How to continue after the book?

[Laeeth Isharc via Digitalmars-d-learn]

On Tuesday, 28 March 2017 at 07:27:31 UTC, I Lindström wrote:
> After getting the basics down, how did you continue when 
> learning programming in general?
>
> I do have a need for which I've been trying out a few languages 
> and D seems by far the best for me. Should I just start doing 
> that project and learn as I go by googling and asking here, or 
> are there some other things you did before starting your first 
> "real" project.

I learnt a lot by reading others' code in a domain that 
interested me intrinsically.  Originally the same way Walter did 
- typing in programs from magazines and then changing them. Pick 
something that suits your skill level and is a bit beyond this - 
growth comes from pushing your limits and it should be a bit 
uncomfortable if you are doing it right.