No Admin Screen, Preview or Publish?

Total newbie and so frustrated…when I installed WP.org from Go Daddy, it seems to let me in but goes straight to the Dashboard. WHERE is the function to preview my screen and see what I am composing? Isn’t that called the “Admin Screen” NOT the Dashboard?

Also having trouble publishing.

Does anyone have any advice on whether WP.com is easier? If I can link it to my Web site name, would that be an easier system to work with than .org? Thanks in advance. Gosh I just thought there would be a WYSIWYG screen option somewhere.