A Construct is a fabricated spiritual servitor. They are sometimes called egregores or elementaries in other systems of classification. They can be made in any form for virtually any purpose. You can make them as smart or stupid, fast or slow, as you need. You are GOD to a construct that you have created.
Don't think of failure while doing anything; such thoughts detract from your effort and scatter the force of your intent. Developing the mindset that failure is not an option and doubts are not possible whenever you commence an operation may be beneficial in keeping your focus; sort of like shifting gears in your mind beforehand everytime. I used to build a construct first then program it for the task I wanted it to perform, but you may find it easier to program it while you build it. When I create them now, they seem to spring into life without much effort, being created and programmed simultaneously. With practice, everything is always easier. The more work you put into it, the better it will be. Over time, you'll develop your own style.
Depending on your personal skills, you may or may not perceive your creation visually. It might be that you only feel its presence. This is normal.
For most people, it isn't always a good idea to try to add to a construct or change it after you make it. It can tend to screw them up if you're not careful. Generally, if you know what you're doing you can get away with it. I've never consciously added to anything. They always seem to be under my conscious control whenever I want them to be. This may not be true for all people, especially at first.
If you prefer to work with energy in the elemental phases then it is good practice to use at least 2 elements for better stability when making a construct. Remember that each element (energy in that phase) has a different function, or tends to respond differently while in that phase. Use them accordingly for best results with those methods. Otherwise, just draw in spiritual/pranic/or psychic energy (whatever you want to call it) and use it in accordance with your will.
Should you decide that a construct of yours is no longer useful prior to its termination period, you may simply return the energies used to create it to their point of origin. You are God to a construct that you have created. This is your right as a creator. I tend to disagree with some magickians who believe that once you create something it's permanent and hard to destroy. I've personally had no problems disassembling anything I've ever made, although the mental program for making it is still in my consciousness, and certainly still exists in essence within the Unmanifest...but then the essence for all things is in the Unmanifest to begin with.
If you borrow personal energy from another spirit or person (with their consent), or if you make something in conjunction with someone else, that person or spirit usually has access to the thing you made, and can destroy it if they don't like what you did with it.
As was previously mentioned, you are God to a construct that you've created. Because of this, you will also be held responsible for your creations. If something you make causes trouble, who/whatever the construct angered will eventually come looking for its creator. Might be a good idea to keep that in mind...
It should be mentioned that there are things similar to constructs known as Thought-forms. Thought-forms can be made to perform the same tasks as constructs, though there is a major difference in their creation:
A thought-form is created from your personal energy, and is thus an extension of your consciousness. It is part of you.
Constructs are made from imported energy, and although they have a link to you, they are not part of you. If you made a thought-form (for example, in the form of a lion) to attack someone/something, and your thought-form was destroyed, YOU WOULD FEEL IT. It would be highly unpleasant. However, if a construct of yours was destroyed, you would feel nothing though you would probably be aware.
It is not a good idea to create too many thought-forms at once. By doing so you risk spreading your consciousness too thinly (because you're dividing up parts of yourself), and there is always the chance that one of them could have more consciousness than the main part of you should you get too carried away (and then you're screwed). To get rid of a thought-form that you've created, simply re-absorb it back into yourself. Just Will it so, or intend it and use the imagination as a tool to do it. I have read and heard accounts of a person's negative energies or emotions toward someone/something coalescing into a harmful thought-form and attacking the individual and/or other people. If this should happen, the procedure is the same; re-absorption by the individual who created it. Though because of the nature of this particular kind of creation, one must be aware that upon re-absorption the individual will experience exactly the same negative emotions he/she was having when the thought-form came into being. The emotions and inner-conflicts that caused the creation of the thought-form must consequently be resolved and worked through to avoid a recurrence. This entire procedure can be dangerous and unpleasant, but is necessary if your thought-forms get out of control. Only the most advanced adept should ever try to absorb another person's negative thought-form; even then, he/she will have to undergo a period of purification and balancing afterward.
Something to think about: In some cases, those diagnosed as insane are often
plagued by their own uncontrollable thought-forms in the form of hallucinations.
A skilled magickian may be able to perceive and destroy them for the individual,
but unless the source of the illness is found, the person would unconsciously
create more.