Yes, yes, yes!
Why blogging is better than social media from @mathewi
I would add Pika (https://pika.page/) to the list of recommended places to start a blog.
Used it earlier this month. Its simple interface and focus on writing remind me how much I enjoyed blogging in the mid 2000's.
I'm also a fan of and pay for https://write.as/ , which also has a simple interface focusing on writing.
https://torment-nexus.mathewingram.com/why-blogging-is-better-than-social-media/