There are many things an aspiring writer must learn how to do, to become a successful published author. The following is a list of what you will need to do, learn and understand to be successful in your quest to have your book published. This is in no way offered as a complete list, simply our effort to help you understand the many hats a new author must wear to develop a viable manuscript, understand publishing practices, and making your book successful.
There is no magic bullet, but completing this process will put you ahead, or at least, on a level playing field with hundreds of writers seeking the same result...being published.

What you will need to do:

1. Develop a quality product (your book).
Understanding that a book is really a product and it should have all of the attributes of any successful product, quality, and mass appeal. With this mind set, and much hard work, a writer increases his or her chances of being published and successful, long before seeking out a publisher.

2. Have a marketing Plan:
First time published authors mistakenly believe that their publisher will market their book. The fact is, the author will need to market their book, know the targeted audience for their book, and be willing to promote not only their book, but themselves as well. They will need to develop a marketing plan, including the who and how they will promote their book to the public. This is where a good publicist is invaluable. and the benefits exceed the cost of using one. 

3. Get PR smart:
Plan and implement a public relations campaign. This is where a publicist is invaluable.  Start small and local, and widen your marketing area as you have success to an ever larger area. First work on becoming known, as an author, in your city, then region, then state, then nationally. By targeting each specific area for your PR work, then additional exposure in the surrounding area, you will gain momentum in your campaign.   Look for natural "tie-ins" with established movements. (For example if your book is about domestic violence, or other benevolent cause.  Supporting those causes would be a natural tie-in.) 

Develop a relationship with news media personnel by not 'just promoting' your book or events, but by actively supporting a local charity, first, in person, and second, with a portion of your book sales, a fact you can mention and why, as a footnote. Remember that all publicity is good publicity.  Your goal should be to become an expert, spokesperson, or better yet, a personality associated with supporting the charity of your choice.  Always do good work sincerely, and you will create interest in you, and in your book.
This will require considerable time and effort to get established, but will help you help the charity you have chosen, and your name can become known . The results can be amazing.

4. Pitch your book to the right publishers, and editors:
Do tons of research! Find out what type of book a given publisher will be more likely to publish, which editors are known to have published new authors, and the process required by them for your manuscript to be accepted, and considered by those editors.
If you just send a in manuscript, unsolicited, your manuscript will probably just be tossed out. Following the guidelines for submission will get your manuscript into the hands of a receptive editor, and add to the possibility that your effort will get a publishing offer.

5. Do not get discouraged by rejection letters.
Even the best selling authors of today were rejected many, many times before a publisher took a big chance and published their work. Persistence and hard work, such as improving and refining your writing skills, will win out every time if you have the talent and work ethic to succeed.

A Reality check:
Many writers believe that to get published they simply need to write an interesting book. That publishers will jump at a chance to publish their work. This is simply not true. There are over 1000 books published every day in the US, most if not all the writers, have done their homework, understand and have met the basic requirements listed above to get their book published. A publisher will not invest in a book that has little chance of making money...they must see a return on any investment they make by publishing your book. Publishers are in business to make MONEY, not promote new authors careers, so understanding this and having the same mind set will help you get published, and become successful as a writer.

You may have noticed that I placed marketing and public relations "before" pitching your book to a publisher. I believe that these two very important tasks should be planned and ready to implement, long before your book is published. The release of your new book should be the beginning of all your hard work, not the end. Plan ahead, re-evaluate the results and make changes to improve your results. Work smart and hard to make your book a profitable venture for your publisher, and yourself. Take control of your writing career by planning, then working to succeed, with each book you write. Doing so will increase your value to a publisher and get you better book deals as you build your fan base and become more widely known.