Sourdough starer help

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Help with starter please!!

Hei, I've been trying sourdough recently with varying levels of success but I just have a question about making a starter for sweet breads. 

I'm using recipes from a specific book which was recommended to me by someone who has been making sourdough for decades, they also gifted me some of their starter so I can assume my beginning starter was correct. 

So the book I'm using gives the following recipe for refreshing sweet starter;

25g starter 

100g flour 

60ml water

30g sugar

However anytime I try this it is a ball of glue and I always end up adding extra water as it's impossible to mix. 

Does this seem normal?

The recipe for refreshing regular starter from this book is;

5g starter

40ml water

30g flour

This one turns out a more manageable consistency but I notice it's very different to other recipes I've seen on this thread 

Any feedback or insight would be appreciated!

One more time (I keep saying that) - water and flour is all that's needed. Instruction is by me somewhere here. Anything else can be added after the fact. Most don't wait long enough for a starter to develop - so - give it the time it needs - which is told by the starter. Enjoy!