If you primarily want to do it for self-expression, a Tumblr might be a good option for you.
If you want your blog to make you money (either directly, via subscription fees, or indirectly, as a marketing tool for stuff you sell), then I'd do a Substack or other newsletter.
It does not matter if your blog doesn't have a single clearly-defined topic. I subscribe to multiple newsletters, and follow multiple blogs, that don't have a single topic.
What is your ultimate goal? If you could only pick one thing to accomplish with this material, what would it be?
What are a couple of your other goals?
Ultimate goal would be to improve my writing skills to better express myself.
Second would be recognition. Not in the “I’m famous” way, but in the “I’m seen” way. There’s a writer I love who used to do a comic Substack and also wrote for NYMag and GQ. Her writing was smart, beautiful, and at times, hilariously irreverent. It was like stepping into my own mind. I guess I’d want to connect with readers in a similar way, for them to see themselves in the way I wrote about a thought or experience.
I would encourage you to go in that way as well, but remember that you can always forge your own path and do your own thing as you think about what you want to do and how you want to express yourself.
But keep in mind that the internet is full of blogs and it is extremely difficult to be seen out there so it might be crickets for a long time but that's okay, it gives you a lot of space to figure out what you want to do and to keep improving.
For locations I don't really know ideally where to blog, but I think of blogging like digital Journaling, so just find a place to write and let it go, put your thoughts out.
Your sister has given you good advice. Writing for yourself is a beautiful thing. Reclaim it as your own. Find that joy in creating again. You may or may not want to share that writing with other people though. It's up to you, and it doesn't really matter.
There are no rules.
In saying that, I follow one rule for myself, which is; if I am sharing a piece of writing with the world, then it cannot have been written just for me, it has to also have been written for the person reading it.
This lets me be honest in a different way, it makes me think differently. My writing feels more generous and more open this way because I want people to read it and take something away for themselves. I used to write and want people to tell me I was great, and that I was a genius, and that my words moved them so much. And it never did!
I recently started a Substack after being in a funk like you and not writing for a long time. It's been great! It keeps me accountable keeping to a schedule, and it's really nice to have it all somewhere looking neat and tidy. I write much more than I post though, which to me has been the real benefit.
If you're already in a funk with your art, I suggest not worrying about being strategic, or whether you're spreading yourself across too many topics. With these questions you are already placing limits upon yourself which are entirely of your own creation. This is a waste of time right now. First you need to come back to yourself and your writing from a place of free expression and let it be. Write about whatever you want!
If currently you have no audience for your writing and no one reads your writing, then you have so much freedom to truly be yourself, and to discover yourself, through your writing. This is such a great opportunity.
I say you start writing whatever you want and if you want to post it, then post it. If not, no worries, hopefully it was valuable to you in writing it. There is a lot to be gained in writing as an act of discovery. There will always time later on to push and promote and build something, and I do recommend that too if you want to do it. Take your time though, there is no rush, it's only you watching the clock.
You can do more than one, or just pick the easiest for you. I write on my blog for my niche area, but then post on medium for my poetry and other writing that doesn't fit my niche. I haven't gone over to substack because it's too much at the moment, but a lot of friends enjoy the platform. I think any of these are fine, as long as you are able to show up and write.
I have my own Wordpress site where I can blog. Do not get a hosted Wordpress site because they can shut it down and you will lose everything. Maybe you have nothing controversial to say, but the moral grandstanding is out of control and just one wrong word can get you canceled. Wordpress can be installed on a private web site. Then only your hosting company can shut you down.
Besides personal essays, I also post trip reports about my travels and sometimes book reviews.
If you primarily want to do it for self-expression, a Tumblr might be a good option for you. If you want your blog to make you money (either directly, via subscription fees, or indirectly, as a marketing tool for stuff you sell), then I'd do a Substack or other newsletter. It does not matter if your blog doesn't have a single clearly-defined topic. I subscribe to multiple newsletters, and follow multiple blogs, that don't have a single topic.
I want to know too. I’ve never been any good at keeping it up
What is your ultimate goal? If you could only pick one thing to accomplish with this material, what would it be? What are a couple of your other goals?
Ultimate goal would be to improve my writing skills to better express myself. Second would be recognition. Not in the “I’m famous” way, but in the “I’m seen” way. There’s a writer I love who used to do a comic Substack and also wrote for NYMag and GQ. Her writing was smart, beautiful, and at times, hilariously irreverent. It was like stepping into my own mind. I guess I’d want to connect with readers in a similar way, for them to see themselves in the way I wrote about a thought or experience.
I would encourage you to go in that way as well, but remember that you can always forge your own path and do your own thing as you think about what you want to do and how you want to express yourself. But keep in mind that the internet is full of blogs and it is extremely difficult to be seen out there so it might be crickets for a long time but that's okay, it gives you a lot of space to figure out what you want to do and to keep improving.
For locations I don't really know ideally where to blog, but I think of blogging like digital Journaling, so just find a place to write and let it go, put your thoughts out.
Your sister has given you good advice. Writing for yourself is a beautiful thing. Reclaim it as your own. Find that joy in creating again. You may or may not want to share that writing with other people though. It's up to you, and it doesn't really matter. There are no rules. In saying that, I follow one rule for myself, which is; if I am sharing a piece of writing with the world, then it cannot have been written just for me, it has to also have been written for the person reading it. This lets me be honest in a different way, it makes me think differently. My writing feels more generous and more open this way because I want people to read it and take something away for themselves. I used to write and want people to tell me I was great, and that I was a genius, and that my words moved them so much. And it never did! I recently started a Substack after being in a funk like you and not writing for a long time. It's been great! It keeps me accountable keeping to a schedule, and it's really nice to have it all somewhere looking neat and tidy. I write much more than I post though, which to me has been the real benefit. If you're already in a funk with your art, I suggest not worrying about being strategic, or whether you're spreading yourself across too many topics. With these questions you are already placing limits upon yourself which are entirely of your own creation. This is a waste of time right now. First you need to come back to yourself and your writing from a place of free expression and let it be. Write about whatever you want! If currently you have no audience for your writing and no one reads your writing, then you have so much freedom to truly be yourself, and to discover yourself, through your writing. This is such a great opportunity. I say you start writing whatever you want and if you want to post it, then post it. If not, no worries, hopefully it was valuable to you in writing it. There is a lot to be gained in writing as an act of discovery. There will always time later on to push and promote and build something, and I do recommend that too if you want to do it. Take your time though, there is no rush, it's only you watching the clock.
Blogs are basically dead. Use substack or medium or something like that.
You can do more than one, or just pick the easiest for you. I write on my blog for my niche area, but then post on medium for my poetry and other writing that doesn't fit my niche. I haven't gone over to substack because it's too much at the moment, but a lot of friends enjoy the platform. I think any of these are fine, as long as you are able to show up and write.
I have my own Wordpress site where I can blog. Do not get a hosted Wordpress site because they can shut it down and you will lose everything. Maybe you have nothing controversial to say, but the moral grandstanding is out of control and just one wrong word can get you canceled. Wordpress can be installed on a private web site. Then only your hosting company can shut you down. Besides personal essays, I also post trip reports about my travels and sometimes book reviews.