Cheer up - the more you read the more confused you can get. Don't be intimidated by the experts. If you can cut in a straight line and sew in a straight line, well-begun is half done!
Grab an easy pattern - here's the one I chose for my first and it is very forgiving -
http://www.clotilde.com/detail.html?prod_id=13453 -
and start cutting stuff up and sewing it back together! Before you know it you will be having great fun sewing and ripping out and cutting and pressing and quilting that you will get confidence. Take chances, make mistakes! It's how to learn :)