Great question! Thanks for asking.
I know that more "famous" barefoot runners than myself, like Barefoot Ted and Barefoot Ken Bob, have their core tips for starting out running unshod -- and they're great -- but I'd be happy to come up with a few of my own.
So, Barefoot Michael's 3 Top Tips for Starting Out Running Barefoot:
1) Walk Barefoot.
Wait. Did I say that right? Indeed, dear reader, I did. If you have to crawl before you can walk, you've got to walk before you can run. Your feet are likely very accustomed to being encased in shoes, some of which haven't been to friendly to your paws.
I always recommend that you first reintroduce your feet to your head. Walk on surfaces you're not used to in order to get your mind used to all the sensitivity that's built into your soles. You don't just want to start running on a part of your body that's been shielded away from sensation for a long time.
Not only that, but your feet need some time to strengthen up. Walk up and down stairs without shoes. Do some exercises barefoot. Go outside and walk a hilly park barefoot. Reacquaint yourself with your feet before you EVER start running on them.
2) Get Ready to Hurt...For a Little While.
Whether you're a runner now or not, your body is going to take some time to adjust to the different muscles and joints that are used when running barefoot. Start out running barefoot for no more than a couple of minutes. That will be enough to leave your calves sore the next couple of days. That's okay, it always happens. Likewise, the pads of your feet may be a bit raw. That's also normal and the beginning of the process to thicken the soles on your feet. Each time you run barefoot your calves will get a bit less sore and your soles will be a little less rough. Give barefoot running some time and the soreness and pain will go away and leave pleasure in their wake.
3) Don't Think Too Much.
Unless you were trapped in a box your whole childhood, you ran. And when you ran, you likely didn't think about it. Why? You were having fun then, and you can do it again now. My point is this: You already know how to run. What's more, you know how to run barefoot. You just have to get yourself back into the "groove" and let your body do the rest.
Now, something very important to remember is that you CAN still get hurt. Nobody will ever tell you that running barefoot eliminates all possibility of injury. If they do, they're lying to you. Listen to your body. If your "gut" is telling you something's not right and that pain is more than just soreness, rest. If it gets worse, rest more and get it checked out.
I tend to run more often with my Vibram Five Fingers on, so ironically I tend to do some bouts of barefoot running as therapy. Even with the small padding of the VFF's, sometimes I start to get sloppy and fall back into my shod-past habits.
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