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.
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The archive begins with the most recent writing. Use the numbered pages below to move backward through time.
Christianity’s Biggest Sins
Here’s the link to this article by David Madison. 03/03/2023 Fueled by scripture’s biggest mistakes In the second chapter of Acts we find the story of Peter preaching…
Your character is inspecting his recently purchased property when he falls through a rotten well cover. While he’s unhurt save for cuts and scrapes, no one knows he’s…
Who Wrote the Gospels? Our Earliest (Apparent) Reference
Here’s the link to this article written by Bart Ehrman. March 2, 2023 I have begun to discuss the evidence provided by the early church father Papias that…
Your character wants to infiltrate a cult in order to lure his teenage daughter away from them. Write the scene where your character is interviewed by the cult…
Your character lives in a world where marriage is prized, and rare, as only soulmates may marry. Soulmates bear the same birthmark. Describe the scene when your character…
The Magic of Moss and What It Teaches Us About the Art of Attentiveness to Life at All Scales
Here’s the link to this attention-grabbing article by Maria Popova. “Attention without feeling,” Mary Oliver observed in her magnificent memoir of love and loss, “is only a report.” In Gathering…
Richard L. Fricks 