“A habit is something you can do without thinking – which is why most of us have so many of them.”
~Frank A. Clark
Many of my thoughts have been stuck behind the bars of 500 words for too long now.
The only good thing about finding yourself a captive of brainless behavior, is that if you can recognize what you are doing and why, then you can bend the bars and make good your escape. I know precisely when I became prisoner of this particular pattern of predictability – late last summer when I first started writing for an online audience. Those initial posts were mostly all around 500 words. They did well, so I stuck with the formula, then slapped it onto every other site I started.
This is rather silly.
I never stop a conversation with Cindy midway through. “Sorry dear, I think that was just about the right length.” Nor do I keep going after I should be finished. Well, I actually do that all the time, but Cindy is rather forgiving.
Whenever you do the same thing over and over while neglecting to revisit your purpose, it is easy to build a road to banality brick by boring brick. I don’t want that to happen, so here are a few of the types of writing I will be publishing to keep things interesting.
Vintage Writer Dad - I’ll never forget what gives Writer Dad its name. Life IS better with the right words and this domain will always be the best venue for me to tell those stories that are most special to me.
Children’s Poetry – David Wright and I are slowly gathering material for a children’s book of charming rhymes. I will be publishing some of our early drafts as preliminary art and words are finished.
Old Favorites – I used to refer to these repeat posts as Deja Vuesday posts, but I suspect no one else thinks it’s even a quarter as clever as I do.
Jotted thoughts - I allow too many thoughts to slip away and now have a swipe file filled with 14 word lines, lying in limbo and waiting for an eternity to get wrapped in 486 more. Sometimes a few sentences are all you need to complete your thought. I’m sorry it took me a year to get this.
Link roundups - There is a lot of terrific reading on the web and I’ve no idea why I don’t share some of the things I read that I love most. Probably because I’ve been running around like a chicken without its head for the last year while trying to figure this all out. More time and better management with what I have means I’ll be able to do a better job.
Interviews with my children - Ever since those first two interviews back in April, Max and Mia have endlessly asked when they would get another shot in front of the camera. I’m planning to interview them both, then cut their interviews into fun, munchable chunks.
Excerpts – There is no better place to share the projects I’m working on than here at my home site, and I look forward to sharing some of the work now in production.
There is no limit to the possibilities now that I’m no longer a willing servant to a stale formula, but this is some of what the immediate future is holding for Writer Dad. I would love to know what you think, or if there is anything else you would be eager to see.
Thanks!
About Sean Platt
This sounds like a great plan that will benefit ME, since I’ll have more reading material on your wonderful site. :)
This sounds like a great plan that will benefit ME, since I’ll have more reading material on your wonderful site. :)
Mixing it up is always a good idea. I am looking forward!
Mixing it up is always a good idea. I am looking forward!
Great ideas :)
Great ideas :)
I was getting all ready to commiserate with you about word length and then I got to INTERVIEWS!
Yes, please. You can never have to much cute.
I was getting all ready to commiserate with you about word length and then I got to INTERVIEWS!
Yes, please. You can never have to much cute.
Hey Sean I love this new approach you are taking I’ve thought many of the same things, like for instance your “Jotted thoughts”. Why does everything have to be a formula? I’m really looking forward to your future here. Thanks!
Hey Sean I love this new approach you are taking I’ve thought many of the same things, like for instance your “Jotted thoughts”. Why does everything have to be a formula? I’m really looking forward to your future here. Thanks!
So is there a word limit on comments? EEK I have left various lengths ranging from 0 to a whole bunch. I didn’t realize that you were behind bars Sean. Please allow me to put the key in the lock and give it a turn. Who knows what you can produce in an atmosphere of freedom! But you rock where ever you are, behind bars or free as a jailbird!
So is there a word limit on comments? EEK I have left various lengths ranging from 0 to a whole bunch. I didn’t realize that you were behind bars Sean. Please allow me to put the key in the lock and give it a turn. Who knows what you can produce in an atmosphere of freedom! But you rock where ever you are, behind bars or free as a jailbird!
