Do you believe in luck? How can a writer not to some degree? If you're published, you probably feel that there was some luck involved, maybe some cosmic elements that aligned perfectly just as you were submitting queries.

If you're not yet published, especially if you've been working at it for years, I'm sure you feel that luck isn't on your side.

I believe in luck up to a point. The same query landing on the same agent's desk on two different days might not get the same response. That's the luck part. On the other hand, I also believe we have some control over how lucky we get. You have to be writing and submitting for your query to end up on the agent's desk in the first place.

Louis Pasteur is credited with saying, “Chance favors the prepared mind.”

I say, “Prepare your mind, and increase your chances.”

Don't just write, work on your craft. Finish the book. Prepare a synopsis (yes, I know, ugh). Create a query. Get feedback. Write, revise, tweak.

Then, most important of all: SEND.

Make Friday the 13th a day to celebrate. Good luck!

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Simulcast on the Romance Magicians blog.