tl;dr - take control of your mental state, force yourself to interact, don't let negative feedback discourage you, and use strong, direct body language.

AYY! First and foremost - I have to thank Seddit, as I feel like it's the main reason I've gotten off my ass since my breakup and started working to memorize and apply the principles necessary to successfully interact with girls on a more escalative level. So thanks y'all!

So - my weekend ended with something like 15 numbers (don't really consider that a win), three makeouts, and one take home (didn't sex but I didn't really try for it, I was legitimately too tired to have sex). Lots of sustained interest from a few of them so good news on that front too. Basically, Friday night started out tired and not really full-assing it - was at a festival all day, dancing to EDM. Was approaching, but not confidently, and without good body language, and getting discouraged by initial resistance. Then, met up with a fellow 'pua'-type, and flipped the switch in my brain to say "just fck it, yo." Approached a set of four (2 guys, 2 girls), and went from initial "who the fck is this" vibe to entertaining the group and having them ask to meet me at the next bar. Then went out on the streets. For the most part, used a high five opener, and then proceeded to let it flow. All weekend. I'm naturally pretty decent at conversation, it's just body language and escalation tricks that I needed to work on - the intricacies ;) Here's what I learned:

  • Mental State - the MOST IMPORTANT part of it all. If your mind isn't cooperating with your actions, you will come off as incongruent, and therefore creepy, and the female mind (trained to pick up on subcommunication better than an animal can smell fear) will tear you up. Once you fix your mental state, things will flow better. Focus on entertainment - this is all for fun. Every time I get blown out or walked away from, I let out a hearty laugh, just to remind myself that this is all about having a good time. Sometimes they hear it (I don't really care if they do), and the next time we interact they're actually more receptive. Be outcome independent - you're simply happy to be talking to someone, to be practicing and learning a process. Aim to provide value, but don't worry too much about it, as your most valuable self is your most comfortable self (Note: That isn't to say don't work on becoming the best version of yourself, but rather to not focus on your shortcomings). Remember that rejection could have very little to do with you - so never take it to heart. Even if it comes with a direct insult, realize that the person is project their own insecurities onto you, and you're more valuable and grounded than to let a stranger break you down.
  • When approaching - Good body language (explained below) is important. I don't typically grab a hand or try to hug immediately, because I've always gotten negative responses to such forwardness. I use high-five openers, or simply don't touch the girl until the handshake introduction. Occasionally, this is where i'll take the opportunity to spin them. It sets me apart from most of the guys she's probably met that night.
  • Don't let AFCs/intrusions on your set bother you - as a matter of fact, utilize them, they can be handy in showing that you have good character. Unless they're actually hurting your set, befriend them, make jokes to them, treat them as good people. Allow them a quick feeling of being part of the group, then be sure to isolate so that they don't have more opportunity to interfere. They can actually be used as a good segway into isolation - a bigger group means anyone who wasn't occupied with an interaction now can be, so you can focus your attention on the one you're interested in. AMOGs are something I'm still working on - but as for a good frame to come from, identify their hostility as an insecurity on their own part. A good alpha will let the woman decide for herself - and if that means losing her to the man who approached her, it's no skin off his back, because he's either got several more lined up, has already "been there, done that" with the one the newcomer is after, or is simply not emotionally invested with that woman. If he IS invested, she'll be at least equally (if not more) invested and do the rejecting. You're better off losing a chick that's willing to f*ck another guy based on his approach - she's obviously already over you.
  • Body language - chest up, standing straight, eye contact (when breaking it, look up, not down or to the side), slower conversation (when going from casual to more personal), embracing pregnant pauses (maintain eye contact, glance at lips if you'd like to), taking every opportunity to kino. edit: Speak from the bottom of your chest, project your voice confidently. When first practicing this, you'll probably feel like you're yelling, but once you gain control of this talking style, you'll be able to perform all the tonality you usually do at this deeper, more projected, more authoritative level.
  • Few (specific) tricks on kino - when laughing, lightly place a hand on the small of her back for a moment, or on her arm if it's more convenient. Don't pay an attention to it, just perform and act as if it's a natural part of interaction for you. Somewhere in the interaction, take her hand and spin her. Hold for ever so slightly longer than is necessary for you to end the spin. Later on in the interaction, you can find an opportunity to take her hand and hold it for longer. It should come to the point where you're hand in hand for the rest of the interaction. Move her, either by the small of her back (early) or by her hand (later). You can pretty much kiss her whenever you'd like once you get good eye contact and receptiveness to kino (I use prolonged hand holding as a good metric). I like to wait until we're isolated from the group for a moment - I typically switch back and forth from isolating and talking to the group, until I have a solid isolation going.
  • Shit tests are simply a question of whether you're confident in yourself or not. When reframing, use a stance that empowers yourself. Don't be afraid to use this as an excuse to perform some self-deprecating humor (make sure it's REALLY funny though, because if it's not you're just gonna affirm being lame) if that is what comes naturally in the moment. If you can't handle a little fun being poked at you, stop taking yourself so damned seriously.

This rambled a bit, and I'll probably add as more comes to mind, but let me know what y'all think! Thanks again, seddit!