Just do it! You need to pick a pet/side project of something you want to work on and try to figure out how to get there with code. Perhaps start with a framework and go from there. If you can't come up with a project, find yourself a product person friend who can brainstorm ideas with you and work on it together. Where are you based?
I'm based in the middle of friggin' nowhere, New York (State). Not many good programmers around here. The nearest big city is Albany, which I'd bet has some, but I'm not really in a situation where I can go there to meet up with people.
