Skip to content

The Merry Manuscript

Taking a break from writing to write more

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Home
  • Contact
  • About the Author

Category: Writing the novel

Fantasy vs. Contemporary

After spending a few years playing around with the idea of writing fantasy (and then writing several fantasy manuscripts that I wound up shelving) I decided to go all in with contemporary YA. I knew by the first outline that I was a stronger writer in contemporary YA, I'm going to credit (blame?) my first … Continue reading Fantasy vs. Contemporary →

SarahHillDarrow Writing the novel Leave a comment September 16, 2019September 16, 2019 2 Minutes

This Writer’s Routine

I've spent the last three weeks off my routine and it's been driving me crazy. I've always been a morning person, preferring to go to bed early and wake up early. Even in high school and college, assignments were completed in the pre-dawn hours, and this was before I liked coffee. The ever-shifting hours of … Continue reading This Writer’s Routine →

SarahHillDarrow Writing the novel Leave a comment September 9, 2019 2 Minutes

Deadlines and Due Dates

As I am currently unrepresented by an agent and editor-less, I have to establish my own deadlines. Here's why this is a challenge: I started my career in news, which consisted of constant deadlines from like, 50 sources. By the time I left news for good a few years ago, I seriously had not ever … Continue reading Deadlines and Due Dates →

SarahHillDarrow Writing the novel 1 Comment January 13, 2019January 13, 2019 2 Minutes

Writing Marginalized Groups

The first draft of my latest attempt at a novel has (among others) the following characters: A black school shooting survivor A sikh young man A transgender young man A person with Tourtette's Syndrome A domestic violence survivor A hispanic woman with a PhD A lesbian A gay man A black man in the military … Continue reading Writing Marginalized Groups →

SarahHillDarrow Writing the novel 2 Comments January 3, 2019 1 Minute

Goals: Achieved and Set

I set the rather auspicious goal of completing a totally new manuscript over winter break, which was about two weeks. I didn't start from scratch- I had a solid outline I'd been tweaking off and on for a few months and a few thousand words. I figured if I had first mess of a draft … Continue reading Goals: Achieved and Set →

SarahHillDarrow Writing the novel Leave a comment January 2, 2019January 2, 2019 2 Minutes

25,000 Words in Two Days

A little writing challenge for winter break

SarahHillDarrow Writing the novel Leave a comment December 11, 2018December 11, 2018 1 Minute

Outline Outline Who’s Got the Outline

The last few NaNoWriMos I've participated in, as well as all the manuscripts I've written to date, have been "pantser" novels. As in "fly by the seat of my pants" novels. As in, "sit down at the keyboard and hope something comes out" novels. Lucky for me, things have been coming out. Well, they had … Continue reading Outline Outline Who’s Got the Outline →

SarahHillDarrow Writing the novel Leave a comment July 30, 2018July 30, 2018 1 Minute

Writer’s Lincoln Log

After my writer's retreat in late spring, I pretty much stopped doing things. Well, creative things anyway. I stopped writing. Granted, I had just put that final polish on Hot Mess #1, now no longer a hot mess. Hot Mess #2 had its first read-through and has a rat's nest of a plot hole, and … Continue reading Writer’s Lincoln Log →

SarahHillDarrow Writing the novel Leave a comment July 29, 2018 2 Minutes

Writing and Relaxing

My fiancee and I joke that I need to "practice relaxing." Unfortunately, it's one of those jokes that's funny because it's true. I tend to cram every spare second with some kind of obligation. 90% of the time, they're stuff I want to do: professional networking, friends, family, personal goals like writing or running. I'm … Continue reading Writing and Relaxing →

SarahHillDarrow Writing the novel Leave a comment May 23, 2018 1 Minute

A Writer’s Routine

My family is a big believer in routines, as most humans are. My mom used to start every morning on the couch drinking a cup of hot tea and watching The Weather Channel. This was complimentary to my morning routine, which involved rolling out of bed at the last possible moment, so I regularly shouted, … Continue reading A Writer’s Routine →

SarahHillDarrow Writing the novel Leave a comment May 15, 2018May 15, 2018 1 Minute

Posts navigation

Older posts
Follow The Merry Manuscript on WordPress.com

Goodreads

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Archives

  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
Blog at WordPress.com.
The Merry Manuscript
Blog at WordPress.com.
  • Follow Following
    • The Merry Manuscript
    • Join 68 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The Merry Manuscript
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...