On Failure

In early April, I spoke at a regional conference put on by the very impressive North/Central California chapter of SCBWI. I had a chance to sit in on a presentation by John Hendrix, and something he said has stuck with me: FAILURE IS REQUIRED.

I’ve been thinking recently about the creative process, and how taking risks means risking failure as well as success. Our existence as a company relies on the creative risks our authors and illustrators are willing to take. And while I hope not to acquire and publish very many books (or any, really) that would be considered utter failures, I also know that we learn at least as much from the things that don’t succeed as we do from the successes.

So for everyone out there working at a creative endeavor of one sort or another, I wish you the very best sort of failure you can find!