I had a discussion with my friend yesterday about the book The Secret. Rather, I had a disagreement.
As a caveat, please note my friend is smart and funny and way more articulate than I'll ever hope to be. So when she took the time to explain the gist of the book, I listened because I respect what she has to say. She told me how The Secret is all about the power of sending out positive energy, being ready to accept and embrace good things in life, and believing in what's possible.
"So it's a book about wishing," I said.
"Well, if you want to break it down that way, sort of, but-" she began to reply.
I interrupted. "Yeah, pretty sure that's horseshit."
She continued, "Think about this - how do you explain your success as a writer? Didn't you put positive energy out there into the universe and-"
"No, I put nothing into the universe. I worked really fucking hard. I read every book I could get my hands on to figure out what I liked and disliked about the authors' styles and I tried to integrate what I saw to be all the best parts. Then I got a hold of successful book proposals and followed those guidelines exactly when I put my own together. Then I used every bit of knowledge I had about viral marketing to build community online. And even when it looked like nothing was going to happen, I kept plowing forward. There was no wishing involved."
"Why did you keep plowing forward?" she wanted to know.
I shrugged. "Desperation? Having no other choice but to find a way to make a living as a writer?"
"Did you believe in yourself?"
"I guess. I wouldn't have been able to work that hard if I didn't have faith there would be a positive end result."
"Exactly!" she exclaimed.
I rolled my eyes. "Pfft. I'm still not buying it." Then I thought about it for a minute. "Or maybe I'm just salty because I didn't come up with the concept of The Secret myself? But, whatever. Good things only happen if you work hard to make them happen yourself."
Right?
Then again, if there is no fate, if everything is based on chance, and the power of positive energy doesn't cause magical stuff to happen once in a while, then how do I explain Deborah Lippman choosing to read my book while on vacation? (BTW, she particularly liked the part where I wrote about hers being the best nail polish to ever exist.)
Colors from left to right, back to front: Dark Side of the Moon, Believe (created with Cher!), Lady Is a Tramp, Don't Call Me Baby, Just Walk Away Renee (created with Renee Zellweger!), Baby Love, Icing on the Cake, and my new fave, Maneater. (Soup Bible not included.) Available at Nordstrom, Neimans, Bath and Body Works, and my kitchen.
And how do I explain my friend and I having this conversation in the first place... while sitting at a Cubs game, filming a segment for the Travel Channel with this charming host?
Yes, in fact Samantha Brown IS the cutest person on earth.
Is there a Secret?
Maybe.
But I'm going to get back to my manuscript now, just in case there's not.
