A philosophy of presence, clarity, and living without a script.
Sanity Snippet #1
Your protagonist has an external problem. It’s one he’s had for a while, or it’s something that just hit him out of nowhere. I apologize to all females. I use the male gender to avoid the burdensome ‘he’s had/she’s had.’
Give your protagonist a name and describe his problem.
Do not make this difficult. At most, this should take only a few minutes.
Grab your pencil and write. Just a sentence or two will do. Don’t fret about grammar and punctuation.
It could be as simple as: Fourteen-year-old Billy is losing his mother. He doesn’t know his father. Billy dreads moving in with his Aunt Melanie.
Or, here’s another approach: Billy’s problem is his Aunt Melanie.
Your protagonist name can be anything. His problem can be anything. Of course, if you already have a story idea, use it for this practice assignment.
Start keeping a log of how many words you write per day (date/number of words). You can use a small notepad or a note-taking APP on your phone.
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Writer, observer, and student of presence. After decades as a CPA, attorney, and believer in inherited purpose, I now live a quieter life built around clarity, simplicity, and the freedom to begin again.
I write both nonfiction and fiction:
The Pencil-Driven Life, a memoir and daily practice of awareness, and the Boaz, Alabama novels—character-driven stories rooted in the complexities of ordinary life.
I live on seventy acres we call Oak Hollow, where my wife and I care for seven rescued dogs and build small, intentional spaces that reflect the same philosophy I write about. Oak Hollow Cabins is in the development stage (opening March 1, 2026), and is—now and always—a lived expression of presence: cabins, trails, and quiet places shaped by the land itself.
My background as a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor still informs how I understand story, though I no longer offer coaching. Instead, I share reflections through The Pencil’s Edge and @thepencildrivenlife, exploring what it means to live lightly, honestly, and without a script.
Whether I’m writing, building, or walking the land, my work is rooted in one simple truth:
Life becomes clearer when we stop trying to control the story and start paying attention to the moment we’re in.
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The Pencil Driven Life 