The first step in running the cable and installing boxes is to walk around the basement with the wiring diagram in hand, marking on the floor and adjacent studs the locations of all switch boxes and outlets. Make up a ledger stick, a piece of scrap wood with marks for the height of switches and outlets. Use that to make marks at a consistent height all around the room(s).
At each location nail a box in place. I used large boxes so that there was plenty of room for wire inside. This was entirely for convenience, although the code dictates the minimum size of a box based on the number of wires and receptacles in the box. A separate cover attaches to the front of the box, and the outlet or switch attaches to that.
Then drill all the holes. In hind sight I would recommend renting a right-angle drill (if you don't happen to own one). I used my regular cordless drill, but with the big auger bit I used to drill the holes, it barely fit between the studs, which made for some dicey drilling.
After drilling all the holes, start pulling cable.
I bought a big 1,000 foot spool of 12-2 NM (12 gauge, two-wire non-metallic sheathed) cable for the project, and it wasn't enough. I've made a number of trips to Home Depot for 50 foot boxes since then. For each run of cable, roll out enough cable to get it laid out flat on the floor, then start feeding it through the holes. Use needle-nosed pliers to guide the cable around corners where necessary, but don't pull too hard on the cable. Its tough stuff, but its not made for a Strong Man competition.
At each box, cut the cable leaving enough extra so that at least 8 inches of cable can extend past the front of the box.
At the service panel end, I cut several extra feet of cable to ensure that I had plenty of slack for running into the box. I was probably TOO generous there. I ended up at the end of the project needing an 11 foot piece of cable and had about ten feet left, so I had to buy another box. Grrr....
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