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Behind the scenes: how I actually write these

Posted August 2, 2026
sara profile picture @sara

The process, demystified

A few people have asked how a piece goes from idea to posted story, so here's the honest rundown:

  1. A scene, a line, or a single image gets stuck in my head
  2. I write the first draft in one sitting — no editing, just momentum
  3. Sleep on it (this step is not optional, learned that the hard way)
  4. Second pass the next day, mostly tightening pacing
  5. Read it out loud once before posting. If I get self-conscious reading it, it's ready

Total time is usually 2–4 hours spread over two days. I used to try writing and posting same-day. Never again — the second-pass edit always catches something important.

Someone in the comments once said my pacing feels "cinematic." That comment lives in my head rent-free.