We all want luck ... or do we?

Fortunately ... (Ned was invited to a surprise party)

... I love to write.

Unfortunately ... (the party was in Florida, and he was in NY)

... I don’t always know what I’m doing.

Fortunately ... (his friend lent him an airplane)

... I wrote a novel called Vanessa the Contessa anyway.

Unfortunately ... (the motor exploded)

... it was rejected many, many times.

Fortunately ... (there was a parachute on the airplane)

... two editors loved it after I revised it.

Unfortunately ... (there was a hole in the parachute)

... neither editor made an offer.

Fortunately ... (there was a haystack on the ground)
... I wrote a second novel called Sink or Swim

Unfortunately ... (there was a pitchfork in the haystack)
… I never finished it.

Fortunately ... (he missed the pitchfork)
… I wrote a third novel AND had an amazing critique group

Unfortunately ... (Ned missed the haystack)
… my third novel was also rejected many times.

Fortunately ... (he landed in water)
… an agent gave me detailed feedback on it.

Unfortunately ... (there were sharks in the water)
… it took me a long time to revise.

Fortunately ... (he could swim)
… I loved the book even more when I finished.

Unfortunately, there were tigers on the land
…the agent didn’t love it as much as I did.

Fortunately ... (he could run)
... I attended a novel writing workshop with a friend

Unfortunately ... (he ran into a deep dark cave)
… the workshop had nothing to do with publishing

Fortunately ... (he could dig)
… my instructor recommended me to his agent anyway.

Unfortunately (he dug himself into a fancy ballroom)
… his agent only represented novels for adults

Fortunately ... (there was a surprise party going on)
… she recommended me to another agent

And fortunately ... (the party was for him)
… the 2nd agent loved My Invented Life & sold it to Holt

Because, fortunately ... (it was his birthday)
… it was my birthday (not really).

The end ☺

Thanks to Remy Charlip!!!!