General

Be persistent

One thing I find that helps a lot when it comes to practicing is to try and replicate (not trace!) a drawing that I admire greatly. When you're replicating the drawing, put yourself in the mind of the artist, and ask yourself "why" over and over again. Figure out why he/she put the line placement here, or why use thick bold brushstrokes there. Really look into the fine details like the shading and perspective as you go along.

An example of my own artwork:
[url=http://z.mhcdn.net/store/manga/8945/027.0/compressed/fimp_nisekoi_027_018-019.jpg?v=11338428042]Original image (just the girl)[/url]
[url=http://fl0wra1n.deviantart.com/art/Onodera-352681701?q=gallery%3Afl0wra1n&qo=2]My replication attempt[/url]

It may not turn out as well as the original (like mine for instance) but trust me, you learn so much from it, and it really helps you develop your own style as you pick out the things you like about the styles you replicate.

Hope this helps!

Trace stuff to emulate.

For now, see what you can already draw. Experiment a bit, then get into the details like anatomy and all that stuff later.

draw a grid over the original image and draw a grid on a new paper and copy the areas of the grid square by square ...that's a way to start

if you want something more professional try drawing first a stick body then add the muscles then add the skin then add the clothes

Just practice

I started off tracing, or just trying to draw what someone else drew. It helps you understand anatomy and proportions a bit. You'll find your own style and develop from then on (:

[quote=100gb]Don't trace. Tracing is like cheating in which you don't learn much from it, but if you [i]reference[/i] it, you'll learn how to get there using your own brain and muscles.

And use base shapes when drawing. They are gooooood.
[url=http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/548/tutb.jpg].[/url][/quote]

In my opinion tracing helps learn the anatomy. Of course you don't rely on it but you do learn by getting the feel of each body part.. well for me it did. But i don't draw much anymore.. -sadface- but yeah as the poster above me said.. PRACTICE and don't stop drawing for years like i did.. that never works out haha..

Practice a lot.

@100gb : I trace like one only so I can get the proportions right and play around with it on its own.
I usually draw from reference but tracing does help you get used to the shapes if you're starting.
That's just my opinion.

Don't trace. Tracing is like cheating in which you don't learn much from it, but if you [i]reference[/i] it, you'll learn how to get there using your own brain and muscles.

And use base shapes when drawing. They are gooooood.
[url=http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/548/tutb.jpg].[/url]

I thought this ones goes into the Art section?

@KrazyLoopyx @Juxos Thanks! To the good old pencil and paper I go!

Like @KrazyLoopyx make sure the anatomy is right, it might also help to practice on paper to get the proportions right, maybe trace over some outlines

I don't draw, I don't know how to, but practice, practice, practice.
Not improving? PRACTICE MORE!

Make sure you have your anatomy right and I suggest practicing drawing poses off of sites like deviantart. Also get a good program like SAI.