Forget Craft… This Is the Single Most Important Trait to Develop as a Writer
Taking a cue from the sports world on building resilience
Your team is down a point with less than two minutes in the game.
You’ve fended off push after push by the opponent, yet they keep coming.
You dart from one side of the ice to the other.
Their star player’s stick is on yours. He’s pushing hard, determined to block your path to the net.
The stakes are high, the series on the line.
Yet, somehow, you remain calm.
You’ve been here before. Many times, in fact.
You know how to adapt. How to sustain yourself and your game under pressure.
The puck glides your way. You tap it toward a teammate waiting to the left of the goalie.
He pretends to shoot but sends it back with a quick flick of his wrist.
The net is open.
You lift the puck ever so slightly with your stick.
The goalie tries to read your movements and crouches down, blocking the five-hole.
You chip the puck over his shoulder and the netting ripples from the force.
