I'm new to composting too (going on two months). I didn't use a starter, and according to the booklet that came w/ the composter, it could be up to a year before I have actual composte. If you turn the composte every week, you will help things along. You also want to keep the material at the wetness of a wrung-out sponge.
I started out w/ laying down a layer of twigs for airflow. Then I put down a good layer of "brown" material (leaves), followed by a layer of "green" (kitchen scraps and lawn clippings). I did a few layers of each to start out. For the next 6 weeks or so I added kitchen scraps every other day or so, with a good layer of more leaves. Now instead of adding more leaves, I just turn the pile onto the scraps.
I also have fruit flies. I think this is ok. Regular flies are bad (creates maggots). You want to build an internal temperature higher of the outdoor temp. I want to invest in a compost thermometer, b/c I have read that the pile should not be turned at certain temps (as it "kills" the temp).
I have read that you can put human hair in the pile, but I don't know about pet hair. You can put in dryer lint, if you use an electric dryer, that is!
I have noticed that my scraps decompose pretty quickly, except for grapefruit rinds and broc. ends. My compost smells so wonderful w/ the grapefruit!
I am learning by trial and error, and since I started this partly as an experiment (and partly so as not to waste my kitchen scraps), I like the live and learn aspect of composting.
I hope yours turns out well.
