Vendalism ( http://vendalism.com ). It's just like ebay/etsy, except they don't charge any fees ever. Completely free!
I wouldn't try making your own site. It will take a lot of time / effort, and it's very hard to get buyers to see your items if you're just listing them on a personal website.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.