tips/hints for
#1
#2
Find the center of the room & start from there. I use chalklines on the floor to keep my alignment, most beginners use cross spacers. If this is much of a floor, I'd either rent of just buy a small wet saw. Felker has a real nice one for like $100 and you can get your $$ back after the job by peddling it on e-bay. Have you researched your sub-floor to ensure you have proper support for a tile install? Can't have much deflection in order to get a good install that won't crack.