Study a large selection of art instructional literature. A variety of "Learn to Draw" books and tutorials can be found online, as well as libraries, book stores and art supply shops. The most common books are those that pertain to drawing people and animals. Others include methods of drawing still life, landscapes and other objects. Before investing money online, it's better to go to a book store and see what's included to be sure the tutorials will help you.
Study art books that teach realistic drawing. Artist and author, Lee Hammond, has a excellent series of books on drawing realistically. Rather than stressing freehand drawing, Hammond assures her students it's not only acceptable, but recomends using a grid when drawing. After all, if drawing with the help of a grid was okay for masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, it's fine for amateurs.
Learn basic drawing techniques. Select art books that teach skills such as perspective, shading and using negative space. For example, an excellent book that focuses on using negative space is "Drawing Landscapes in Pencil" by Ferdinand Petrie. By making use of negative space, Petrie shows how to draw viginettes, especially when drawing landscapes.
Select books that explain skeletal structure. For example, artist Viola French in her book, "How to Draw and Paint Children," goes into details, giving clear illustrations of how a child's bone structure changes from birth to adolescence. She also shares tips on shading, as well as other important drawing elements.
Practice drawing illustrations from an art book. Then, after you feel more confident, select your own picture for a drawing, applying the same principles you learned from the book. After awhile, you'll decide on your own style of drawing. In other words, after exposing yourself to different art books, artists and drawing techniques, you'll determine what style works best for you. Just as you have a unique handwriting, your drawings should reveal your personality. When people see your art work, they should know it was done by you.