Laying a bead. A properly maintained arc makes a hissing, crackling sound as the electrode burns. Holding the arc too far away makes more buzzing and spattering. Holding the arc to close makes the rod overheat and sometimes stick to the work. It is important in laying a bead to keep the electrode moving into the weld pool as you move along.
Horizontal beads are the easiest.
With vertical beads, it is the easiest to work from the top down. For instance, if you are welding a metal box together, tack the entire box together and then go back and lay the beads solid. If you don't, the whole mess will be so warped out of shape after the first two seams you won't be able to finish the other welds. Finally, remember that welding is something that takes practice. You can't learn it from a manual.