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Apple has their Human Interface Guide [1]. Even if you don't program using their elements, it's still an excellent first read to understand the thinking behind a number of the visual elements you often take for granted. Google and a number of others often publish their interface guides as well.

[1] https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/UserEx...

My best advise is to think of it almost procedural. Start off making something and test it yourself and you'll start smelling all the things off about it. Ideas to get to a good understanding incorporate a MLS into a search and try to pull off the simplest search (less form elements) you can getting the queried data you want.

> A best practices text, or a guide for how to avoid the most obvious usability mishaps?

https://www.goodui.org