Luck vs. Fate

I’ve talked about luck before. Yesterday Nathan Bransford posted about Fate. But the way he explained it, I found myself thinking the word was luck. Because I see Fate as something different. To me, Fate is something that happens. Period. No matter what the circumstances, it happens. And you can call anything that happens Fate. And if something doesn’t happen, well, you can call that Fate, too. You can say, “Well, there was war because it was Fate.” Or you can say, “War was avoided because it was Fate.”

But I believe that with care, good will, and proper preparation, bad things can be avoided and good things can happen instead. It’s not up to Fate. And the road to publication has nothing to do with Fate. It’s more about luck.

When it comes to getting published, I don't believe an author got his/her book published because it was Fate. Or his/her book didn’t get published because it was Fate. But it could very well be that it was for luck.

Here’s why.

First, you have to work hard to write a great book with a great story. Then you have to make sure it’s ready to be read by people who work in publishing. They know a great story and a well-written book when they see it. But that’s not all. If a publisher or an editor is looking for a particular type of story, and then your manuscript is next in the slush pile, and it’s just what that editor is looking for, guess what. You’re in luck! And there’s no other word for it.

Now that doesn’t mean a new author can only get published because of luck. That is not what I’m saying. It could very well be the case that an editor is NOT looking for a particular book. But certainly all editors are looking for books with great stories and great writing. In that case, it’s hard work, hard work, more hard work, perseverance, and talent.

And that is not luck.