Luck and the Writer

[deborahjross]

Kay Kenyon, who is a marvelous and imho underrated writer, talks about the role of luck in a writer's career here. Some of what she says is in the obvious-once-you-think-about-it camp, but I loved her insights into how believing in random chance can help you:

Here are some more benefits:

• Realizing the profound role of luck, one develops a balanced life. We pursue a sport, learn Italian, pay attention to friends. All of these things are necessary because one might hit a long unlucky patch and need them.
• We learn to shrug off the bad stuff. Oh, that awful review? He must have missed his morning coffee. He had just written ten stellar reviews in a row and had to make an example of someone.
• We are better defended against envy. Why does he sell so much better than I? (Class?)
• We become kinder to stray animals and mean people. Because we have compassion for them. They have not deserved everything that happened to them. Why is it a benefit to be kind and compassionate? Because it will make us happier.

It will put us in a position to receive luck.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

That's a lovely piece. Thank you for linking.

Lady Luck

[metbymoonlight.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

I love how you phrased this. It turns luck into a motivation for positive action rather than an excuse for passive acceptance.

I would like to add to this the image of the medieval "wheel of fortune"-- the idea that the wheel is always turning and our fortunes are always rising or descending. Someone once told me that the ideal condition is to put yourself at the center of the wheel, so that no matter where your fortunes are, you are always at peace.