: Re: An engineering student wants to write fiction, where to start? I'm a computer engineering student, programmer, avid book lover and have a very vivid (some would say "screwed up") mind. I recently

@Phylliss352

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There are a lot of answers here already, some of which I might contradict in part, but here's the procedure I'd advise, given my own experience in world-building. (BTW skim-reading some of the links here may help before you start.)

Bullet-point, brainstorm or otherwise succinctly map out the way your world works. Don't waste 50k on this; this isn't what your novel will be.
Similarly devise characters for your story. If you need a plot in mind to do this invent one first, but be prepared to alter or even replace it to fit these characters.
Devise a plot that is at least consistent with your characters. You can be as much of a plotter or a pantser as you like for this, i.e. you can let as much or as little of the detail as you like exist before you write the first draft. However, have a rough idea what story you're telling in this world.
Write a draft in which the plot happens, the characters and their relationships are fleshed out with no show/tell violations, and the way your world works is clear when it needs to be. You can spell out some details of that as you go, especially in Chapter 1, but be prepared to junk world-building that doesn't really advance your plot or characters. Be careful any world-building doesn't happen with lazy methods like "as you know..." being said to characters.
Rewrite chapter 1, in whole or in part, to ensure it hits the ground running with characters, not plot. You may need similar excision of material later.
Read through the whole draft, changing whatever needs it. It's not just about typos; you need your characters to be consistent, you need to fix plot holes, you need to make sure the reader will understand etc.
When you've made the draft as good as you can get it, get someone else's feedback to make it better, preferably someone who doesn't know you well. I don't care if you have to find a fellow novelist, then promise to beta-read their manuscript in return for their beta-reading yours. Just make sure you get an external insight. Do not be downhearted by the criticism; act on it (except where you think they're wrong, but don't disagree with two people!), then say, "Wow; it no longer has those problems". It's a good feeling.

Good luck! BTW if at any point you need others' thoughts on your world-building ideas, use this Stack Exchange.

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