And here is my first tutorial! I wanted to start with something simple, so why not go straight for the basics. I use this technique most of the time when I sketch, and I must say it never failed me when practicing poses and unfamiliar characers!
Here's a little tip for traditional artists; for the basic shape stage, I recommend using a coloured pencil, like light blue or a light shade of red, and then going over those with your black pencils for the lines. If you use mechanical pencils (which I also personally recommend), there exist a wide array of coloured nibs that are really cheap in any art store. Just change the tips when going from coloured to normal!
Hope you find this helpful, and if you have any questions or recommendations for future tutorials, just let me know!