“The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.”
~ Alan Alda
Writer Dad has been one of the most unexpected and edifying adventures to ever sweep through my life with a torrent of sudden change, hope, and revelation.
The site was started as a time capsule, capturing five thoughts per week, each spooled into 500 words or so.
I’ve discussed being a writer, being a dad, and other assorted escapades as I bandied about the online world, but behind it all this stoop has always been about my family; the legacy I leave and stories I wish to pass. Writer Dad has focused on fatherhood with well written tales about all the big and small that orbits my life.
The problem is, as long as this site is my predominant dwelling, it is also the lone fabric for every thread that requires stitching. Writer Dad is all ME, but it isn’t ALL OF ME.
I now need a new front stoop where other sides of my self can wander out to play.
I need a spot where I can spit business, but Writer Dad isn’t it. I enjoy talking shop, rapping about my various projects, and discussing all that’s working and all that isn’t. Yet those topics probably were never right for this audience to begin with and are now off key enough to sour the tune. I prefer my music sweet.
Allow me to tell you about a new baby and a wee toddler.
First off is a project that’s been percolating since there was turkey in the oven and Christmas around the corner.
David Wright (Blogger Dad) and I are opening the doors of a brand new business – an online shop fusing what we each do well and then taking it to remarkable by doing it in tandem. But it isn’t just a storefront, it is a site committed to the creativity of blogging and the content to reflect it. The site will appeal to anybody out there who blogs or wants to blog outside the lines. The business itself will highlight an entire menu of creative services from web copy to custom graphics.
Dave is one of the most talented, funny, and overall amazing people I’ve ever met. He is my favorite person to write with and our first collaborative narrative will be featured on the site in weekly installments of aggregating awesome.
We’ll lift the curtain on that baby next Monday.
This site, my first online baby is now ready to toddle about while I sit on the couch pretending to read a magazine. From now on, Writer Dad will post twice a week and excel at what it’s always done best. I’m sorry for any times I’ve tried to cram too much into this little space, but now it can linger in what it was always meant to be. I love the idea of giving my posts a few more days to breathe. Too often I’ve felt the sting of pouring my heart into a post that is set to decay just twenty-five hours past the original point of publish. With a few days breath, comments can swell, conversation can linger, and the yawning thoughts I leave to forever no longer need fall from the front page in such a hurry.
On Friday I’d like to publish a few of my favorite posts from the last seven months. After that, I’ll see you next week for Writer Dad 2.0
Also, what was started as a niche site with Ghostwriter Dad is slowly evolving into something else. I guess it’s too difficult for me to just write about something and forget it. Ghostwriter Dad was a place for me to drop keyword posts to target search engine traffic. It turns out, now that I’m a ghostwriter, I’ve got plenty to say. I’ll be writing about ghostwriting once a week. You can grab the feed here.
Thank you everyone for everything. The first draft of Writer Dad was remarkable. If you have anything to offer regarding the old, any suggestions with respect to the new, or a favorite post you’d like to see highlighted on Friday, I’d love to let hear it in the comments.
About Sean Platt
Very exciting, Sean! I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a faint idea of what you’re referring to, but I’m no less excited because of my backstage pass. You guys make a great team and you’ve already created something awesome. I look forward to the unveiling and can’t wait to see the first products of your collaborative prowess. Eric
Very exciting, Sean! I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a faint idea of what you’re referring to, but I’m no less excited because of my backstage pass. You guys make a great team and you’ve already created something awesome. I look forward to the unveiling and can’t wait to see the first products of your collaborative prowess. Eric
The irony is although it’s never been easier to set up a blog, offer great content and get readers to a site, it’s never been harder to make money by doing so. The blogging scene is so fragmented and there are so many calls for peoples attention.
Lots set off thinking they can be the next Problogger or Zen Habits and 99.999% don’t make it.
I think you’re making a wise decision Sean, one that can actually make you some dosh as well as allowing you to be creative. You can now utilize the experience you’ve accrued and conquer the world. There are some crap copy/ghost writers making lots of money, so if you stick at it and with your writing skills, you should have no problems. Well, none that you can’t overcome that is.
Best of luck with it!
The irony is although it’s never been easier to set up a blog, offer great content and get readers to a site, it’s never been harder to make money by doing so. The blogging scene is so fragmented and there are so many calls for peoples attention.
Lots set off thinking they can be the next Problogger or Zen Habits and 99.999% don’t make it.
I think you’re making a wise decision Sean, one that can actually make you some dosh as well as allowing you to be creative. You can now utilize the experience you’ve accrued and conquer the world. There are some crap copy/ghost writers making lots of money, so if you stick at it and with your writing skills, you should have no problems. Well, none that you can’t overcome that is.
Best of luck with it!
**grabs feed**
**grabs feed**
“This site, my first online baby”
I thought that was Blogopolis Blueprint? Well, I can’t WAIT to see whatever it is. :)
“This site, my first online baby”
I thought that was Blogopolis Blueprint? Well, I can’t WAIT to see whatever it is. :)
I don’t care what you do, just keep writing. :)
I don’t care what you do, just keep writing. :)
This David Wright guy sounds like a bit of a jerk.
