Hello,
I'm fairly new to D&D and I thought the Monk seemed like a pretty cool class to play as and I'm wondering if someone could give me any good advice before I start making my character. I'm mainly looking for advice on starter gear, where to put ability points, a good race, but really any advice is welcome all in all.

Thanks,

Puff

The main thing is to remember this isn't a video game - don't worry about optimizing your character, and focus on creating an interesting one. "Pretty cool" is a great way to start! 

Go with the Player's Handbook starter gear and suggestions under the Monk. Because most Monks will focus on Dexterity and Wisdom, it's good to keep that in mind - for example, invest in Stealth+Perception and help with scouting. Wood Elves are a great fit for Monks, but genuinely, you should do what you think is a good character concept. Ask yourself - how did your combination of race and background lead you to be a Monk, and to adventuring in turn? Did your halfling acolyte find priesthood too cloistered and decided to travel under a special oath? Did your Dwarven brewer-guildmember take a vow of abstinence and take the opportunity to learn to beat people up to take his mind off his drinking habit?

Also think more about your role in the party rather than just how you stand on your own. If your party has a Rogue, you can both Stealth together and he won't be as screwed if he's noticed out of place. If your party has no Rogue, you might look at the Criminal or Urchin backgrounds to get some roguish skills and proficiency with Thieves' Tools (so you can fill the thievery role). Your job isn't to outshine the rest of your party - your job is to help them overcome challenges as a team, and to tell a great story on the way.

Wow, thanks for the help :D

One of the main things, is to determine which of the available Monk subclasses you'll take at level 3 as well, because it'll help you understand better how you see your character and their abilities. Are they a stealthy ninja? then way of shadows, are they a consummate martial artist? Way of the Open Palm, are they a mystical samurai? Way of the Kensai, a drunken fighter ala the jackie chan movie? Drunken Master. etc etc.

Bear in mind that if you're creating a character for Adventurer's League play, AL rules let you reconfigure pretty much anything about your character, apart from his name, up until level 5.  That gives you plenty of time to get a feel for what works and what doesn't before you're committed.  So don't worry about making bad decisions in creating your character.  Just select what seems like a good idea, and if it's actually disastrously bad, you'll have plenty of time to realize it and to fix it.

AS far as races go - you can't go wrong with any of the ones who give you +Dex and/or +Wis - but honestly you can make any race work - it just depends on how you want to play them

Aarakocra give you +2 DEX and +1 WIS 
Elf give you +2 DEX
Feral Tiefling give you +2 DEX +1 INT
Goblin give you +2 DEX +1 CON
Halfling give you +2 DEX
Kenku give you +2 DEX +1 WIS
Kobold give you +2 DEX -2 STR
Tabaxi give you +2 DEX +1 CHA

but like I said depending on how you play - anyone can be a monk - it just depends on how you want to play them - I'm currently playing a Way of the Open Hand Tabaxi and love him - but I've also rolled up a Drunken Master Minotaur because I think that could be fun as well (Minotaur is from UA and gives you +1 STR and +1 to either STR, WIS, INT so not ideal on paper - but who doesn't want to see a drunken Minotaur punching people repeatedly in the face!)

Quote from ArgentTheWise >>

but I've also rolled up a Drunken Master Minotaur because I think that could be fun as well (Minotaur is from UA and gives you +1 STR and +1 to either STR, WIS, INT so not ideal on paper - but who doesn't want to see a drunken Minotaur punching people repeatedly in the face!)

Don't forget monks get unarmored defense, so gear isn't super important.

yeah my Tabaxi monk wears just a tunic and has 18 AC because of unarmored defense :)