I totally agree with Datsots: practice is the key to good lather, and time spent just making lather (and then dumping it) is time and soap/cream well spent.

I'm also a newb, with only a handful of shaves under my belt so far. But I'd made untold numbers of bowls of lather before I ever picked up a razor. My first attempts were all over the map; some lathers were soupy, others pasty, and a few were really good. But I soon figured out a method that consistently produced good results. For me, the key was adding TINY amounts of water as the lather developed.

Of course, now I dread trying a different soap or cream, since that will likely mean learning a new recipe! (Just kidding...it's just another enjoyable part of the traditional shaving experience.)