Free Choice and Uncertainty

In the introduction to Art and Fear, the authors proclaim that their book is about making art, but that this requires something more than mere skill or talent. The book instead concerns "committing your future to your own hands, placing Free Will above predestination, choice above chance." What could the authors mean by this? Too often artists allow themselves and their futures to be defined by others and by their own fear. This leads them to become discouraged, ready to quit and destroys their energy for and love of art. However, the artist must persevere and this can only be accomplished by a free choice. Talent is not to be focused on, according to the authors, because it is out of the individual's hands and worrying about it bears no fruit. Further, the fear produced by the uncertainty inherent in the artistic process must be...