Been a long time, now I want to GM
1. Prepping a game here is the same as tabletop - do a lot of it. The PbP format is slower that FtF, so it’s easier to think on the fly, but your players can think on the fly, too, and maybe trip you up. Organize your thinking, and use Notices to inform your players (and remind yourself) about important matters. Remember that the Game Maps feature can be used for illustration images and screen grabs of information, as well as maps.
2. Recruitment depends on your genre. Run something like D&D, and recruitment is a process of finding time to read all the RTJs and weeding the wheat from the chaff. Run something like historical romance, and recruitment is about wording your ad to persuade someone, anyone, to send a RTJ.
3. The site has a lot of features. How best to use them for your game is probably something to ask specific questions about in the Proposals and Advice forum. It would be difficult to generalize. Something like “What’s the best way to do X?” will probably get you the answers you need. Make good use of the character sheet, the Cast List description, and the Scratchpad. Unused groups (Group X, perhaps) can be used to make copious GM-only notes. A hidden gem is that you can hide characters, so that they don’t show up on the Cast List. That way, you can prep characters that the players don’t even know exist.
You could also use the Game Search feature to see if anyone just happens to have created a game/discussion group for GM advice and self-help...
4. Ah, the Goldilocks Formula. Let us all know if you figure this one out. :)
5. Technical advice such as?
6. Issues in games generally fall into two categories: Stuff that could have been fixed with better planning (see #1 above), for which the solution is often - talk to your players and work something out - and interpersonal stuff, for which the solution is generally - don’t be an apple, and don’t let your players be an apple.
7. AOB covers a lot in GMing. One thing you might try, if you’re a real rookie GM, is to work as a co-GM with someone more experienced. That will let you learn the ropes and see behind the GM Screen, but will give you a shoulder to lean on as you go.
Hope that helps. :)