Isn’t it funny how we get these ideas of what we should do and then find out it’s not really important?
I am looking forward to reading all your styles of posts, any length.
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..Who wants to be rich and happy? =-.
Isn’t it funny how we get these ideas of what we should do and then find out it’s not really important?
I am looking forward to reading all your styles of posts, any length.
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..Who wants to be rich and happy? =-.
You’ve just encapsulated the story of my blogging career (which isn’t really a career since I’m not making any money at it). Almost all of my posts are about 1000 words. A friend of mine told me to shorten it to between 500 and 700 words. He was right about it increasing viewership, but I wonder if content is not being lost. It’s possible that I’m saying the same thing in 500 words that I had previously been saying in 1000 or more, but if so, then I didn’t plan it. Maybe being forced to keep it short also forces us to be more concise and makes us into better writers. Either it’s that or we just cut it short, like you say, out of a need to be brief rather than concise. Anyway, much to ruminate on. Thank you for the daily dose of luz.
.-= Keith Wilcox´s last blog ..Songs of Sesame Street =-.
You’ve just encapsulated the story of my blogging career (which isn’t really a career since I’m not making any money at it). Almost all of my posts are about 1000 words. A friend of mine told me to shorten it to between 500 and 700 words. He was right about it increasing viewership, but I wonder if content is not being lost. It’s possible that I’m saying the same thing in 500 words that I had previously been saying in 1000 or more, but if so, then I didn’t plan it. Maybe being forced to keep it short also forces us to be more concise and makes us into better writers. Either it’s that or we just cut it short, like you say, out of a need to be brief rather than concise. Anyway, much to ruminate on. Thank you for the daily dose of luz.
.-= Keith Wilcox´s last blog ..Songs of Sesame Street =-.
Kim: LOL, thanks Kim. I’ll try to make each day worth it!
Vered: Things will be shaken, not stirred.
Marinela: Thanks!
Hayden: I have a feeling the interviews are going to be a crazy amount of fun! I really can’t wait for them.
Stephen: Thank you! I think as humans we can be such willing slaves to routine. This can be good, but it can also keep us running the rat race as you well know. I’m not exactly sure where it’s going, but I’m no longer willing to let it run in place.
Laurie: Comments have no limit. Feel free to drop a thousand words. No kidding, I’ve had comments run long enough to turn into guest posts.
Tracy: Always. That is very kind, Tracy. I look forward to entertaining you! : > )
Keith: I totally feel you. People don’t always care to read us when we’re long winded and often appreciate brevity. In many ways, Twitter has helped me to become a better writer. Cramming my thought into 140 characters is a lesson in precision writing for sure, one that I often need!
Kim: LOL, thanks Kim. I’ll try to make each day worth it!
Vered: Things will be shaken, not stirred.
Marinela: Thanks!
Hayden: I have a feeling the interviews are going to be a crazy amount of fun! I really can’t wait for them.
Stephen: Thank you! I think as humans we can be such willing slaves to routine. This can be good, but it can also keep us running the rat race as you well know. I’m not exactly sure where it’s going, but I’m no longer willing to let it run in place.
Laurie: Comments have no limit. Feel free to drop a thousand words. No kidding, I’ve had comments run long enough to turn into guest posts.
Tracy: Always. That is very kind, Tracy. I look forward to entertaining you! : > )
Keith: I totally feel you. People don’t always care to read us when we’re long winded and often appreciate brevity. In many ways, Twitter has helped me to become a better writer. Cramming my thought into 140 characters is a lesson in precision writing for sure, one that I often need!
You know I’m with you on this one; I’ve never managed to have a formula! It all sounds good. Mix it up. Be yourself. It’s the Platt-ness we come for!
.-= janice´s last blog ..Berries and Birds =-.
You know I’m with you on this one; I’ve never managed to have a formula! It all sounds good. Mix it up. Be yourself. It’s the Platt-ness we come for!
.-= janice´s last blog ..Berries and Birds =-.