Social network front end with WP backend

Hi All,

I am working on a social network project with a wordpress backend.

It is a very bloggy type of site – so wordpress sounded great to use to keep track of everything.

The idea of the site (not my idea – just getting paid to code it) is a place for people to share (long) stories about their life, and have people follow and comment on them.

Is there a guide or set of docs that would let you know how to interact with the wordpress backend?

I am hoping I can figure it all out myself – but if the path has already been made, I would appreciate some direction.

The goal would be to either make a theme that makes it look completely unlike a wordpress site, or to make a front end that just connects with the wordpress code to do things like post and display stories.

Any notes, tips, or links would be appreciated!!

–Ryan