Right length spokes are key.

Good tools really help - spoke wrench, tensionometer, and, if you can get one, a decent wheel truing stand.

The best thing to do is to build a wheel properly and slowly. Then do it again. And again. And again.

Book learning is good, but like some things in life, you have to practice it in person to get the hang of it.

My first wheel took me a good 3-4 hours, and I had someone telling me (between phone calls, customers, and repairs) what to do. Now I'm disappointed in myself if I don't produce a raceable wheel in 45 minutes. My record is lower, I can't remember, but something like 19 minutes for a front wheel. A mechanic that worked with me used to work in a factory in South America assembling wheels piecemeal (he got paid by the wheel, not by time). He could build a raceable front wheel in 12 minutes (well that's what we witnessed him do - he claims that wasn't his fastest, and I believe him).

For me, "raceable" means you put on a tire, put the wheel on your bike, and do a slammin' 25 mile crit, head down a 55 mph descent with switchbacks and potholes, or for a out and back 130 mile ride - you have to put absolute faith that the newly built wheel is in excellent shape and will not fail.

cdr