Luck and the Writer

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.