As I write
this blog, my friend Josie is celebrating the fact that she received a tweet
from one of her favorite actresses after quite a bit of trying. Today my first-ever professionally-published
novel is made available for the masses—or at least anyone with an e-reader—to see. I had only been writing novels for a year
when I received that offer from Crimson Romance to publish my novel. Indeed, many others have tried for years and
failed to receive a publishing offer. By
that same token, I have also been trying to find a real, honest-to-goodness job
for more than two-and-a-half years.
Writing has become my only income even if it was initially a foolhardy
hobby. Why do good things happen to
us? Are they a reward for our suffering
or simply the byproduct of days, months, and even years of hard work? Do we simply just get lucky?
Food for
thought: you increase your chances of
being lucky by simply trying. You may endure
countless rejections, and be ignored or otherwise snubbed, but if you never take
that first step, you will remain in exactly the same place. You can self-publish, or you can solicit the
help of an agent, or simply go straight through the publishing house. If you hide your talents away and never allow
anyone to see them, you won’t get rejected—you won’t get anything.
Why do
good things happen to us? Because we’ve
tried? Because we’ve earned it? Or maybe, just maybe, for no reason at all,
but because we needed a little magic in our lives. Take your pick, choose your own adventure,
but, first and foremost, do.
