Thanks Kevin! The best thing to do is to just start writing! Some people do well writing out a detailed plot synopsis or outline, but a lot of people like to just wing it. For myself, there are certain things I like to develop before I start writing — what is the setting like, and if it’s a fantasy world, does it compare to any time period/culture on Earth? In what ways is it similar, and how is it different? Who are my main characters and what do I know of their histories? What is the major conflict?

With my first book, well, it was a first book. It was an idea that I’d had from when I was pretty young, and I kept polishing and polishing it over the years. Went to a writing workshop, learned a TON, went back and edited it again, and published it. If I could do it again, it’s that I would have really tried to get more beta readers who didn’t know me and the story, because by that time, I knew the story so well I couldn’t see where I left gaps in the storytelling. Having fresh eyes look at it would have helped a lot. The book has since been significantly revised and re-released, but it’s still carrying some reviews from that first edition — the feedback I should have gotten from beta readers. Ah well. That’s life. 🙂

So yeah, I would just say, write write write…study and learn as much as you can, realize that your first draft is likely to be terrible, but don’t get discouraged! Writing is a craft as well as an art…it takes patience and hard work and willingness to learn. But always, always enjoy yourself!