Welcome to the Guild Rick! You are in good company, many others here come to the Guild with the same purpose (in fact I was one of them). I would suggest getting to know the tutorials section pretty well. You'll find a lot of material there to help you get your feet wet. Once you begin a map, create a WIP thread and ask for feedback. That is another great way to learn from the combined experience of others.

Cheers,
-Arsheesh