If you play poker long enough, you will eventually hear the phrase, "I’d rather be lucky than good." Usually this phrase is delivered by a good player who has just gotten unlucky.
While dumb luck is certainly desirable when you’re playing cards, good, skilled players will always triumph over unskilled but lucky ones in the long run.
This makes me think of something I once heard about working hard and staying focused, so when you have those inevitable encounters with good luck, it’s like a collision of two peaks, rather than a peak and a trough. It went something like, "Work hard, and you’ll be in a position to benefit from good luck." or "Hard workers make their own luck."
(For those of you keeping score, that would be poker and physics in the same post, and I’m just getting started. Go me.)
I’ve been doing more interviews than usual lately, and with all the talking about how I got where I am today, how I feel about it, and what’s next, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking — I mean really, seriously examining — those questions, long after the interview is over.
"Who am I? Why am I here?"
(Oh, Admiral Stockdale. We are so glad that we hardly knew ye.)
I keep coming back to feeling lucky, and how grateful I am that I was in the right place at the right time with so many things, starting with the first post on my blog, all the way back in the middle ages. A lot of success is timing, and I started doing this at a time when not a lot of other people were, so I got to load up my wagons and hope I didn’t die of dysentery while a bunch of us made permanent the trail that was originally laid out by guys like Dave Winer and Doc Searls. If I’d started blogging at any other time, I’m not sure I’d be writing this post right now.
I was also lucky to have my blog and my love of poker converge at a time when it made sense for PokerStars to hire me and take me on some of the most outrageously fun adventures of my life. If either event had peaked at a different time, I wouldn’t have been a proud member of Team Blog in 2006, and made some of the greatest friends I’ve ever known.
When I realized I had Dancing Barefoot sitting within the manuscript of Just A Geek, I was lucky to realize that the rules for publishing were changing, that bloggers could be authors and authors could be bloggers. I know this seems obvious now, but at the time it was a pretty controversial idea. When it came time to publish it, I had this crazy idea of doing it entirely on my own, and my predictions about how it would work out were correct. Luckily for me, I was willing to take a very big and very scary chance. (Unluckily, when O’Reilly was mismarketing Just a Geek, my predictions also came true. Maybe I should change my name to Zoltan and sit in a box at the fair.)
Most of all, though, I’ve been blessed by the incredible generosity of people who had no reason to help and guide me, but did anyway: John Scalzi and Warren Ellis are two who you’d recognize, and the rest of the list could fill a 2 gig flash drive in a single-spaced text file. That I wrote in vi because I couldn’t find the text editor in emacs. God, that joke never gets old.
There are countless other moments where I got lucky, and an equal number where I’ve gotten unlucky, but — and this is where I get to my point, such as it is — through it all, I’ve never relied solely on luck, and neither should you. Through it all, I always kept working as hard as I could to not suck, to never be satisfied, to not get complacent, to appreciate my successes and learn from my mistakes.
I guess what I’m saying is that luck sort of just shows up, I guess, whether you need it or not, while only you can decide to work hard, or not.
Right.
Now, all of that is prelude to what I really wanted to share with this post: some resources that I’ve come across recently that I think are quite useful for writers, especially noobs like me.
Oh! Jeebus, this is harder to put together than I thought it would be, so bear with me, okay? There’s one other thing: don’t ever take for granted the kindness and generosity of experienced people who are willing to help you, and when you’re finally in a position to do the same for other people, do it.
Still with me? Here ya go:
From mental_floss, a collection of books that aspiring writers should read, and some totally useful grammar rules (including my personal nemesis, the correct usage of that and which.)
If you’re considering self publishing like I did, you should look at all of SFWA’s resources for writers, but especially Writer Beware, which identifies many of the scams and dangers that are out there for those of us who don’t know any better.
Books that I read when I was building Monolith Press that made all the difference:
- The Complete Guide to Self Publishing by Tom and Marilyn Ross
- The Self Publishing Manual by Dan Poynter
- Jumpstart Your Book Sales by Tom and Marilyn Ross
- The Purple Cow by Seth Godin
One book that everyone should read, whether you’re a writer or not, but especially if you’re working essentially on your own: Upgrade Your Life (aka The Lifehacker Book) by Gina Trapani.
Finally, an important note to all artists: nobody in the world will work as hard as you will to promote your work, nobody will care about promoting it as much as you do, and your work will be as successful as you work to make it. Hopefully, you’ll get lucky like I did and get some good word of mouth and connect with a passionate group of people who will tell their friends about you, but that’s never going to happen if you don’t work hard — really, really hard — to make it happen.
