Create a practice dovetail joint each day for 30 days.

Create a practice setup with a soft wood such as Poplar (I have also used Cherry scrap). I try to avoid pine for dovetails if I can.

If your boards are not uniform, square, etc, then you will have poor results.

At least when you start, test your cuts to see if they are perpendicular to the face.

It is easier to cut a dovetail in 1/2 inch wood than in 1 inch wood (since if your angles are off a bit, the difference is greater with 1 inch wood).

I was feeling pretty good about my dovetails after creating some nice looking dovetails in cherry (kind of soft), and then I created a dovetailed Tansu for my wife made out of some very hard wood (hickory??). Wood that does compress is not forgiving. Ouch! Goodbye ego!