Sometimes it helps to simplify things—to get down to essentials. This morning in a small guidebook I saw a headline that was longer than the text below it: “The Three P’s of Success.” Under the headline were three words: Passion, Persistence, Patience.

Not a bad trio to activate in our writing lives, is it? Let’s take a look:

Passion: Feeling passionate about what we do is the fuel that drives us. When we’re passionate, we’re focused, we’re engaged, and sometimes, if we’re lucky, we’re even on fire. Passion ignites our energy and purpose—it gives us the gas we need to do what we what to do, no matter what. When we’re passionate, we’re committed to our goal.

Have you ever met anyone who’s passionate about what they’re doing? When you do, you feel their intensity, don’t you? They attract you like a magnet—you want to be around them. They’re pumped up and alive.

Persistence: This is where the rubber hits the road. Passion is vital, but without persistence—without stick-to-it-ivity—over time, passion can burn down. Persistence is what keeps the embers glowing. It’s the ability to keep going, no matter what.

I used to think that persistence was something you were born with. But over time, I’ve learned that persistence, the ability to keep going despite obstacles, is something you can nurture and develop. As you stick with small tasks and see them through, you build your persistence muscle.

Patience: At first, this third “P” surprised me. While Passion and Persistence have a driving energy to them, Patience is different. It has a kind of quiet energy, doesn’t it? And yet, it’s so important! In a way, Patience is what lies beyond Persistence. It’s the quiet confidence that allows you to let something ripen and blossom at its own pace.

So often when we’ve written a story or a full draft of something more ambitious, we’re overly eager to get it out into the world. Or we may just feel tapped out and unable to give more to a particular project, and just want to move on without putting the final touches on it. And yet, it can be the ability to step back and leave it for a time that allows us to give it the extra spark that makes it sing and dance. In the case of my play, Dust of Egypt, it took years for me to figure out how to write an ending that was dramatic and uplifting.

Passion. Persistence. Patience. A dynamic trio we can tap into today and every day as we all write on!

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