Conjurers learn axe. They usually do more damage/hit more often than whips. You should experiment with using one.

Magic missile is, actually, a great below-hero spell. Really. It doesn't cost too much mana, and does damage. Once you get shield block you could gather together (if you knew how, or if you made an in-character friend who could help you) a set of gear that gives lots of extra hp, and rather successfully pk people just by having an axe, a shield, lots of hp, and magic missile. So... learn where good eq is!

1. Having a good amount of hp, utilizing the 'teleport' spell, and having at least one "word of recall' potion/scroll will help you to run away and not die to all those lowbie orcs and warriors. Nowadays, exploring all the areas mentioned in the newbie helpfile (newbie3, I believe) will give you lots of things to kill, you'll find quests to complete, and with a little solo levelling, or if you put together/find a group, you'll be level 15 decently quickly. The key thing is to get a group if you want to rank quickly. You're not 'sponging' if you're helping the group by being one of three people (need three to get good xp), and if you're doing SOMETHING, like making sure to spam 'where' looking for enemies.

2. Conjies recently got 'warp dimension'. Which seems pretty darned conjierrific. Sure, it'd be nice to have a fun, lower level 'conjure monster' spell to give you a few crappy pets to help you out, but magic missile, an axe, and a group will help you get to familiars and elementals quicker than you might think.