I think one of the best options for a writer starting out is to simply create a medium publication that uses a custom domain. This is relatively easy to set up and only requires an investment of around $10.

Certainly a blogging platform like wordpress will give you more customization options and a deeper insight into analytics but at this day in age it is all about building an audience. With a custom wordpress website you will face an uphill battle in terms of directing traffic towards your content.

Conversely, with Medium you have a built in audience that will follow your every move if you create a piece of content that appeals to them. Guest-posting on popular blogs is also an excellent way to build a following in the early stages.