As the fictional representation of Ernest Hemingway says, “If it’s bad, I’ll hate it because I hate bad writing. If it’s good, I’ll be envious and hate it all the more. You don’t want the opinion of another writer.”

But is this really true? Does envy really drive us to loathe and compete with our fellow artists?

The (Career-Changing) Choice Is Yours

As artists, we have the opportunity to empower a collaborative and supportive environment with our artistic peers, or turn a cold shoulder and brave the hurricane winds alone. That said, there are some great books out there providing evidence that giving generously can significantly boost your long-term success - ultimately outweighing the short-term gains of "takers".

So think of the people that helped you along the way. Think of the friend or mentor who introduced you to your passion and pushed you to persevere. Think of the feedback, both honest and constructive, that drove you to create something better. Think of the pride that those words instilled in you. Think of what it would be like to give that feeling to someone else.

Go to your friends who are artists, check out their work as you have asked them to look at yours. Give them the feedback that will inspire them to become the best at whatever they hope to achieve. Offer your time and your best ideas, and always aim to go one step further for them. People like it when you show genuine interest in their success - they'll usually look for ways to reciprocate.

Be that person for your community, and before you know it, you'll have built a network of artists that thrive and support one another in the midst of both failure and success. You'll push your industry into a new and more positive direction - all while bettering yourself, your work, and the works of others.

Amazing Things Will Happen

We leave you with Conan O’Brien. Before watching this clip, just consider the fact that this comes from his last Tonight Show broadcast - a show that he dreamed of hosting for decades, a show that was being taken from him after a very short run. Imagine what was going through his head. Imagine the depression, anger, uncertainty, and thoughts of failure that were bubbling to the surface. Despite all of that, he left us with this…