Luck may play a small part in what we do and what we achieve but, I think hard work and persistence are what makes us successful. In the case of childbirth, luck plays an important role in the gender but, hard work and persistence on the parents part is what makes a child turn out to be successful or a failure. Luck may play an important part in getting a good job but, hard work and persistence will help you to keep that job and maybe even get a promotion. As for writers, I think it's a little of both luck and, hard work and persistence. Hard work and persistence will help you to write a good story. Luck will point you in the direction of a good editor and hopefully luck will make you a big selling author. I think luck, talent, hard work and persistence all go together to make anyone successful. As for your friend who said"you know you've never been lucky". I don't think I'd be friends with anyone who would be so negative with me. You got published so I guess you could say that you have had some luck in your life. Here's to you having many more lucky experiences due to your hard work, persistence and talent. Have a great weekend and thanks for taking the time to Blog with us. Mads:)

I don't really think luck has anything to do with your success. I think its mostly hard work, but maybe sometimes like being in the right place at the right time is luck.

I believe it's more hard work and persistence that will get you far. Luck, if you want to call it that, may have your manuscript on the right editor's desk on the right day when she is in the right mood. But you have to have worked hard and been persistent to get that manuscript written and queried and requested. Misty

A woman who has never written a word in her life has a dream, writes a manuscript, sends it in and a reader digs it out of a slush pile, sends it to the agent, who sells it, getting a $500,000 advance. Now, I've read the opening of this book and it's awful. Backstory, boring, trite. It's everything we, as writers, are told not to do. I've read where other writers have read this miracle of a book that is being made into a movie and they can't understand how a slow moving book could have garnered such greatness. Talent? Unique story? An agent looked at one of my books that I had written before this other came out and said she liked the way I handled mine so much better, but she didn't offer to represent it, didn't get me a $500,000 advance, movie rights, a book deal. The bottom line? Yes, I think to an extent, luck does play a part in it. John Grisham couldn't sell his book and self-published his first. He was friends with someone who was friends with a movie producer who offered to take a look at his mss. Now, he got a contract. Then after he got the movie contract, a publisher agreed to publish the book. Luck? You bet. If he hadn't had that friend who was a friend of a movie producer... Another situation, a girl has written a book...getting published isn't easy for anyone, getting an agent to represent you, is even harder. Her girlfriend's father is a literary agent and her girlfriend asks her father to take a look at it. He takes her on, helps rewrite her book and she's been publishing ever since. Luck? Sure, she wrote the book, she had the talent. Luck isn't all that matters. But if she hadn't had an agent helping her to rewrite the book she may never have been published. Here's another case, the boy's parents own a small print publishing house. They print the book and schedule him for a nationwide tour. Some kid reads the book, takes it to his father who is a friend of a big time publisher who picks up the book and it was made into a movie. Luck? You bet. The book is good, no doubt about it, but getting published is where the luck comes in to play. Another case was a woman who had sold her first book, never sold anything in her life before. She was asked to revise over and over and over again. When she asked why they bought the book, they said they liked the title. How many of us would ever sell based on a publisher liking the title? That they would take the time to work with us to rewrite what was written. This had more to do with who she was rather than what she'd written. Another case, the girl had copied from other author's published works. Because of who she was, she had been picked up, not because of what she had written. What about the man who was writing romance novels who wrote so poorly, all of his work had to be rewritten? But he had so many followers because he was a young man, not because of his writing. Middle-aged women who flocked to him who were interviewed even said so....to me this has more to do with luck (because not all male romance authors would have the draw) than to do with talent. :) On the other hand, I think some luck we make for yourselves. When a new line opens up, submit. A new agent is looking for new clients, check them out. Submitting ups your chances to sell. Writing more improves your chances to sell. Perseverence increases your chances to sell. In that way, you add to your own luck. :) And so with that, I say: May the luck be with you in everything you do because you have the God-given talent, just don't give up!

Hi Shawna, Good blog topic. Writing is hard (and wonderful and delicious) and requires tough love and dogged persistance. I think there must be a small amount of talent, too. Grin. As for luck....well, there's both good and bad luck. I think a wee bit of good luck never hurt, as in being in the right place at the right time. I had a similar comment made when talking to a friend about writing fiction. She said, "How are you going to do That?!" I let it pass. Negative energy is too draining. lol Now, I'm off to an enchanting little place called Whitevale for a spring fair. Doesn't that sound magical? Just swinging by to say HI. helenb.

