How exactly does PayPal work?

So I am going into my sophomore year of high school, and I, like all teens, would like to have a little extra spending money on my hands. I am a pretty good writer, and was thinking of writing articles for sites such as Listverse, Cracked, and CollegeHumor, in order to make a little extra money. Add to this the fact that in 2 months I am eligible to get my permit provided that I pass the test, and should get my license in May if everything goes as planned, and I would also need money for gas, insurance, and other things. However, I am aware that you need a PayPal account for these sites, which I have to problem making one.However, I do have a few questions:

1.How would I get the money from PayPal into my bank account?

2.Would the money automatically show up in my account?

3.Would I need a special PayPal card or something.

4.If you have had experience with PayPal, was it good or bad?

5.I heard you need your bank account number in order to register. Is this true?