World's Best Beginner

My biggest challenge in learning anything is that I am a Great Beginner.

When I learn a new game, new skill, whatever, I appear to have the most incredible Beginner's Luck. Actually, what I have is incredible Beginner's Concentration.

The first time I learned archery, I hit almost 100%. Now I can't even hit a target. The first time I played poker, I took everyone's money. Now everyone feels safe with me in the game. The first few times I played chess, I actually won. Now I can barely play, even against a computer.

These games and skills were fun. They were interesting for those few moments when I learned them. Then, as all Great Beginners, I lost interest. From that point on, I didn't care about the score or the technique. I'd learned enough archery to know how it worked. Enough.

Here I am, The World's Best Beginner, finally trying to really learn something. I'm trying to become an accomplished novelist and storyteller. I'm trying to learn the details, the skills, the finer points of the craft.

And I have to say, Beginners are not good at moving into the ranks of Advanced. We hate the work and frustration and sweat and blood and gunk. Yuck! Back to Beginning, if at all possible.

However, even being a Beginner can lose its interest and appeal. I'm tired of the title, World's Best Beginner. I'm tired of the easy, quick win, then move on to something else. I finally want to be really good at something.

How about you? How do you learn? Are you a Great Beginner or an Accomplished Advanced?