What steps are necessary to become a self-published writer?

Becoming a self-published author is simple. Write a bunch of words, transfer that to Amazon.com's partner BookSurge, and there you are, you are self-published.

That's the upside, now for the downside. Self publishing is a sure way to never land a book deal. If you want your friends and family to have a book to read, vanity presses are a great thing, you can have 20 or 30 books printed and hand them out as you see fit.

Sadly, there seems to be no room for the indepentant author. Publisher's won't pick you up unless you are represented by a reputable agent, conversely agents don't want anything to do with you unless you have a publisher ready to accept your work.

If you have no interest in writing as a full time profession, then by all means, go the route and uses Amazon and BookSurge, but if you truly do wish to be the next King, Jordan, or dare I say it Clarke vanity presses are the last place you want to go.