Paper trading may be good way to start.
Yeh paper trading may be, i agree.
An important thing to remmeber is that the market will always be there. Dont be in a hurry and rush into things because you are scared of missing out on opportunities. There will be many more opportunities that will come at a time when you are better prepared.
A mate of mine thought the market was reaching full value towards the end of 2005. I told him just because its gone up doesnt mean it cant go higher. And then i babbled on about China and stronger for longer commodity prices.
Anyway he got in, hasnt looked back.
Bullmarkets always go on for longer than people expect. They usually end with irrational exuberance phase (the index almost doubled in the year upto october 1987). I have yet to see this.
I would suggest some education before you get started, such as:
Developing a trading plan
1/ Trading for a living: Alexander elder
2/ Trade your way to financial freedom: Van Tharp
Charting & breakouts
3/ Secrets to profiting in bull and bearmarkets: Stan Weinstein
Mechanical trading
4/ Trend Following: Michael Covel
Fundamental analysis
5/ One up on Wall St: Peter Lynch
I focus solely on price action these days but i think by reading all the above you will have a well rounded view and know which method of trading suits you the best.
A good saying i heard once was: its not timing the markets which matters, but rather, time in the markets.