Actually Working Hard For That Lucky Break
By: P.G. Barnett
Tags: Dark Sides Writing, Luck, Writing, Writing Tips, Writing Tips From Writers

How many different ways are there to make a statement about the benefits of hard work?

You reap what you sow

You only get out of it what you put into it

Hard work pays off whatever you do

A dream doesn’t become a reality through luck or magic; it takes hard work, sweat, and determination

And then there’s my favorite about luck and finally catching that ever-elusive break:

If it wasn’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all

It occurred to me a few days ago (I’ve been AWOL on this platform for a bit) that from my perspective we’re all busting our asses here working for that lucky break.

Now stay with me here.

I’m certainly a proponent for hard work and building your fan base by writing consistent, quality work. But the harsh reality of it is, good things in this business almost always happen due to the subjective whims of the writing industry’s Gods/Goddesses.

It doesn’t matter how much we toil, or how good we actually write, unless all the lucky stars align, we’re going to be in the trenches for a hell of a long time waiting for that lucky break. It doesn’t matter how many weeks, months, years, or decades we keep our noses firmly planted on the writing grindstone when Lady/Mr. Luck chooses to cast her/his eyes in our direction, only then do we get to turn the corner.

And not a flipping minute before.

Lucky breaks don’t grow on trees you know. So each day when we sit down to write (unless the Gods/Goddesses of Luck have already shined their light on us) we are working hard for that lucky break.

Some have to work harder than others. Some don’t even think of it as work and hit that lucky break right out of the gate. Don’t believe me? How many of you know who Jake Marcionette is?

You can look him up but I’ll tell you anyway.

When Jake Marcionette was twelve years old his debut book Just Jake was picked up by a major publishing house and published. Guess what? Yeap, shortly afterward, little Jake became the youngest New York Times — Bestselling Author.

Twelve freaking years old and this kid writes one book which turns into a best seller. At the time, I really don’t believe the kid had established his all-time best writing chops at twelve, but then maybe it wasn’t required. Perhaps all of Jake’s stars clicked into place somewhere around his twelfth birthday, his lucky break floated down, and viola!

Best-Seller.

I don’t really call that working hard for a lucky break. I just call that damned lucky. The kid managed to write something that resonated with the market at a time when the market was ready for it. Simply put, little Jake was in the right place at the right time.

Serendipity — or whatever shit name you want to give it — plays a major part in what we do and how what we write is received, and the fickle mood of both publishers and readers alike.

You can write your ass off all day long. You can promote the hell out of yourself and what you’ve written. But unless that damned horseshoe above your doorway is turned in the right direction, that lucky break of yours probably ain’t happening any time soon.

Two things. Get over it and get used to it.

Cynical approach? Damn skippy.

I’ve spent the last thirty years of my life working for that lucky break and I’m willing to bet a lot of you have either spent just as long or even longer. We’re all really thinking the same thing (well, some of us are anyway) pondering when it’s going to happen. Actually, we’re asking the wrong question. It ain’t when, it’s if.

If it’s going to ever happen.

The harsh reality is that for many of us (probably me as well) that lucky break we’ve been working for all these years is never going to come. As I said, get over it and get used to it.

After several grueling days of negotiation, I’ve finally made a pact with myself. My writing will more than likely never bring about a Jake Marcionette moment, but so what?

When the love of writing something, hell anything, matters more than what one can benefit from it, writing truly becomes a labor of love. And we all know how we feel when that tiny little emotion begins to grow inside of us don’t we?

Yeah, we do.

Just remember. Some of us may never see that lucky break. A lot of us will drive ourselves to the brink of insanity waiting for it, desperately hoping and praying tomorrow will be the day it happens.

Fuck all that folks.

Write because you’re motivated to write, not because you’re trying to get all your lucky stars in alignment. You may think you can move the heavens about to your advantage, but you can’t.

All you can do is continue writing.

Thank you so much for reading. You didn’t have to, but I’m certainly glad you did.

Let’s keep in touch: paul@pgbarnett.com

© P.G. Barnett, 2020. All Rights Reserved.