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.
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Meghan’s Son–first ten chapters
Chapter 1 Sunday, June 5, 2005 Meghan Orr knew fifteen distinct creaking patterns in the hallway floorboards outside her bedroom door. Each one told its own story: her…
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Scene Tension: The Invisible Force That Keeps Readers Turning Pages
Fictionary’s Story Elements Series | The Pencil’s Edge 📍 Personal Note It’s been a little over two months since my last post on Fictionary’s Story Elements. On May…
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Six days after elbow surgery: out of a cast and into a brace.
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Bike accident
Monday. Broke right elbow. Unable to do much for now. Stay safe. Post again when I can. Richard
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Scene Exit Hooks: How to Make Readers Need to Turn the Page
Fictionary’s Story Elements Series If your story were a train, every scene ending would be a station—offering your reader a choice: Do I stay on this ride, or…
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Fictionary’s Story Elements: Scene Entry Hook
Welcome back to The Pencil’s Edge. Grab Attention or Risk Losing Your Reader When a reader flips the page to a new scene, you’re standing at a crossroads.…
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Anchored Scenes: How to Ground Your Readers in Every Moment
Welcome back to The Pencil’s Edge. Imagine opening a novel, landing in a new scene… and having no idea who’s talking, where they are, or when this is…
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It’s Here: Millie’s Daughter Is Now Available!
After almost two years of on-and-off writing, rewriting, and walking with Millie and Molly through every challenge they face, I’m honored to announce that my newest novel, Millie’s…
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Scene Closing Type: How to End Every Scene So Readers Can’t Stop Turning Pages
Welcome back to The Pencil’s Edge. What’s the last thing your reader sees before flipping to the next chapter? The final line of a scene is like a…
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Molly Anderson: A Voice That Refuses to Be Silenced
Here’s more about my latest novel–Millie’s Daughter. Every once in a while, a character walks into a story and surprises you. You think you know what role they’ll…
Richard L. Fricks 