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Celebrate Ebook Week with Discounted Reads

Happy Read an Ebook Week! To help you find a book to celebrate, you can find a collection of my books at a 50% off at @Smashwords from March 1 – March 7. Find my books and many more at https://www.smashwords.com/sale #ebookweek26 #Smashwords Included books: *Moonrise on the Mississippi https://books2read.com/u/bWDoVq Simply Vegetable Gardening: Simple Organic Gardening Tips for the Beginning…

Unlock The Locket Saga: Free Book for Holiday 2025

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope your holiday is going as well as mine it. I have a surprise for you! Santa is sharing a Kindle edition of one of my most popular novels, the first book in my historical fiction series, The Locket Saga: When God Turned His Head. The book will be free from December 18th-22nd, 2025. YES, IT IS FREE, but for a limited time only! In this book, Beautiful Drusilla was…

#free book #Historical Fiction #historical romance #historical who-done-it #The Locket Saga #When God Turned His Head

Day 30 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days Challenge

This month, we’ve taken our novels from an idea to a first or rough draft. That’s quite an accomplishment! Your book isn’t done, but is more like unsanded and unpolished furniture. It’s got the form, but it’s not finished. You’ve got more work to do before you submit it for publishing. Celebrate Your First Draft However, if you’ve made it this far in your novel, congratulations, you have…

#Author Cygnet Brown #Celebrate Your Writing Accomplishments #Finishing your first draft #finishing your rough draft #what do I do after I finish my first draft #what do I do after I finish my rough draft

Day 29 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days Challenge

Transitions in a novel help guide readers smoothly from one scene, idea, or moment to the next, maintaining flow and coherence. Common Transition Types Scene Transitions: Moving from one location or time period to another, often signaled by chapter breaks, line breaks, or subtle narrative cues. Character Transitions: Shifting the focus from one character’s perspective to another, which can be…

#Author Cygnet Brown #how do I know if my transitions are clear #novel transitions #The Locket Saga #types of novel transitions

Day 28 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days Challenge

As you develop your novel, you’ll want to write in some plot twists. So, what are plot twists? What Are Plot Twists? Plot twists are unexpected developments or revelations in a story that dramatically change the direction of the narrative. They often challenge readers’ assumptions, introduce new complications, or reveal hidden information that reshapes the context of earlier events. Effective…

#what are plot twists #what are some strategies for developing plot twists #what are some tips for developing plot twists #why does my novel need to have plot twists

Day 27 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days

Effective dialogue brings characters to life and moves your story forward. When writing dialogue, focus on making each character’s voice distinct. How to Create Distinctive Character Voices Consider their background, personality, and motivations. Dialogue should sound natural, but avoid replicating real speech exactly. No one wants to have to decipher a bunch of text. Trim unnecessary filler…

#Author Cygnet Brown #create distinctive character voices #how do I avoid using dialogue tags in novel writing #how do I distinguish POV thoughts from dialogue #how to construct dialogue #how to write dialogue in my novel #how to write thoughts in a novel #novel writing #The Locket Saga #writing

Day 26 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days

Yesterday we shared how to BEGIN chapters, today, we’ll discuss different ways to END chapters. Chapter Endings That Keep Readers Reading Writing great chapter endings in a novel is crucial because these moments serve as natural pause points for readers, yet they also motivate them to continue reading. A well-crafted chapter ending can heighten suspense, deepen emotional impact, or introduce…

#how do I close my novel chapters #how do I end my novel chapters #how do I keep readers engaged in my novel #how to close your novel chapters #writing chapter endings #writing novel chapters

Day 25 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days

Today is all about creating your chapters. You’ve got your story, but knowing how to structure your chapters will help keep your readers engaged. How Many Words Should My Novel Chapter Have? There’s no strict rule for how long novel chapters should be; their length can vary widely depending on the story’s pacing, style, and genre. Chapters typically range from 1,500 to 5,000 words, but some may…

#Author Cygnet Brown #how long should my chapters be #novel writing #novel writing techniques #The Locket Saga #what are different ways to start my novel&039;s chapters #writing

Day 24 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days Challenge

We’ve discussed the major characters in the book, but there are always other characters as well. These characters are like the extras on a movie set or people who come into the picture and then leave. Why Develop Minor Characters? I remember when I was in the cast of high school annual musicals. In one musical, I was cast as part of the chorus line, and in another, I was given a minor role. Our…

