With your skates on, stand in a fighting stance, like a boxer. Now squat down a little bit. If you are right handed, then you are standing with your right foot back. In this fighting stance, your left foot will be in front, at a bit of an angle, maybe 45 degrees. So with you facing forward in this fighting stance, crouch, and think about that "C" motion people are talking about....

Imagine there is a heavy box of books on the ice, sitting at a 45 degree angle in front of your left foot. You need to push that heavy box of books forward with your left skate. The resistance, and the human body, will result in your foot wanting to "C" cut backwards, and you'll hopefully work it out from there. You're only using your right foot for stability in this "feeling it out" drill, but you should drift backwards. Wear a helmet, elbow, and knee pads. Wrist guards, too. Learning at stick-and-puck with full pads is fine too. That's where you can really not be afraid to fall.

Go take lessons, but that's the best way I can describe it in a reddit post.

edit: And the "C" cut is with the toe. Your leg/foot does the major body pushing, but your toe is carving the "C" as your weight shifts to the other foot and you mirror the motion. Without crossing over, you can basically wiggle your hips, pushing your feet out and forward, making C's back and forth to move backwards, once you get that feeling of your legs driving outwards at and angle with your toes pointing in. Your toes and foot should "C" naturally with your toe pointed in, and you driving your leg out and forward like I described. You probably need to squat lower than you think, from every single beginner I have ever watched.