A while back Moonrat did a similar post about
luck and publishing, and it inspired me to think about what was luck and what was hard work that got me my book deal. Here's a cut and paste of that post.
When I got my agent, everyone kept telling me how lucky I was, and they did the same thing when she sold my novel. I certainly consider myself lucky to have done both, but how much actual luck was involved and how much was, like Moonrat's post said, due to hard work?
I have a precise moment when my writing life changed forever (no, not when I got my agent). It was the moment that set me on a two-year path to publication. I know without a doubt that I wouldn't be where I am today if I had not gone down this path.
Here's a quick trip back, looking at what was luck and what was work. I think you'll find there's a good blend of the two, but I wouldn't have been able to be lucky in some instances if I hadn't been doing the work. We make our own luck sometimes. Other times, we jump in Luck's way so she
has to hit us.
LUCK: My best friend hearing about the
Surrey International Writer's Conference. I wasn't looking for a conference and would never have found this one if she hadn't come across it and said, "Doesn't this look awesome? Let's go!"
WORK: Singing up for the conference and flying across the country to attend. Deciding to take the extra Master Classes the day before, primarily the "How to Pitch Your Book" one, since I had no clue how to pitch my book. I wanted to be ready.
LUCK: The
other Master Class that day was about tension, given by agent Donald Maass. This is the actual class that turned on the light bulbs in my brain and made me realize the things I needed to realize to write the book I sold. (For the record, the pitch class was also very helpful, even though it did make me realize the book I was pitching that year was not sellable. I guess I was also lucky in that this class gave me a wake up call about a book I couldn't sell, but didn't know I couldn't)
WORK: Coming home and digging through every old story idea I had, looking for the fresh, original idea the conference folks talked about all weekend.
LUCK: Finding years-old handwritten notes about a boy who could shift pain from person to person. (The idea for that story really sucked, but the core idea hit me and I couldn't stop thinking about it.)
WORK: Taking everything I'd learned from both the conference and my years of studying writing and then writing
The Shifter. (Or
The Pain Merchants for my UK friends). And having it ready for the next Surrey conference.
LUCK: Seeing two internet query opportunities from agents I was interested in, right before the conference. Both led to full manuscript requests.
WORK: The time I took to find blogs and writer's forums to keep up on the industry so I could
find opportunities like the above when they arose. And researching which agents liked the kind of book I'd written, and who were the best candidates to query.
LUCK: That the next Surrey conference had four agents I was interested in as presenters, who were also taking pitch appointments.
WORK: Going to Surrey again. And polishing my pitch as best I could so I'd be ready.
LUCK: Having an offer of representation waiting in my e-mail the day I got home from the conference.
WORK: Letting the four agents reading my book know I had an offer, and taking a closer look at each of them so I'd be ready if more offers came in.
LUCK: Having several of those agents interested and make offers.
WORK: Having to pick one. (This was VERY HARD WORK)
LUCK: Making the right choice. (Though honestly, I couldn't have gone wrong with any of them. They were all fabulous)
WORK: Doing all the edits my agent asked me to do so we could submit the book.
LUCK: Having my book ready to submit to editors just when a new imprint was launching, with a top-notch editor who happened to have a long relationship with my agent.
WORK: Waiting while my agent did the negotiation thing with multiple editors. (This is
way harder that you'd think)
LUCK: Having my book chosen for Balzer+Bray's launch list. (Which is both an honor, and a great opportunity for my book)
WORK: Doing all the edits my wonderful new editor asked for. Then doing them again. And again. And being blown away by the copy editor as we speak (or as I type.)
LUCK: Having such amazing people working on my book. I made a joke yesterday that I feel like the Verizon guy. I turn around, and there they are--all these folks who are working hard so that
my book is the best it can be and does well for all of us.
Luck certainly played a part, but if I hadn't been working hard and doing everything I could to be ready, the luck wouldn't have mattered.
I had to be
ready to be so lucky.