Hiria Dunning
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hiriadunning.com
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
Pinned
Hey it's me, your new/old host. Hiya #pretendpanel! Posting will resume from this account starting tomorrow. Sorry for any confusion/thanks for your understanding 💖
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
I ought to be outlining my WIP but, tbh, I've gone down a querying rabbit hole and become obsessed with Query Tracker and spreadsheets. I know I'm not the only one in this position- it's really quite addictive.

#pretendpanel #writingcommunity
#authors #thrillerauthors #writers #revspirations
November 15, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
Finished a draft of something I've been working on for a while now, which I am feeling good about. Gave into temptation and started a new thing I've had at the back of my head for ages and am twenty-five pages into that right now.
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#pretendpanel #WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts

About 35,000 words so far. I know where my story is going, but I've started to hesitate and overthink it. That's never good.
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#pretendpanel I haven't worked yet today (It's 6:30 AM for me) but I'm about 60% done with my challenge word count, and I'd say about maybe 45-50% done with my draft. The last two days have been a slog (got some unfortunate news) but I'm slowly picking back up. Hoping to soar ahead this next week.
November 15, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
We had so much momentum earlier this month, but work and illness has slowed us down :/ (I don't know what I have, but I know I slept 22 hours). I'm sad I slept through a writing opportunity yesterday, but I clearly needed it.

Generally, real life drains continue to drag us down :(

#PretendPanel
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#pretendpanel November 15th: have a little reflection on your writing

Hit the first of two important chapters I know need major surgery in my WIP redraft. Am being bold. Promoting the uncanny. Taking risks with metaphor and pov. Feeling liberated

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#pretendpanel 15: Have I gotten much writing done on my stories? No. Have I typed up a 24 post brain dump thread? Yes. Have I fallen behind on the prompt game I myself am hosting? Also yes.
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
I'm doing #FirstDraftFall, a 3-month version that encourages outlining and editing. It's fun! That said, it's not for everyone. Writing challenges can pressure participants to write every day and kick themselves when they don't. It's cool to sit them out and just work at your own pace! #PretendPanel
#pretendpanel, even before the last big controversy, November challenges have had their ups and downs. Tell me...

November 14th: BIG Challenges during November - what's your take? Good/bad tradition?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
It's going ok! I'm behind on my personal goals for finishing my current WIP & starting my new one. Both my senior cat & senior dog became very sick these last few weeks, so I'm not going to beat myself up over lagging. I'm still putting in the work.
#pretendpanel
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#WritingCommunity #writersky
Another hard question. I have no traditions anymore with challenges in November. I used to be on NaNoWriMo before they lost their business, but now I'm on Pro Writing Aid's Novel November trying to write 50K, but it's rough. I've gotten to 17K when I'm super behind...
#pretendpanel, even before the last big controversy, November challenges have had their ups and downs. Tell me...

November 14th: BIG Challenges during November - what's your take? Good/bad tradition?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
Things are going well and I'm having so much fun. I'm writing a lot, but now that I've passed my easy base goal, I'm not stressed about whether I'll hit the more challenging 30k by the end of the month. (I'm fairly certain I'll hit 20k, at least.) I'm simply writing because I want to. #pretendpanel
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#PretendPanel Nov 15: I'm gonna finish a manuscript draft today.

Exactly five months later than initially intended. 😅
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#pretendpanel
I've been pushing myself to write more consistently and I'm seeing results, so that's a positive. My friend I read to over the phone has asked to hear more of the stories I'm working on, so that's extra motivation.

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts #writingprompt
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#PretendPanel
As a month, overall good, mostly because I have time off. (Holiday!)

Writing wise, a mixed bag. Most of a short story written, but it & other projects on hold for a few days. (Did I mention holiday?)

Hopefully new places will inspire. They usually do & I brought my trusty notebook.
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#WritingCommunity #pretendpanel #writersky
Not so great writing wise- I'm over 8,000 words behind on my writings for Novel November, sadly. Alexander says it's ok, though- because physical, mental health and being with people are more important.
However, crochet & writing are the only things-
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#Pretendpanel

Its going well. Im (mostly) finished with my edit to HermitageWIP and remembered a story I want to dig out for submissions next mont.
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 9:31 PM
#pretendpanel, I have just managed to get over par (25K) words at the halfway point (if we're counting by the old 50K standard). I had a slow week, despite having a strong start. Bronchitis will do that 🙃 but then today I rocketed through a big chapter.
1/2
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 8:02 AM
#pretendpanel, fascinating takes as always yesterday, thank you! A change of pace today...

November 15th: Halfway through the month! How's it going so far? (Whether you're in a November challenge or not, have a little reflection on your writing)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
There’ve been others along the way but I wrote this book specifically to be a mirror for me. It’s about coming to terms with otherness, gender issues in a man’s world, finding oneself and figuring out what “normal” means, and discovering happiness after a horrific past. I’m proud of it.
#Bookvember
November 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
A quick answer for #PretendPanel about writing goals when lots of people have them uppermost in their mind.

#IndieAuthor #WritingCommunity
📚💙
November 11, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
Is it good that we have these writing challenges months?

#PretendPanel #WritingCommunity
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#pretendpanel

I don’t do well with challenges in any month. Between multiple ongoing writing projects and a genetic aversion to deadlines, I don't do well with them. Each time I’ve tried in the past, I have flamed out miserably within a week.

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 14, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#pretendpanel 14: Meh. They've gotten me writing a few times. Sometimes I quit after a day or two when my inspiration was exhausted. A couple times, I stuck through until the end, and the only salvageable parts where the ones I'd written in the first day or two. (1/2)
#pretendpanel, even before the last big controversy, November challenges have had their ups and downs. Tell me...

November 14th: BIG Challenges during November - what's your take? Good/bad tradition?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 15, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#PretendPanel #WritingCommunity #QueerWriters

Writing challenges are a great idea, if you can do them. I've burned out hard multiple times trying to write a whole novel in one month. 🫠
#pretendpanel, even before the last big controversy, November challenges have had their ups and downs. Tell me...

November 14th: BIG Challenges during November - what's your take? Good/bad tradition?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 14, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
#PretendPanel
No month will suit everyone. But what is magic about November? The assumption people in the Northern hemisphere spend more time indoors as days shorten?

Perhaps the month should vary every year so we all get a chance of finding one which matches personal preferences.
#pretendpanel, even before the last big controversy, November challenges have had their ups and downs. Tell me...

November 14th: BIG Challenges during November - what's your take? Good/bad tradition?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 14, 2025 at 9:06 PM