This piece really resonated with me. Thanks for writing it, Clive!
I've found blogging to take me to a place where my writing is more like a starting point, and not a finishing one (as an article usually would be). https://herbertlui.net/on-daily-blogging
The process becomes much more generative, which also means I'm more naturally motivated to write.
The "audience effect" is nice, though I like writing at my blog precisely because it's obscure. I don't often think about analytics at all. Because my expectations are so low, I can write freely. Sometimes I end up republishing blog posts at Fast Company or here at Medium.
Look forward to reading more of your work.