December 8, 2006
Luck Of The Draw
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?
I absolutely believe some people luck into publication - yep - HOWEVER they will not KEEP readers if they suck - some of the big named authors had a chance first publication but they have a product that sells.
There are those authors you hear sold their first book - well yippee friggin doo… they may not sell the 2nd thru the 10th because the first might have been a fluke or stars aligned one time only.
But then you have the authors whose first sell is their tenth book … life is a crapshoot - sometimes you roll a seven strainght away and sometimes you gotta roll craps a few times to become a high roller
sheesh - I need to get Vegas outta my system
I’m going to be brutally honest here. I sold because I wrote to market. Yup, you heard me. I did the big No-No. But I did it correctly. I wrote a book I LOVED that was right for the market and probably just caught the upswing. I think Jordan’s right…luck can play a part in that initial sale but it’s not the only thing and it won’t keep you in the game.
Then I came up with two great ideas that were and have been like pulling teeth to finish. What have I learned? Not all great ideas make great books. *ouch*
I’ve learned a lot more but that’s a blog post for another day.
Dennie, lol at Vegas. So appropriate!
So, if life is just a crapshoot–what happens if you crap out? What if you never roll that seven? What if you’ve played a special slot for all you’re worth, put in all your cash, and the next person comes along and wins on the first pull?
I’m strangling this metaphor to death of course—but I confess…I always liked the idea of self-determination, to some degree at least. And I know so many people–not just authors, PEOPLE–who work and strive and sacrifice, and seem to see little for it. So to have somebody say ‘just suck it up’ kinda irked me.
Yeah, I know…suck it up.
Ames, your success was not due to ‘luck’. You were already writing in that field. You put your stuff out there. You write very well. You work hard at it, keep trying to better yourself. I consider that an example of ’cause and effect’.
And yes it’s true that getting that first book out there is no guarentee of success afterward. But we also know that once you get a foot in the door your chances increase.
Good point! I have no answer… ask me in ten years. Maybe - just maybe I might have an inkling of what’s going on - but I doubt it - LOL
I think a part of what makes it so tough is that …shit I forgot
Dennie—there ya go!
I don’t have the answers either, don’t pretend to. And if I don’t know the answer, I will say “I don’t have the answer.”
I admit, I HAVE always believed that, if you want something, you go for it. Work for it, hunger for it, pray for it, do whatever’s necessary to get it.
But “luck”??
It’s like hearing about accidents where there’s only one survivor. I always cringe when I hear some of those people say, “I was lucky”, or “God was with me”, etc.
Well geez—what does that say for the other people??
Amie—
Raine LOL…..you’re right. I know how you feel about free will and making choices and this is an area where free will has little influence
What if you’ve played a special slot for all you’re worth, put in all your cash, and the next person comes along and wins on the first pull?
Beat them up? :lol::razz:
an rob them
That might, at least, make you FEEL better, lol!
***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.***
I think this statement is bullocks. *g* There isn’t enough room for everyone at the same time, BUT there is certainly enough room. The mindset of there being a finite amount of slots is what drives writers insane. Everyone becomes the competition. You are ONLY competing against yourself in this game. And make no mistake, it IS a game.
***So, if life is just a crapshoot–what happens if you crap out? What if you never roll that seven?***
Statistically, this is impossible. Don’t you watch the TV show, Numbers? *ggg*
I think people use the word ‘luck’, when they don’t know how else to describe something. Could one of your manuscripts be submitted to a publisher at the same time they’re looking for that specific genre? Sure. Does that make you lucky? Or is that the book that’s been sitting in your files for years and you just now got around to finishing it/submitting it? (ie Sherrilyn Kenyon and her quasi-vampires)
I’m sure that to a lot of people, who don’t know my history, I’d be considered extremely lucky. The second full manuscript I ever wrote, I sold to EC. Was it great? No. Was it horrible? No. It fell somewhere in the middle. You could say it was ‘lucky’ that I submitted to EC, when they were building their stable of authors. Of course, you’d have to ignore the fact that I’d been researching EC for two years, before I ever submitted a manuscript. You’d also have to ignore the fact that I’d been taking creative writing courses on and off since I was fifteen years old. I didn’t receive my first rejection until AFTER I’d sold to N.Y. Was it a blow? Sure, I’d never experienced that kind of rejection before (from agents or publishers). Did I worry that I was a ‘two hit wonder’? Yep…until I realized the problem wasn’t with my writing. It was with the genre I’d chosen.
