Sophi,
I would notice the older posters on here especially those on the 'Big Board' section of this site. Pay attention when they analyze why they made a particular trade, or move, and what they saw on the chart, in the news, or earnings report that made them do what they did.
Read what you can on different sites and study the different types of stock trading, ie: value investor, technical analysis, channeling, momentum player, etc. There are people on here that are successful with each style. Notice what goes on and, from time to time, you can PM them for a more detailed question. Personally, the channeling style has worked best for me. This involves locating stocks that have very predictable up/down patterns, watching for any negative reports before a buy that might push the stock on down out of its normal channel, buying/selling based upon how the stock normally acts. Just have to keep watching for any events that might suddenly alter the pattern.
Never get in a rush to make a trade to buy in just because you feel you 'need to do something'. Certainly, learn when to get out. Don't keep holding a stock just because it has went down and you need to hold it until it comes back up. I have lost more money with that fault than anything else. We have to learn if the fundamentals have changed then we might just need to sell, cut our losses and move on. Sometimes you can have a good stock and if its sector is going down it will probably go down, too.
Be careful what you trade - a lot of the penny stocks, and subpennies, can wreck you quick. I usually trade a stock valued at .75 and higher. Good luck and start studying!
