Make plans, but hold them loosely.
I arrived at my employer’s big event with my next issue thoroughly planned, the cover long since completed and every article accounted for.
But in a few minutes I realized those plans had to change. Before me stood my new cover — and my new cover story. Within an hour or so I’d taken the new cover photo. Over the next three days I captured the images for an unexpected photo feature, plus a two-pager I’d planned.
When I got home I’d email the author of the feature I’d have to postpone to make room for coverage the magazine’s readers would find even more compelling. Ditto for the now-discarded front cover.
I’m now moving forward with that new issue plan – taking encouragement from the security it provides, but also willing to change it further if new opportunities arise.
