Happy birthday Writer Dad! Today you’re one year old.
365 days ago Cindy and I made a decision that has since twisted the wind of our lives. I stepped online a tentative writer, but thanks in large part to a bustling comment section I was able to find my voice rather early. Those first few weeks were awkward for sure; I a Freshman trying to find the right table to sit at. I was fortunate enough to make a few friends early – one who has become a permanent fixture of my everyday life.
As filled with reward as this last year has been, it has also been the hardest of my life.
My son was born five years ago. He was then just as he is now; bright, beautiful and beguiling, though he did not yet possess the vocabulary to confirm our suspicions. Despite his amiable nature, he fought for his place with every fiber, handing us a year fraught with complications.
That year lingered, occupied by endless nights of crying as we nursed newborn to boy by forever attending to his bottomless need. Those early months were crowded with just enough struggle to point us toward a path that headed for a different horizon.
And here we are.
This last year lingered, occupied by endless days of writing as we we nursed newborn to name brand by forever attending to its bottomless need. Those early months were crowded with just enough reward to promise we were pointed toward the proper path and our horizon was sure.
In many ways the first year with our son prepared us for this last year of growth. We look at our boy now, a half decade taller, certain every drop of sweat was well spent. Infancy is difficult; attending to the endless needs of someone too little to say “I love you.” The beginnings of Writer Dad have been every bit as hard. I have poured 100% of myself into this site and every satellite project we hold in the hope that I will soon justify my family’s unfailing belief in me.
To celebrate Writer Dad’s first birthday, I would like to share a few of those things currently filling my dreams with the most helium. Please pick one you are not yet familiar with and enjoy. If you already have a favorite, please pass it forward to someone who might enjoy it just as much.
These are our balloons.
Collective Inkwell. The Inkwell is the online space shared between myself and David Wright (Blogger Dad), my online partner and constant collaborator. It is where we each share our ideas on writing and creativity as well as offer our services for copy, web design and branding. We have extraordinary plans for the Inkwell spread across the next several months and I cannot wait to see them to fruition. I am lucky to have a partner as talented, funny and creative as David. If we do even half the things we’ve discussed, it will be difficult to ever stop smiling.
Children Write the Future. In September, this site will soar. Right now the majority of words are passed behind the curtain. There is a thriving community within the email newsletter (monthly tips and writing prompts for children). Cindy and I have read some of the most wonderful pieces of writing from some truly individual voices. As the Inkwell is an online studio for Dave and myself, so is Children Write the Future for me and Cindy. For the teachers inside us, there is nothing on our plate near as rewarding.
Four Seasons. Four Seasons is a collection of twelves short stories, each taking place in a different month. Each tale’s events are unique to their time, and should each one assemble toward something special. They are written minus an outline and I never know where the tale is going to turn from one month to the next. At the end of December, the twelve tales will be rewritten and joined together into a single book. As of last month, Dave has joined the project because, quite frankly, he makes my writing better.
Cindy Platt dotcom. This one isn’t really mine, but it fills my world with helium anyway. CindyPlatt.com is at a slow burn while my fair lady does the endless duty of taking care of our children seven days a week so I can stay upstairs like Dr. Frankenstein waiting to scream, “It’s ALIVE!” Come September, both our children will be at the same school for five days a week for the first time – all her brainstorms will shower.
Potty Training Power. The potty training system and attached blog are a branding product of the Inkwell. The blog offers tips, tricks and plenty of sound advice for potty training your child. The product is all kinds of awesome that includes a potty training ebook, potty training charts, a potty training quick tips companion ebook, an illustrated picture ebook called Number One and Two it! (written by me, drawn by Dave, and totally adorable) along with a companion video. All in addition to a couple of bonuses and full email support from Cindy and myself so we can help hold your hand through the potty training process. We’ve spent the last month polishing it to a shine, today is its official relaunch.
