Richard Wiseman has done quite a bit of research on Luck and come with some principles for how to be lucky. Here is tone, and how writers can practice it:
Principle One: Maximise Chance Opportunities:
Lucky people are skilled at creating, noticing and acting upon chance opportunities. They do this in various ways, including networking, adopting a relaxed attitude to life and by being open to new experiences.
If you keep in mind what it is you want, you will be amazed at the number of 'lucky' opportunities that arise. This is not a re-tread of "The Secret"--I believe that you can't just concentrate on what you want, you also have to take deliberate, focused, persistent action to reach your goals. But certainly the first step is being aware of what you want, and keeping that in the forefront of your mind.
Example 1: I'm currently looking around for a new UK agent. Online, I read a little item saying that three agents were going to be speaking to a writers' group in a couple of weeks. I figured that agents who do that might be more open to new clients. I also assumed that when they spoke at this event they would be flooded with scripts. So I looked up their contact information and sent them letters BEFORE their speaking engagements. One replied that she is not taking on new clients, two asked to see my CV and then samples of my writing. I've had a meeting with one of these two, and the other one is still reading my sample material but promised to get back to me by January 1. If it works out, we might consider that it was 'lucky' that I spotted that announcement and followed up on it.
Example 2: I wanted to find a publisher for a new book on a right-brain approach to reaching one's goals. I read that Pearson Publishing was launching a new line of personal development books. I wrote a query letter to the editor, who then requested a full proposal. They bought it and the book comes out in May 08.
Here's the key: you have to keep bringing your desired outcomes to the front of your mind, so that you filter everything you see, read, and hear through that topic. I'm sure I've read dozens more articles that could have been 'lucky' if I'd been thinking in a focused way but that slipped right by me because I didn't have a specific outcome in mind.
