Southern Fried Chicas

I might as well blog about this. It’s something I read a few weeks ago, and it’s been bothering me ever since—so let’s get it off my ample but suppley firm bosom, shall we?

I was reading a post by an established author on ‘What to Do When You’re Feeling Jealous of Other Writers.’ And no, I wasn’t sitting around brooding or feeling envious—I just happened to come across the post. It looked interesting and, in truth, contained some valuable advice.

But I hit the skids when I read one part of the article. It made me do a serious double-take. Basically (and I paraphrase), the advice was this:

“Sometimes another author’s success is just due to the luck of the draw. Suck it up and get back to work.”

Of course, my initial response to this statement was, “Well if it’s all about luck, why the hell should I bother?”

Let’s be honest. Most of the books out there on the market have a reason for being there—they’re helpful, or inspiring, or funny, etc. Most successful authors work very hard for their well-deserved success.

But we’ve also read our share of books that make us stop and say, “This got published?!”

So let’s just say some successes ARE due to ‘luck’. Where does that leave you if you’re just not a lucky-type person? There are people like that, y’know. I’ve been known to wear that badge myself (stop that laughing, Amie). You can sweat and bleed and write your little buns off until you can’t write no mo’, and in the end just have somebody say, “ah, well—bad luck, old girl?”

And yes, we’ve all heard the comforting expressions…”the harder I work, the luckier I get”, or “real talent will find it’s way”, etc., etc. But they’re not true, are they? There simply isn’t enough room in the publishing world for everyone, even with a bit of talent and the will to keep at it.

Destiny? Fate? Karma? Fairy dust? Self-confidence? Right place, right time? Because this person deserves it and that person doesn’t? All used as rationalizations. But as a speaker I heard once said, “I’m successful because the sky is blue. You might as well believe that, because it’s as good a reason as any.”

The statement by that author really bothered me, obviously. I’m beginning to wonder if that’s because it may be true.

I’d be interested in hearing opinions about this. Show your cards, folks—what do you think?