Hi,
i have read a lot about how hard it is to start soldering, i find myself once in the same situation, technique gets better though

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few other tips, or maybe some already answered:
a. Always clean your verboard or perf board solder pad, i use a fine grain sand paper i can find, or sometimes i washed the board with a scotch-brite. A clean solder pads always helps to get the tin stick very well.
b. Always clean component leads before soldering, the easiest way for me to clean it with a small knife, make sure all those dirt or whatever it is scraped away from the component lead, just dont do it too hard, you might cause the lead too thin, or cut your finger.
c. Get a good soldering iron, with enough heat, i have a couple of 40watt goot iron with different tip sizes, these should last very long without excessive/abusive use. It is not recommended to use the solder tip to move around component lead or wires,, put the iron down, use a small long nose plier, and resolder. sometime i do get tempted to do this because i am too lazy, end up replacing solder tips quite a few times in short period.
d. Get a good solder flux, these helps very much, carefull not to make the flux dirty with other material, these to make sure that the solder tip will stay clean.
e. Get solder iron sponge, dont forget to water it before use. i do find using this very helpful to clean the tip. remove any dirt or material being left off in the sponge.
f. Get a few different size of tin, smaller pad use smaller tin, bigger pads/terminal use bigger tin, its not always practical, but IMO, this reduce the amount of time to solder, which sometime too long will damage your component... and dont forget to get a good tin quality, not necessarily the expensive silver tin though

g. Always put the iron on the iron holder, for safety and not causing the iron to burn something else when you put it anywhere you like... and belive me again, i came across to an electric shock because the iron burns the line cord and left the wire open... bzzzzztttt... there you go...

. give clearence where you put your irons and watch where the line cord going on your workbench.
i belive theres more about soldering iron, i write some more later

i find the best way to use iron is to be a little bit patient, keep distance from you eyes, use safety goggles is recommended... oh yeah, dont use shorts while soldering

... i dont want to elaborate more on this particular issue

later guys!