Any ideas on how to start a minecraft city?

Yes, don't start off trying to make these big building, unless you are in creative, start with small stuff like your own home, and then gradually build from there, don't tackle it all at once.

If you are in creative, make plans for what you want to build with wool or another easily burnable material. Replace needed parts with stone, and then burn the wool to get rid of it. Watch how this guy starts off, with a wool base for the building. It works.