I read a short story on the Kindle...

[Caz]

 The worst that can happen is that nothing happens, in which case I haven't lost anything but time.

Not if you had fun.

[ozmosis7]

Not if you had fun.

This is my primary motivation for These Old Tales.

[Robert Essig]

I have considered self pubbing a few short stories in one volume, maybe 20-30K, with a sample from my forthcoming novel.  If I were to do this I would have a trusted editor go over the stories, and try to come up with an attractive cover.  The price would likely be a dollar.  Maybe someone would check it out, and maybe it would entice them to take a chance on my full length book when it comes out.  Maybe not.

I don't buy single stories for a buck.  I have downloaded one or two for free on my Kindle, and they were terrible.  On the other hand, if I enjoyed the work of the author, I just may spent the dollar, but I really would like a bit more for my buck.  I have to agree that taking a chance on an author I have never even heard of is tough.  How many times does one get burned before at least going with a familiar name.

The thing about self pubbing, in my opinion, is that reletively unknown authors like myself will probably sell very few digital downloads (and so many put out a load of shit, trunk stories, and "stories that don't fit anywhere else"), however others out there who have made a name for themselves can do quite well in the digital arena, and many of them do by releasing their back catalogue for a buck apiece.

I've been putting a lot of thought into this, and I'm torn.  Things are changing.  I'm just sitting here with my magic mushrooms looking into the crystal ball for the answers.  I'm also torn because I like my "stories that don't fit anywhere," but I fancy myself wise enough to leave them in the fucking trunk!