Try using a 7018 rod. It is very forgiving and easy to use. Set your welder around 110-120 amps and see what happens. What rod are you using now and what are you trying to weld, size, thickness, like metals? Also, you might not have the rod close enough to the metal. Ideally you only want to be about 1/8" away. If you cannot start a puddle and lay down a bead then either your your amps are off, or you are not close enough. Like the other guy said, get it to the point to where you are burning through the steel and then back off from there. It sounds like you are not close enough though. Don't be afraid to get the tip of the rod close. If it keeps sticking, turn up the welder till it doesn't. Really it just takes practice. Also, when you get good you will recognize the sounds a good arc makes vs a bad arc. My Dad can weld blind folded and still weld better than most.