Socializing for Success

“Success is not an automatic function of individual talent,” Malcolm Gladwell wrote in Outliers: The Story of Success. “It’s bound up in so many other broader circumstantial, environmental, historical, and cultural factors.” In other words, as I've said for years, it is blind, dumb, random luck, too. That aspect of the writing life, especially for a freelancer, may be the most frightening part. Success depends not only on your hard work, discipline and goal-setting, but also on circumstances, lifestyles and culture. The publishing industries (book, magazine, digital) are in turmoil, in a difficult state of transitions. Many prognosticate, but no one knows what the future holds for publishers, writers, and the final products.

To guarantee failure, insulate yourself against contemporary trends and innovations. Avoid social media and ignore what younger writers are up to. Pay no attention to predictions and new gadgets. Hide in your closet and plunk away on your Olivetti.

I admit I've dragged my heels about adopting some changes (other times I'm on the cutting edge, the often-irritated but enthusiastic beta tester). Every time I jump into something I resisted, however, I am sorry I waited so long. One goal this month is to accept Deb Sistrunk's invitation to join Facebook, now that I feel I have some control of my Twittering. (Is there a 12-Step group for Twitterdicts?) For Twitter, I have Lori Widmer to thank for luring me there and Steve Eisenberg for kicking me into the pool.

Later this month, I'll see Steve at a Meetup of the SDBloggers, mostly "kids", billed as a "Know Your Roots" event sponsored by Pathway Genomics (get it--roots-genomics?) That gathering is on the same evening the the SDPEN group of editors meet to rack up recipes for success, but before the SDWriters/Editors Guild meets to plan a 30th anniversary party. Oh, I almost forgot the other end of this writing cycle--I still need to read The Reader for my book club meeting this week!

The purpose of posting my social media business meeting calendar is to demonstrate a way of creating a cultural and environmental history, a lifestyle if you wish, to increase chances of stumbling into those circumstances in which hard work and discipline pay off by helping you succeed in reaching writing goals. So, come out of the closet and participate in the writing life around you.

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