[2][3] Richards began professionally writing with contributions to the Augusta Mirror, a literary paper published between 1838 and 1841.
[2] In the 1840s, Richards started his own publications, beginning with the Orion, a literary magazine aimed at fostering literature in the South.
[3] In the 1850s, Richards shifted his focus to the ministry, serving pastorates in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Illinois until his death.
He continued to write, mainly on religious topics and physical science, popularising these subjects through his lectures in the United States and Canada.
[2][3] Richards made notable contributions to literature during his relatively short career as a magazine editor, particularly in the South.