Need advice with regards to filing finger nails

I'm crappy at filing my finger nails ( natural nails). I can never get them even. Sometimes one section is a bit longer or choppy. I own a glass file and a normal nail file. What is the proper way of filing nails? I heard your suppose to angle the file a certain way?I know they say not to file back and forth, only in one direction.

My nails are becoming a bit too long (they grow fast). Is it best to use a finger nail clipper first and then file?

Thanks! :)

Hold the nail file at a 45 degree angle.

I read somewhere that you should follow the shape of your nail bed, so if it is squared then you should square off your nails, or if they are really curved or rounded then you should do them in an oval shape. My nail beds are fairly flat and squared so I do my nails squared, plus I have long fingers and oval nails just look too weird paired with long skinny fingers.

In one direction with a glass file...never saw back and forth.

Thanks for all the tips! :)