Seriously, I look forward to our collaboration and the worlds which we will create. I couldn’t have found a more creative, authentic partner to blaze new trails with.
This David Wright guy sounds like a bit of a jerk.
Seriously, I look forward to our collaboration and the worlds which we will create. I couldn’t have found a more creative, authentic partner to blaze new trails with.
Eric: Thanks, Eric. It’s been such a long time brewing, I can’t wait to smell it in the air. Black is the new white. : > )
Tim: I totally agree. I had the same thought: “If Leo can do it, so can I.” It took me a while to realize I don’t need to be Leo or do it like Leo. There are about a billion ways to make this puppy bark, I just have to be smart with my minutes. You are also right about the Internet being rife with crap copywriters. As long I’m focused and patient, there should be no reason I won’t reap the rewards. Thanks for the comment, Tim. It’s nice to see you.
MizFit: Howdy! Thanks for grabbing the ghostwriter feed. I hope it’s entertaining. The feed for the new project will be ready on Monday and (shhh…) I have another cool project in a few weeks that I left out of the main post because it would just be TOO MUCH, but thought I’d whisper it down here nonetheless.
Hayden: No, it’s WD that’s my first online baby. Now it’s toddling around, trying to walk, and less dependent on my constant attention. The Blueprint is still nursing.
GreenJello: I will never stop writing. It’s entered my bloodstream forever. I’m just trying to find new ways to write the things I want to write. It’s no bueno to write tedious text and I’ve had to do a lot of that lately. I need to climb to the next rung so that I can write with creativity the majority of the time.
Dave: In legendary times, there lived two legendary warriors who were the stuff of legends…. the Well will rule, yo.
Eric: Thanks, Eric. It’s been such a long time brewing, I can’t wait to smell it in the air. Black is the new white. : > )
Tim: I totally agree. I had the same thought: “If Leo can do it, so can I.” It took me a while to realize I don’t need to be Leo or do it like Leo. There are about a billion ways to make this puppy bark, I just have to be smart with my minutes. You are also right about the Internet being rife with crap copywriters. As long I’m focused and patient, there should be no reason I won’t reap the rewards. Thanks for the comment, Tim. It’s nice to see you.
MizFit: Howdy! Thanks for grabbing the ghostwriter feed. I hope it’s entertaining. The feed for the new project will be ready on Monday and (shhh…) I have another cool project in a few weeks that I left out of the main post because it would just be TOO MUCH, but thought I’d whisper it down here nonetheless.
Hayden: No, it’s WD that’s my first online baby. Now it’s toddling around, trying to walk, and less dependent on my constant attention. The Blueprint is still nursing.
GreenJello: I will never stop writing. It’s entered my bloodstream forever. I’m just trying to find new ways to write the things I want to write. It’s no bueno to write tedious text and I’ve had to do a lot of that lately. I need to climb to the next rung so that I can write with creativity the majority of the time.
Dave: In legendary times, there lived two legendary warriors who were the stuff of legends…. the Well will rule, yo.
I’m too old to keep up if you start splitting into a million Seans like Mr Smith in the Matrix, but I’ll make a point of enjoying one or two ‘yous’ regularly! Looking forward to the new launch!
I’m too old to keep up if you start splitting into a million Seans like Mr Smith in the Matrix, but I’ll make a point of enjoying one or two ‘yous’ regularly! Looking forward to the new launch!
Good luck! I agree with Tim – you are doing the right thing. If not the next Zen Habits, then perhaps you and David will be the next Men With Pens? :)
Good luck! I agree with Tim – you are doing the right thing. If not the next Zen Habits, then perhaps you and David will be the next Men With Pens? :)
Your activities are breathtaking! You must be young or something. I’m excited for your collaboration with The Most Humorous Blogger Dad and looking forward to your new shingle.
Your activities are breathtaking! You must be young or something. I’m excited for your collaboration with The Most Humorous Blogger Dad and looking forward to your new shingle.
This is very exciting and heady stuff and sounds very good to me. I will attempt to keep following along and be a great cheerleader – because this is the right and good thing to put your energies into and press forward.
Deep breath and dive in….
Janice: Picturing myself splitting like Mr. Smith was the most hysterical/scary thought I’ve had all day. I will admit I have a few more things in development so we may just have to pick and choose a couple of favorites. : > )
Vered: I couldn’t feel any better about it. We want to be the next…. hmm.. I guess I should probably wait until Monday to say that.
Lori: It will be awesome. I’m still pretty young, just not quite as young as I was yesterday. : > )
This is very exciting and heady stuff and sounds very good to me. I will attempt to keep following along and be a great cheerleader – because this is the right and good thing to put your energies into and press forward.
Deep breath and dive in….
Janice: Picturing myself splitting like Mr. Smith was the most hysterical/scary thought I’ve had all day. I will admit I have a few more things in development so we may just have to pick and choose a couple of favorites. : > )
Vered: I couldn’t feel any better about it. We want to be the next…. hmm.. I guess I should probably wait until Monday to say that.
