He is best known as the author of the 1970 novel The Last Detail, which was adapted into the 1973 film of the same name starring Jack Nicholson.

A sequel, Last Flag Flying, based on his 2005 novel of the same name, was released in 2017 and he also co-wrote the screenplay with Richard Linklater.

He also wrote the 1973 novel and screenplay Cinderella Liberty, starring James Caan.

Ponicsan writes mystery novels under the pen name Anne Argula.

He has worked frequently with producer-director Harold Becker, penning scripts for Taps (1981), Vision Quest (1985), and The Boost (1988).