How and when should I?

I think if you want to write a book, you should. I have always wanted to write a book, but I never have (other than 2 short ebooks). Actually, I have written a few books when I was in high school, but they weren't very good, lol. I don't even have them anymore! The hardest part is getting started and after you get started, the hardest part is staying motivated to finish the book. You should check out a project called NANOWRIMO http://www.nanowrimo.org/ They challenge people to write a book in 30 days. It doesn't have to be good or logically sequenced, you don't proofread while writing, you just write. And most people at the end have a novel that just needs a bit of polishing :) Good luck in your novel writing!!

Don't put it off!!! I am also in school (online) to become a teacher :) I say just do it. If you put it off, there will always be something that comes up to keep you from it. Do you wish your book to be a story about yourself? If that is the case, you just need to find the angle to present it. ANother thing you can do is saturate yourself with reading books and articles from the genre you wish to write. One more thing, get active on a few writing sites, get your name out there and your work seen. This will also get you some feedback from your readers, and build up your self-confidence and abilities. But don't put your book off, keep working on it little by little as you do the others, and before you know it, you will have your first copy in your hands!!