Does anyone know at what story size does SOL do an automatic page break?
Per the Posting Rules and Author Agreement:
Due to various technical reasons, we try to keep the length of each file served from the site below 55,000 characters (approximately 12,000 words). Any story or chapter longer than 55,000 characters will be served in pages on the site, just like in a book. The page breaks are created by a script, so you never know where your file will be divided. If you don't like the idea of page breaks in unexpected places, then divide your own text into smaller chunks.
Thanks. I was hoping something regards file size. I convert to a text file and upload when I post. Would that be over 55K gets split?? I can break it into two chapters.
LibreOffice Writer will count words and characters for you. Just paste your text in and voiler (as the French say).
LibreOffice Writer
So will MS Word and pretty much every other word processor on the market.
I can break it into two chapters.
I wouldn't worry about pages. Let the system do its thing if needed. What's the big deal for the reader clicking on "NEXT PAGE"? It's like turning a page in a book.
If it needs to be broken into chapters, then do so. But don't make artificial chapter breaks.
I agree. Who cares if the link is titled NEXT PAGE or Chapter (next number)?
However, check the actual break to ensure the break is between paragraphs.
If the break occurs in the middle of a word, sentence, or paragraph, let Lazeez know. He has worked to fix the bugs that caused improper breakpoints, so he needs to know if it reoccurs.
If it needs to be broken into chapters, then do so. But don't make artificial chapter breaks
At one time, SOL did page-break at odd places (i.e. often in the middle of a sentence, but Lazeez cleaned it up, so now it looks for the nearest paragraph break, instead.
I can break it into two chapters.
Personally I think it's better to avoid letting the system decide where to make a split. If you're in control, you can ensure the split is made at a sensible place.
AJ
If you're in control, you can ensure the split is made at a sensible place.
Right between the legs? :)
If you're in control, you can ensure the split is made at a sensible place.
Right between the legs? :)
Nope, right between the cheeks!
But as you've likely noted, there's an open debate about where to break chapters. Most of the established published authors spend a lot of time on 'natural' page breaks (i.e. focusing on episodic chapters, rather than writing until you fill up a particular word count). But for those who've mostly only posted to SOL or similar sites, that's often a hard concept to wrestle with (especially if they write the typical 'day in the life' stories, where the story simple follows the characters around, recording everything they do doing each particular day).
If you need help with either type of chapter break, ask on of the old hands (preferably the published authors, as they typically know the benefits of both).