Direction involves technique and alignment. To start the ball on a consistent line, you must have a repeating stroke, preferably one that is straight back and straight through to your intended target. Alignment is much easier when all your body parts are pointing in the same direction. Ideally, you would like your shoulders, arms and feet all pointing parallel left of your target.
Distance is usually the tougher thing to control.
Having a repeating stroke allows you to hit the putt in the same spot on the clubface. This, in turn, gives you the same roll on the ball each time you putt. Allowing your arms to swing the putter the same length back and through will help in judging the distance of the putt. To have good distance control, you must put some time in practicing longer putts on the putting green. Touch comes from taking the points I mentioned above and putting them to use on a regular basis.