I'm finding that the way I hold the razor has a major effect on whether I'm able to keep the blade flat on the stone throughout each stroke.

What is the best way to grip the razor?

Do you hold the hone in your hand or rest it on a workbench?

I'm using 4/8K Japanese waterstones, and to this point I've been laying them on a desk while I work. I've had trouble keeping the edge from rising off the stone toward the end of the first part of the X-stroke.