Petra Hawthorn
@petrahawthorn.bsky.social
Writer of urban fantasy / fantasy romance. Aspiring author. Tea-drinking cat lover. Running-medal magpie from the back of the pack. ✍️ 📚 🫖 😺 🏃♀️
youtube.com/shorts/jJCDG...
What a week! Work-work has been so busy - my brain has felt like scrambled egg by the time I log off in the evenings!
I've made progress on working through the beta feedback though and soon it'll be the Christmas break with some free time after the main holiday days. 😊
What a week! Work-work has been so busy - my brain has felt like scrambled egg by the time I log off in the evenings!
I've made progress on working through the beta feedback though and soon it'll be the Christmas break with some free time after the main holiday days. 😊
December 12, 2025 at 8:18 AM
youtube.com/shorts/jJCDG...
What a week! Work-work has been so busy - my brain has felt like scrambled egg by the time I log off in the evenings!
I've made progress on working through the beta feedback though and soon it'll be the Christmas break with some free time after the main holiday days. 😊
What a week! Work-work has been so busy - my brain has felt like scrambled egg by the time I log off in the evenings!
I've made progress on working through the beta feedback though and soon it'll be the Christmas break with some free time after the main holiday days. 😊
How to tackle beta reader feedback.
The biggest revelation for me was that hearing that someone didn't like what I had written was not as bad as I thought it would be. What was hard was to tease out what feedback to apply and what to discard.
youtube.com/shorts/zQIK3...
The biggest revelation for me was that hearing that someone didn't like what I had written was not as bad as I thought it would be. What was hard was to tease out what feedback to apply and what to discard.
youtube.com/shorts/zQIK3...
YouTube
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
youtube.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:43 AM
How to tackle beta reader feedback.
The biggest revelation for me was that hearing that someone didn't like what I had written was not as bad as I thought it would be. What was hard was to tease out what feedback to apply and what to discard.
youtube.com/shorts/zQIK3...
The biggest revelation for me was that hearing that someone didn't like what I had written was not as bad as I thought it would be. What was hard was to tease out what feedback to apply and what to discard.
youtube.com/shorts/zQIK3...
Shadow of a Dead God by Patrick Samphire. It was recommended by Stephanie Burgis, whose books I like, and while she is probably biased as Patrick is her husband, the blurb sounded fun. 😁
December 3, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Shadow of a Dead God by Patrick Samphire. It was recommended by Stephanie Burgis, whose books I like, and while she is probably biased as Patrick is her husband, the blurb sounded fun. 😁
Beta reader feedback arrived this weekend, so today I'm working my way through it. In Tai Chi class they taught that feedback is a gift.
Someone has taken the time to look at something you are doing and putting together constructive criticism - it is a gift of their time, attention and experience.
Someone has taken the time to look at something you are doing and putting together constructive criticism - it is a gift of their time, attention and experience.
December 1, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Beta reader feedback arrived this weekend, so today I'm working my way through it. In Tai Chi class they taught that feedback is a gift.
Someone has taken the time to look at something you are doing and putting together constructive criticism - it is a gift of their time, attention and experience.
Someone has taken the time to look at something you are doing and putting together constructive criticism - it is a gift of their time, attention and experience.
Interval sessions massively improved my running, so I decided to try the same idea for my writing sessions. Writing sprints helped me get words down, even on the days when it felt hard. I highly recommend trying it!
youtube.com/shorts/ckMM2...
youtube.com/shorts/ckMM2...
YouTube
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
youtube.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Interval sessions massively improved my running, so I decided to try the same idea for my writing sessions. Writing sprints helped me get words down, even on the days when it felt hard. I highly recommend trying it!
youtube.com/shorts/ckMM2...
youtube.com/shorts/ckMM2...
From my Friday post - I think I've tracked down who said this. I have this on a coaster on my desk because I like it that much.
November 24, 2025 at 8:03 AM
From my Friday post - I think I've tracked down who said this. I have this on a coaster on my desk because I like it that much.
To improve writing craft, to increase word count - you need to do the do. Some days are amazing. Some days getting one sentence on the page is like wading through treacle. Keep showing up and over time you get better, you get more words on the page. Trust the process.
youtube.com/shorts/q37Oq...
youtube.com/shorts/q37Oq...
YouTube
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:20 AM
To improve writing craft, to increase word count - you need to do the do. Some days are amazing. Some days getting one sentence on the page is like wading through treacle. Keep showing up and over time you get better, you get more words on the page. Trust the process.
youtube.com/shorts/q37Oq...
youtube.com/shorts/q37Oq...
For no other reason than that I really like this one. 🥰Particularly after attending the National Creative Writing Industry Day on Saturday which left me feeling super enthusiastic and motivated about my writing.
November 17, 2025 at 11:06 AM
For no other reason than that I really like this one. 🥰Particularly after attending the National Creative Writing Industry Day on Saturday which left me feeling super enthusiastic and motivated about my writing.
The top three things I learnt from running which applies just as well to writing are: set goals & have a plan, trust the process and the power of intervals. This week let's talk goals & plans.
(late posting today - thanks for the power-cuts, Storm Claudia)
youtube.com/shorts/Ry1Db...
(late posting today - thanks for the power-cuts, Storm Claudia)
youtube.com/shorts/Ry1Db...
YouTube
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The top three things I learnt from running which applies just as well to writing are: set goals & have a plan, trust the process and the power of intervals. This week let's talk goals & plans.
(late posting today - thanks for the power-cuts, Storm Claudia)
youtube.com/shorts/Ry1Db...
(late posting today - thanks for the power-cuts, Storm Claudia)
youtube.com/shorts/Ry1Db...
It's like they say - you can't compare your first draft with someone's final published version! A first draft needs TLC to be shaped into what it could be.
