Who: Angela Duckworth

Claim To Fame: Angela Duckworth is a pioneering psychologist, celebrated researcher and professor, and the author of the instant New York Times bestseller Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. She is the Founder and CEO of Character Lab, a nonprofit whose mission is to advance the science and practice of character development. A 2013 MacArthur Fellow for her research transforming our understanding of the roles that grit and self-control play in educational achievement, Angela has advised the White House, the World Bank, NBA and NFL teams, and Fortune 500 CEOs. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to K-12 education, including a Beyond Z Award from the KIPP Foundation. And her TED talk is among the most-viewed of all time.

Where To Find Angela: Her Website, Amazon, Twitter

Praise For Angela: “Psychologists have spent decades searching for the secret of success, but Angela Duckworth is the one who found it. In this smart and lively book, she not only tells us what it is, but also how to get it.” — Daniel Gilbert, author of National Bestseller Stumbling on Happiness 

When and where do you like to write? Are you regimented about your writing routine?

In my home office, and ideally in the morning after coffee, but pretty much anytime I can find a moment of quiet…

Do you have any pre-writing rituals that help you get in the zone? Anything you do when the writing isn’t coming easy?

I think in general if you try to do big things, you fail. If you break big things into small things, you succeed. So I try to set out small tasks.

Grit is about how determination and perseverance trump innate talent. The fear of rejection or of not being good enough haunts many aspiring writers. How can one grow their writing grit?

Exposure therapy. Do something and fail. See what happens. The world will not end. You will not stop breathing. Your friends will not abandon you. You’ll conquer your fears only by experiencing them.

Deciding on a great idea to write about can be the most challenging aspect for a writer. How do you come to the point of ‘this is something I need to write about’ as opposed to ‘this is something I enjoy reading about’?

Good question. I don’t know. I mostly feel compelled to write when I think my writing will be helpful. I’m not a novelist. I am a scientist trying to share insights into human nature that we can use to our advantage.

All of your work is very research intensive. What is your method for researching and organizing material you might want to use for your future writing?

I read, think, and take notes until I feel there is, in a sense, and overflow of understanding. Then I sit down to write. I don’t think you should begin when you’re still learning because, well, it’s too hard to learn and write at the same time.

Writers have to be master prioritizers — juggling all sorts of projects and deadlines at the same time. That’s certainly the case for you. Do you have any methods for managing tasks and time to stay productive and not let overwhelm sneak in?

See above. Break down big tasks into small ones. Break down small tasks into tiny ones. And plan ahead. If you want to know more, subscribe to my thought of the week at https://www.characterlab.org/signup

What are the best pieces of writing advice that you’ve ever received or read?

Writing is hard. Most authors tell you this. They’re right. You can’t hear it often enough. When you’re weeping into your beer, or about to throw your laptop into the trashcan, remember: writing is hard.

What writers and books have had the greatest impact on your writing and thinking?

I love About Alice by Calvin Trillin. I loved the encouragement, and the honesty, of Stephen King’s On Writing. Most of all, I was touched by an angel when my high school registrar put me in Mr. Carr’s English class twice—sophomore year and senior year. Because it was from Mr. Carr that I learned to love words, to hear them, and to put them together in ways that brought me pleasure.

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