Hiria Dunning
@hiriadunning.com
Claire Hiria Ahuriri-Dunning (she/her/they/them/ia)
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa, Pākehā
Author, poet, game writer, playwright
Find my work here: hiriadunning.com
Host of #pretendpanel, a weekend writing prompt
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa, Pākehā
Author, poet, game writer, playwright
Find my work here: hiriadunning.com
Host of #pretendpanel, a weekend writing prompt
Pinned
Happy New Year 🥳
#pretendpanel calendar for January just dropped. I'm thinking about Changes, Growth and Evolution this month. How has your relationship with writing changed over time? Looking forward to finding out ✌️
#pretendpanel calendar for January just dropped. I'm thinking about Changes, Growth and Evolution this month. How has your relationship with writing changed over time? Looking forward to finding out ✌️
#pretendpanel, for me, it was learning how conflict elevates a story by showing the characters at their best and worst. Converse to what my peacemaking self believed, we actually like to see characters arguing their point, because when it's done well, we can see from both characters' points of view.
#pretendpanel, once again, cannot wait to hear your answers to this one...
January 24th: Is there a significant change you can remember that was like a huge revelation for you? (whether in your process, or between drafts, whatever)
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 24th: Is there a significant change you can remember that was like a huge revelation for you? (whether in your process, or between drafts, whatever)
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 24, 2026 at 8:23 AM
#pretendpanel, for me, it was learning how conflict elevates a story by showing the characters at their best and worst. Converse to what my peacemaking self believed, we actually like to see characters arguing their point, because when it's done well, we can see from both characters' points of view.
#pretendpanel, once again, cannot wait to hear your answers to this one...
January 24th: Is there a significant change you can remember that was like a huge revelation for you? (whether in your process, or between drafts, whatever)
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 24th: Is there a significant change you can remember that was like a huge revelation for you? (whether in your process, or between drafts, whatever)
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 24, 2026 at 8:06 AM
#pretendpanel, once again, cannot wait to hear your answers to this one...
January 24th: Is there a significant change you can remember that was like a huge revelation for you? (whether in your process, or between drafts, whatever)
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 24th: Is there a significant change you can remember that was like a huge revelation for you? (whether in your process, or between drafts, whatever)
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
My drafting method hasn't changed much since my first published book, but I used to have to draft everything longhand on paper. it took a while.
📚💙 #PretendPanel #WritingCommunity
📚💙 #PretendPanel #WritingCommunity
January 22, 2026 at 10:36 AM
My drafting method hasn't changed much since my first published book, but I used to have to draft everything longhand on paper. it took a while.
📚💙 #PretendPanel #WritingCommunity
📚💙 #PretendPanel #WritingCommunity
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
In the process of cutting words, taking a ton of 'good writing' advice on board, and polishing of the MS, I feel like I eliminated some observations and turns of phrase that would be considered 'voicey'. Humbug.
#pretendpanel #writingcommunity
#authors #thrillerauthors #writers #revspirations
#pretendpanel #writingcommunity
#authors #thrillerauthors #writers #revspirations
January 23, 2026 at 1:47 PM
In the process of cutting words, taking a ton of 'good writing' advice on board, and polishing of the MS, I feel like I eliminated some observations and turns of phrase that would be considered 'voicey'. Humbug.
#pretendpanel #writingcommunity
#authors #thrillerauthors #writers #revspirations
#pretendpanel #writingcommunity
#authors #thrillerauthors #writers #revspirations
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#PretendPanel Jan 23 - Usually no. In ONE case, I had to trim a short-story even further to get it into submission guidelines. It functioned (and even won a place!), but I hated the shorter version. I keep the longer version for myself.
#writingprompt #writingcommunity #writesky
#writingprompt #writingcommunity #writesky
January 23, 2026 at 7:15 PM
#PretendPanel Jan 23 - Usually no. In ONE case, I had to trim a short-story even further to get it into submission guidelines. It functioned (and even won a place!), but I hated the shorter version. I keep the longer version for myself.
#writingprompt #writingcommunity #writesky
#writingprompt #writingcommunity #writesky
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
I did try not editing as I went on one project which resulted in a draft with a ton of inconsistencies which probably wound up being a lot more work to sort out in the long run.
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 24, 2026 at 7:11 AM
I did try not editing as I went on one project which resulted in a draft with a ton of inconsistencies which probably wound up being a lot more work to sort out in the long run.
