Once you have done a few there is nothing to them. Try making an attic windows quilt or Tumbling blocks quilt and they will no longer intimidate you or make you nervous.
I agree having a book that gives detail pics on what to do helps. Marking the point where you need to stop sewing is also extremely helpful in the beginning. After a while you will realize where you need to stop sewing and no longer need the mark but it really helps a lot.
They are a very good skill to have as many quilt patterns can't be done any other way, like setting in your corner squares and side triangles on a lone star quilt.