After I wrote my first novel I compared notes with a friend who had also written a novel, and the thing we both agreed upon is that we put way too much filler content into the early chapters. A good rule is that if a scene doesn't move the story forward, or give you important information about a character of the setting, then you don't need it. Chances are you will end up with a LOT of character and world building information that your readers don't need. Most of this you can keep to yourself -- "infodumping" is a good way to lose a reader's attention.
A lot of people are "pantsers" which means they make the story up as they go. That might work for you, but I can't work that way -- I need to outline my entire story before I start writing (which means I'm a "plotter"). That way when I get stuck, I at least have a good road map of where the story is going, with detailed steps on how to get there. I never end up writing things quite as I've outlined them, but I find it very helpful to have that guide.
I'm not 100% on how pantsers operate, but I strongly suggest that you at least figure out the basic beggining, middle, and end of your story before you start writing. A lot of times you think you have an idea for a story, and what you have is a concept, but not a plot. It's easy to tell when you're reading a novel where the concept has not been fleshed out into a plot, because the first few chapters are interesting, and then you get to endless filler content with no apparent direction.
Give yourself at least a couple weeks between writing and editing each chapter -- this way when you edit you'll read what you actually wrote down instead of just remembering what you intended to write.
Okay, that's my rant.... Good luck, and remember to have fun!