November 10, 2025 at 8:06 AM
It's like they say - you can't compare your first draft with someone's final published version! A first draft needs TLC to be shaped into what it could be.
Forming an orderly queue. 😻
November 8, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Forming an orderly queue. 😻
Re-typing project is going great - 75% done! I was going to send it to beta readers straight after finishing that, but I've come across a couple of editing exercises I now want to apply first. Let me tell you about adverbs and filter words... 😁
youtube.com/shorts/2JQfH...
youtube.com/shorts/2JQfH...
YouTube
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Re-typing project is going great - 75% done! I was going to send it to beta readers straight after finishing that, but I've come across a couple of editing exercises I now want to apply first. Let me tell you about adverbs and filter words... 😁
youtube.com/shorts/2JQfH...
youtube.com/shorts/2JQfH...
This one really stuck with me as it is something I'm working on with my current editing pass. Showing, not telling - and removing filter words.
November 3, 2025 at 7:42 AM
This one really stuck with me as it is something I'm working on with my current editing pass. Showing, not telling - and removing filter words.
Re-typing project derailed a bit due to health issues - new deadline is end of November. I find setting goals and deadlines really helpful to stay focussed and feel like I’m making progress, but life happens.
youtube.com/shorts/We5-y...
youtube.com/shorts/We5-y...
youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Re-typing project derailed a bit due to health issues - new deadline is end of November. I find setting goals and deadlines really helpful to stay focussed and feel like I’m making progress, but life happens.
youtube.com/shorts/We5-y...
youtube.com/shorts/We5-y...
Reposted by Petra Hawthorn
You've just made me realise what the true north-south divide is.
October 28, 2025 at 7:10 AM
You've just made me realise what the true north-south divide is.
Reposted by Petra Hawthorn
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨
It's coming up to Halloween, it's cold, it's dark and it's perfect reading-with-a-biscuit-blanket-and-side-light weather.
So why not treat yourself one of our fabulous tomes with 15% off! All orders and preorders until 1st November!
share.google/7fvgFAwRlWUp...
It's coming up to Halloween, it's cold, it's dark and it's perfect reading-with-a-biscuit-blanket-and-side-light weather.
So why not treat yourself one of our fabulous tomes with 15% off! All orders and preorders until 1st November!
share.google/7fvgFAwRlWUp...
October 24, 2025 at 11:25 AM
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨
It's coming up to Halloween, it's cold, it's dark and it's perfect reading-with-a-biscuit-blanket-and-side-light weather.
So why not treat yourself one of our fabulous tomes with 15% off! All orders and preorders until 1st November!
share.google/7fvgFAwRlWUp...
It's coming up to Halloween, it's cold, it's dark and it's perfect reading-with-a-biscuit-blanket-and-side-light weather.
So why not treat yourself one of our fabulous tomes with 15% off! All orders and preorders until 1st November!
share.google/7fvgFAwRlWUp...
Inspiration is great, but I've found that doing the writing often helps generate more ideas. And being stubborn in the sense of sticking with it is so important - particularly when it's hard and the words flow like treacle. Stay stubborn and have a good writing week! 😊
October 27, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Inspiration is great, but I've found that doing the writing often helps generate more ideas. And being stubborn in the sense of sticking with it is so important - particularly when it's hard and the words flow like treacle. Stay stubborn and have a good writing week! 😊
Why settle for one toy when you can have all of them?
October 25, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Why settle for one toy when you can have all of them?
Highlights of the week - British Fantasy Society event & first time ever beta reading someone else’s book.
www.youtube.com/shorts/JcKEN...
www.youtube.com/shorts/JcKEN...
YouTube
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Highlights of the week - British Fantasy Society event & first time ever beta reading someone else’s book.
www.youtube.com/shorts/JcKEN...
www.youtube.com/shorts/JcKEN...
Like I was saying on Friday - it's ok to start small, but start - or else you'll never get going. 😊
October 20, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Like I was saying on Friday - it's ok to start small, but start - or else you'll never get going. 😊
I kept saying I wanted to write, but I wasn't making any changes to make it happen. I kept thinking I didn't have any time available. My first step was to draw up a super detailed timetable.
youtube.com/shorts/wGgzw...
youtube.com/shorts/wGgzw...
YouTube
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
youtube.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:58 AM
I kept saying I wanted to write, but I wasn't making any changes to make it happen. I kept thinking I didn't have any time available. My first step was to draw up a super detailed timetable.
youtube.com/shorts/wGgzw...
youtube.com/shorts/wGgzw...
"I'm going to start writing regularly, when..." And the when never comes. For me, getting from keeping saying I wanted to write because I used to love it - to actually doing it regularly - that's been quite a long journey. But I'm now in a position I didn't even dream (pun intended) of back then.
October 13, 2025 at 7:20 AM
"I'm going to start writing regularly, when..." And the when never comes. For me, getting from keeping saying I wanted to write because I used to love it - to actually doing it regularly - that's been quite a long journey. But I'm now in a position I didn't even dream (pun intended) of back then.
Dreaming is great, and important, but if you ever want to experience your dreams, you have to find a way to do the do that will get you there.
youtube.com/shorts/Owgng...
youtube.com/shorts/Owgng...
YouTube
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
youtube.com
October 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Dreaming is great, and important, but if you ever want to experience your dreams, you have to find a way to do the do that will get you there.
youtube.com/shorts/Owgng...
youtube.com/shorts/Owgng...
Leaving an imperfect paragraph behind and moving on can be so hard. But once you've completed the project, that section you kept polishing might no longer be needed - so you spent all that time on it in vain.
October 6, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Leaving an imperfect paragraph behind and moving on can be so hard. But once you've completed the project, that section you kept polishing might no longer be needed - so you spent all that time on it in vain.