Soldering, Chips for Beginners
What would I do? :). I'd spin a batch of cheap 2 layer boards as one unit then cut them out on my band saw.  Just a foot print for the h bridge out to some test points.   Then either solder the wires to the test points or add 100 mil headers and use those plug in jumpers to make connections to motors.

If I could afford that if do laser printer transfer to bare copper and etch them myself.

I like surfboards too, it's what I use to quickly wire something up.