Okay. That is all. Now, I am going to go for a jog with my wife.
Updated to add: VT makes a massively awesome point: get out of your own way. Or, as I put it, don’t be afraid to suck. It’s easier to fix something you don’t like than it is to fill up a blank page. Trust me, I hung on that cross so you don’t have to.
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So much in this post is so very inspiring and applicable to my life right now…
Your timing is impeccable.
Thanks.
This is a really great post. And it’s coming at a time where I should really listen to you about luck and hard work. I’ve always admired how hard you’ve worked for everything. It keeps me coming back day after day to read what you write here. You deserve to be lucky — you’ve earned it in my mind.
Thanks for the resources (maybe I’ll check them out and start writing again someday) and all you write. Cheers!
You’re a true web hippie at heart.
Thankyouthankyouthankyou Wil. I’ve so wanted to ask your advice on self-publishing, but you know, I don’t know you etc. and it would have been awkward and weird to email you and ask to pick your brain, and now we can skip all that because you made this wonderful post and I can take your advice to heart and publish my baby myself. So thank you for this post.
I was about to write something thoughtful and poignant about luck, skill, and recognizing opportunity but (of course) my brain got derailed by Kenny Rogers. And he says it better than I ever could. 🙂
Good post, dude. Your note ought to be branded on every hopeful writer going into an MFA program. I’d add this to the advice for writers: Get out of your own way.*
One thing I’ve noticed about luck and work is that my luck tends to happen when I’m getting out of my own way, and just doing the work I need to do. I can spend months working poorly, where my inner demons are doing my painting and my writing, while still churning out great amounts of work — and not get any lucky breaks at all. It’s frustrating, and hard, and I hate that place. But when I can shut down my ego, and just focus on doing what I need to do, and keeping my inner demons where they belong — then not only does my work go more smoothly and flow, but all kinds of crazy luck comes my way.
There’s the technical side of writing, where you learn your craft. And then there’s the emotional side of writing: the bit that doesn’t get taught, unless you’re very lucky and find a strong teacher. That one’s always been the side few people talk about, because it requires being vulnerable and admitting one’s fears. Much riskier than dealing with direct vs. indirect objects, for sure.
Most people learn the technical side of writing first, and then discover they’re hamstrung, because then the emotional side they never knew about comes out and kicks their ass. You, however — because of all the work you’ve done to come to grips with who you are and what you’re here to do in this world — are well on your way to making the emotional side your bitch, and that’s a hard battle. Well done.:)
So enjoy all your hard work. There’s more to come, sure, but take a moment to appreciate how hard you’ve worked and how far that’s taken you.
*Or for any creative person, not just writers.
Long time reader, first time commenter.
I just wanted to thank you for posting this information. I’m working on a few writing projects and I find myself stuck on all fronts, but the information and links in this post has really helped jumpstart my progress.
Thank you so much. Seriously.
And please never stop writing.
Wil: Your link to Gina’s Lifehacker book lands at Dan Poynter’s book instead. And congrats.
If skill didn’t triumph luck there wouldn’t be much point in learning the skill as far as cards go I would think…
“The harder I work the luckier I get.” — Samuel Goldwyn
Great post. A lot of it hit close to home as I’m taking the first baby steps in trying something new with my career.
Awesome post. Thank you. This going in the ever growing bookmarks of “inspirations” which is mostly populated by you and Neil Gaiman.
And this is kinda like what I’m hoping to accomplish by my own blog.
Why do I get the strange feeling that you were “Witty Nickname” in the comments over on Mental Floss?
About 2 years ago . . . I can’t remember why . . . I discovered that a search on the phrase “Cirque du Puree,” at that time, landed on, in order, (1) Wikipedia, (2) My blog, (3) Your (pre-in exile) blog. I had just recently become addicted to THIS blog around that time, and it tickled me that you had seen Varekei a few days before I had, and you’d been as wowed and moved by it as I was.
Anwyay, this excellent entry is also a happy bit of synchronicity as I’ve been contemplating my navel and writing in my blog, too.
No particular point, other than adding to the general chorus of “thanks” and “well done.”
“(Oh, Admiral Stockdale. We are so glad that we hardly knew ye.)”
That joke is as stupid as it is old. Perhaps you should take a few minutes to learn about Admiral Stockdale you’d actually feel cheated you don’t know anything about a fascinating man who was not only a hero but a scholar.
You could start by reading this. After seeing what he went through as a POW, let me know if you think he’s a cheap joke line in a blog post.
The Black Swan by Nassim Taleb is about the huge impact that luck and rare unforeseeable events can have on our lives.
