A love note to writers who haven't published yet

You know who you are.

I just spent a weekend with a few of you up in Midway where you made me laugh and cry and also marvel (a lot!) because you write so damn well.  I'm not saying this to be nice.  That's what your mothers are for.  I'm saying it because whenever I hear you read, I secretly acknowledge to myself there's no reason why I should have published and you haven't yet.

I've thought a lot about how it all happened for me--the publishing a book part--and I will say this:  yes, I had some talent.  And yes, I wrote a lot and sent stuff out.  I did my part, just like you're doing your part.  But here's the thing.  A certain amount of luck is involved.

Yup.  Lots of times it just comes down to luck--having your piece in front of the right editor at the right time.

Obviously you can increase the chances of being in the right place at the right time by continuing to produce and sending things around.  Still.  Luck plays more of a part in these things than we wish it did.

This is just my way of saying that you're deserving.