RobertJHankesJr
@robertjhankesjr.bsky.social
I'm writing a Young Adult Thriler! Want to watch me go through the editing process? Check me out at roberthankes.substack.com . I read a lot and am putting together some renditions of classic Blues songs.
A few thoughts as I move from the writing of this book to the publishing of it. roberthankes.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:58 PM
A few thoughts as I move from the writing of this book to the publishing of it. roberthankes.substack.com
Check out my new post! My novel is wrapping up — whether I’m ready or not! Final draft? Line editing? Am I really done telling this story?
December 15, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Check out my new post! My novel is wrapping up — whether I’m ready or not! Final draft? Line editing? Am I really done telling this story?
Draft 8 will be my last—that I initiate. I’m very happy with how the manuscript feels. Doing a read-aloud / computer reading revision makes a difference.
December 8, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Draft 8 will be my last—that I initiate. I’m very happy with how the manuscript feels. Doing a read-aloud / computer reading revision makes a difference.
Do I edit draft 7 by reading it aloud? Or should I have Microsoft Word read it to me? Which will do me the most good?
December 1, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Do I edit draft 7 by reading it aloud? Or should I have Microsoft Word read it to me? Which will do me the most good?
Check out my new post! 18-year-old Kelsey Webb loses her virginity to the star quarterback on the football team. Will she tell anyone about the adventure? What will she say to herself? You tell me.
November 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Check out my new post! 18-year-old Kelsey Webb loses her virginity to the star quarterback on the football team. Will she tell anyone about the adventure? What will she say to herself? You tell me.
I'm trying to get the words right in my novel. Every one of them. Some writers I know disagree with this style of revision. And mindset ... roberthankes.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I'm trying to get the words right in my novel. Every one of them. Some writers I know disagree with this style of revision. And mindset ... roberthankes.substack.com
I'm trying to get the words right in my novel. Every one of them. Some writers I know disagree with this style of revision. And mindset ...
November 18, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I'm trying to get the words right in my novel. Every one of them. Some writers I know disagree with this style of revision. And mindset ...
Slowly revising my YA novel word by word …
November 10, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Slowly revising my YA novel word by word …
My editor says Kelsey saying yes to Zeke's offer of a dinner and movie "doesn't track." She doesn't think Kelsey would go out with him. That's a BIG problem? What do I do? roberthankes.substack.com
November 2, 2025 at 9:12 PM
My editor says Kelsey saying yes to Zeke's offer of a dinner and movie "doesn't track." She doesn't think Kelsey would go out with him. That's a BIG problem? What do I do? roberthankes.substack.com
Check out my new post! I have four people texting my protagonist at once? How do I show that on the page?
October 30, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Check out my new post! I have four people texting my protagonist at once? How do I show that on the page?
Check out my new post! My editor asked: how do you know that the anchorwoman is wearing a pants suit if she’s sitting behind a desk? Check out this damn good question and others in my new Substack post.
October 25, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Check out my new post! My editor asked: how do you know that the anchorwoman is wearing a pants suit if she’s sitting behind a desk? Check out this damn good question and others in my new Substack post.
What about the dozens of suggestions my editor made on the pages of my manuscript? How do I begin to address them?
October 23, 2025 at 3:02 PM
What about the dozens of suggestions my editor made on the pages of my manuscript? How do I begin to address them?
What is revising a novel like? Here’s what multiple rounds of revision in an eight-week period taught me about how to do it.
October 10, 2025 at 8:14 PM
What is revising a novel like? Here’s what multiple rounds of revision in an eight-week period taught me about how to do it.
After six months of re-creating and 8 months of revising, off it went to the developmental editor. Now what?
October 5, 2025 at 7:14 PM
After six months of re-creating and 8 months of revising, off it went to the developmental editor. Now what?
Last draft. Word reads me the novel; I edit. Going is slow.
September 26, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Last draft. Word reads me the novel; I edit. Going is slow.
Did you read the chronicle of Christian Nationalism, "Jesus and John Wayne"? The author of that book, Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez, will speak at Messiah University on Monday evening, October 6, 7:00 p.m., at Hostetter Chapel. No better expert on where America is at now and where she's heading.
September 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Did you read the chronicle of Christian Nationalism, "Jesus and John Wayne"? The author of that book, Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez, will speak at Messiah University on Monday evening, October 6, 7:00 p.m., at Hostetter Chapel. No better expert on where America is at now and where she's heading.
Following Donald Maass's advice, I checked the first line and last line of every scene in my novel. How did it go? I was surprised.
September 22, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Following Donald Maass's advice, I checked the first line and last line of every scene in my novel. How did it go? I was surprised.
How can I be using the same word thousands of time in a 400-page book? "and": 1589 times! And how the heck do I revisit each instance to make sure it's doing what I want?
September 17, 2025 at 7:40 PM
How can I be using the same word thousands of time in a 400-page book? "and": 1589 times! And how the heck do I revisit each instance to make sure it's doing what I want?
I did a global replace on words best-selling author William Bernhardt calls “search and destroy words. I checked Bill’s first 10 words and punctuation marks. I made over 800 changes!
September 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I did a global replace on words best-selling author William Bernhardt calls “search and destroy words. I checked Bill’s first 10 words and punctuation marks. I made over 800 changes!
Beta reader #6: Bellarose Reads. Excellent critique showing me what needed to be improved on, and a few things that worked really well!
September 13, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Beta reader #6: Bellarose Reads. Excellent critique showing me what needed to be improved on, and a few things that worked really well!
First night of the Creative Writing class, my novel's opening falls flat with my students. Good catch, ladies! See how I fixed it. RobertHankes.substack.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
First night of the Creative Writing class, my novel's opening falls flat with my students. Good catch, ladies! See how I fixed it. RobertHankes.substack.com
Two beta readers who gave my manuscript a huge boost! Check out their suggestions! roberthankes.substack.com
September 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Two beta readers who gave my manuscript a huge boost! Check out their suggestions! roberthankes.substack.com
Before I get back to editing my novel — why am I writing? And am I doing it in a healthy, sustaining manner?
roberthankes.substack.com
roberthankes.substack.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Before I get back to editing my novel — why am I writing? And am I doing it in a healthy, sustaining manner?
roberthankes.substack.com
roberthankes.substack.com
Maybe my preconceived notions about editing are what’s making editing harder than it needs to be. But do I have to be my book’s own worst enemy?
roberthankes.substack.com
roberthankes.substack.com
September 3, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Maybe my preconceived notions about editing are what’s making editing harder than it needs to be. But do I have to be my book’s own worst enemy?
roberthankes.substack.com
roberthankes.substack.com