OMG! This is EXACTLY what I wanted to ask you about when I met you in Phoenix a few months ago. Good thing I was too chicken then because I wouldn’t have had nifty hyperlinks like I do now.
Rock on, WW!
Just to add chemistry/microbiology to the mix: “Chance favors the prepared mind.” (Louis Pasteur)
“nobody in the world will work as hard as you will to promote your work, nobody will care about promoting it as much as you do, and your work will be as successful as you work to make it.”
Poignant and true. Thanks for that. Needed to read that and it was ‘lucky’ I came across your post at the right time.
Excellent post. I am currently woring on 2 writing projects myself (and several blogs).
As an aside, I am writing this while watching an episode of The Outer Limits caught by my DVR on the SciFi channel. It happens to be “The Light Brigade” staring a young Wil.
All things in the universe are connected.
Wil, that was the serious kick in the ass that I required. I passionately carved a fantastical world out of imaginative soap for SE7EN years before stopping to actually write a story set in it. That took me FIVE years…and I finished it nearly two years ago.
How many publishers have rejected it? Only one, man…isn’t that great? Go me! Oh…..how many did I actually SEND it to? Well…um…I guess that would be ONE. I know….paint me purple and call me a dumb-ass. You would think that a glaring fact like that would keep me up at night, like a light left on in the hallway or something. But here you have it.
Thanks for kicking me in the head.
“That I wrote in vi because I couldn’t find the text editor in emacs.”
I had to brush away a lot of cobwebs to get that joke.
“There’s one other thing: don’t ever take for granted the kindness and generosity of experienced people who are willing to help you, and when you’re finally in a position to do the same for other people, do it.”
Also, graciously accept kindness and generosity from everyone who offers it; you are likely to find that the person you least expect to has the critical piece of advice or information (even if they don’t realize it). I was facing a big decision and a secretary said to me “you’re scared.” – I thought about it and she was correct. I wouldn’t admit to myself that I was scared — that realization changed my life (25 years later, I am still grateful for that comment – it put me on the roller coaster life path instead of the scenic, predictable, boring tram. I had “interesting times,” survived with minimal damage, and am very happy now).
As for luck, (to paraphrase my mentor “Doc”) – when you get a little luck, exploit the hell out of it!
Another great tool for authors is http://www.ralan.com – The largest online list of fiction markets in the world. All for free 🙂
“get out of your own way” heh. how fricking true is that?!
So, the way I translate that post is,
There is no fate but what we make for ourselves . . .
Don’t know who first said it but “let your efforts match your expectations” is some of the best advice I ever heard in just six words.
Great post. Thanks.
Wil thank you for posting this, I’ve always been impressed by your desire to help fellow geeks/writers/whoevers by sharing your experience. I really appreciate it.
I’m about to go back to grad school after spending eight years as a software engineer (oh do I get the vi jokes). Looking for a way to help bring in extra money I’ve had folks suggest that I publish some of my own blog work but had no idea if it was even possible or where to start. Thanks again for the information.
Tandaina
Good post. I put Upgrade Your Life on my library hold list. I always enjoy LifeHacker.
I’ll toss in two more invaluable resources, particularly if you are a non-fiction writer:
APStylebook.com – get it right everytime.
Copyblogger.com – and have it work.
JM
rabbitatsignrabbitcavedotcom
I’ve always lived by the motto of:
Luck = Preparation + Opportunity
Good post, Wil — and you gave the same advice to fellow writers that I do: don’t be afraid to suck.
I mentioned this policy once on a writer’s forum, and someone got up in my grill about how I should never encourage people to write crap. I argued that there’s a difference between encouraging people to write crap and encouraging them to not worry about getting it perfect on the first draft. There’s a reason the term contains both the words FIRST and DRAFT.
To this end, there’s a great story I like to tell about George Harrison, when he was writing the song “Something.” He brought it the other Beatles and sang the opening line, “Something in the way she moves/Attracts me like…” and then stopped. “I don’t know what she attracts me like,” he admitted — to which John Lennon encouraged him to substitute the words “a cauliflower” and move on with the rest of the song, then come back to it later (the words, as everyone likely knows, were later modified to “no other lover.”)
Point being: Lennon encouraged Harrison not to obsess about getting it perfect on first draft. The real challenge is to keep writing, even when stuck. Chances are, you’ll eventually get it.
Oh, and by the way, one more good resource: The Chicago Manual of Style. My editor made me use this when I was writing my book (my first response: “The Chicago what?” I’d never heard of it), and it’s a godsend, and much easier to use than a lot of style books.
Just my two cents (two and a half Canadian).