If you are doing this for your own use, you owe it to yourself to devote some time learning more about Word first. Otherwise you'll end up with a bunch of stuff that will drive you crazy. Start with Styles and Templates. If you do not have a handle on those, you will be exponentially increasing your headaches.

I guarantee that every hour you spend learning this stuff (at least up to the first 40) will be repaid fivefold within the next couple of months.