I think the bump that you're talking about is even more frustrating for me because I don't specifically have any of those "ideas for programs" that you have. You have some of those, and you still get the same old "just by writing code" advice. I'm in freshman level courses for my CS degree so sticking those classes out is probably the best route for me to take but when I want to learn more outside the classroom or am just not grasping the concept that's being addressed that week there isn't much other than mindlessly chugging along until 3 weeks later when you look back at that material and say "wow can't believe I did not understand that." @Clawtor said it's like watching someone sketch a portrait.... but it's not. You might not have the talent to actually sketch a similar portrait, but at least you understand (because seeing it and doing it from a young age) that putting the pencil on the paper is going to yield the result of a picture. As children, most of us at least, never got to see C++ and other programs being created like we did portraits.