Predictability (Or, How I Learned to Write for Fun and a Little Profit)

Predictability. Such a boring word, right? But the truth is, we all want it. Predictability is an informed expectation, right? For example, cake (good examples always involve cake). If you beat sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, eggs, milk, oil and vanilla together and stick it in the oven at 350° for a half an hour, you expect cake. If you yank open that door and a puddle of cake batter greets you, well, that's disappointing.
 
Welcome to publishing!

Or any creative pursuit, honestly. You can pour your heart into your work. You can study up on the business side, and create all the right marketing materials... But ultimately? Success is a weird alchemy of producing the right thing, at the right time, and then *MAGIC* people notice. Problem is, I don't know what the magic is. If I did? I'd have like, a million followers and a blazing Amazon ranking.

(I'll get there some day.)

Here's the real truth: there is no predictability in a creative life. Hard work is absolutely required. But, you can do everything right, and still get a puddle of cake batter.

Something that keeps me calm when I'm working on a draft, loving it, hoping it will connect to readers, but knowing it might not... Is balance. Trite, but true. A day job, or a hobby, or a volunteer opportunity. Personal relationships. Something where you see your labor, your love, bearing fruit.


I guess what I'm saying to the writers out there is... Don't define yourself exclusively through your publishing success. That way lies a lot of second-guessing and angst. We'll get there, but it's not exclusively who we are.