: Re: Everyone has a book in them, but in most cases that’s where it should stay. Does that apply to me? Everyone has a book in them, but in most cases that’s where it should stay I'm not

@Kevin153

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The quote is not about writers. It's about self-important people.
This was my immediate thought, and then I watched the video where indeed Hitchens says it in the context of memoirs. There is a phrase that embodies such self-important people—"everyone is entitled to my opinion." Your humility is clear from your question. I don't think you're one of those people.
Here are a few points I would put forward:
It's about as easy to get people to read a book as it is to make two people fall in love.

Of course you want people to read it. But chances are, they won't, and you need to be prepared for that.
Make sure you enjoy the process. That way it doesn't feel like you wasted all that time if nobody reads it in the end.

Action is better than inaction.

There is no "wrong way"; some ways will just take longer than others
All of your suggestions are good ones. Practising with other stories will definitely help—unless it turns you off writing!
Follow your heart. This is the best way to approach any art form. Sometimes going with your instincts on how to structure a story is just what it needs. Sometimes that doesn't work out, but you can get feedback and adjust as much as you need to.
By the way, you are already thinking about the structure of your story (the intertwined timelines.) Seems like you're on track already.

Read. Read. Read.

Take stories you like, and re-read them. Ask yourself why you like them, why you relate to them, why they're never boring, etc.
After you write your first lengthy draft, when you read other things you will have a heightened sense to the techniques, tricks, and approaches they use. This will give you ideas.

Now for a more direct answer to your question, based on the feeling I am getting from you.

Your question is very well structured, clear, and logical. I feel if you were to go write a full draft now it would be a clear and cohesive narrative. Maybe not a page-turner, maybe not very immersive, but the story would be told and understood. You're "ready" to give it a go if you want to right now.
Consider writing fan fiction about something you're into. (Really.) It's a much easier way to write throwaway stories without needing to create an environment from scratch
Aside from that, I don't feel that writing other stories is something that will work for you. To get practice, I would suggest the following. Which one works for you depends on whether you're focused on the final product, or enjoy telling stories about your universe.

Write fragments within your universe, snapshots, conversations, chronicles, things that probably won't make the final cut. (This also helps you develop the setting and characters for yourself.)
Write drafts, chapters, or something, and get feedback. Have a back-and-forth.

Set a pace.

Yes, ideas, language, and structure are all important. But none of them matter if you can't manage your time, or if you go in circles, procrastinate, get stuck.
There are different approaches to getting a draft done. In your case I would suggest that you take your "intertwined timelines" and split them up into numbered chapters. Churn out the chapters (not necessarily in order). Write crap and don't look back. Don't waste time looking for the right word because you might be throwing a whole chapter out. Wait till you've done it all before you do a review.

Should you put it in a drawer for a while? Yes. When? After you've pushed yourself for a while. When it gets tedious, you need to persevere a little while, and then probably set it aside. Most of the time it can be a short break, but once the story is mature you ought to leave it for a few months or more.

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