Need direction. where to start with writing?
I’ve been on Y!Answers for a long time, so I know there are 1001 questions about “How do I become a writer!?” but that’s not the kind of general question I’m asking.
I’m looking for a specific answer about where I should start, or what kind of goal I should set for myself. Writing has been strictly a hobby for me - a few short stories posted online, a kid’s book for my niece, some snippets of a novel that seems like such an overwhelmingly huge project that I could never finish it…
My problem is, I feel unstructured, and I have a lifetime goal to publish a book. I feel like I haven’t taken enough classes to have a serious goal when it comes to my writing. I feel unqualified to write a novel, despite my desire to.
I know I’ll never finish unless I feel like I can be successful. Should I 1) focus time on writing and setting goals and just finishing the novel, despite my inexperience or 2) invest my time in structured classes and workshops, with my novel as “side project” with “writing” in general as my goal?
Thanks in advance for your help and advice! 
Adan
