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March 18th, 2005
What’s Your Definition Of Lucky?

Posts in Series for HelenKay Dimon

  1. Make Me Believe
  2. What’s Your Definition Of Lucky?
  3. It’s A Dog’s Life

When it comes to my writing life, I’m a lurker. Call it fear. Call it an introvert issue. Whatever it is, it means I usually blend into the background and listen. Of course, every now and then I overhear something that makes my head pop off my shoulders. What follows is a semi-actual conversation I overheard at a writer’s conference. Yeah, I left my house to meet with other writers. It was a shock to me too. The statements aren’t exact quotes but are darn close. And, really, I showed up because Kate Duffy was there and anyone who knows me knows I’ve made it my life’s mission to stalk (in a non-violent way) this poor woman until she BUYS something I’ve written.

There were two published authors – we’ll call them Anne (because that’s not her real name) and Sue (because I’ve tried to wipe her real name from my memory), and two unpubbeds who we’ll call unpubbed #1 and unpubbed #2 ( I have no idea if they even have names). The conversation went something like this:

SUE: I really miss being unpubbed, don’t you? Everything was so easy back then.
ANNE: Absolutely. That was the life.
UNPUBBED #1: Huh?
UNPUBBED #2: < frown >
SUE: You guys are so lucky. You don’t really know how lucky.
ANNE: Definitely. Very lucky. I miss those days.
UNPUBBED #1: But…
UNPUBBED #2: < scowling >

Now, don’t send 106 emails about how getting published doesn’t solve all your problems. I get that. I honestly do. Getting published is not a ticket to the Promised Land. Everyone has issues. The insecurities and pressures of writing life don’t disappear overnight just because someone is under contract with a publisher. That all makes sense. The above conversation doesn’t. My point – you are published. You’ve conquered that step. Don’t underestimate that accomplishment. But, don’t underestimate how annoying it is as an unpubbed to hear a pubbed yearn for the old days. Do published folks really miss the unending wait for a response? The wondering if anyone will ever find you good enough for THE CALL? The endless parade of contests and rejections? The not knowing?

Yeah, that’s the life. Very lucky.

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13 Responses to “What’s Your Definition Of Lucky?”

  1. kate says:

    I sort of get the meaning, but . . . if I ever say anything like that in front of any unpubbed, the unpubbed — whether she knows me or not — is allowed to thump me longside the head. Seriously.

  2. Steph T. says:

    Well said, HelenKay! I’m ready and willing to trade one set of problems for another. Immediately.

    Not that I’m impatient or anything.:wink:

  3. cece says:

    Great post Helen! Frankly, if I were one of those unpubbed authors, I’d be offended. It comes off very diva-ish and condescending (or I’m taking it totally out of context).
    Larissa I love your analogy! Unfortunately I don’t think you have to be published to lose that fun feeling :roll: (and I”m not saying being published makes it not fun anymore–this is what I get for blog hopping at 4 AM :oops: ) but like everyone else has said each level brings it’s own set of issues to deal with, whether you’re just starting out, on the cusp of selling or a NY Times bestselling author.



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