Lori: It will be awesome. I’m still pretty young, just not quite as young as I was yesterday. : > )
Congrats on all these new developments. You’re moving right along and definitely moving up. Good luck to you!
Congrats on all these new developments. You’re moving right along and definitely moving up. Good luck to you!
Wonderful! I’m excited to see whats in store! I’m glad to see you expanding your horizons! Bussinessdad ;)
Wonderful! I’m excited to see whats in store! I’m glad to see you expanding your horizons! Bussinessdad ;)
With so much to say, Sean, and little time in which to say it, I’ll be a copyeditor right now and squeeze everything into three powerful words:
I admire you.
With so much to say, Sean, and little time in which to say it, I’ll be a copyeditor right now and squeeze everything into three powerful words:
I admire you.
Wish you all the best Sean. I am looking forward to Monday and seeing your new endeavor hit the internet!
-Keith
Wish you all the best Sean. I am looking forward to Monday and seeing your new endeavor hit the internet!
-Keith
Melissa: Thanks, Melissa. Not just for the compliment, but for such a consistently awesome job on writing forward.
Bud: After you said that, I checked. Unfortunately BusinessDad is taken or it would have been mine! Thanks, Bud.
Steph: Steph! I think I somehow lost your feed. I need to correct that. Thanks for the compliment. You couldn’t have said it better. It will ne nice to catch up soon.
Keith: Thanks, Keith! I’m eagerly looking forward to Monday as well.
Melissa: Thanks, Melissa. Not just for the compliment, but for such a consistently awesome job on writing forward.
Bud: After you said that, I checked. Unfortunately BusinessDad is taken or it would have been mine! Thanks, Bud.
Steph: Steph! I think I somehow lost your feed. I need to correct that. Thanks for the compliment. You couldn’t have said it better. It will ne nice to catch up soon.
Keith: Thanks, Keith! I’m eagerly looking forward to Monday as well.
I’d rather you guys were the next ‘ordinary dads doing extraordinary things’. Wait, you’re already that.
Good luck with the new ventures!
I’d rather you guys were the next ‘ordinary dads doing extraordinary things’. Wait, you’re already that.
Good luck with the new ventures!
Too bad! That would have really been a great domain name! But it doesn’t matter what your website is called.. Your going on to do bigger and better things :)
Too bad! That would have really been a great domain name! But it doesn’t matter what your website is called.. Your going on to do bigger and better things :)
Samar: Thanks! The both of us are both getting started and I cannot wait to see where we go.
Bud: True that my man. It truly is a Boundless World.
Samar: Thanks! The both of us are both getting started and I cannot wait to see where we go.
Bud: True that my man. It truly is a Boundless World.
Sean,
Insightful, honest, and spot-on true statement:
“Too often I’ve felt the sting of pouring my heart into a post that is set to decay just twenty-five hours past the original point of publish. With a few days breath, comments can swell, conversation can linger….”
Getting immediate feedback to something we’ve written is something that we can get with blogging that we can’t really get anywhere else–so that’s good.
But…that’s the thing with the Internet, and blogging especially: it’s all so immediate. Within a couple of days, whatever we’ve written is old news. The demand (real or imagined) quickly becomes: What’s the next post? And when?
It’s a frenetic, unhealthy pace, quite frankly. If we pour ourselves into crafting something we’re really invested in, it should be good enough to stand for several days, a week or two even, without us feeling like we have to get the next greatest post ever up ASAP.
So, good for you, for moving to a slower pace that allows for more substance. And good luck with your business endeavors.
Sean,
Insightful, honest, and spot-on true statement:
“Too often I’ve felt the sting of pouring my heart into a post that is set to decay just twenty-five hours past the original point of publish. With a few days breath, comments can swell, conversation can linger….”
Getting immediate feedback to something we’ve written is something that we can get with blogging that we can’t really get anywhere else–so that’s good.
But…that’s the thing with the Internet, and blogging especially: it’s all so immediate. Within a couple of days, whatever we’ve written is old news. The demand (real or imagined) quickly becomes: What’s the next post? And when?
It’s a frenetic, unhealthy pace, quite frankly. If we pour ourselves into crafting something we’re really invested in, it should be good enough to stand for several days, a week or two even, without us feeling like we have to get the next greatest post ever up ASAP.
So, good for you, for moving to a slower pace that allows for more substance. And good luck with your business endeavors.
This is exciting—for you, and for all of us who love to read your words. I can’t wait to see what “the wilderness of your intuition” brings!
This is exciting—for you, and for all of us who love to read your words. I can’t wait to see what “the wilderness of your intuition” brings!
I’m so excited for you Sean! I wish you all the success making your niche in the world and am excited to follow what you do!
PS- Posting just a couple of times a week will help me to keep current on WD. You write faster than I can read!
I’m so excited for you Sean! I wish you all the success making your niche in the world and am excited to follow what you do!
PS- Posting just a couple of times a week will help me to keep current on WD. You write faster than I can read!