Hi Katie, welcome! Saw your name somewhere here and now hey guess what, I am "meeting" you.
The mamma m. is a good one, you can lean on her! And her pasta sauce, from what I've heard ... yum!
There are actually many good people who frequent this site and all of them want to help youngsters like you. There are other youngsters and first-time writers and there are as you probably have figured out accomplished professional writers willing to share their insights and experience.
And then, of course, there's me. I would be delighted to help you out however possible.
Here's what you should do/
First thing to do is, read "Learn Writing with Uncle Jim" in the Novels board! It is long, but it's worth it. Really. Ask mama. It is oriented toward long fiction, but with a decided tendency to help short fiction writers too.
Then read "Learn Writing Without Uncle Jim" ... same board.
The Novels board is the most active and instructive writing forum right now. You'll find kindred spirits there, for example "Sunset Creator" whose name is Laura (she has her own board for people interested in self-publishing, and my thread on language may appear there) and AJ Searle whose name is Amy Jo are two of my favorites. There is also plenty of good free advice. Depending on the kind of writing you're inclined to do, there will be advice specific to that. I can't vouch for everyone on here, after all it's a free country and people say what they want, but for the most part the discussion is humane, enlightened, and non-threatening.
Always feel free to ask me any questions about anything. If I don't know, I will point you to pros who do. You can write me personally, I will probably have a thread here or on Laura's board soon, or just post on either of the other threads I've mentioned and I will see it. I am long winded, and not always right, but I'm good. Or I try to be.
Yours, Eric B.
ps. And Jen is always your friend. She's around here somewhere now, she goes by "absolutewrite" among other names. She's in charge. Go to her if you need help.