There are many rants that make us take sides on the issue of indie publishers and indie writers vs. the traditional publishing game.
I’ve read many wonderful stories from both camps and some crap I couldn’t care less to see again. No one has the corner of quality here, maybe quantity…
I believe the book business can support indies and mainstream writers quite easily. We get stories from fans and serious writers in all genres that entertain, enlighten and make some a living income.
I’ve read many good and great indie books; they were entertaining, well put together and just plain fun to read. I’ve also seen some writers who need to learn the craft of writing. Just because you can put words together doesn’t mean you are a writer. I can hit a ball, run, and even catch a ball sometimes, that doesn’t make me a baseball player. I can change the tire on the car, but I’m in no way a mechanic.
With any task there are people who can put their souls into their work. They’ve taken the time to learn their craft. They have to labor at it, they’ve honed their skills to the point they can put words together that show their readers a story… not just tell, but show the life, the conflict, the love, the beautiful journey that every one of their characters go through. They understand pace, story development, the structure of their genres and the 1001 things that elevate them into a writer.
Writers truly know they don’t put out their best work in the first draft, it’s in the reworking of the craft, the story, which helps the magic happen. The great artists out there start with a blank space, and through their trials, sweat, tears, and the skills learned over years, create their masterpieces.
John and Toni Rakestraw are the owners of Rakestraw Book Design. Toni is the editor; she keeps all those words in line. John is the voice of the company. He can often be found hosting Google+ Hangouts on writing and issues writers face online. Archives for his shows can be found on YouTube.
