If I make an NSString using the code below, do I need to need to release someString?
NSString *someString = @\"somestring\";
If you created an object via a method call that contains alloc, retain, or copy, or starts with new (N-A-R-C = "narc"), then you are responsible for releasing the object. If this is not the case, then you can ignore the object.
So in the case of strings:
NSString * myString = @"This is a string";
I don't see a call there to a NARC method, so you are not responsible for releasing it. It's really that simple.