Craftsmanship

There is a distinct advantage to only being one piece of the puzzle, one cog in the big machine, or a single step in the process. There is less stress, the ability to really specialize in a given area, and feel like you are part of something bigger than yourself.

I don't think that's what I want to do.

I watched a couple of videos on my Cool Hunting app on my iPad. The first was about a bed maker in Sweden that hand makes mattresses. They control every aspect, and only build the mattresses to order. The whole process is done with a great deal of thought. They didn't reinvent the wheel or anything, but there are beds made by these guys still in use a century later.

The next video was about these guys who make chocolate back east. They hand sort all the beans, and have a custom process for providing a product that is pure and made by people who care. I really liked the idea that they could be successful by seeking simplicity with a craftsman's pride.

Beds and chocolate, products that everyone probably needs or wants at some point.

Books. Publishing a book... there are many options. The chief complaint I have seen about ebooks is their poor arrangement and editing. I can pay Lulu one hundred dollars to arrange my work in ePub format, or I can learn to do it myself. It is very tempting to just pay someone else to arrange my work, but I feel like it is part of the craft most authors have never embraced, letting a traditional publisher handle the details.

I want to be a craftsman in this regard, not just telling a good story but also arranging my own works in various digital and print formats. I think it had always been my intention to do so, but it makes more sense to me now than it did before.

-- Sent from my Tech Envy Generator