Writing for short story competitions can be of immense value too as they will soon help you write to different lengths of fiction. Most, of course, stick for the standard word count, usually circa 1500 to 1700 words, but there are the flash fiction competitions (everything from 75 words to 1000). Then there are the poetry competitions, the article writing ones and so on.
The great thing is there is bound to be a competition out there for something you like to write most so give it a go! If you get a chance to get an adjudication I would do so. I judge whether I'm going to go for this option by seeing what the costs are. Generally if it is fairly low (say under £5) I choose this. The feedback I have had this way has proved invaluable on differing pieces of work.
The important thing is to have fun in whatever it is you write!