This is a hypothetical question, no judgments made, and honest answers appreciated.
If you have a creative effort that is your dream—if you want to be a writer, an artist, a musician, an actor, whatever—would you rather have a small audience that absolutely understands and adores what you do deeply, and the fringe critical respect that that usually entails, or great commercial success, but no deeply moved audience and poor critical response?
Think carefully.
I’d rather be nine people’s favorite thing than a hundred people’s ninth favorite thing.