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
I tend not to have many regrets but for a while I was very dedicated to daily wordcount goals and it was extremely demotivating. I lost a fair bit of progress feeling bad about performing poorly. I don't hold myself to those standards anymore.
#PretendPanel #WriterSky
#PretendPanel #WriterSky
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 24, 2026 at 6:11 AM
I tend not to have many regrets but for a while I was very dedicated to daily wordcount goals and it was extremely demotivating. I lost a fair bit of progress feeling bad about performing poorly. I don't hold myself to those standards anymore.
#PretendPanel #WriterSky
#PretendPanel #WriterSky
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#PretendPanel Jan 23. I don't know that I have any huge corrections, but I'm trying to lean a little more on my writing sounding like me instead of trying to incorporate every piece of advice I've ever heard. I'm not trying to sound generic and boring.
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 24, 2026 at 4:18 AM
#PretendPanel Jan 23. I don't know that I have any huge corrections, but I'm trying to lean a little more on my writing sounding like me instead of trying to incorporate every piece of advice I've ever heard. I'm not trying to sound generic and boring.
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
And good evening to you, #PretendPanel!
The answer to this question is "yes," but the draft in question was Standing in the Dark, and it's a part of the story that readers have universally liked and complimented me on. I regret it because I wrote myself into corners I didn't need to...
The answer to this question is "yes," but the draft in question was Standing in the Dark, and it's a part of the story that readers have universally liked and complimented me on. I regret it because I wrote myself into corners I didn't need to...
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 24, 2026 at 12:32 AM
And good evening to you, #PretendPanel!
The answer to this question is "yes," but the draft in question was Standing in the Dark, and it's a part of the story that readers have universally liked and complimented me on. I regret it because I wrote myself into corners I didn't need to...
The answer to this question is "yes," but the draft in question was Standing in the Dark, and it's a part of the story that readers have universally liked and complimented me on. I regret it because I wrote myself into corners I didn't need to...
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
Any changes I've made, if they were weighty enough to make me pause, I've placed in a holding folder for the next books in the series.
#PretendPanel
#writingCommunity
#PretendPanel
#writingCommunity
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Any changes I've made, if they were weighty enough to make me pause, I've placed in a holding folder for the next books in the series.
#PretendPanel
#writingCommunity
#PretendPanel
#writingCommunity
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#pretendpanel 23
#TheDragonblood: I don't know if it's specifically about my process, but there are several details of the story I've changed and later restored or otherwise regret.
A big one that I later half-restored was the date of the split between the magical and nonmagical worlds. (1/4)
#TheDragonblood: I don't know if it's specifically about my process, but there are several details of the story I've changed and later restored or otherwise regret.
A big one that I later half-restored was the date of the split between the magical and nonmagical worlds. (1/4)
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 9:18 PM
#pretendpanel 23
#TheDragonblood: I don't know if it's specifically about my process, but there are several details of the story I've changed and later restored or otherwise regret.
A big one that I later half-restored was the date of the split between the magical and nonmagical worlds. (1/4)
#TheDragonblood: I don't know if it's specifically about my process, but there are several details of the story I've changed and later restored or otherwise regret.
A big one that I later half-restored was the date of the split between the magical and nonmagical worlds. (1/4)
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#PretendPanel Jan23
Nothing I can recall at the moment. There've been things that stopped working for me, like writing in serial format, but they were right for me at the time and I learned a lot while I used them.
Nothing I can recall at the moment. There've been things that stopped working for me, like writing in serial format, but they were right for me at the time and I learned a lot while I used them.
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 9:04 PM
#PretendPanel Jan23
Nothing I can recall at the moment. There've been things that stopped working for me, like writing in serial format, but they were right for me at the time and I learned a lot while I used them.
Nothing I can recall at the moment. There've been things that stopped working for me, like writing in serial format, but they were right for me at the time and I learned a lot while I used them.
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
I honestly can't recall any changes made to my writing that I don't think made the process better. But that may just be lack of exposure. Ohers might have ideas 😂
Snapshot theory is helpful here - what I write is as good as it needs to be right now.
#writingcommunity #pretendpanel #writingprompts
Snapshot theory is helpful here - what I write is as good as it needs to be right now.
