Help with Cryptic Crosswords, please.

[Rouchent]

Hi all.
I am fairly new to cryptic crosswords and I always have trouble working out how one arrives at the answers to the clues. I realise that there are certain conventions to follow (ie. a ship is normally ss, etc.) but I have no idea about most of them. Do any of you know any sites where I might find an idiots guide to how to work out cryptic crossword clues? I would be eternally grateful.

[Rouchent]

Ooops!
Should have put this under Sir Lancelot.
Sorry!

[venator]

This might help - persistence helps, too!

http://www.solving-cryptics.com/

[Oldred]

another link
http://bigdave44.com/...crosswords-the-rules/

[Captain2]

I preferred to buy the crossword, attempt to do it on my own but then next day sit down with the answers and try to understand how the answers were arrived at (this also lets you work on the ways of individual compilers as they all have their own little foibles). Having said that, I am trying this method on the Mephisto crossword and not getting very far!

[Rouchent]

Thanks for your answers guys (and girls?).
I've been trying your way Captain2 but quite a few clues are just beyond me!! For example, I realise that it was an anagram but don't necessarily know before hand what marks it out as such, if you get my drift. It gets even more problematic when it comes to words made up from bits of different words or 'coded' meanings. Then of course there is trying to work out which part of the clue is the 'word' itself and which parts are used to construct it. Need I go on?
Hopefully the links will be helpful after I have exhausted my initial attempts and I can gradually build up my own knowledge base. Perhaps one day I might even grduate to the 'Times' crossword!!!
Thanks again.