I am installing vinyl tiles that look like wood planks, should I lay them the length of the rooms or should I try to make the space seem wider by laying them the width of the space?

Most planklike materials; laminate, engineered wood and tile, are laid longwise with the length of the room. You can do it any way you want including on the diagonal but what I said is a standard for most homeowners.

Thanks that's what I've seen on all the shows just wondered if my space could look less like a long shoe box

If there is other flooring nearby, it would make sense to lay in the same way.

You might think it will look like a bowling alley but crosswise will be very busy and make it look smaller than it is.