How do I break the ice on starting my first novel?

[Nonchalance]

Originally Posted by MrRational

That's valid. Start with the outline and characters.
Then do the fill in dialogue and narrative to tie the elements together.
That's largely how James Michener did it too.

But that still won't be a 500 page novel until you have 1500 pages to edit down to 500.
So start hitting the keys.

https://www.amazon.com/James-Michene.../dp/0679741267

I'm the opposite: I write short, then have to expand.