Day 23 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days Challenge

We have mentioned these novel devices before, but today, we’re digging a little deeper into how to use flashbacks and foreshadowing when creating a novel. Flashbacks To develop flashbacks in novels, start by identifying the purpose behind each flashback—whether it’s to reveal a character’s motivation, provide background information, or enhance emotional depth. Integrate flashbacks organically…

#Author Cygnet Brown #developing flashbacks in novels #developing foreshadow in novels #foreshadowing in novels #foreshadowing technique #The Locket Saga #writing

Day 22 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days Challenge

For those of you who are having difficulty creating subplots for your story, check out this list of types of subplots as catalysts for your creative imagination. Different Types of Subplots a Novelist Can Use Romantic Subplot: Focuses on a developing romantic relationship between characters, often adding emotional depth or tension to the main story. Friendship Subplot: Explores the dynamics of…

#Author Cygnet Brown #different types of subplots #subplot development #subplots for the novelist #subplots in novels #The Locket Saga #types of subplots

Day 21 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days Challenge

We’ve sped past the center of our book with our scenes and now we’re developing the scenes between plot point two and the climax (catharsis scene). Building Up to the Crisis To develop the scenes between plot point two and the catharsis (climax) scene, focus on building maximum tension and driving your protagonist toward their final confrontation or moment of transformation. In this section,…

#Author Cygnet Brown #creating minor scenes #Plot point two to catharsis scene #subplot development

Day 20 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days Challenge

Up to this point, we have moved our story along from the opening scene, through plot point one, and to the midpoint scene. Today, we’re going to further develop our novels by developing the scenes between the mid-point scene and plot point two. Develop Scenes between the Mid-point Scene and Plot Point Two To develop scenes between your novel’s midpoint and plot point two, focus on escalating…

#Developing minor scenes #developing your novel between midpoint scene and plot point Two #how do I create drama in second half of my novel #how do I develop subplots

Day 19 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days

Yesterday, we started creating our scenes between the opening scene and plot point one. Today, our focus will be on the scenes between plot point one and the midpoint scene. How These Scenes Differ Scenes between plot point one and the midpoint scene differ significantly from those occurring before plot point one in both tone and purpose. While earlier scenes focus on establishing the…

#how do I create subplots #how do subplots enhance a novel?#how do subplots improve a story?#how to deal with a sagging novel middle #novel subplot creation #what are the unique characteristics of scenes between plot point one and the midpoint #what can I do to create subplots #writing developmental novel scenes #writing subplots

Day 18 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days Challenge

Today we return to the beginning of our story and begin connecting the main scenes by developing what happens between those pivotal scenes. Scenes Between Opening Scene and Plot Point One Developing scenes between the beginning of your novel and plot point one is all about establishing your story’s world, introducing key characters, and setting up the central conflict. Start by grounding the…

#action scenes before plot point one #creating introspection scenes before plot point one #creating your protagonist&039;s world #developing scenes early in a novel #dialogue in scenes #how to create your protagonist&039;s world #how to write scenes before plot point one

Day 17 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days Challenge

A common way to develop conflict in a novel is through the use of triangles. This plot device introduces emotional tensions and conflicts, and can be used in various scenarios where two people are competing for the affections of a third person in a triad. The Love Triangle In novels, a love triangle is a plot device that features three characters entangled in romantic feelings, typically with…

#Are there other types of triangles than a love triangle #Author Cygnet Brown #common type of plot device in novel writing #developing triangles in novel writing #love triangles in novels #novel writing #novel writing techniques #novel writing tips #The Locket Saga #what is a love triangle in a novel

Day 16 of Writing Your Novel in 30 Days Challenge

Up to this point, you’ve determined your main plot. You’ve gotten to know your story’s protagonist and it’s antagonist. You’ve also fleshed out the five main scenes of the book using techniques used in writing a three-act play. You’ve fleshed out these main elements of the story. You’re over halfway through the month, and you’ve accomplished a lot, but there’s so much more to do. Today, we’ll…

#Author Cygnet Brown #creating a sidekick #making your sidekick seem real #sidekick arc #sidekick development #sidekick history #The Locket Saga #writing a novel #writing a novel in a month

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