I used to be afraid of feathers, then I drew them all the time and finally got the hang of it. Try the bump bump feathers Karen McTavish shows here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMxfi6C9vv0 If the backtracking is an issue, just move your feathers an eighth of an inch (or less) apart and you'll find that easier. These are the first feathers I learned:
http://www.sallyterry.com/Public/Pro...hers/index.cfm