First off take things slow don't worry about speed till you have things down.Allot of people start trying to wail befor they can make it sing.Don't worry about impressing anyone and don't try to stick licks in that don't fit the song style,speed etc..And allways stop and critic.....does this really sound like it fits??
If ou here a guitar player you like jam allong with his tapes and try to emulate him using what you know,listen to how they mix there notes.If there a few amsome licks pick them out slowly or have a freind figure them for you if you can't.Once you learn a Hot lick try to butcher it up into several of your own licks with the same feel.
And if you haven't so far ork on your vibrato especially on your stretchs(this is SOB for the first few months but is one of the defining lines of what makes a good player)try to have a smooth sustainy vibrato,without sounding jiggly.
Watch local bands especially the ones with players that are talked about by other players.Ask them questions and watch there fingers and get ideas.
My last advice is practice sober.I have a freind who lied to practice ripped and in 4yrs of playing never got good enough to complete a song till he stoped doing that now you can hear improvements.In the starting stages and developing stages(usually a lifetime for most)you want your clearest thinking so you remember every detail you need to remember.
Practice makes perfect.