i'm pretty much self taught. Bonnie Hunter & the internet weren't around when i first started quilting, EB was just starting out also, none of her great ideas were in print yet. i've developed many easier ways or short cuts to do things when piecing quilts, making quilys over the decades.
my way of doing rows of blocks ..
across top or diagonally from top left corner ..pin block to nxt block etc across the row. sit down & stitch all these blocks together. pin sewn row back to wall. do following rows same way till all sewn. then start adding row one to next row, then add next row to bottom edge of first two rows etc till done. since i've gotten my ipad i can take pics of arrangements and compare until i decide on arrangement i like. if helpful furry friends disturb things while i'm sewing things together, i have the ipad pic to replace all on wall in correct arrangement.