Hey, there's nothing wrong with starting a conversation to get your bearings. Personally, I'm kind of shy sometimes (I know it doesn't seem like it). So I totally get you there. If you want, I can give you a bit of friendly advice.
Post up a blank version of your novel: cover, description, etc.
Then figure out where you want to go from there. The first step is actually seeing it. Knowing that you're about to do this and then execution. Keep driving, keep pushing. Boom, boom, bam! It sounds weird, I know but it's how I started writing my own things. I just kept pushing so that little voice in the back of my head couldn't tell me no.