Tips for a first timer.

[TitsalinaBumSqoosh]

I've always been into writing but it's never got beyond a caught plot line in my head, I read huge amounts though and have finally decided to take the plunge with a niggling story that won't vacate my brain.

I'm thinking of just getting words down and seeing how it pans out, I was wondering though if I need to write in chapters or just to write the story then break it into chapters afterwards as it naturally breaks.

Also I am currently toying with 2 main characters and can't decide wether to alternate chapters from each ones POV or to have it just as one persons? Is there any benefit to one method over the other or will it confuse the reader having 2 people telling the story?
Both characters have a story line of their own but they merge quite significantly.

Any other tips would be grand, I don't know if I'll ever do anything with it but I'm compelled to get it down and out my head!

My best advice is just write. Put pen to paper! You can edit later. Just write, write, write.

Agree, just write it. Don't worry about chapters until later. Also, don't think that you have to begin at the beginning and write straight through to the end. You can write scenes in any order you fancy.

Lots of books have more than one pov character. I've written some with just one pov, some with more than one. Just look at the books you have at home, or go and browse in the library, to see how other authors approach it. And experiment; write bits of it both ways, and see which works best.

No-one need see your early drafts unless you choose to show them; it doesn't matter how much of a mess they are. Just get writing.

Yes, just get on and do it, you can always change it later.

I would decide on structure actually before you write.

It's much easier to write a novel from multiple POVs. Partly for plot purposes ( very hard when the writer can only tell the reader what's happening from one minds eye). And partly to give some texture.

I've written one book from entirely first POV. Never again.

Once you've decided on structure, go for it.