Ask HN: Advice on Blogging Services to Use/Avoid?

I want to share my words and opinions with the Internet to help others learn or to foster discussion. Other than hosting my own Wordpress, what solutions can you recommend or tell me to avoid when making a decision?

I see sites like Medium and Forbes posted throughout the day but am unsure what services people have had positive experiences with or which ones are just looking to be bought out and want my content to that end.

Ultimately I'd like to reach a decent audience for my how-tos, opinions, and open discussions; even though I am not located in San Francisco nor part of any "Blogging Circles"