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.
Why should I write a novel?
May 5, 2021
In my last Post I lightly addressed a number of reasons why people want to write a novel. Since then, I’ve realized that all I clearly did was…
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Why should I read The Pencil Driven Life blog?
May 1, 2021
Because you want to write a book but don’t know how. This means you are a beginner. That’s exactly where I was five and a half years ago.…
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The Boaz Seeker–1st ten chapters
September 15, 2020
This was copied and pasted from a PDF document and includes headers and footers (my name, page numbers, book title), thus making it more difficult to read. Sorry,…
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The Boaz Stalker–1st ten chapters
August 15, 2019
Chapter 1 “Buddy? Buddy Hawkins? Is that you?” I had just removed my printed receipt from the gas pump at 431 Shell and turned to go inside for…
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The Boaz Scholar–1st ten chapters
May 15, 2019
Chapter 1 “Mountain Brook, here I come.” The red-faced, blue-haired older woman said as she stuffed a red and white bag into the overhead bin and sat down…
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The Boaz Safecracker–1st ten chapters
February 15, 2019
Chapter 1 After sixty-four years I was about to crack my first safe. Or, at least give it my best shot. I hoped I was a natural. I…
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The Case of the Perfectionist Professor–1st ten chapters
September 15, 2018
Chapter 1 I saw her the moment I opened the door. She was standing on the far side of the waiting room looking into the eyes of Thomas…
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The Boaz Schoolteacher–1st ten chapters
June 15, 2018
Prologue I remember it like it was yesterday. It was 2002 and I was home for Christmas. It had been a whole year since I had visited my…
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The Boaz Stenographer–1st ten chapters
April 15, 2018
Chapter 1 I will not lie for President Kane. I will not lie for the President. I kept saying to myself as I waited in the secretary’s office…
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The Boaz Secrets–1st ten chapters
March 15, 2018
Chapter 1 June 1970 “Matt, if we’re going to get there before dark we have to be going. Now.” Dad yelled up the stairs. “I’m coming. Give me…
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Richard L. Fricks 