Available Darkness. I don’t have words for how cool this project is turning out. This debuted over at the Inkwell. Available Darkness is genre bending serialized fiction co-written by Dave and I with a new chapter unveiled each Friday. Behind the curtain, the story is nearing completion. We have big plans for the franchise, including ink later this year.
Ghostwriter Dad. My little spot on the web where I trade words for dollars with a smile on my face. I don’t get the byline, but I do get to play with language. Some of my business is SEO copy, but I also write love letters, wedding vows, fiction, speeches, and have even written a few (surprisingly satisfying) letters of complaint. Sometimes it is a joy to simply fade behind the copy. The homepage offers my services, but I write once or twice a week on the blog about the experience of being a ghostwriter. You can subscribe to the feed here.
One year back my best friend and I bolted our eyes and dared to dream. We no longer wished to live a life spent running around the track, craving a future of limitless sky instead of low ceiling. We have our sky and we have our helium. These are our balloons.
About Sean Platt
Sean,
You have done incredible works in this past year. And it’s been a joy and pleasure to be along for the ride for nearly all of that. You’re an inspiration to me, for what you have accomplished, and for how you have created yourself here in this place.
Happy One Year to you and this site, my friend! And to you and Cindy, and your family – I wish you many more to come!
You are indeed a breath of fresh air in our world…
Sean,
You have done incredible works in this past year. And it’s been a joy and pleasure to be along for the ride for nearly all of that. You’re an inspiration to me, for what you have accomplished, and for how you have created yourself here in this place.
Happy One Year to you and this site, my friend! And to you and Cindy, and your family – I wish you many more to come!
You are indeed a breath of fresh air in our world…
Who would have thought one year ago that our paths would cross? It is truly fate that has allowed us to meet. Is there a better or more unlikely “origin story” than how we met? Well, maybe, but probably not too many.
Thank you for the past year. Both your words which inspire and your friendship which lifts and your invaluable talent which amaze.
It is both an honor and a pleasure to know you.
Who would have thought one year ago that our paths would cross? It is truly fate that has allowed us to meet. Is there a better or more unlikely “origin story” than how we met? Well, maybe, but probably not too many.
Thank you for the past year. Both your words which inspire and your friendship which lifts and your invaluable talent which amaze.
It is both an honor and a pleasure to know you.
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy BIRTHday, dear Writer Daaaad, happy birthday to you.
And many more…. :)
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy BIRTHday, dear Writer Daaaad, happy birthday to you.
And many more…. :)
Congratulations Sean, and happy birthday Writer Dad!
Your life must be quite different than it was a year ago. Amazing what can happen in such a short time. You are a real talent and I’m excited to see where the next year takes you.
Congratulations Sean, and happy birthday Writer Dad!
Your life must be quite different than it was a year ago. Amazing what can happen in such a short time. You are a real talent and I’m excited to see where the next year takes you.
Happy Blog Birthday!
Congratulations on an excellent year. You definitely have something to celebrate today and so many people to share it with. You should be proud.
I’m looking forward to another excellent year here at Writer Dad.
All the best,
Chase
Happy Blog Birthday!
Congratulations on an excellent year. You definitely have something to celebrate today and so many people to share it with. You should be proud.
I’m looking forward to another excellent year here at Writer Dad.
All the best,
Chase
Congratulations, Sean! Hope there are many many more balloons for you in the future and your success keeps building UP! :)
Congratulations, Sean! Hope there are many many more balloons for you in the future and your success keeps building UP! :)
Happy one year blogging birthday! What an incredible year it has been, indeed. Looking forward to much more in the year to come!
Happy one year blogging birthday! What an incredible year it has been, indeed. Looking forward to much more in the year to come!
Happy Blog Birthday!
Happy Blog Birthday!
Congratulations for the first year!
Congratulations for the first year!
Wow, Sean! I didn’t know you had so many irons in the fire. I couldn’t have guessed because your writing is so good. In your case, quality isn’t compromised by quantity. Congratulations on a year of hard, hard work. It shows.
I loved the nod to Frankenstien’s “It’s ALIVE!” .. so true LOL.
