My writing background came about later in life when after reading many novels (mainly of the crime/suspense variety) I decided that this is not so hard. So I wrote a 300 page novel that I tossed aside immediatley.  But the most important aspect of that exercise was that the seed had been planted that I wanted to write.  I wrote my first novel early in the morning before my regular job and wrote and rewrtote and revised with the help of a great writing coach.