Would like to work from home via the computer – not in sales.Writing would be good. Any ideas how to start.?

Free lance research and writing is possible. You have to start with on-line publications that don’t pay much, then proceed to local print journals. And so on.

If you’re lucky, your local library will have online resources that you can access from home just with your library card. See, for example, what the NY Public Library offers: http://nypl.org/databases/

Web design is always a good home-based business. You need to get a good Web design software.