Art and Fear: They Love Me, They Love Me Not . . .

[tracy_d74]

Acceptance means having your work counted as the real thing; approval means having people like it. --pg 45, Bayles & Orland*

Acceptance-feeling understood-is a hot commodity. Approval-being liked-is just as hot. The two words are often interchanged. But they are soooo not the same. It is easy to have one without the other. Think of the pop music one

Comments

[mtlawson]

Do you think that the more formulaic a writer is, the less revealing they are?

[tracy_d74]

Hmm? I don't know. People tend to write about concepts or ideas they value--even when they are not aware they do it. Notice most authors have the same themes show up in their stories, even if they change the backdrop. I think we always reveal something. I think it depends on the author and the formula they're using. How's that for a wordy, not really an answer, answer?

[mtlawson]

I'd say that gives you a round of applause.

In a way, I think you're saying what Jim Hines touched on in a different fashion in another post of his: every story has a message, even when the author isn't consciously aware of it.

[bogwitch64]

Now you're talking! LISTEN TO YOURSELF!!!

[tracy_d74]

What?! I didn't hear what you just said...I was listening to my thoughts. ;-)

[bogwitch64]

Such a brat!

[tracy_d74]

:D And you love me anyway.

[bondo_ba]

I like this post a lot. I'm currently observing a trend which has gained speed over the last three or four years, and, in my opinion, is finishing off some of the (already moribund) genres which I love. So, the question becomes whether to adopt that style in the hopes of being relevant in the ghetto or continue to play my own chords. Of course, neither course seems likely to lead to fame and riches!

[tracy_d74]

I read a post last week I think..I think it was by one of the authors I follows. She asked if you would rather write something powerful and that made you proud, but no one really read it OR write something commercial that got success but was soon forgotten. I went with the proud...if my name is on it, I want to be proud of it. And who knows what will happen after I die. Just because something doesn't resonate with people today, doesn't mean it won't one year...ten years...50 years from now. Society changes. In either case, writing is highly unlikely to lead to riches, as you pointed out. Sure, there are the choice few....but look at ALL the books that are out there. And last I checked, the Most Wealthy list was NOT full of authors.

[anabelgonzalez]

"Their acceptance or approval (or lack there of) does not define me, validate me, or take away from me. " this is perfect,I think we should remind ourselves always that although always part of us is in every story even in the more small character detail it doesn't matter what people think of it. It doesn't define us. Although I really would like to be proud of everything published with my name

[tracy_d74]

I, too, want to be proud of what I write.

[tracy_d74]

:D