Writer Dad & CollectiveInkwell have both have breathed life into my writing and has inspired me to launch a new blog coming soon. Can’t wait to see year #2!
Wow, Sean! I didn’t know you had so many irons in the fire. I couldn’t have guessed because your writing is so good. In your case, quality isn’t compromised by quantity. Congratulations on a year of hard, hard work. It shows.
I loved the nod to Frankenstien’s “It’s ALIVE!” .. so true LOL.
Writer Dad & CollectiveInkwell have both have breathed life into my writing and has inspired me to launch a new blog coming soon. Can’t wait to see year #2!
Happy Birthday Writer Dad!
You’ve been a blessing to me, inspiring the writing fires within after they had faded to cooling embers. Thank you. Your energy, influence, and integrity makes you a pillar in the blogging community. You deserve the best blog birthday ever!
Birthday toast: May your words blossom and balloon into dreams reached and lives enriched!
Happy Birthday Writer Dad!
You’ve been a blessing to me, inspiring the writing fires within after they had faded to cooling embers. Thank you. Your energy, influence, and integrity makes you a pillar in the blogging community. You deserve the best blog birthday ever!
Birthday toast: May your words blossom and balloon into dreams reached and lives enriched!
Congratulations, Happy Birthday, and Woo-Hoo!
Your story is inspiring, motivating, and most of all human. I’m happy to have crossed your path and will continue to do so.
Congratulations, Happy Birthday, and Woo-Hoo!
Your story is inspiring, motivating, and most of all human. I’m happy to have crossed your path and will continue to do so.
Happy Birthday my friend! :-)
As I was looking through all the Internet Real Estate that you and Cindy have established over the past year I couldn’t help but notice how each endeavor has been executed with top notch quality. I was thinking about CindyPlatt.com and how ANY parent with a young child should know about that site.
Anyway, it’s good to see you not only hit the one year mark, but to do it with such class and composure. Great job! :-D Eric
Happy Birthday my friend! :-)
As I was looking through all the Internet Real Estate that you and Cindy have established over the past year I couldn’t help but notice how each endeavor has been executed with top notch quality. I was thinking about CindyPlatt.com and how ANY parent with a young child should know about that site.
Anyway, it’s good to see you not only hit the one year mark, but to do it with such class and composure. Great job! :-D Eric
You can hold your head up high Sean, it’s a time to be proud of your accomplishments. Your authenticity shines through in every balloon you fill. The way you attribute your success to those around you, will keep those balloons flying high for a very long time.
You can hold your head up high Sean, it’s a time to be proud of your accomplishments. Your authenticity shines through in every balloon you fill. The way you attribute your success to those around you, will keep those balloons flying high for a very long time.
Happy (belated) birthday!
Those are some beautiful balloons you’ve got there. :)
Happy (belated) birthday!
Those are some beautiful balloons you’ve got there. :)
Congrats on the first year. It’s nice to look back at a full year and see so much quality work.
Congrats on the first year. It’s nice to look back at a full year and see so much quality work.
Happy Birthday! We have crossed paths many times this year with and without you knowing it. I have learned so much from your writing and from your blogging knowledge. As you know, you helped me potty train my youngest son in 48 hours flat, I’m now part of your PTP affiliate program, and collective ink well is redesigning my blog. Thank you for being you.
Happy Birthday! We have crossed paths many times this year with and without you knowing it. I have learned so much from your writing and from your blogging knowledge. As you know, you helped me potty train my youngest son in 48 hours flat, I’m now part of your PTP affiliate program, and collective ink well is redesigning my blog. Thank you for being you.
“forever attending to his bottomless need.”
Well, that’s easy. The babies with the bottoms are the difficult ones.
“forever attending to his bottomless need.”
Well, that’s easy. The babies with the bottoms are the difficult ones.
Happy birthday, Writer Dad – and many, many happy returns!
Shade and Sweetwater,
K (who has been something of a lurker, lately, but is here nonetheless)
Happy birthday, Writer Dad – and many, many happy returns!
