Other than basic knowledge of witchcraft, your path, and your goal, I think these steps are things you should look into to learning if you are new to magic.
1. Meditation: This is the most key aspect of all Occult craft. You need the focus and the energy channeling that come with meditation do be able to cast a spell successfully.
2. Belief: In order for a spell to have a chance at being cast successfully you need to believe 110% that you cast the spell and it will work. This where most people fall into serious problems with spells because they always doubt themselves. Just like sometimes you will hear beginners brag about having their spells work because they just tested it out. They didn't doubt that it would work. They just wanted to see if it would.
3. Casting Circle: Now most people don't always agree with this but I find it's the difference between my spells working and their failure. Always have your casting circle drawn. Always make sure you have closed the circle when you are done casting the spell. This is to prevent anything from contaminating or perverting your spell. Never cast without a circle. You do not know what is looking at you beyond the veil that wants to do you harm.
4. Steps: Always follow all instructions to the letter. If you don't follow all the steps like they are laid out how can you expect the spell to work? There are not shortcuts in witchcraft.
5. Discipline: This is where your prep work and meditation pay off. Some spells require a lot of effort if you want to pull them off. How well you have done with your easier tasks and how often you meditate as well as how well you prepare for what you are doing all factor into your discipline. How much self control you have over what you are doing. This is mostly needed for my summoning and bindings but factors into everything else as well.