I get at least 10 emails a week from people asking for writing/publishing/book advice. I will probably sit down one day and write out a comprehensive answer to all of them. That day is not today; today you get to read what someone else wrote, but this piece does a fantastic job.
This blog post by James Altucher answers a ton of questions about publishing a book, and I think he does a great job outlining what I think will be the essential distinction in books in the future; “Professional” versus “Unprofessional” and how that won’t necessarily equate to publisher vs self-published.