I’m going to take a walk on the wild side this Friday morning. Here we go: what role does luck have in getting published?
This is something of a controversial topic. I’ve heard it said that mentioning the role that luck plays in getting a publishing contract is discouraging to writers who are working their fingers to the bone honing their skills and making the perfect queries to the perfect agents and editors. After all, if it’s just a matter of luck, it’s out of our hands. (My missionary brother in law would question even the existence of ‘luck.’ But I don’t want to go even farther into the wild side and delve into religion this morning!)
There are many talented writers who research the industry. They’re miles ahead of the people who slop together a poorly-crafted, rambling, error-ridden manuscript and snail-mail it to a YA publisher (when they needed a Sci-Fi publisher).
But what about all the gifted writers out there who are doing everything right?
I think luck plays a part. I think my unrequested manuscript landed on Midnight Ink’s desk at exactly the right time…accidentally.
Talent is important. Self-editing is important. Researching the industry’s expectations on submissions is important. Targeting the right agents and editors is important.
Timing is important. And that’s out of our hands.
To me, that means perseverance is key. If writers keep sending out well-written, well-targeted submissions, they increase the chances their work gets into the right hands at the right time.
I got a ton of rejections from agents and editors. But I kept submitting, sometimes to the same people—after I’d done more touching up on the manuscript and if they’d given me even an inkling of encouragement. Actually, I don’t think I even needed encouragement. I resubmitted anyway, after a decent interval, some significant changes in the manuscript, and a reworked submission.
What do you think? How important is luck? How can writers increase their chances at getting lucky?
We are about to step into this fray, with my husband getting his up-teen-jillion books ready to submit. He writes westerns and that’s a tough nut to crack. Wish us “luck!”
The way I see it, no matter how you cook it, you can’t serve success without a healthy garnish of luck. But statistically speaking, luck will come your way if you persevere long enough.
Yes it has to be a combination of luck and perserverence. You raise your statistical odds with the number of submissions and you only need one lucky break. You can try to raise your odds also by researching and making sure you are submitting correctly. All this advice from an unpublished novelist but I have had some other pieces published where timing was definately key.
I’ll go with, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”
I think you are right there is luck involved. Good research, preparation,timing, and writing with a measure of luck helps the writer to be accepted by a publisher. Of course having a famous name, I am sure doesn’t hurt.
My problem is feeling discouraged and wanting to give up even when I get good feedback from an editor…as if I could give up my passion for writing.
Thanks for the dose of reality and the dose of encouragment. I needed that.
I do think luck plays a part, but only if you’ve done all the hard work leading up to it.
karen
Call it luck, call it timing, call it fairy dust, the writing industry is a business, and while talent will increase one’s chances, it’s not the only factor. Countless times, I’ve heard agent panels at conferences where the agents have admitted to shedding tears over fantastic manuscripts that they knew they just couldn’t sell.
Digital publishers have increased the ‘luck’ factor for authors because they’re willing to take more chance. But it’s still persistence that’s the biggie. BICFOK
I think writers definitely need to do what they can to ensure the success of their novels. But there does seem to be a luck element as well–one I haven’t had the pleasure of claiming yet. Timing is the area I need it the most. God and I talk about that often…
Have a great weekend!
Persistance, patience, passion – they all start with P and if you put them in front of luck you get Pluck! (and now I feel like writing some new lyrics for The Music Man!) Luck is what others confuse with keeping awake so when the main chance swings by – you’ll grab a ride. That’s what I think.
Like the old saying goes: “Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.”
Marvin D Wilson
I think your post is very encouraging for someone who has not been lucky yet!
I also know from experience that the financial crisis right now is not good for new writers. Two years ago I could be quite certain the publisher would write a few encouraging words with the rejection, today they won´t even send the manuscript back. So I know I will have to go on writing, using my blog to get in touch with other writers, and wait until the chances are better.
Wonderful post, Elizabeth and I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. Here’s my two cents worth…
Any creative endeavor is dependent on another person’s approval to be considered a success. An actor has to get cast. A musician has to get a gig. An artist has to sell a painting. A writer has to sell a manuscript. It’s a harsh reality. Talent helps, but timing is everything.
Elspeth
Rayna–I think you’re right. We can increase our luckiness.
Sharon–Best of luck!!
Alison–I think there are many things a writer can do to increase their chances at publication. And you’re right…once you get published, it’s easier to get another publishing contract.
Jan–I love your p’s. :) And you’re right…grabbing onto your lucky shot (and recognizing when it’s there) is also really key.
