Luck is tenacity of purpose.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
Seneca
Luck, simply defined as “good fortune,” is something we can all use more of, now and always. Let’s remember this:
We are already lucky! As authors and aspiring writers, we have the joy of dwelling in the realm of words and imagination — that golden place where anything and everything is possible. What a gift!
Someone once said, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” Consider how liberating this view of luck is. It’s also tantalizing, because it suggests that we really can create our own luck through our own efforts and persistence. We can do the spade work, the preparation, so that when an opportunity comes our way, we can coax it into bearing fruit.
There are steps we can take to make ourselves luckier, to actually boost our luck quotient. How do we do this? We can help luck find us by putting ourselves in places and situations where good fortune is more likely to tap us on the shoulder, whether in the guise of a sparkling new idea or a chance encounter with someone who can give us a hand.
For me, this means getting out into the world and sharing what I’m working on with other people in my daily rounds and by attending events that inspire me and expose me to people who can give me a hand. Some time ago, I was at a festival in my home town and ran into a friend in indie publishing. I mentioned my children’s book and the name of someone I wanted to pass it on to. And my friend said, “Oh, I was just on a panel with her recently. Send me an email and I’ll forward it on with a note.” And she did exactly that!
Was it lucky we happened to meet? Yes. Did I nudge luck along by sharing what I needed help with? Absolutely. And you can, too. Remember, you’re already lucky and you can be luckier now! You have everything you need to make it happen. And, as always, when we reach out to help each other, Lady Luck surely smiles on us, too. Write on!
