The best advice I can give you is read, absorb and study. I could tell you where to look and what books to read but in this topic:
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic11429.php the basics are certainly more than covered.
Books I always have within reach:
-13 steps (Corinda)
-Psychological Subtelties (Banachek)
-The Nail Wr****r Anthology (e-book by Thomas Baxter)
-Switchcraft (e-book by Elliot J. Bresler)
and many more
Dvd's I like:
-Master Billet Course dvd set (Allen Zingg)
-Osterlinds Mind Mysteries
-Marc Spelmann's Collection
And don't be affraid to try stuff and fail once in a while. And what I have learned the hard way, but what every mentalist will tell you: choose to be a mentalist. Forget being a magician. Please don't be a magician doing mental magic.
English is not my native language, so forgive any spelling or grammar mistakes.