Marvin–That’s very true. Sometimes I look at the top-CEOs in the USA and think that really, they were just in the right place at the right time.
Alan–Exactly!
Journaling Woman–And it’s an incredibly discouraging process. But the more we knock on doors, the more doors open.
I’m a firm believer that ambition and perseverance will pay off for me! It’s just not my time yet. Sure luck MIGHT have a bit to do with it, but after all the work I’ve put in,I’m ok with getting a little lucky! :)
Great post!
Yeah, you need talent, perseverance and passion, but luck also plays a role.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Marybeth–Your time is coming! And it’s 95% work, 5% luck. You’ve put all the work in!
Helen–I think so, too.
I believe luck played a role in my book being published since I met the head of the publishing company through a writing group I belong to. However, he only agreed to look at the manuscript – nothing more. So I believe that had I not worked hard on it to have it as perfected as I could, he could have as easily said no thanks rather than offering a contract.
Hi Elizabeth! Wonderful topic (I’m retweeting it). I think luck plays a part, absolutely.
In case anyone missed this, here is a very informative inside look at how book publishing really works, written by Daniel Menaker, former fiction editor of The New Yorker and ex Exec. Editor-in-Chief at Random House.
How book publishing really works
~Cleo
Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
Karen–I think they go hand in hand.
Jane–And you increased your chances by joining a group that was devoted to writing.
Terry–You’re so right. After all, it’s about what sells, too. And, I guess, it’s got to be. They’re running businesses.
Kristen–I really do think that the more you throw it out there, the higher your chances. Best of luck!
Cleo–That article is *fascinating*. And #6 made me laugh out loud! (I hate meetings, myself.) Great look at the other side of the industry and what goes on behind the scenes. Thanks for sharing.
Dorte–And the luck will happen! Because you’re too savvy a reader and clever a writer (love your snippets on your blog.) Now it’s just a matter of the timing…getting it into the right person’s hands at the right time.
Luck is a reletive term, interpreted and defined by the individual who perceives and filters the world at least a little bit differently than the rest of us. But in a general sense, I’ll say yes. Luck does have something to do with success.
Stephen Tremp
http://stephentremp.blogspot.com
Couldn’t have said it any better if I worked on it for two weeks. Yeah, a large measure of luck is for sure involved. Finding my first publisher was luck…abetted by a guardian angle. Finding my second publisher was also luck. Still, as you said, gotta do some basics correctly so when luck does arrive, your prepared to have it fall in your lap.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
Elspeth–Excellent analogies to the other arts! You’re so right…we’re auditioning. And most other artists continue going to auditions and refuse to get discouraged by the process. And then, one day, the timing just seems to work out.
Stephen–Absolutely.
Galen–Guardian angels definitely help, too!
I know luck played a role in my getting published. I took the right manuscript to the right conference workshop and chose the right moderator. I’d like to claim it was due to my wonderful writing and clever choices, but it was pure chance I signed up for the workshop at all.
I have Sam Goldwyn’s quote up in my classroom. “I’m a firm believer in luck. I find the hard I work, the luckier I get.” (I may have paraphrased)
I’m all for luck and hard work. Timing doesn’t hurt either :)
Your comments were very apt and thoughtful. I don’t have much to add, except to mention the old saying that luck happens when opportunity meets a person who’s prepared for it.
You said it, we make our own luck. I love that book cover!
Elizabeth–Thanks so much! :)
Patricia–That’s the way I feel, completely. It’s amazing how much luck played into it all. But then, you did sign up for the workshop and you did put your work “out there.” So you influenced the lucky outcome.
Jemi–Great quote! And he’s right.
Mark–That’s a good point. We also need to recognize our opportunities…folks have mentioned here that their opportunities started with a conference or a writers’ group…and that was the platform that eventually connected them to a publisher.
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. You have to have written well, you have to know what you’re doing, you have to keep trying… but things like ‘trends in literature’ and nailing one exactly–that is pure luck. Nobody writes WELL fast enough to notice one and THEN hit it. By then they’re too late.
And MEETING the right person by chance–sure you can increase your chance by attending conferences you know they’ll be at (you and a thousand others) but a chance meeting with a chance to actually TALK–that would be LUCK.
I am a die-hard believer in persistence (as a Cancer we know that the moon changes continents, one wave at a time) but luck plays no small role.
Hart—Someone asked me today what precisely had changed for me to get me published. I responded, “Luck.” I really feel it played a huge role.