#writingcommunity #pretendpanel #writingprompts
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 8:58 PM
I honestly can't recall any changes made to my writing that I don't think made the process better. But that may just be lack of exposure. Ohers might have ideas 😂
Snapshot theory is helpful here - what I write is as good as it needs to be right now.
#writingcommunity #pretendpanel #writingprompts
Snapshot theory is helpful here - what I write is as good as it needs to be right now.
#writingcommunity #pretendpanel #writingprompts
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
Back in the day, I tried critique partners as you write those initial drafts. I eventually came to regret that, because I found that I was rewriting and reworking the novel without knowing where the story was going. Now, no one sees any of the story until I'm happy with the full thing.
#PretendPanel
#PretendPanel
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Back in the day, I tried critique partners as you write those initial drafts. I eventually came to regret that, because I found that I was rewriting and reworking the novel without knowing where the story was going. Now, no one sees any of the story until I'm happy with the full thing.
#PretendPanel
#PretendPanel
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
Hello again, #PretendPanel friends! I can't believe we're getting to the end of January. 😬
Interesting question as always! I don't think there's been any *process* changes I've come to regret, though in some respects part of me will always want to have gone *weirder* earlier in this series!
Interesting question as always! I don't think there's been any *process* changes I've come to regret, though in some respects part of me will always want to have gone *weirder* earlier in this series!
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Hello again, #PretendPanel friends! I can't believe we're getting to the end of January. 😬
Interesting question as always! I don't think there's been any *process* changes I've come to regret, though in some respects part of me will always want to have gone *weirder* earlier in this series!
Interesting question as always! I don't think there's been any *process* changes I've come to regret, though in some respects part of me will always want to have gone *weirder* earlier in this series!
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#pretendpanel
There was a time where I planned out every chapter in bullet points, and adhered to it as I wrote it
But it felt like work, so I became a pantser
Which has been great, but since this latest book has gone through tonnes of revisions from the ground up . . .
So I just live in regret
There was a time where I planned out every chapter in bullet points, and adhered to it as I wrote it
But it felt like work, so I became a pantser
Which has been great, but since this latest book has gone through tonnes of revisions from the ground up . . .
So I just live in regret
January 23, 2026 at 7:11 PM
#pretendpanel
There was a time where I planned out every chapter in bullet points, and adhered to it as I wrote it
But it felt like work, so I became a pantser
Which has been great, but since this latest book has gone through tonnes of revisions from the ground up . . .
So I just live in regret
There was a time where I planned out every chapter in bullet points, and adhered to it as I wrote it
But it felt like work, so I became a pantser
Which has been great, but since this latest book has gone through tonnes of revisions from the ground up . . .
So I just live in regret
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
Oh no! I just made a change to my first draft of #Ellamir which felt like a leap of faith.
It changed the flow a little, but it equalised the word count of two chapters which was really upsetting my OCD.
I think that's against the rules of good writing and I hope I don't regret it
#PretendPanel
It changed the flow a little, but it equalised the word count of two chapters which was really upsetting my OCD.
I think that's against the rules of good writing and I hope I don't regret it
#PretendPanel
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Oh no! I just made a change to my first draft of #Ellamir which felt like a leap of faith.
It changed the flow a little, but it equalised the word count of two chapters which was really upsetting my OCD.
I think that's against the rules of good writing and I hope I don't regret it
#PretendPanel
It changed the flow a little, but it equalised the word count of two chapters which was really upsetting my OCD.
I think that's against the rules of good writing and I hope I don't regret it
#PretendPanel
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
Good evening #pretendpanel Jan 23rd: Was there ever a process change you later came to regret?
I do this if first draft isn't working.
Once I shifted genres for a short story--it swelled into a heavy long story, needing major life support!!
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
I do this if first draft isn't working.
Once I shifted genres for a short story--it swelled into a heavy long story, needing major life support!!
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Good evening #pretendpanel Jan 23rd: Was there ever a process change you later came to regret?
I do this if first draft isn't working.
Once I shifted genres for a short story--it swelled into a heavy long story, needing major life support!!
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
I do this if first draft isn't working.
Once I shifted genres for a short story--it swelled into a heavy long story, needing major life support!!
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
Every time I try to do a "shitty first draft" à la Bird by Bird, I end up miserable. Making the first draft as beautiful and interesting as possible is part of the joy of the process for me.
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Every time I try to do a "shitty first draft" à la Bird by Bird, I end up miserable. Making the first draft as beautiful and interesting as possible is part of the joy of the process for me.
