How do I get into a doctoral program?

For the past 4 years, I have tried to get into doctoral programs in English. Next year will be my final year to try. During that time, I have come to some realizations, the market sucks and the process is competitive, so I know those factors. I have attended national, regional, and state conferences, and I have been working on getting essays published. One has been accepted conditionally and I need to rework it. Even with all of this, I have had trouble getting accepted. I believe this is for a number of reasons. One, the economy sucks. Two, the field is over saturated. Three, I graduated from a Louisiana school that is not LSU (University of Louisiana at Monroe). Now, what should I do to better my chances for next year?

I am thinking about applying to cultural studies programs next year too.