Novel-thoughts...

Just read an article which said 1 in 4 online users write a blog and immediately thought... blog!
I read Rosamunde Pilcher's The Shell Seekers last week and I could not put it down (with the new 1hr 30 min commute I'm getting through books like there's no tomorrow). Recommended by my grandmother (who is without a doubt a Penelope) I was reluctant to pick it up but it utterly engrossed me from the beginning. The traditional loveliness which marinades the entire story is so very endearing and the plot is predictable but still so satisfying. I hated Nancy, respected Olivia, loved Penelope and Antonia as I was supposed to. It was reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice or Emma and Jane Austen is my favourite novelist.
This morning I shouted 'Book! Book!' as I rushed around getting ready to run out the door and my mother placed Rosamunde Pilcher's September in my bag. Surprisingly, it's actually a follow-on from The Shell Seekers. THe introduction is set up by a whole pack of new characters but slowly the ones are unearthed every now and again. It's quite exciting wondering who else is going to pop up and in what relation, to who.
It's so enthralling that it makes me want to start writing a novel of my own right here and now. However... I'm still very much stuck on style, genre, length, person I want to write in and most importantly... I haven't a clue what to write about. Why do I have an irresistible urge to write if I haven't one single idea? It's beyond me.

Writing

I absolutely adore writing and read everything I can get my hands on. To produce a truly fantastic novel is my ultimate dream, beyond everything else. However... I have absolutely no idea where to start, and I don't really have any ideas. Obviously, this is quite a problem. Music inspires me, food inspires me and people inspire me. But not so much that I want to write a novel based on them/it. I've read books which tell you how to plan, how to write, how to get published... but surely it's not something that you can Really teach? I don't know. I know how to write the news. I know how to engage with online users. But I wouldn't know what to write in a book. And yet I think about writing one everyday! To come home and pick up my laptop and keep typing on my own book would be amazing. If only I could start it! Maybe I should just start writing and see what happens. Any advice?