Is the paper kind of dissolved into fibers and small clumps, or still recognizable as paper?

It may need some beating, as with an electric kitchen mixer. If you want to try it, look at the wattage of your mixer.  If it is under 300 watts, add more water to the paper so you don't damage the motor. If it's 300 watts or more, you can use less water.  But since you added PVA, you may still have to add more water. It will dilute/wash out the PVA, but you can add more later. I think it's best to add whatever adhesive AFTER you get the pulp into the condition you want it. IMHO.

Beat it, then let it drain in a wire sieve until it's about the consistency you're looking for.  Press it a bit if you need to. Then add more PVA.

Just keep in mind that this is not, and will never be, clay. Paper fibers, even when broken down to basics (or even if they've never been paper yet), will cling to themselves to form clumps.  Even when there's a LOT of water in the mix, there will be clumps.  Even when there is more water than fiber, there will be clumps.  It's the nature of paper.

When paper fibers are cast, they are usually very wet. They are lifted out of the water on a screen, drained and maybe patted a bit with paper towels, then applied to the mold.  If you are applying your PM to an armature or form, you might try applying it rather wet, then pressing it into shape (and to remove more of the water) with a napless cloth (dishcloths, old cloth napkins, old cloth diapers, etc).

The easiest way to apply it to a form may be to roll it out between two sheets of waxed paper to the thickness/thinness you want, then carefully apply in palm-sized or smaller 'sheets', and press the edges together. You can just take clumps and press them in place, too, but the results may not be quite as smooth. (Well, it could be, maybe, if you are more patient than I am...).

Just remember The Papier Mache Rule:  Experiment, Experiment, Experiment!

Some ways work with certain kinds of paper best, with more or less water best, with certain adhesives best, etc. And some methods work better for some kinds of projects.

Just have fun finding them!

p.s. I find flour is good for baking, but not for PM. My opinion.

Sue

Padlock the door to your kitchen, you will find that you use so many of your kitchen implements to make pm and then turn around and wonder why you can't sift flour, blend soup or liquidize fruit.  So far I have comandeered, a sieve, a colander, a blender, a liquidizer, two preserving pans, several bowls and a tablespoon.  Then I turned my attention to my husbands tool kits..........

hi laurel,
i thought i would stop in and say hi...
I'm in australia as well.. only a 12 hour non stop drive from you in northern NSW LOL
when i
I'm working with pulp and want it more clay like i mix together aquadhere and wallpaper paste made up into a runny jelly consistency in a mixer untill fluffy and then mix the relatively dryish pulp into that...
just one more appliance to get LOL  you might also find appliances on freecycle for your area to save a bit of money

Hi everyone...thank you so much for the warm welcome!
the wallpaper paste did the trick...of course I made up too much the first time out, but learning as I go.
The pulp came out fantastic...did some small things just to practice shaping it and getting the idea. Some small medallions and beads for my altered book project (I've been a paper lover all my life, I think). Then I did a bowl in a mould. I also actually got my tree done for my mixed media project. 
LOVE that wallpaper paste.
Much solid mashing as david said, and I had my 'clay'.
now I'm waiting for that sun to dry things out....and waiting...lol !

Is there a curing period? I think I need to check out the tutorials again and see if they mention that. I want to make sure everything is dried completely before I gesso and paint.

Right now, I am mixing everything by handpower, but let me tell you, my wish shopping list has been started

Thank you all for your friendly responses...and ellen,I guess I'll start walking!
laurel