On Critique and Praise

I’ve always been a fan of Ray Bradbury. He is one of my top 20, maybe even top 10, authors (and considering my “to read” list is over 200 books long, that is high praise). He has provided a lot of brilliant information and insight to the world. This quote in particular stuck with me. “You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance.”

Rejection happens. It happens quite a lot. Famous artists and authors have all experienced rejection when they started out (usually in abundance) until they made it and often times it doesn’t stop there. It is the reverse that we hardly consider. Acceptance is appreciated but it isn’t everything. It isn’t the reason to create art and shouldn’t be focused on or sought after. Seeking acceptance will destroy your work and your craft but seeking to create will allow you to truly grow.