One thing I learned was to just focus on the screen as you draw.
And I do my layers like this:
Layer 1- Background Color or Sketch
Layer 2- Sketch or Refined Sketch (tightening lines)
Layer 3- Inking
-I Duplicate my layer at this point to thicken the lines a bit, but some artists don't do this-
Layers 4+- Color

*With colors I'm still learning how to effectively blend colors, but it's all about experimenting. Background colors are typically used so you can see if you color outside the lines on a layer once you color.
*With layers, some artists prefer to use more (like a layer for hair color, layer for fur color, etc) and some use less. It depends on what you feel is best so experiment with that. Layers are good for me because it's easy to erase a mistake I made in, for example, the hair and not end up erasing the fur color layer that's beneath it.
*Inking tends to be a bitch for me just because I have a shaky hand so I try to get my lines done in one stroke then come back later to thicken the line weight. Ctrl+Z is your friend for times like these.
*One thing I learned from another artist was to WORK BIG because small little "mistakes" tend to be smoothed over a bit when you resize. This holds true for inks because like I said before, I have a shaky hand.

Shaky hand is what is getting to me the most doing anything. As well as layering.

I'm slowly trying stuff, though! I'm taking a few pics and line arts I had on my computer and trying my hand at digitally doing them first before going completely freehand. Maybe it'll help my method. I hope. ^^; It's fun so far though! Besides finding out the best place I can work is in the floor with my laptop on the ground and my tablet in my lap.

Woot! Tablets are awesome, hope you enjoy it. ^^

I'm planning on getting a gaming mouse instead of this little laptop mouse i have now. Sure it's small and adorable, but it's only 1000 dpi (dots per inch).

The one i plan on getting is adjustable from 500 to 5000 dpi. For more or less sensitive control. :D

My laptop touchpad is pretty much useless for everything, i'm not even sure what dpi it is, but it's pretty low. x_x

I think all laptop touch pads are crap. XD

Yeah, that statement is pretty much true in every aspect. xD

I can't wait to see what your art looks like digitally. Eeee! ^^

I kinda like doing all my digital stuff with a mouse and the pen tool in photoshop, but yeah tablets are so much more versatile.

Plus they are super sensitive and awesome for gaming. :D

Want one ;_; SO BADLY :(

Hopefully for Christmas <3 ^^ I really want to start learning how to digital art, for some reason I've got this idea that it will make my art better xD

But sorry can't help you learn how it works, I don't understand either :/

I know it'll help with my colour saturation on pics. I'm just keeping it mind it always takes practice.

I hope you do! If you do, Wacom Bamboo Pen. I know many a person who swears by theirs.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind! :3 ^^