[Hmm. Well, that's a different story, now isn't it]

Just a few basic pointers. You can only transmute things you're familiar with. I might have the materials to create a car, but without knowing how it works I can't just draw a circle and hope for the best. If you plan on getting fancy, gain as much chemical and mechanical information as possible.

Beyond that, get some chalk and practice with circles of all sizes, wherever you can. You won't always have the luxury of a smooth surface, or a transmutation that only requires a small circle. It's best to adapt to that early.