I Need Suggestions On How To Time Car Correctly

I recently installed a new distributor in my 90 civic DX, but getting the thing to start has been a b!tch. I've been doing this
1: Cylinder 1 at TDC
2: Ignition Rotor pointed at Cylinder one.

I've been putting the "up" marker on the camshaft pulley at the 12 o'clock position more or less to find TDC.
Also took off the spark plug and felt that it was on the compression stroke.

Is it really that hard or should the car just start right away when installing the dizzy?
I don't want to have a mechanic do it 'cause I just don't have the moolah right now so I'd really appreciate some advice. Maybe I'm not doing something right or maybe I'm forgetting to do something.

The car did start three times yesterday after playing with the dizzy while cranking it and it sounded like it was running fine. But when I'd shut it off and try to start it again nothing. The second time it started I let it run and it ran for about a half hour without any problems but when I revved it, it just started smoking real bad, sputtered and just died. Third time I was halfway around the block before it just sputtered and died.

The thing is that I don't really have anyone to help out while I'm trying to start it so is this something that can be done alone ?

It's really kicking my ass

well it sounds like you've got the right idea but if your not sure you really should get it sorted by the pro's, if something goes wrong then you could end up having to replace the pistons or even worse the whole head, just my opinion though, if your confident with it you could get a haynes manual or something, it explanes exactly how to do it in there,,,,,,,.......,,,,,,,.....

Tallon,
1. Take number 1 spark plug out
2. Take cover off that covers the timing belt (at drivers side end of motor. I pry the cover out from under the valve cover so I don't need to take the valve cover off........Your choice.
3. Take a milkshake straw and place vertically in and on top of piston number 1.
4. Take 17mm socket and ratchet, place on harmonic balancer (bottom pulley on front of engine crankshaft). Turn pulley counter clockwise, watching straw go up or down on top of piston. When straw is at its highest, that will be TDC.
5. Look at timing belt pulley at the end of the valve cover .This is another reason you took off the timing belt cover.
6. The pulley will have two straight slots that at TDC, will line up even with the top edges of the head.
7. If this is not there........you may have jumped timing 3-4 notches on your timing belt.
8. Before you start this check your spark plug wires to the distributor.
9. If you wish to do more mechanicing a good HELMS manual on the CRX will help considerable.

no need for the straw crap...
first, put the car in fifth gear and no parking brake so you can pull the car forward.
now look from above at ur crank pulley. There will be 4 timing marks on it. There will be 3 bunched together and a fourth one about an inch away from it. pull ur car forward until that 4th mark lines up with the timing mark located on the lower timing belt cover. when that is lined up, check to see if ur cam gear marks line up with the ones on ur upper timing belt cover. If they don't, loosen ur tensioner pulley (14 mm). slide off the belt. hand turn the cam gear (or with pliers) until the lines are lined up on the cam gear. no slide the belt back over the gear and tighten the belt at the tensioner pulley. Now tighten the pulley to 40 ft/lbs of torque. Done...i've done it this way for years and it only takes about 10 mins to do.