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
"Just write the scenes you love first, figure out how you get there later" does not work for me at all. When I figure out how to get there first, the scenes I love gradually shift to accommodate the how and why. When I write those scenes first, they crystallize in a narratively unreachable shape.
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 4:46 PM
"Just write the scenes you love first, figure out how you get there later" does not work for me at all. When I figure out how to get there first, the scenes I love gradually shift to accommodate the how and why. When I write those scenes first, they crystallize in a narratively unreachable shape.
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#WritingCommunity #pretendpanel
I think I don't regret a whole lot that I changed about the process lately... With everything that I've been writing, I think I should revise or rewrite a little better, I could. But, so far with what I've been drafting, I don't regret a whole lot.
I think I don't regret a whole lot that I changed about the process lately... With everything that I've been writing, I think I should revise or rewrite a little better, I could. But, so far with what I've been drafting, I don't regret a whole lot.
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 4:20 PM
#WritingCommunity #pretendpanel
I think I don't regret a whole lot that I changed about the process lately... With everything that I've been writing, I think I should revise or rewrite a little better, I could. But, so far with what I've been drafting, I don't regret a whole lot.
I think I don't regret a whole lot that I changed about the process lately... With everything that I've been writing, I think I should revise or rewrite a little better, I could. But, so far with what I've been drafting, I don't regret a whole lot.
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#PretendPanel
Regret? No.
Learned from & will try not to repeat? Definitely.
I have a project, parked ages ago, which I drafted in first person. Was told by a mentor that 3rd person is better, so I reworked everything I had. A better use of time would have been to solve its major plot problems! 1/2
Regret? No.
Learned from & will try not to repeat? Definitely.
I have a project, parked ages ago, which I drafted in first person. Was told by a mentor that 3rd person is better, so I reworked everything I had. A better use of time would have been to solve its major plot problems! 1/2
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 3:40 PM
#PretendPanel
Regret? No.
Learned from & will try not to repeat? Definitely.
I have a project, parked ages ago, which I drafted in first person. Was told by a mentor that 3rd person is better, so I reworked everything I had. A better use of time would have been to solve its major plot problems! 1/2
Regret? No.
Learned from & will try not to repeat? Definitely.
I have a project, parked ages ago, which I drafted in first person. Was told by a mentor that 3rd person is better, so I reworked everything I had. A better use of time would have been to solve its major plot problems! 1/2
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
In terms of process, forcing myself not to edit as I go was the wrong call. I love my work so much more now that I revise along the way.
I also regret forcing myself to write plots that don't actually interest me just to appeal to market. Those attempts never saw the light of day, at least.
I also regret forcing myself to write plots that don't actually interest me just to appeal to market. Those attempts never saw the light of day, at least.
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 3:08 PM
In terms of process, forcing myself not to edit as I go was the wrong call. I love my work so much more now that I revise along the way.
I also regret forcing myself to write plots that don't actually interest me just to appeal to market. Those attempts never saw the light of day, at least.
I also regret forcing myself to write plots that don't actually interest me just to appeal to market. Those attempts never saw the light of day, at least.
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
What a great question! Everything about the creative process is a learning opportunity, including regrets.
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 2:29 PM
What a great question! Everything about the creative process is a learning opportunity, including regrets.
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
Happy #pretendpanel!
There was a draft of Bludeye where I was aggressively cutting word count, mostly from extra description and stage direction. I think a good trim can help flow and pace, but I definitely went too far, and wound up adding a lot of that "flavor" back later.
There was a draft of Bludeye where I was aggressively cutting word count, mostly from extra description and stage direction. I think a good trim can help flow and pace, but I definitely went too far, and wound up adding a lot of that "flavor" back later.
Good evening #pretendpanel! Hope your January is going swimmingly. Today, let's discuss...
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23rd: Was there ever something you changed about your process, or even in a single draft, that you later came to regret?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 23, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Happy #pretendpanel!
There was a draft of Bludeye where I was aggressively cutting word count, mostly from extra description and stage direction. I think a good trim can help flow and pace, but I definitely went too far, and wound up adding a lot of that "flavor" back later.
There was a draft of Bludeye where I was aggressively cutting word count, mostly from extra description and stage direction. I think a good trim can help flow and pace, but I definitely went too far, and wound up adding a lot of that "flavor" back later.