Don’t forget! The contest described in yesterday’s blog ends tomorrow. So, there’s still time to enter!

I’ve decided to try to write a weekly blog for writers. Every Friday I’ll share a little of what I’ve learned: tips, philosophy, favorite tools. This first posting is something I wrote a long time ago, but still holds true today

Okay, now that Boy George’s song will be in your head for the rest of the day, let’s talk about karma and why you need it! I’m a huge believer that none of my successes would have happened without my creating positive karma around me.

My son’s early driving disasters taught me what karma was all about. Every time he drove somewhere he shouldn’t, he had a wreck. After the third wreck that injured his sister slightly, he finally believed that something was at work.

What does good or bad karma mean to me? Karma is the “energy” that surrounds you and helps or hurts you. It’s something you build—it can’t just happen to you. If you do good deeds—good surrounds you. If you do ill toward others, it clings to you like Pig Pen’s smutty cloud of dirt.

My sister, Elle, and I have preached “good karma” to our fellow Roses since before we formed the group. Whenever we were tempted to criticize another author’s writing or express envy for her success, we chanted the mantra—“good karma, good karma.”

But it goes farther than simply not denigrating someone else’s success. We firmly believe you have to contribute to others’ success for karma to work for you.

Even before we were published, we formed, along with Layla Chase, a critique group that served our San Antonio RWA chapter. We offered plotting retreats to our chapter members to share what we’d learned about writing along the way and encourage them to write the wonderful stories they plotted. We volunteered to serve as officers in our chapter and to help with the annual conference.

We shared our experience and knowledge with anyone who wanted it—and we didn’t wait for them to seek us out. We looked for the inexperienced or struggling authors. We recruited them.

Today, several of our “recruits” have published and placed in contests. When they have success, we’re overjoyed. We don’t want to keep all the success to ourselves, because karma must be shared to work.

So, maybe I sound a little New Age-y, but my experience has proven to me the Buddhist belief in karma. Go create some great karma of your own. Join! Volunteer! Contribute!—however much time and energy you can to other writers. The gift will come back to you tenfold.

“Karma, karma, karma, karma…” Just wanted to make sure you didn’t forget the song!