Recently, I wrote my last blog post for Inkitt, the innovative publisher I’ve freelanced for over the last three years. Usually, the topics I covered were focused on writing craft, but a few of the pieces were interviews with authors, employees, and, most recently, with Inkitt’s CEO.

When I’d prep for an interview, I’d have a few questions in mind I wanted to explore, but I’d also leave room for the conversation to evolve organically. I’ve never been disappointed by the results or by the theme that often emerged from those discussions.

The last article, titled ‘Perseverance and Flexibility: The Secret Sauce of Success,’ was a nod to the important qualities needed in a start-up, and by the team behind it, in order to thrive. As the article developed, I started thinking how those qualities applied to more than start-ups and entrepreneurs. In fact, a good balance between perseverance and flexibility seems a recipe for success in any professional environment, including a writing career.

If I’d given up on my first novel when I got stuck in a plot tangle, or when I needed to do a full-on re-write of a main character, or when I got my first round of rejections, my writing career would have fizzled out before it ever had a chance to begin. Conversely, if I wasn’t willing to pivot when my plot had gone down a murky rabbit hole, or recognize new professional opportunities that would help me develop as a writer, the resulting effect might have been the same.

I think if we consciously reflect on where we’re at with a particular project, or with our career as a whole, we’ll know which quality we need most and why we need it.

“It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.” - Albert Einstein
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” - Albert Einstein