practice, practice, practice...
corner pin spares, corner pin spares, corner pin spares...

Knowing when hitting the pocket wasn't enough - and having the confidence to make big moves with equipment, target, feet, or all of the above...
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took me 5 seasons, in my sixth now and over 200.  First two years were pissed away just throwing a plastic ball.
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"In life, you enter with nothing and you leave with nothing.  Your life is a parentheses in infinity, and the only thing you can do is give it away" - anonymous

Spares are the key. Strikes will come with practice,lane reading ability,and knowing how to adjust within your game. Don't try to throw like anyone else.
 Also,having the right equipment that's set up for you. Don't be afrais to take a lesson,and learn from it.
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Chris
 Lane#1--nothing else hits like 'em.

I started bowling at age 12 and was averaging over 200 by 18. Of course I started bowling on military bases in Germany. I was averaging 190's when I left there and instantly averaged 210's the day I stepped off of the plane. Shot my first 300 that same first year.
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It took me about 4 years to be a consistent 200 avg bowler. The key is getting spares. Most people around 180 or 190 don't have too much of a problem getting strikes. It's the spares that can hurt you.
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Thank you, Teddy Stewart

Unlike everyone else, I'll say this straight up. It took me about 13 years of self-teaching to reach the level I'm at right now. Spare shooting is very, VERY important, but unless you get strikes, you'll never average 200 (do the math...I PROMISE you there is no way to get a 200 score without a strike). One of the things you need to do in practice, is try to line up with a certain ball. Once you get a good shot and like 4 in a row with it...SWITCH BALLS! Take that ball, and repeat. It'll help you become more adept to playing out of your comfort zone when the time arises. And remember...scores in practice don't count. Why just yesterday I went and practiced (cause I was bowling terrible this past week or so), and my scores went like this... 159-151-222-210-236. The first two were solely hitting certain targets on the lane (didn't care about the leaves) and then trying to pick up the spares. The last 3 were like I said...bowl with a ball till you get lined up, then switch! I feel that my practice routine has made me a very competitive bowler in regards to having a chance anytime I walk through the doors of a tourney. And another important thing to learn very fast if you wanna average high...you can only control what YOU do! If you throw 11 good shots and get beat by someone who threw 12 good ones...well, maybe tomorrow. If you throw 11 good shots and get beat by someone who threw 2 good ones...well, maybe tomorrow. You can't practice luck!

Big Willy Style

PS...if you ever wanna talk more about this...feel free to message me.
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Took me 1 year to get my ave. over 200.  Like everyone else says, it is spares that make your average.  I look at it like every single pin spares costs you 11 pins per miss.  If your making one extra single pin spare per game and you were averaging in the 190's.  That spare will put you over the 200 mark.
     Besides that, being able to change lines when you can't carry is also the next big thing.  Too many bowlers will just keep on pumping it down the 10 board and live with what they get.  Establishing a B game that you can go to will help you get better.  If your versatile enough, go as far as establishing a C game.
     I, like most house bowlers like to play the 10 board, but I can also play down the 5 board or go inside of 15 when I need to.  I don't like playing 5 or inside 15, but at least I can.  And for the most part I can score there too if conditions allow.
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As with all things, this is my opinion. And we all know, opinions are like butt-holes, we all have one.