Confession time, want to trigger me in full on RANT? Make a statement like, "I want to learn X, how do I start?" It's rude, but SERIOUSLY, it is this hugely cringe-worthy facepalm kind of thing to me. Am I alone in this? How does any project begin? You get the necessary materials and specifications organized and you GET TO FLIPPIN WORK. I program for a living.
I write code that generates an outcome based on some set of expectations. I break down the requirements into pieces, then to get started, I often build prototypes as a proof of concept. I don't wander around the workspace asking questions like... "How do I start?" ... I like being gainfully employed so, even if I didn't know how to self-start... I would figure it out.
The next time you ask "how to start" ... maybe jump to taking your foot off the brakes. Each time I write a program, I take what I know of algorithms and techniques, and then connect and/or fill in the gaps in order to reach a satisfactory outcome. Is writing a short story or book really any different? Not significantly. In fiction, you have characters, world, and plot. You have a guiding premise (your project specifications and requirements).
In all of this, you know what the really big difference is? When it comes to your own elective project, YOU are the boss. You are the architect, designer, implementor, tester, and quality assurance specialist. Nobody will tell you what to do, or when. No one will hold your feet to the fire, or scold you... and worst of all, nobody will tell you to stop dorking around and get to work. Oh, well, I will -- I will totally tell you to knock it off and stop asking questions you actually already know the answers to.
Still, it really is the case here. This 'no feet to the fire' is what crushes so many creative hopefuls to a standstill. Given absolute freedom... even a basic step becomes (apparently) unclear. This is what managers, supervisors, and team leads (optimally) do... push and enforce discipline (rules, deadlines, etc.) One word. INITIATIVE. In my experience, some of the most successful creatives I have worked with are entrepreneurs and working bosses -- colloquially, people that know how to get stuff done.
Understand, as an editor, I can teach you stuff even if what you've written is horrible. Two thousand words of horrible prose is infinitely better than nothing-- i.e. standing around asking how to start or I don't know how... or any of three thousand variations of 'I'd rather make excuses than actually risk trying and failing'. TRY.