Hello...?

Wow... I'm overwhelmed - yes, I guess 'overwhelmed' sums it up right now.

I found steemit via a friend on FB and I've spent a couple of days tinkering, putting a couple of my stories on here, getting the feel of the place.
I'm an author - or trying to be. I write stories that I want to read but can't find. I enjoy making worlds and putting characters in those worlds. Sometimes the characters fit, sometimes they don't. The trick is to make the characters believable rather than likeable - well, that's my opinion and I think it's working so far (or it would be working if I had more readers... the lament of writers and authors everywhere).

I guess I'm overwhelmed because I have looked around and I've seen so many vivacious, vibrant steemiters and, as usual, I have no idea if I'll measure up. Again, the lament of writers and all creatives, I suppose.
I'm not down on myself over this though, I'm here (on the planet, not just steemit) to learn, develop and grow.

Background: A lot of 'not very much' with sparks of brilliance from time to time. My family have flown the nest and are in the throes of their own lives and while I look for another job, I wait for another spark of brilliance to hit. Maybe the next spark will be my ticket to writing full-time - who knows?
I've had my own businesses with varying success - kept the family out of the poorhouse at least. I've worked at unusual jobs just for kicks and I've had a bash at producing a few films (I've written one too).

Oh yeah, I'm a Ginger, a Redhead, fiery temper, the works.

I keep coming back to writing but I'm better at weaving the stories than I am at getting the finished product into the hands of anyone that can send the stories into the stratosphere with regards to 'success'. That's not my aim. It would be awesome to tell my husband he can retire, of course it would, but any delight I have in my stories is magnified when someone makes contact and tells me they enjoyed what I've written.

I don't like the whole concept of pushing myself forward and getting the attention necessary to go further. I can wax lyrical about anyone else, find things of importance and fascination to speak about, but I'm struck dumb when it comes to marketing myself. This introduction has taken far longer than it should have.
I need to grasp how to effectively use tags etc and where to find them. I should be figuring out what content works best too... - oh boy, to say I'm a writer, I find some combinations of words easier to write than others.

It seems I have a lot to learn, but as I said, that's what I'm here for.