Jinny Beyer has several videos on youtube.com that are informative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnu7ow5mJJI
If I am going to use many pieces that are the same size and shape, I make two templates - one to cut around and one to draw the stitching lines around. I need "assistance" to maintain a straight line.
The biggest advantage to hand-piecing is that one can press the pieces any-which-way.