Hello!

I'm glad if my writings inspire others to write, as - yes, writing often is therapeutic and helps one to sort out emotions and thoughts.

What comes to the technical side of maintaining a website, I'd guess that is not even necessary if you only want to write a blog. I think there are platforms and services for that, you don't need to have you own website but just an account on some blogging site. And if you prefer to having a site of your own, I'd guess there are ready software packages for a blog site, and some webhosting services provide such packages on 'click to install'-basis. Unfortunately, I don't know what to recommend, since I'm not so familiar with those myself, I just know that there are a wide variety of options out there. Hmm, and yes, if your main focus would be on content, then I'd recommend using some ready-made platform to minimize all the technical maintenance work.

One thing to consider is if you'd like to write using your real name or an alias. And based on my own experience, I think I might recommend starting with an alias - as that gives you more freedom to talk what ever you feel like talking about. If your family members, or team mates or commanders don't know that you are writing, there is a low risk of writing something which will offend people you don't want to offend. (Also, especially if you are serving on some bigger military mission, the commanders probably have something to say what the troops can publish and what not? Not anything which would betray troop positions or objectives?).

And if, at some point, you realize that you haven't been writing anything which would hurt your family members, and you'd like to write more for them, then you can always just send them a link telling that this is your web diary and you'd be happy if they follow it.

Or, if your blog develops into such personal stuff you are not comfortable with sharing your family members, then you can keep it that way, taking cover under the safety of an alias.

When I started, one fellow said 'the more you write, the easier it becomes', and I've found a lot of truth in that. So I'm also thinking that if you'd write a personal diary with a pseudo name, the therapeutic aspect of writing will make all writing easier for you, and then you can write selected posts as e-mails (or even real letters) to send to your family members? Which would allow you to combine the benefits of anonymous writing and keeping touch with family.

Oh well, these are my thoughts, hope it helps! And if you'd like to talk in more detail, you can also create an account on this site, as it opens up the private message system, which people can use to discuss things they don't want to publish in the comment section.