Hi Shawna, I hope your having a relaxing Memorial Weekend. I think I'll always believe in luck,even when luck is not on my side. Some day I'll find my niche in life and I think luck will be there pushing me along. Hugs, Danette http://nenscl.blogspot.com

Hi Shawna, I really believe basically what you put out there is what you receive. I think we have grown accustomed to having things quickly and so maybe waiting for that thing you want more than anything makes us think we're not lucky when it takes a little longer. Maybe that sought after thing turns into something else down the road as a surprise. It's all good. Your friend needs to train her mind differently. What she deems as success is empty. I have a feeling if I asked her to describe to me what success is she would answer, a mansion, expensive car, 2.5 kids, etc. As we know, success is much deeper than material things. You rock, love your stories and bright positive attitude in life! (off to drool over that picture of the hockey guy again!:)) Kelly

Hey Shawna, I'm having some bad luck here! I keep getting bounced. I know I'm doing something wrong but this is my third message! I also have bad luck in my choice of publishers. But I don't let that get me down or keep me from pursuing my dreams. As I said to dh the other day, "This comes with the territory." And you Shawna, the hardest working author I know, inspire me to keep plugging. You might have arrived at where you are now by hard work and persistence, but your readers all love you. And that makes you one lucky lady. My blog will be starting soon, THE TRANSPLANTS from downhome to downtown, with my critique partner, Karen who was born in the country, lives in the city. Me--the other way around. I'll keep you informed Shawna and we'll definitely link! Here's to a great weekend for you, your dh, and all your friends. Enjoy! Pet. Who's leaving Thursday for a long trip North to visit relatives (two graduations) and I just might give Shawna a call!

There has to be an equal amount of hard work,and strength of character to continue to push through any adversity that might occur when a goal has to be realized. Luck is soemthing that can happen and is attrubited to many successes but without the talent and capability nothing would happen. So many people work hard to get to their pot of gold but few attain that due to so many problems.

Being lucky is not a myth but it can happen to many people. They have an aura and it shines upon them. Maybe they give out positive vides and are charismatic and welcome this fortunate combination of circumstances. The majority of people though have to work diligently and never achieve their sought after wishes. It is as though we are overlooked but if we do stick to it, work hard, and have integrity we should be rewarded. Not always unfortunately. Many times it depends upon timing, meeting the right people at the right time and taking advantage of these special combination of factors.

Being an optimist and possessing talent and drive bring more than enough luck for the aspiring writer, actor, or business person. Acting upon this with something unique and appealing can seal the deal. In other words if you bring something special to the table and it is so attractive then how can it but be a success. Many have luck but spoil it with their greed or their poor attitude. So many things play into being lucky and successful.

I think it is a little bit of everything that works for some authors. Sometimes with things it is being in the right place at the right time and sometime it is persistence that pays off.

Luck is a very elusive quality that most discount, but I think that it does have an importance in everything that we do in life. The timing, the place and the people all count. Most people have to realize that their own hard work, their principles and their drive is also an essential ingredient in this entire universe. Otherwise why are some so successful and make it look easy while others take much longer to achieve their dreams.

For folks interested in trying to win the contest, remember, you have to be registered here at Cigars, so a reminder on that note. It's easy, and we do that to avoid spam, mostly, but also to encourage folks to feel like part of the group, and I hope we'll see you often. :)

Shawna, what's that whole thing? Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration? ;) Luck is always nice, but without hard work to back it up, it won't get us far.

Sam

Well despite the tales of serendipitous movie rights etc, I think they are the 'exceptions that prove the rule'. Sure, some people get lucky. But for the vast majority, it is years of hard graft. To begin with you have to have a halfway decent story. Maybe it might not be brilliantly written, but there's an x-factor that appeals to an audience. (There's a historical fiction writer who I find mind-numbingly boring, with a painfully small vocabulary, backstory dumping and lame plots - who has a shelf full of published works.) I think sometimes you have to be in the right place at the right time: if you were a computer geek 30 years ago, you'd be doing well; nowadays, you're one of millions. That sort of timing is luck, I'll agree. But you also have to be prepared for luck. That chance meeting with the a-list agent won't help you if you haven't got a polished manuscript waiting to send her, a snappy pitch and a business card in your pocket. The catchy idea that might be the Next Big Thing is going to go stale if you can't write the book and get it submitted within a few months. Someone else will have gotten in before you. The well-connected socialite looking for artwork for their new appartment won't buy your work if it isn't on the gallery walls. I reckon, anyhow.....

We can strive and accomplish through sheer will and hard work but many perceive this as a lengthy road to achieving our goals. I wish thast there was another easier way for us to become overnight successes. Luck plays an important role in this many times, if we are fortunate to meet with the right circumstances and the interested party as well. But unless we are handed a legacy and have the right connections normally our own grit is the only way to succeed.

I think that there are times we are luckier than others. However, I think that success is more a result of effort than luck. Luck is a fickle thing and hard to predict so you cannot count on it. Rather you shoulc count on what you can achieve through your own blood sweat and tears.

Hi Shawna. I agree with you. I believe in making your own luck with hard work and persistence. It's kind of like being born rich compared to working hard to get where you are. Not that I wouldn't appreciate family money. Working hard for success is part of the joy we find at the end. Sometimes it's the journey not the destination that rewards us. Congratulations on all the hard work that has brought you your current success. Sue