DANGERS OF SELF PUBLISHING

While I've written several blogs with information on E Book publishing and how good I think this is for writers, I've recently been reminded how bad it can be as well. I've purchased a few books off Kindle that sounded good, but when I started to read them they were poorly written.
I'm not talking here about not liking the subject matter. Over the years I've learned to judge writing on its quality, not on my opinion of what interests me. Some writers don't understand structure, others can't handle pov, I've even read one or two who did not understand present and past tense and the inadvisability of using both on one page, never mind shifting back and forth for one chapter or an entire book.
Sadly many writers do not know that they haven't reached the point where they are ready to be published. For some it won't matter, for they will give up and go on to another career when their books don't sell. For those who intend to keep at it until they learn their craft, a poorly written book published today can bite them in the *ss for months or years to come. Readers are reluctant to try a second book when the first one was bad.
The worst thing you as a writer can do is publish something that isn't ready to be published. Please, please, let a good editor read your book and take his or her advice. Or better yet, sit down and write another book, then another, until by practice you become the best writer you can be. Or quit writing now if you're not willing to hone your craft.
Writing is a profession, and as such cannot be learned overnight. No one can teach you to be creative, but those of us who have a lot of experience in the trenches can help you learn the mechanics of turning that creativity into a well written book.
If you think good writers became good overnight, then you aren't thinking straight. Or, go ahead and publish your book because you can do it in today's market, but it could be the last one you publish if you don't take the advice of well-published authors who know what they're talking about. Study the Trade Like a Graduate Program.
One piece of advice I give novice writers who truly want to be the best that they can be is, go buy a copy of Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain and study it like you would study for a Masters Degree. Do the exercises and pay attention to what this fabulous writing teacher has to say. If you are going to become a good writer, then Swain can get you there if anyone can. If you aren't willing to work toward a successful career as a writer, then get a good day job you'll enjoy.
For information on structure, check out Kristen Lamb's blog.