The writer pulled back, tensed up, given a cuddle (8)
I believe the answer is:
embraced
'given a cuddle' is the definition.
'the writer pulled back tensed up' is the wordplay.
'the writer' becomes 'me' (the person who wrote the clues).
'pulled back' says the letters should be written backwards.
'tensed up' becomes 'braced'.
'me' written backwards gives 'em'.
'em'+'braced'='EMBRACED'
(Other definitions for embraced that I've seen before include "held using arms" , "accepted enthusiastically" , "given a hug" , "Contained; held closely" , "is taken up" .)