My self publishing trip

After a very long lay off, over twenty years, I got back into writing in June 2012 as a challenge with a friend. Early this year, I looked at all the stories I had written and thought to myself that I might do something with them. Except I had no idea what. Then I found out about the KDP/Createspace route, and decided "What the hell?"

In April I published my first book of short stories, followed in the summer by a second. Then in September I put out a novella. If that seems like a lot, it only totals 60k, 40k, and 30k respectively, and I already had the ideas for a lot of the stories prior to that.

Anyway, now that I have an almost finished second novella and a full length novel only weeks away from being polished, I'm now going start to look into the marketing side of things.

Why haven't I already done that? Two reasons. First, I know nothing about marketing and would much rather write than promote. Secondly, I've read in a few places that it's good to have a few books available before worrying too much about that side of things. Right or wrong, I can see the logic in that idea. If I only see one book by an author I would wonder.

Anyway, I sold a few copies to friends and a few anonymous ones, and have got generally good feedback, and have decided that 2014 is the year when I get really stuck into the promotion side of things. I doubt I'll ever be a great self-publicist, but I've been reading up a little on the subject, and know I can push it a little, though I write contemporary fiction which probably is never a huge seller.

The reason I've started this thread is to let you know anything I learn along the way, and also to see of anyone has any good tips of their own.

Wish me luck.

alexaherself said:

I wish you very good luck ... but if you like writing so much and marketing so little, have you thought about sharing your royalties with one of the digital publishers who handle the marketing?

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I hadn't even thought of that. Like I said, I'm very new to this. I shall have to check out how this works. Thanks for the tip.
What's the difference between a trad publisher and digital? All I do know is, I don't think I'd want a trad deal. Supposing I got lucky, it sounds like too much in the way of signings, readings, interviews and general hawking that I don't believe would suit me too well.