Making it as a new writer is daunting, and I say that as a new(ish) writer who hasn't made it. So my advice is meaningless, but here it is
You can go the traditional route and look for an agent. The Big Five publishers don't look through the slush pile. They rely on agents. You get your material together, and you send out query letters to an agent. There's about a... well, substantially less than a 1% chance that you'll get picked up by an agent (and the agent is one of many entreaties to a publisher) and then to getting the book published.
You can self-publish. For the average author, this is actually a much better road. BUT... you have to be ready to let self-publishing be your full-time job. Get to reviewers, get to bloggers, build up the social media, network the snot out of yourself. Do all that, build your readership, and making 70% royalty off a few sales is better than 10% royalties from more sales (the numbers are made up, sorta, but you get the drift).
I was talking to a successful (by normal terms) writer just last night. She pumps out a number of books per year. Her agent has one specific series which has caught on, but she has other books that she self-publishes because, as a known author, she just makes so much more money.
I might suggest you join a writers group in your genre or attend a local writers convention. It's an eye-opener. Best of luck! And I mean that seriously.
