There always is stackoverflow and mailing lists if you get stuck.
You can also hop in #django on irc.freenode.net. Sometimes people on IRC can be a bit hostile but if you do your homework before asking questions, they are generally answered.
You also need to know if you are taking up on a real world project, you would need to learn other technologies - Javascript for client side interaction, html/css for UI. Django/Python are just one piece of the puzzle.
I think this can be an important motivating factor. Are there any popular open source projects written in Python (or built on Django)?
For example, back in 2005 I setup a personal Wordpress install on a Dreamhost server (also coming from a finance background, with some prior HTML experience). Wordpress did most, but not everything I wanted it to do. As a result, I've become quite familiar with the LAMP stack over the years, turned that knowledge into a business and made a buck or two. A similar project in the Python world would be a great introduction, but at a cursory glance, Django seems a little too low level. If I'm wrong about Django, please correct me and I'll jump right in.
P.S. On a side note, it's definitely wise to seek out a mentor... after making enough money to hire a programmer for the business, my knowledge level really took-off. Up until then, getting things coded up could often be a very long and tedious process. Good luck!
I second the Django Book. I'm no CS major, but I've done a lot of Java/Android dev and read a bit about python in the past. With the Django Book and the awesome Django documentation, I felt like I knew most of the ins and outs of Django with just 2 full days of reading/tutorials. It's a very well documented framework and quite easy to pick up.
I'd be willing to answer any questions about Django on your quest for Django mastery. I'm no Django pro, but I'll help where I can. Feel free to email me: vince@[HN_username].com
How significant an issue is it how old these books are? The Django Book is from 2007 and predates even Django version 1.0, and the "in progress" second edition on the website has its last update in March 2009. Practical Django Projects is from 2008. Do these books have enough special sauce relative to up-to-date Django 1.3 documentation and tutorials to be worthwhile?
Do not waste your time with The Django Book. The Django docs are epic, and what you don't understand you can usually get assisted with on StackOverflow or in #django on freenode. Also, find a website you use a lot and create a clone of it in Django. You'll find that to be more educational than any generic tutorial.
Thanks, that is helpful. It indicates there were bigger changes from 0.9 to 1.0 than any since then; The Django Book is based on 0.9, so maybe it isn't worth spending time with now.
Practical Django Projects got an updated second edition in 2010 which would be a good thing, but...
It's unfortunately sort of half-finished. The author clearly lost interest halfway through. The accompanying github repo was never finished, but luckily at least some readers forked it and finished it.
It's a very decent book for the most part, but I hesitate to recommend it.
If you don't, finish the django book http://www.djangobook.com/en/2.0/ and start fiddling with Practical Django Projects http://www.apress.com/9781590599969. It's a decent book and gives you a feel of some real applications.
There always is stackoverflow and mailing lists if you get stuck.
You can also hop in #django on irc.freenode.net. Sometimes people on IRC can be a bit hostile but if you do your homework before asking questions, they are generally answered.
You also need to know if you are taking up on a real world project, you would need to learn other technologies - Javascript for client side interaction, html/css for UI. Django/Python are just one piece of the puzzle.