Shade and Sweetwater,
K (who has been something of a lurker, lately, but is here nonetheless)
Lance: Man brother, you either get up WAY too early or stay up WAY too late. Either way, you remind me of my compatriot one comment below. : > ) Thanks for being here from the beginning. I’m pleased to know you and appreciate all the warm wishes and compliments.
Blogger Dad: There’s a few, but they generally involve adamantium claws, gamma rays or murdered parents in forgotten alleys. We are well met indeed. Thank YOU for the last year. I cannot imagine it without your brotherhood or influence, nor would I ever want to.
Kool Aid: …on channel four, and Scooby Doo on Channel two. : > )
David: It’s a polar difference. I’ve never been more eager to see where 365 days will carry me.
Chase: Thanks Chase as always. Thank you from being here from the beginning.
BloggerMom: I adore the reference to UP! I actually looked for a picture of the house floating but couldn’t find one and then felt all dorky because I was spending WAY too long looking. Thank you for being so generous with your husband’s time. I will never forget it.
Megan: Thanks Megan! Maybe not the best year ever, but definitely the coolest and most packed with surprises. I’m looking forward to this next year too. I’m glad we met this week, it’s been a lot of fun.
Dinu: Thanks man, I appreciate it!
Oscar: Thank you so much.
Bonnie: That’s a high compliment. Thank you! I do tend to pack the plate pretty full (it’s in my nature) but I try my hardest to make sure everything I’m involved with adheres to the highest quality. Thank you for noticing.
Lori: That’s impossibly sweet, Lori. Thank YOU – for being an endless supporter and tireless well wisher. You gave me one of the first 24karat compliments on writing I ever received, way back in (I think) October. It has stayed with me all these many months and rattled around in the back of my brain when I thought perhaps this was all too much.
Terry: Thanks for the well wishing Terry, and thank you also for being a terrific writer who pens words I enjoy reading.
Eric: Thanks buddy! I have to admit, my real estate looks as good as it does, not only because I’m a decent interior decorator, but I have an outstanding landscape architect as well. : > ) Happy early birthday to Motivate Thyself and your online career as well. Hasn’t this been the fullest and fastest year ever?
Trina: It’s pointing at the ceiling, Trina. Thanks! I hope to get enough to lift my house Pixar style right up to the moon. Thank you for your constant support.
Vered: My decorator is off the hook. : > )
Playstead: It does fill me with a sense of accomplishment. One year ago this was a single lonely page, now I’m scattered throughout the web with a smile.
Stacey: Thank you so much, Stacey. I don’t know any other way to be (well except when I was 12 and wanted to be River Phoenix) but I appreciate you saying that. I can’t wait to see the curtain lifted on the new Create a Balance. I love the work that Dave is doing!
OM: LOL, isn’t that the truth! Thanks. : > )
Kyddryn: Hey there Kyddryn, I was just about to hit submit when you slipped in before the bell! You may lurk all you wish. I am lucky to have you.
THANK YOU TO ALL!!!
Lance: Man brother, you either get up WAY too early or stay up WAY too late. Either way, you remind me of my compatriot one comment below. : > ) Thanks for being here from the beginning. I’m pleased to know you and appreciate all the warm wishes and compliments.
Blogger Dad: There’s a few, but they generally involve adamantium claws, gamma rays or murdered parents in forgotten alleys. We are well met indeed. Thank YOU for the last year. I cannot imagine it without your brotherhood or influence, nor would I ever want to.
Kool Aid: …on channel four, and Scooby Doo on Channel two. : > )
David: It’s a polar difference. I’ve never been more eager to see where 365 days will carry me.
Chase: Thanks Chase as always. Thank you from being here from the beginning.
BloggerMom: I adore the reference to UP! I actually looked for a picture of the house floating but couldn’t find one and then felt all dorky because I was spending WAY too long looking. Thank you for being so generous with your husband’s time. I will never forget it.
