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Ever wonder how a novel gets written?

Robert J Hankes

Mar 20, 2025

 

Hello. Come in and meet my Young Adult novel.

RIVERS RISE falls under the descriptor “Young Adult Thriller.” Yes, I want my readers to question the values my characters possess in an effort to decide which values are right for them (yes that “them” refers all the way back to “my readers”). At the same time, I want to give the fifteen-year-olds a thrill. I want to put eighteen-year-olds in barely possible situations and let them squirm for a while, until they come up with an absolutely awesome or devastatingly dreadful plan which they must put into action. Much worse has happened to teens. In YA novels. And in real life.

So, how would you like to come on the adventure with me as I revise this novel relentlessly until it gives up and allows me to force it into becoming a bestseller?

That is what this blog offers you. A window into the sixty-seven-year-old mind of a writer as he juggles words for your entertainment.

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You’ll find a new entry in this blog here every Thursday evening. If you get caught up in the fun of watching me make a town, put people in it, and then kill a few off, you may wish to electronically amble over to my website, Diaryofanoptimisticwriter.org. Each week I’ll add two more entries there. Can’t say when. I’m currently retired, and if I get any busier I will return to teaching high school English just to relax. Three entries a week ought to cover my progress.

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What’s happened so far this week? I caught a bad cold. One that put me to bed for two plus days. This is 2025. Who has time to be sick anymore? I was working on a somewhat lengthy scene Monday morning, then BLAM! It’s Thursday afternoon. What happened? Nyquil and Dayquil and not a hell of a lot else. So now as I write this, I’m still on the same part of the same scene that I’ve been on all week.

Here’s what’s happening. Kelsey Webb, eighteen-year-old farmgirl from the rural areas north of Scranton, PA, can’t believe she’s going on her first date! With the senior she’s been trying not to think of all summer. Zeke Rivers is the star quarterback for the Hannah Hawks. He’s got muscles. And he’s popular. So popular that he’s running half a dozen clubs at Hannah High. He doesn’t run the school newspaper, though. Kelsey does that (first year for her). Zeke is, however, on the journalism staff.

Kelsey’s been waiting for this position as Hannah Herald Newspaper Editor since middle school. She’s been on newspaper staff ever since she came up to the high school. She’s learned an enormous number of lessons, journalism lessons and life lessons, from her adviser, Mr. Dugal the English teacher. As things have shaken out, the staff is all seniors—and a junior homeschool girl who just transferred in- and the seniors have all grown close to their awesome adviser. They even have a nickname for him.

Grandpa.

Kelsey’s world is rock steady. She’s so excited about becoming Valedictorian and Pennsylvania editor of the year.

And then two blows shatter that rock.

The J-Club account is short $250. Who was treasurer last year? Kelsey Webb.

And Mr. Dugal, longtime adviser of the Herald, is found dead.