I think the thing you’re talking about here isn’t ‘getting published’. I think what you’re referring to is getting published in the manner in which you’d like to be published. There is a HUGE difference between those two things. I started out purposely publishing with the epubs. I wasn’t ready to go to N.Y. I didn’t want to submit to N.Y. until I felt more confident about my writing. (I’m still waiting for that to happen.)
For good or bad, contests sped that process up for me. I entered for fun and giggles, not expecting anything to come from it. Was I lucky or did I just know what the judges were looking for?
I think it’s really dangerous to rely on luck. It’s a way of taking responsibility away from the individual. Who wouldn’t like their heavy responsibilites to be burdened by someone else? Unfortunately, that’s not the way this world works. Stepping off my soapbox now. *wg*
I don’t think it is all luck—there has to be some talent in there somewhere.
(shhhh, don’t let my computer know I’m here, it might crap out on me …)
I think you are all right. How’s that? I think that there is free will, that you work for what you get - but at the same time, there are people working just as hard as you are but get no where. Does luck play into it? Probably. Sometimes a person is “lucky” because their MS hits the desk of an editor at just the right time, when the editor is in a good mood. And other times it hits when the editors spouse/significant other has left them, their kid has gone to jail, they have the Asian Flu, etc. I think that that’s when luck plays into it. I decided a long time ago that I was just going to write. If I never get published, oh well. I love writing, it’s a part of me. The writers who are out there and getting published even though their work isn’t that good will not last. It might be the luck of the draw to get published, but only through hard work can you continue to be published. Does that make any sense, or should I just go to bed now and bury my head in my pillows?
Jordan, I think we’re in BASIC agreement here.
When I said “there isn’t enough room” (and I may have phrased it badly, dunno), I was referring to were the number of books that’ll be published in any given genre in any specified time period by yes, print publishers. Erotica and/or paranormal is booming now, but the publication rosters are already booked up for the next 2-3 years at least. A friend in one of my yahoo groups who received a 3-book deal tells me her publishers are not offering contracts beyond 2008 and not seeking new authors.
I’m afraid I don’t know that tv show, lol.
And I’m DEFINITELY with you on the last point, which may be why this statement irritated me.
Estella, I agree. And if you plan to KEEP publishing, there’d durn well be a LOT of talent there.
Bailey—perfect sense.
There are so many factors that can come into play, but that’s another post.
Now get your head out of those pillows—Sergeant Preston is on the case.
I sometimes feel that way - that in any endeavour, sometimes hard work and determination and belief and ideals and some semblance of basic talent are not going to be enough.
I think I misunderstood you.
The publishers are booked way ahead of time. Most publishers run about two years out with the third year partially open. That’s what Tor is running right now. There were only available release dates in 2008. To my knowledge, they haven’t put a hold on buying new authors.
Bernita, it’s a depressing thought.
But those are the basic tenants I have to hold on to. And I may be wrong, but the idea of ‘luck’ doesn’t work for me in the grand scheme of things.
Jordan, I phrased it badly–sorry!
I should work on my writing skills.
When it comes to luck and publishing, I don’t believe in the type of luck that is: act of god, out of the blue, random lightening strike. And perhaps undeserved– ie not based on merit.
But I do believe in luck in terms of fortuitous timing. Right place, right time, right book. Knowing the right people can also help *to a degree*, by offering up *opportunities* that might not have been open to you. ie, we’ve all heard of agents who will view a submission that has been referred/reccomended by one of their clients, a little quicker and with a bit more interest. Doesn’t guarantee a sale, the person who came with the reference, just got a boost to the head of the line. The rest is up to merit (craft, skill, product.)
This I can accept, yes.
I’ve been thinking about this and the best analogy I can come up with is Lana Turner. It was luck that brought that scout, producer or whoever it was into that drugstore the day she was sitting at the counter. It was perseverance/hard work on her part to get to where she did.
[…] Raine’s blogging about the Luck of the Draw over at SFC. Posted by Amie • 12.08.06 • […]