I'm at the end of my tether trying to get my starter started. I have tried and failed three times, and I'm probably doing (or not doing) something really obvious. I need some help, so here is how I do it wrong.

I have a glass jar with a sealable lid (although I dont seal it in case it goes bang), and I add 1 cup of bread flour and 1 cup of warm water and mix to a batter.

My first two attempts took 24 hours to form a nice bubbly mixture with the texture of melted mozzarella, I threw half the mix away, and fed with half a cup of flour and half a cup of water. the following day the mixture had split in three, with about 1/4" of liquid (hooch?) between a runny layer of starter underneath, and a thick bubbly mixture on top. I tried another feed and the mix split in two, just liquid and very runny flour mixture.

My third attempt (day before yesterday) nothing after 24 hours, so I didnt feed it. This morning, the mix had tripled and flowed all over my worktop! there was about 1/4" of un frothy mix in the bottom, so I gave it a stir. I came home from work today and it had split in two again loads of liquid and a thin flour mix. Have I killed it? or would a bit of patience paid off. (I havent thrown it away yet, just in case it is salvagable)

HELP!!!!