I feel everyone should have a simple "trade safe" strategy. My "trade safe" strategy has been refined to dip buying only earnings winners before 10 am. 

The trends in stock picking I have seen is using STT to look for percent gainers. I further isolate the stocks that have posted positive 4th quarter earnings news using STT news.

I will typically select 2 or 3 stocks to watch pre market, all earnings winners. I like previous day (earning winners) runners/spikers so I can see previous clean spike range because this is the gains I loosely predict. I use previous market day highs and lows to analyze support levels (all the levels through the day) and resistance levels (lowest resistance for planning purposes). In my limited trading opinion, earnings winners seem to follow the previous market day patterns (support/resistance) better. 

I feel more comfortable buying above the dip on a green candle while watching the Bid on Level 2 hopefully rise. When Im in the trade I watch the Level 2 Bid because I noticed that the bid shows general price trend.  I look for 2 things, the price starts stacking up lower than my purchase price (then I sell immediately with no hesitation) or that the price is increasing. What makes me more nervous is if the price goes sideways. As the price increases I watch for the previous resistance on the chart or the half dollar (.50 cent) and full dollar (nearest dollar) which may be spots the stock will pause at so I can plan to sell at those points.  

My number one lesson from losses is not buying at support. And because I didnt buy at support I set myself up for a lot of risk this way. Because of that I was not selling right away when the share price dropped. It took me a couple 900/1000 dollar losses to realize its not worth holding at all when the Bid in level 2 starts to dropping against you. In order to fix this, Ill buy only at support and right after I purchase stock Ill load the Sell with shares amount and update the Limit order price so I am ready to sell in the blink of an eye while Ill keep an eye on the bid in the Level 2 throughout the time Im in a position. Another lesson learned from losses is to limit my trading to before 10am. The market seems to stabilize soon after 10am and trading becomes less profitable for me in general.