For many years I wrote about fiction, story, belief, ordinary life, and the questions that shaped my work. More than two thousand essays remain here—not because every one represents my current thinking, but because together they tell the story of a writer learning over time.
Search for a subject, browse by month and year, or begin with the most recent writing below.
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The archive begins with the most recent writing. Use the numbered pages below to move backward through time.
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Edge Coach—Scene Structure: A Story Coach’s Guide
EDGE COACH – TUESDAYSWelcome to Edge Coach, my Tuesday focus on professional story development. As a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor, I share techniques to strengthen your writing and…
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Sharpening the Edge—Writing Chapter 18: When Characters Take Control
SHARPENING THE EDGE – MONDAYSWelcome to Sharpening the Edge, my Monday focus on real-time novel writing. Here you’ll find insights from my current work-in-progress, sharing challenges, breakthroughs, and…
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Welcome to Creation Edge—Getting Started with Scrivener
CREATION EDGE – SUNDAYSWelcome to Creation Edge, my Sunday focus on writing technology. Here you’ll learn how to use Scrivener to organize, write, and revise your novel. Whether…
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Craft Edge—Unlocking the Novelist Within: A Journey from Thought to Page
CRAFT EDGE – SATURDAYSWelcome to Craft Edge, my Saturday focus on fiction writing craft. Here you’ll find deep dives into writing techniques using One Stop for Writers and…
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Edge of Reality–Finding Story in Local News: A Writer’s Guide
EDGE OF REALITY – FIRST FRIDAYWelcome to Edge of Reality, my monthly feature examining current events through a writer’s lens. Here you’ll discover how real-world stories can inform…
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The Pencil’s Philosophy—From Questions to Stories: A Writer’s Journey
THE PENCIL’S PHILOSOPHY – THURSDAYSWelcome 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…
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First Edge—Starting Your Novel: Three Simple Scenes
Think you can’t write a novel? Let’s start with three manageable scenes. No pressure, no rules – just writing. Scene One: The Mirror Moment Write a character looking…
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Edge Coach—First Pages: What Story Coaches Look For
As a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor, I often see beginning novelists struggle with their opening pages. Today, let’s explore what makes those crucial first pages work—and what might…
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Sharpening the Edge—Layering Character Backstory: Scene 13A Revelations
Current progress: Deep in phase one edits of Novel 12, today I tackled Scene 13A: Doubts in Action. My goal? Adding crucial layers to Alexis’s backstory that drive…
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Preparing for Tomorrow’s Journey
As we transition from sharing my novels to helping you write yours, I’m taking this moment to prepare for tomorrow’s first post under our new format. The Pencil’s…
Richard L. Fricks 