Are You Ready For Your Blessings?

HAPPY ST. PATTY’S DAY!!!!
A day for green drinking, leprechauns, and debauchery. This week, us Debs are discussing the luck we’ve had on the road to publishing.
Before I begin, let’s take a quick deep dive into the word LUCK:
The English noun luck appears comparatively late, during the 1480s, as a loan from Low German (Dutch or Frisian) luk, a short form of gelucke (Middle High German gelücke). Compare to old Slavic word lukyj (лукый) – appointed by destiny and old Russian luchaj (лучаи) – destiny, fortune.
I don’t necessarily believe in the common use of the word ‘luck’ as in “Oh, you’re so lucky you got a book deal!” Not to push my own religious beliefs on anyone, but I believe everything in this life happens for a reason. There are no coincidences. I believe God is guiding your steps and missteps towards your DESTINY. So calling any of my success “luck” feels a tad bit belittling. Instead, I give credit to GOD for all these blessings.
However, that doesn’t mean God sent these blessings on a silver platter. I had to work for them!  I had to make sure I took the necessary steps, whether that meant spending two years polishing my book before I found my agent, attending workshops, long hours networking with the right people, or simply maintaining a job to support my means while I pursued my dream, I have WORKED to get to this point. Thus, when blessings did come in the form of a book deal, a connection, or an outstanding marketing opportunity, I was ready for it!
Or to quote my favorite saying:
Prime example, being a debutante is surely a blessing! I rely on my fellow debs to ground me, give me advice and feedback. I’ve made amazing connections through them! But it would have never happened if I didn’t prepare my book, if I didn’t print business cards, set up a website, and done my research. It led me to the BINDER conference, where I met past deb Aya De Leon and learned about this blog!
So ask yourself, are you really ready to be an author? Have you done everything possible to prepare for opportunities that may come your way? Are you ready for your blessings? 🙂

*ends church sermon*

Author: Tiffany D. Jackson

Tiffany D. Jackson is a TV professional by day, novelist by night, awkward black girl 24/7. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Film from Howard University and her Master of Arts in Media Studies from The New School University. A Brooklyn native, she is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches, currently residing in the borough she loves with her adorable chihuahua Oscar, most likely multitasking. Her debut novel, ALLEGEDLY is due January 24th, 2017 through Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of Harper Collins.

One Reply to “Are You Ready For Your Blessings?”

  1. Thanks for a great perspective! I like the posture of being ready for blessings. It reminds me of the sermon illustration about the man who prayed to win the lottery and finally God says, You still have to buy a ticket! (I don’t advocate lotto tickets, though.)

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