I hope you find somebody to help you, but if not, here is some advice from somebody who is likewise self-taught: find some good books on programming. Not progra

I hope you find somebody to help you, but if not, here is some advice from somebody who is likewise self-taught: find some good books on programming. Not programming languages, programming. I discovered that there are several of these freely available, and they have really helped me improve my style. For example, I have found "The Art of Unix Programming" (Eric S. Raymond), "On Lisp" (Paul Graham) and "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs" (Abelson & Sussman) all downloadable from official sites. If you have access to an academic library, you will find plenty of others too. The books mentioned above do not teach you how to program, but how to become a better programmer. They cover all layers of programming, from software design down to the writing of individual functions. Especially "The Art of Unix Programming" was brilliant, as it gives real-life case studies for every topic. And lastly, download the sources for some good open-source programs and study them (ideally with the aim of contributing). Seeing how more experienced programmers have gone about their work is another great help. Of course this is not really an answer to your original question - but if you don't find a personal mentor, keep this in mind.