I went to a creative writing class last year, after a lifetime of vague yearning to write. It wasn't very good, but it led to me joining UK Authors, an online writing community, which as well as offering supportive, creative criticism of short stories or poetry, has weekly and monthly challenges for both. I can recommend this as a route to discovering whether or not you really want to write, and as a way of measuring yourself against fellow members' output. Some are truly talented writers, who have been published. The monthly challenges, in addition, take you out of your comfort zone and give you a deadline, both of which are vital to my continuing output.
And yes, I've started my novel. I've written two chapters.