Megan: Thanks Megan! Maybe not the best year ever, but definitely the coolest and most packed with surprises. I’m looking forward to this next year too. I’m glad we met this week, it’s been a lot of fun.
Dinu: Thanks man, I appreciate it!
Oscar: Thank you so much.
Bonnie: That’s a high compliment. Thank you! I do tend to pack the plate pretty full (it’s in my nature) but I try my hardest to make sure everything I’m involved with adheres to the highest quality. Thank you for noticing.
Lori: That’s impossibly sweet, Lori. Thank YOU – for being an endless supporter and tireless well wisher. You gave me one of the first 24karat compliments on writing I ever received, way back in (I think) October. It has stayed with me all these many months and rattled around in the back of my brain when I thought perhaps this was all too much.
Terry: Thanks for the well wishing Terry, and thank you also for being a terrific writer who pens words I enjoy reading.
Eric: Thanks buddy! I have to admit, my real estate looks as good as it does, not only because I’m a decent interior decorator, but I have an outstanding landscape architect as well. : > ) Happy early birthday to Motivate Thyself and your online career as well. Hasn’t this been the fullest and fastest year ever?
Trina: It’s pointing at the ceiling, Trina. Thanks! I hope to get enough to lift my house Pixar style right up to the moon. Thank you for your constant support.
Vered: My decorator is off the hook. : > )
Playstead: It does fill me with a sense of accomplishment. One year ago this was a single lonely page, now I’m scattered throughout the web with a smile.
Stacey: Thank you so much, Stacey. I don’t know any other way to be (well except when I was 12 and wanted to be River Phoenix) but I appreciate you saying that. I can’t wait to see the curtain lifted on the new Create a Balance. I love the work that Dave is doing!
OM: LOL, isn’t that the truth! Thanks. : > )
Kyddryn: Hey there Kyddryn, I was just about to hit submit when you slipped in before the bell! You may lurk all you wish. I am lucky to have you.
THANK YOU TO ALL!!!
Congrats to you on your first year and thanks for sharing your wonderful writing with the rest of us! It’s hard to believe you are “new” at this! :-)
Congrats to you on your first year and thanks for sharing your wonderful writing with the rest of us! It’s hard to believe you are “new” at this! :-)
Happy WriterDad birthday/anniversary to my KWAN.
The word in Chinese means house, school, or style.
Your KWAN-ness is essential to the harmony of our family and inspiring to others.
Life indeed is better with the write words. Please never STOP expressing yours.
Nameste,
Cindy aka Daisy
Happy WriterDad birthday/anniversary to my KWAN.
The word in Chinese means house, school, or style.
Your KWAN-ness is essential to the harmony of our family and inspiring to others.
Life indeed is better with the write words. Please never STOP expressing yours.
Nameste,
Cindy aka Daisy
Happy Bday Writer Dad. You have been true inspiration and support. You have put in and given more than anyone could have and I think the time has come for the world to give back :) Your future looks awesome – thank you for hanging in and thank you to Cindy as well for supporting your creative energy :)
Happy Bday Writer Dad. You have been true inspiration and support. You have put in and given more than anyone could have and I think the time has come for the world to give back :) Your future looks awesome – thank you for hanging in and thank you to Cindy as well for supporting your creative energy :)
Happy birthday to WriterDad–and many more–Sean!
I hope you’re bursting with pride at all your hard work and your many accomplishments in this amazing year.
You’ve only just begun, my friend. It’s a pleasure and honor to know you and I can’t wait to see the exciting things that will unfold for you this year. :-)
Happy birthday to WriterDad–and many more–Sean!
I hope you’re bursting with pride at all your hard work and your many accomplishments in this amazing year.
You’ve only just begun, my friend. It’s a pleasure and honor to know you and I can’t wait to see the exciting things that will unfold for you this year. :-)
“…fills my world with helium”. YEAH.
Happy Birthday Writer Dad! Those are some AWESOME balloons. :)
“…fills my world with helium”. YEAH.
Happy Birthday Writer Dad! Those are some AWESOME balloons. :)