Concur with practicing making lather. Proper lather will have the consistency of whipped cream (the real stuff).

From your explanation it sounds like your angle might be to great. WTG strokes should require an angle of approximately 30 degrees. Focus on that angl;e. Use just enough pressure to keep the edge against skin, and no more. As tempting as it is to do it all at once, shave just the area between the sideburn and jaw line. Learn your pressures and angles there. As you gain more confidence you can other areas of your face. This is not a race...