Engard on Freya Lojord

Dialogue tags

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The most common typos that come up in proof edits involve dialogue punctuation between dialogue tags, action beats and descriptions. I’ve gathered this list as I’ve been doing more and more writing and using the rule to never let an uninterrupted monologue run for too long.

"Dialogue starts," he said, "and then the dialogue ends."
"Dialogue starts," she said, doing something. "Dialogue ends."
"Dialogue starts," she said. A description. "Dialogue ends."
"Dialogue." Her description.
"Dialogue starts." She performs an action. "Dialogue ends."
"Dialogue starts," she said. Then, "Dialogue ends."
He performs an action. "Dialogue starts."
"Dialogue?" he asked.
"Dialogue!" he said.
He said, "Dialogue."
He said, "Dialogue." He performs an action. "Dialogue ends."
“Dialogue starts”—he interrupts with an action—“dialogue ends.”
“Dialogue is interr—” he said.
“Dialogue trails off . . .” he said.
"Dialogue that trails off but asks a question...?"
"Dialogue contains 'subdialogue.'"
He does an action, saying "dialogue."
He said some dialogue.
Oh. "Dialogue."
"Dialogue," she said.
"Dialogue," he said.
"Her dialogue."
"His dialogue."
She performs action.
"Dialogue," he said.
"Dialogue starts," he said, "the dialogue continues." He does an action. "Dialogue ends."
"Dialogue starts," he said, doing something, "the dialogue continues." A description. "Dialogue continues." He does another action. "Dialogue ends."

Everything in a novel is an arc of change

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Writing a novel is like drawing a Sierpinski triangle.

I've been stuck on one small point in chapter 3 of "A tale of Fate and Fury" where Eira got a second chance to run away and decided to take her friend Anni with her, but Anni refused. And after all that had happened Eira just couldn't fathom why Anni wouldn't come. This was such a small emotional bump in the overall novel, that I initially overlooked it and wrote:

Learning to write beautiful third-person prose without overusing pronouns

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

When reading over my own writing, I often find a lot of sentences starting with "she", a name or "her". I know I shouldn't use the name too much, so I replace it with pronouns. The result is less than perfect prose that is repetitive and does not sign.

In this post I'll gather all the techniques I'll be able to find and test them on an excerpt of my current novel "A Tale of Fate and Fury":

Link tree HTML template for your own website

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Stop relying on external services like Linktree. When you do, you give up your website’s ability to be discovered by people and search engines.

Remember: any service out there can disappear overnight. What would you be left with? Your website.

Here’s a simple black-and-white HTML snippet, ready to paste into a post, page, or a custom HTML block in WordPress (or whatever you use). Customize the colors, and don’t forget to replace my links with yours.

Stages of day and night light

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In my first drafts, I often found the day progressing from twilight to darkness and then suddenly to the first rays of sun, or from dawn to twilight and back again. I’ve seen it all. So here is a natural progression of light, from complete darkness in the morning to night:

Pre-dawn Hours / Full Darkness
- Everything is in shadow, moonlight and stars may provide faint illumination.
- Sounds are sharper, movement feels muffled or dreamlike.
- Heaviest drowsiness; deep fatigue for travelers or guards.
- Coldest and quietest time of night. Most creatures are at rest.
Astronomical Twilight
- The sun is 12–18 degrees below the horizon.
- Faintest hint of light deep on the horizon, barely perceptible.
- Stars still visible; outlines of the land still lost in shadow.
Nautical Twilight
- The sun is 12–18 degrees below the horizon.
- Horizon becomes more distinct.
- Silhouettes of trees, hills, and buildings start to emerge.
- A deep blue tone washes over the world.
Civil Twilight
- The sun is 12–18 degrees below the horizon.
- The sky lightens to a gray-blue.
- Details begin to sharpen, objects and terrain are easily visible without artificial light.
- Birds start to stir and sing; morning sounds begin.
- Ends at sunrise.
First Light / Dawn
- Soft golden or pink hues spread along the horizon.
- Shadows stretch long and cool.
- The air feels new and alive.
Sunrise
- The sun peeks above the horizon.
- Light intensifies, shadows begin to shrink.
- Colors brighten to gold, rose, orange. Temperature may shift.
Morning / Daylight
- Full illumination.
- The world is awake. Everything is visible and vibrant.
Noon / Midday
- The sun is at its highest point.
- Light is harsh and direct; shadows are short or vanish.
- Heat peaks (especially in summer), colors feel washed out.
Early Afternoon
- Heat lingers, light remains strong.
- Movement may slow; animals and people seek shade.
- In stories, often a quiet or reflective time.
Mid-Afternoon
- Light: Still strong, but turning warmer and less harsh.
- Shadows: Starting to stretch.
- Atmosphere: Return of energy; shift toward preparation (for dinner, return from work/hunting).
- Sounds: Footsteps, labor, light wind, distant chatter.
- Mood Use: Momentum builds; time running out; turning point of a day or journey.
Late Afternoon / Approaching Dusk
- Light: Rich golden tones begin—the “golden hour.”
- Shadows: Long and soft-edged.
- Atmosphere: Everything feels sharper or more vivid; anticipation builds.
- Sounds: Birds return briefly, wind picks up, livestock or nature stirs.
- Mood Use: Beauty, tension, intimacy, foreboding depending on tone.
Dusk / Sunset
- Light: Sun touches or slips below the horizon. Sky turns orange, pink, purple.
- Shadows: Very long or vanishing.
- Atmosphere: Liminal; serene or ominous.
- Sounds: Last birdsong, dogs barking, doors closing, first night creatures.
- Mood Use: Endings, transformation, mystery, goodbyes, danger rising.
Twilight / Blue Hour (6 – 8 PM)
- Light: No direct sunlight, but the sky glows in deep blues and purples.
- Shadows: Fade into even tones.
- Atmosphere: Dreamlike, hushed, magical or sad.
- Sounds: Crickets, rustling leaves, owl calls.
- Mood Use: Memory, quiet emotion, secrecy, foreshadowing.
Early Evening
- Light: Rapidly fading. May still see landscape in silhouette.
- Visibility: Difficult without artificial light.
- Temperature: Cools noticeably.
- Sounds: Campfires crackling, low voices, soft footfalls.
- Mood Use: Planning, quiet conversations, prelude to rest or threat.
Nightfall / Onset of Night / Early Night / First Watch
- Light: Fully dark. Moon and stars appear if skies are clear.
- Atmosphere: Quiet, vast, isolating or comforting.
- Sounds: Night insects, animal calls, distant howls or wind.
- Mood Use: Danger, solitude, secrets, romance, fear.
True Night / Full Darkness / Second Watch
- Roughly the first 2–3 hours after nightfall.
- Temperature drops. Forests go quiet.
- The moon (if visible) is at or near its zenith and becomes the primary light source.
- In literature, often a time of rest, secret meetings, or ambushes.
Deep Night / Midnight / Third Watch
- The darkest and stillest part of night. Breath fogs.
- The moon may be highest, or absent entirely (new moon).
- Often considered a supernatural hour ("witching hour").
- In storytelling, it carries weight of revelations, transformations, danger.
Late Night / Pre-dawn Hours / Fourth Watch
- Back to point 1.

