This is really great advice and I appreciate it. You're right about having something to start writing in immediately. It's funny getting tied up in the process when I haven't really even discovered if I have much love or knack for writing yet!

All the replies to my comment have been super helpful but the mindset to write immediately is important. I'm grateful for the suggestions and one of the other replies also sound positive for bearblog - it could work out well and I'm going to check it out :-)