There are note buttons with the picture of a feather pen. However, when I click on it, it just places an icon where I want
to make notes.j It does NOT allow me to write anything. I am obviously doing something wrong. How do I make notes on Maps.

You're on the map screen, single-clicking the quill with the plus sign, and then single clicking the map location? It *should* have a text box next to the icon that you can immediately type into when you do this. If you don't type anything and just click again, it will just move the icon-and-box around.