Thesaurus for intimate parts when writing smut

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Nipple

Teat
Papilla
Areola
the dark ring
Tip
Point
Bud
Rosebud
Apex
Peak
Nub
Bead

When they harden:

drew tight
stiffened under his/her touch

Breast

Tits
flesh
Bosom

Vulva

Labia
Sex
Genitals
Pubis
Mons
Cleft
Slit
Opening
Entrance
center
Between her thighs
softness
heat
Core
Her intimate place
Petals
Bloom
Bud
Blossom
Rose
Rosebud
Secret flower
Her womanhood
Her private parts
Her most private place
Her nether parts
Her shame (can read harsh or religious)

Clitoris

Clit
Pearl
Button
Bud
Nub
Little bud
Sweet spot
Lady’s button (old fashioned)
Love button
Organ
Jewel
Bean

Vagina

the heart of her femininity
her center
her core
between her legs
junction of her thighs
groin
flower
her essence
her entrance
her sex
womb
mound
mons
quim
sheath
crease
slit
crevice
pool of moisture
honeypot
folds
inner lips
nub
bud
orifice
mouth of her arousal
canal
pink pearl
vulva
labia
pussy
cunt
Gash
Muff
Twat
Snatch

Lower abdomen

Belly
Lower belly
Lower stomach
Underbelly
Midriff
Soft belly
Stomach
Lower waist
Below the navel
Just under the ribs
Waistline
Core
Center
Lower core
Deep belly
Pit of the belly
Hollow of the belly

G-spot

hot spot
sweet spot

Anus

Back entrance
Anal opening
Rear
Backside
Behind
Bum
Butt
Butthole
Bunghole
Brown eye
Ring
Pucker
Starfish
Poop chute
Exit
Tail end
Tightness
Hole
Posterior
Bottom

Buttocks

Ass
Butt
Rear
Cushion
Cheeks
Backside

Penis

groin
manhood
his sex
arousal
package
bulge
his length
erection
staff
member
rod
shaft
appendage
stalk
organ
lingam
balls
phallus
sack
testicles
penis
scrotum
dick
Cock

Fluids

Cum
Wetness
Slickness
Juice
Semen
Precum
His release
Cream
Nectar

Pre orgasm

Surge
Swell
Rush
Crescendo
Build
Buildup
Climb
Rise
Spike
Pulse
Throb
Flutter
Tremor
Shiver
Ripple
Quiver
Twinge
Jolt
Tightening
Gathering

Orgasm

Climax
Culmination
Release
Peak
Completion
Crescendo
Spasm
Rapture
Ecstasy
Fruition

Moan

soft sound
low sound
quiet cry
whimper
whine
murmur
hum
groan
sigh
gasp
pant
breathy laugh
hitching breath
shuddering exhale
trembling breath
little yelp
small squeal
mewl
keening
croon
purr
coo
mutter
breathless plea
broken phrase
stifled sound
choked sound
involuntary sound
noise of pleasure
ragged breathing
hoarse sound

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Eira

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The heroine of the romantasy series Engard by Freya Lojord.

At eighteen, Eira is intelligent, resourceful and stronger than her small stature suggests, though she often doubts her own abilities. More comfortable climbing trees, exploring forests or working with her hands than worrying about what others think, she is empathetic but blunt and impulsive, often speaking her mind before considering the consequences.

Eira's Story | Engard, Book One

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Engard Series

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A dark, adult romantic fantasy series featuring friends to enemies to lovers.

A new book

EngardCover reveal
coming soon

Freya Lojord

Coming soon

Get publication updates Become an ARC reader!

In a world where magic turns girls into witches and men into massive hot trolls, a commoner raised to become a witch and a hidden heir are bound together by a fate that could destroy them both.

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Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

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