SP117

The absolute beginner...
Well, you should come up with a general plotline, storyline, etc.
Then, you should try your hand at mapping, and see how good you are at it.

Sadly, the best things to read regarding that type of thing is the tutorial threads for them.. If those aren't good enough at explaining things, then I really don't know of any threads that would be better. ><; Some of those hacking areas do have question threads, and sometimes people explain things better in those.

I don't know anything much at all about ROM hacking though, as I'm only the New Users / Welcome mod.. xD; but Christos, The Doctor, and The Master are mods in that area. I'm sure they would be able to answer at least a bit better than I can. Good luck, though. ^^