Listen to huge amounts of music, not just guitar music. As you get more proficient, try to sound like bagpipes, accordion, etc. It depends what you want to do. If American style, get that thumb working on the alternating bass or just the downward flick of thumb-on-bass then finger flick. If English, avoid chords: work on just playing the tune or counter melodies with passing notes to harmonise the voice. Try to learn by ear. If you can't do that, learn tablature.