For the "How-do-I" questions above, IMO the "practice-makes-perfect" cliche applies more to wheelbuilding than most any other area of bike mechanics.
I'd recommend using an old wheel that someone has thrown away (your LBS might have one that you can have for free) and just practice on it to your heart's content. Messing up won't cause you to panic because the wheel isn't worth anything anyway.
Big, big, big thing to keep in mind is to make adjustments in SMALL increments. For wheelbuilding start with 1 turn per spoke and work your way to 1/16th of a turn when you have it almost perfect. For truing, start with 1/4 turns and work down from there.
At first, you will have to think through each adjustment (which spoke(s), which way to turn, how much to turn). Eventually the whole process becomes instinct.
I can't think of any other aspect of bike wrenching that gives one more satisfaction that wheelbuilding.
Bob