[mothered]

would you have a recommendation for a dumb-ass beginner like myself?

Hacking Is a broad term that covers an array of entities.

Identify the capacity you're Interested In and work from there. Don't solely rely on online resources, you also need to pursue It via your own volition- question assumptions, work around the obvious, seeing what's not (apparently) there and so forth.

However, I could add that you will learn by practice most of the time, and don't hesitate to try/create new project and bring new ideas to the community.

Precisely.

As another addition, when you don't succeed during a given task, by no means Is It an Indicator of failure In It's entirety. Take the positive out of the negative, and you'll be aware of what "not to do" the next time around.