on my computer that I may come back to one day.

Use whatever option works best for you. Like many things in the lives of writers, a lot of it comes down to personal preference and lifestyle.

I even know one person who actually writes a story backwards - he literally cannot start at the beginning.