Welcome to the wide world of microstock and photography; i wish you the best.  Best advice, shoot in raw mode, shoot everyday-not every couple days but every frickin day so you learn light.  You can learn about your camera sitting in front of the boob tube; you need to learn to see and feel the light; direction, intensity, shadows, exposure, whites, blacks, etc.  photography is light!

I am sure you camera has autofocus and autoexposure; put everything in manual and learn how to use the camera; not just the shutter button.  Make mistakes, tons of them, but learn from them.  I know people that have been using a camera for 40 years that can not get proper exposure.  Learn what are blown whites and blocked up blacks or shadows.

photograph buses, cars, people, anything; if you do not take 100 pictures a day, and really try to take 100 good pictures, you will be no farther to reaching your dream next year than you are today.

Join Dreamstime and Fotolia; these are two sites that will help the newbie, a little.

Develop a tough exterior, this is a tuff business; never forget, this is a business.  Even if you are in this for fun, some of us-this is our career and our life; we take microstock seriously and discussions can get a bit heated and at times-slap happy.

Mommy and friends are great but do not ask their opinions of your work; they will tell you that you are great. Honestly, I have never seen your work but I am pretty sure it sucks!  After a couple years experience, you will get better.   Want the truth, post an image here and you will get honest advice; it may hurt but it will be honest; from people that actually work in this industry.

goodluck mate