Get Good at Programming

Serious question. How do I get good? I know C and Java but I don't really know programming outside of loops and pointers and simple programming exercises and shit. When I try to read source code from a small open source C project, I get daunted and just stop before I even begin because everything just looks alien to me. There are stuff like makefiles and shit. It makes me sad. I don't even know data structures yet. I want to read SICP but I'm not comfortable with it yet so I'm reserving that book when I've amassed enough background.

How do you get good at building with legos?

You learn how to use pieces, and you build things. You learn how to use more pieces, and you build more things.

Same with programming - learn how to use some aspect of the language, and make a small program that showcases that thing.