Everybody here has given you some great input, but I would like to reiterate the baby steps.

I was fairly succesful with my first shave, only one or two weepers and nothing worse then I got with a standard razor, but I only shaved my cheeks and I only did a downward stroke.

I slowly added more and more of my face until after a couple weeks I tackled the full face shave. You learn how to handle your razor and how to approach different parts of your face. Straight razor shaving requires quite a few different strokes and hand-holds.

It is definitely worth the time it takes to learn the art for a multitude of reasons. I love it when people I don't know very well walk into my bathroom and are astonished by the fact I actually use one of these things regularly.

Just make sure you don't get proud once you do get the hang of it. The worse cut I ever had was four months after I had started using a straight. I was going too fast and I was using my round point Dovo. It sunk into my cheek like a spade in freshly turned earth. Don't let this be discouraging though; three years later and I am still shaving with a straight razor. For me it was even more encouraging because I realized that I was using something that could do a great deal of damage if not respected, just like using any other kind of tool.