I'm 18 and I've been studying pickup for two years now. I haven't started going out until about a week ago. Bottom line is I'm going crazy because every time a girl see's me she thinks I'm cute but then when they hang out with me they still go for my other friends who don't know a thing about pickup. I identify my self as the pickup artist because I know all this stuff but then when I talk to a cute girl I freeze up, start stuttering, and just get really sketched out. So if I can sum up all my problems into 3 questions it would be "Is it bad to Identify yourself as a pickup artist when you are a newbie?" "How do you get over being desperate for getting with a girl?" and "When you go out during the day by yourself, how do you learn how to have fun and should you talk to only cute girls your age or everyone?"

1. Reading does nothing, or very little, toward being a pick up artist. Experience does everything.

2. Once you start getting girls, you won't need them anymore.

3. Talk to everyone. Having fun by yourself can be tough. Pick up girls while performing some enjoyable activity. Mall game is the classic one, and it's a great hotspot, but why go if you hate shopping? Do something that makes you happy, girls notice.

I am not going to answer one of your question but I'll give you something else:
You are not a pua.
You are not a pua.
You are not a pua.
You are just some guy trying to become good with girls and you've read alot of stuff.

Don't put so fucking much pressure on yourself. You're not a pua, you're just a guy trying to get good with girls. Allow yourself the time to learn the skills. Don't go bragging with your friends. Do not tell techniques to others you don't fully comprehend and certainly do not know how to apply yourself. Don't fucking put pressure on yourself. You're making it harder for yourself.

I've picked up girls in front of ten of my friends. I'm in perfect ease with that. But I've never accepted a challenge to game some random girl they choose for me. Because then the pressure is on. Do not pressure yourself.

Some great piece of advice from those two guys.

_________________
I have to return some videotapes...

I agree, just reading doesn't do jack shit without real life experience. I can vouch for that lol. Like stated I would just go out there and socialize as much as possible. Heck get some hobbies where you meet new people?