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With the first 6 chapters of "The Nymphomaniac" posted on SOL, all of the complete chapters you are able to read as a sample on Bookapy are now on SOL. Part of Chapter 7 is in the Bookapy sample, but the full chapter will be posted on SOL after this weekend.

Now that you're into the story, you may be wondering where the sex is. If I followed the literal definition of SOL's story codes, I should have included the "slow" tag. But I hate that code. I hope you agree the story isn't slow. The slow tag in SOL means there's a lot of story before the sex occurs which is the case in this story.

However, I think that code applies to sex stories. This is a story that contains sex. To me, there's a difference.

I talk about chapter length a lot because my chapter lengths seem to be contrary to the norm on SOL. As I've said many times, I prefer short chapters both as a reader and author.

Like I often do, I was spending time browsing articles on writing fiction and came upon one on chapter length from "Publishers Weekly."

"Publishers Weekly" is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of Book Publishing and Bookselling."

The following is from the article:

"Many novelists these days prefer chapters that are between 1,500 words—or six book pages— and 8,000 words, or 32 book pages."

My latest novel, "The Nymphomaniac," is 193,000 words and 70 chapters. That's an average chapter length of 2,757 words. So my chapters are on the shorter end, but not unusually short per the definition above.

The article also says:

"Chapter length helps create the rhythm of your book. Do you want your novel to feel fast paced and breathless? Then you should try to keep chapters on the short side. If your story is more leisurely, then longer chapters may be appropriate."

My writing is influenced by thrillers. Yeah, those novels that are "fast paced and breathless." So it makes sense for me to have shorter (not short—LOL) chapters.

Anyway, Happy Holidays to you all.

I'm posting a chapter a week on SOL for my novel "The Nymphomaniac." So far I've posted 3 chapters. Chapter 4 will be posted next week.

It just dawned on me that you don't have to wait for the next few chapters to be posted. The novel is for sale on Bookapy and Bookapy has a feature to sample the novel. So if you go to the novel on Bookapy (https://bookapy.com/s/635/the-nymphomaniac) and click "Read Sample," you will get more chapters than currently posted on SOL.

The sample is only chapters 1–6 with part of Chapter 7, but I won't be posting Chapter 6 for another 2 1/2 weeks. My download counts will go down, but I don't care about counts. All I care about is giving you the best story I can.

If you decide to read the sample chapters on Bookapy, I suggest you start from Chapter 1 even if you've read it. I didn't write the novel to be read a chapter a week and it will flow much better if you don't have to wait a week to read the next chapter.

Or, if you prefer reading a chapter a week, Chapter 4 will be posted this coming Monday or Tuesday depending on my schedule.

As promised, I'll be posting a chapter of "The Nymphomaniac" on SOL each week. I posted Chapter 2 yesterday. The link is: https://storiesonline.net/s/29730:267639/chapter-2-the-nymphomaniac

For those of you who were teenagers in the 1950s, I hope the story brings back memories. Julie is actually 8 years older than me. But she's living in my house in my neighborhood and going to my high school.

For those of you younger, try to understand that it was a much different time. The dress code for the high school, for example, was actually what I remember. In the story I don't think I mentioned that boys had to wear a collared shirt, but I once went to school wearing a turtleneck sweater because it was cold. A teacher stopped me in the hall and pulled the turtleneck out and looked inside for a collar. I was only wearing an undershirt underneath. She sent me home to change. So try to live the Fifties the way it was for Julie, and forget how it is now.

Chapter 1 of "The Nymphomaniac" is now available on SOL. I will post a chapter a week until all 70 chapters are posted. The link to it is: https://storiesonline.net/s/29730:267434/chapter-1-the-nymphomaniac

For those not familiar with my writing, I don't like long chapters, both as a reader and an author. I guess the average chapter size for this novel is between 2,500 and 3,000 words. Of course I sometimes have a 6,000-word chapter when it's right to do so.

My writing style is influenced by authors of thriller novels. I don't write thinking about posting a chapter a week. I write as if the full novel is available, so I like to end a chapter with a page-turner (expecting the next page to be there). Not necessarily a cliff hanger, but with a realization or a question that needs to be answered. Again, the thriller genre influence that leaves the reader in suspense so they turn the page to the next chapter. Of course, that's not a problem for those who buy the full novel on Bookapy or wait for the entire story to be put on SOL, but for those reading a chapter at a time, I thought I should mention it.