The Pencil’s Philosophy—Endings and Beginnings: The Writer’s Journey Through Change

THE PENCIL'S PHILOSOPHY - THURSDAYS
Welcome to The Pencil's Philosophy, my Thursday focus on writing as transformation. Here you'll explore how writing connects to deeper understanding, how questioning leads to growth, and how stories transform both writer and reader. Whether you're seeking truth or finding your voice, these posts guide your journey of discovery.

At year’s end, writers face a paradox: our stories need endings, yet every ending seeds a new beginning. Like our characters, we navigate constant change, each completed draft launching us toward the next story.

The Cycle of Creation

Endings and beginnings interweave:

  • First drafts end in revision’s birth
  • Character arcs close as new ones emerge
  • Stories conclude as ideas spark
  • Years close as fresh pages open

Writing Through Transition

Change demands:

  • Letting go of old stories
  • Embracing uncertainty
  • Finding rhythm in chaos
  • Building from endings

The Writer’s Evolution

Each story transforms:

  • How we see the world
  • What questions we ask
  • Which stories we choose
  • Where we find meaning

Moving Forward

Your writer’s journey mirrors your characters’:

  • Face the unknown
  • Accept change
  • Find truth in transition
  • Begin again

As this year ends, remember: every period ends a sentence, but also marks the space before the next one begins.


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Author: Richard L. Fricks

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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