I see this is an older post but I will still share my learned concept of the term (Brace yourself It's going to be long)- "Sorcerer". A good place to start is reading, and reading things not offered as "Free gimmicks" The arthor Jason Miller has an Incredible book called "The Sorcerer's Secret". In the book he talks about the the differenc between "Witchcraft" which has a general worship around seasons, celestial deities, sabbaths, cycles, and so on. And then "Occultic" which is more ceremonial, spells, incantations, charms, summoning. A sorcerer is a combination of these practices and many more, where in the practitioner respects and finds the medium of these planes and combines them into his own. Magic is not narrow, so there isn't only witchcraft and occult; Kabbalah, Voudou, Santeria, etc are but few of the many practices all connected to the source.
"New Age" Material is kinda like kindergarden-5th grade we all have to start somewhere, though alot of the material can be bogus, A true sorcerer is one who takes what concepts apply and work for him/her and morph them to his cause. Never take someone's laws for magic working as "the only truth", the only golden experience is theory in practice; question everything even what I'm writing! Sorcery is a lone practice. We all have our individual wants, goals, needs- And A sorcerer is not one to simply sulk in the creases of a cult as their, chanter, diviner, handmaiden/servant, so on.
Some of the most of my powerful workings have come from my indepth work with crystals, simple candle magic, gregre bags, enchanted charms and so on, so to dimiss them as "folly" is the first step for either faliure in magical workings, or worse...getting caught up with the big boys(spirits/entites) when you're not ready, resulting in some bad bad, Very bad consequences.
The "Black Magician" also known as the left hand path can be a shiny title to the dabbler/novice, take what you want, snap a finger to trigger, spin an incantation and wham!! But trust me the only way to walk a path solely dedicated to that would require a stone cold unwavering spirit. you can't ask for the legions of hell to work with you yet be afraid of the dark, the bumps in the night, shadows dancing on the wall, etc. Those spirits will not only laugh at you but bully you something feirce until you run away from magic all together, or worse!!
Now for the not so fun stuff: Meditation, psi energy manipulation, Divinitory work, is the first concrete foundation that any "Sorcerer" should have before delving further into Left(dark), or right(light/healing) hand magic.
How can you control or change anything when you can't hold a proper visualization?
How can you properly protect yourself without a psi shield, or enchant that relic/crystal/talisman without psi energy manipulation.?
How can you see anything clearly in your workings if you can't even scry a crystal ball/mirror/etc (definately important when summoning unseen spirits)
Now for the Fun Stuff: Familiars and Spells
Familiar: Craft your first Familiar, if you feel you are not ready for this don't press it and start with something smaller till you are.
Sorcery is about commanding certain energies, key word, commanding. what better to command than an entity you create. For the fastest, best result go with a familiar(Pet) to search and retrieve, or search and observe.
A journal or grimoire is absolutely a must for this, being that you must create a sigil for the pet, remember baby steps. Imps, Knomes, Fairies are ideal- don't used deceased pets or people (they can become parasitic because of attacthed emotions). draw or write out a descripition of appearance and personality be as descriptive as you can, add color if you like. from the drawing or description form a sigil, it could be the face of the imp, the decription of the knome (combining the letters to form the sigil) or the color of the fairies wings. A full moon would really empower but is not absolutely required- light a candle of the pets color or sit outside under the full moon's light and call them forth.
"Familiar Drawn Upon this Page I summon thee forth to serve this Mage"
easy enough incatation, you can make your own but don't over-complicate.
now say: "Familiar's Name" Rise x3 (3 is the number of manifestation)
Visualize the pet ripping themself forth from the page, 2d at first but as they levitate above the page they pop! exapanding into a 3 dimentional chracter.
Here comes Psi manipulation: extend out both hands and with eyes either open or close channel them your energy, they are of you so need your vital force to become animated, at this point your pet should giggle/flutter/flinch with life. Now tell them their purpose: "I have summoned you to this plane to search and retreive this- book/comb/shoe/etc, on this eve you shall be born and you shall rest but on the next eve(tommorow night) I shall send you forth to do your bidding. That which I have commanded of you is that which is only in your power to do. You shall not disobey me, Or I will cast thee into oblivion ,never to return (at this point with hands still extended exude the vibration of strong dominate energy, the pet must know you are not one to be to be tested to tried). Ask: Are you willing to submit yourself to me and my orders?
They should cower and respond yes, if they hesitate, say no, or don't respond at all rip their page from the book instantly and shred their page while commanding begone!
...If they do agree then say: Good, now rest until tommorows eve. elevate your dominate hand above them and push down shrinking them down back into the sigil placed in your grimoire. Now close the book and upon closing shout
So shall it be done!
The next night Summon them again, call them 3x and say rise. visualize them coming from the page and poping into 3d, go to an open window or door and say go forth now my pet and do that which I ask and do not return until the task be completed! so shall it be done send them out and close the book.
Fairly simple two birds with one stone a familiar pet and a spell
praise and reward them upon completing destroy them if they don't destroy them when they are no longer needed, or keep them handy. This is only the beginning
Tips: DO NOT CREATE A INCUBUS OR SUCCUBUS they can be fun and alluring but can become parasitic, jealous, possesive, and dangerous to others friends and lovers alike.
IF YOU create a guardsman or guarddog for protection make sure to let them know what is and isn't allowed this means visiting friends relatives, especially children who are suceptable.
THE LONGER the Familiar remains animated the smarter it becomes, look out for and scold/punish for pranks, tricks. My first pet was an Imp who I had retrieve my crystal ball (which I got for free as a gift)
yet once his task was done he would play tricks on whomever visited my home by misplacing their wallet, keys, shoes! It was cute funny at first but I had to set em straight/ he is still in my grimiore to this day!!
Oh yeah Good LUck!!