Being a writer, I have chosen a career path that I thought played to my introverted nature. Imagine my surprise, then, as I venture deeper into the world of being a professional writer and discover that writers have to promote themselves to succeed.

With VERY few exceptions, publishers don't pay to send authors on book tours any more. Writers have to tour on their own dime these days if they want their books promoted at all.

If that's the case, why even give a publisher your work to publish? Why not self-publish and keep all the money?

Great questions. Simple answer - publishers have reach. They can get your book into bookstores and listed in major retail websites better than you can yourself. Particularly for a newbie writer who nobody has even heard of -- like me -- you'll get much greater exposure through traditional publishers than you will on your own.

That doesn't mean your book will sell itself. Whether you self-publish or not it's still important to get out there and do readings, and participate in panels at conventions, and make all manner of public appearances to get your name out there. It's a slow process and -- make no mistake -- it IS work, but if you intend to chase a career as a writer, you need to "build your brand." Making a positive impression on people is one easy way to get them thinking about you, and by extension, your books.

Travel, hotels, and conventions are expensive; how can I do all that self-promotion on a budget?

It isn't easy. Share a hotel room with one or two writers in the same situation as yourself. Ride to the convention with others to split the cost of gas. Bring your own food to cut costs. Maybe you know someone who will be selling things from a booth at a convention - offer to help cover the booth in exchange for A) a badge/membership to the convention, B) free travel in the "company car" C) a free hotel room (probably shared), D) Free meals, or E) some combination of A, B, C, and D.

If you plan on touring bookstores to do readings and signings, again sharing the costs with another writer can help you reach more stores for less money. Plus, having more than one writer can be a bonus for the store, as they can promote more authors -- hopefully drawing more customers -- with a single event.

It may seem like a no-brainer, but be sure you do your due diligence beforehand - research the convention or store(s) you'll be visiting to make sure that what you write is a good fit for that venue. Reading a horror story at a romance novel convention, for example, is bound to go over badly, and will reflect poorly on you more than anything else.

I hope to do more self-promotion of my work over the coming year. If there are any stores or conventions at which you'd like to see me, please post a comment and I'll look over the finances to see what I can manage.