Are you writing for publication?

I apologize if this has been asked before, I've just found this forum and decided to post as I was passing through, does anyone here have any experience self-publishing? I have several manuscripts I'm hoping to finish by next spring/summer and I know I don't have any chance of ever being commercially published being a 20 year old with a 9th grade education (health problems prevented furthering my education) and absolutely no experience in the business. I write things I hope will make a difference or at least create a vivid image in the reader's mind and I have my heart set on self-publishing... Just wondering if anyone would like to share their experience or give me any tips. Thanks in advance and if you're wondering what I want eventually published check out my portfolio under the "teases" folder, the top piece of course is my pet project and the one I really want to see in print.