Hi lemondew....
If you keep booking small profits,then how will you get large runs when markets trend because there also you will take small profits...so the key is develop an ability to judge when the market is making small moves and when the market is going to make a large move...this can be judged from the market action. Example : Bajaj Finance I had posted that in a weak market the stock is closing at all time high so it will go through the roof once the market improves a little...and see what it is doing...
Though I trade based on charts,I also give lots of importance to how market reacts to various events,news,support /resistances . But I feel that someone like XRAY who is a purely systems trader will be more qualified to help you with your questions.....he does lots of backtests too which will be of help to you...
Smart_trade