Deeper Roots For Longer Branches: Writer Dad 2.0

Written by Writer Dad on April 27, 2009 - View Comments
Categories: Writing

“If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.”
~Mary Engelbreit

Welcom

Welcome. If you’re reading this in a reader, you might want to bounce on over and check out the new blogscape architecture built by David Wright. As always, his work is exemplary and just a small taste of the work that Blogger Dad and I are doing at Collective Inkwell.

I love routine and change in equal measure. They are best when one falls right into the other, like spring color after the pallid of winter. Without occasional revision to our lives, we abandon what makes us human; that ability to look past the horizon and determine our desires before eyeball engineering precisely how far we must travel to meet them.

Late last summer I started writing for the online world, just weeks after declaring myself a writer to any world at all. I searched for soil, fertile enough to plant my intentions, then proceeded to till the earth, adding nutrients and sunlight as I learned brand new definitions for patience and focus.

The roots run deep beneath the earth here at Writer Dad, but it is the change that will grow the branches, allowing them to reach for brand new heights. I am excited about these adjustments, but believe it best to share them with you.

At its best, Writer Dad has been about family and language and so this is where the majority of my attentions will now lie. Posts will be blended between the more intimate writing I am drawn to, alongside posts written specifically for social media and search engine traffic. I have written more than my share of SEO copy in the last several months and can say with confidence, there is indeed a difference. Titles, text and links – it is a wonderful thing to write them with regard to nothing but their virtue, but horrible for building a site.

I promise to keep my traffic generating posts as engaging and well written as possible and ask those readers who are part of the social media ecosystem to do what they can to spread the love on those occasions they feel my words are worth spreading.

In addition, I will be occasionally discussing children in relation to writing. Cindy and I are midway through development of what will be one of our flagship projects: an online writer’s workshop helping children to become better writers. Details on this will be delivered soon.

I’d like to close by asking what you would like to see from Writer Dad. With two posts a week and plenty of breathing space, this site has more potential than ever before. What do you like, what do you love, what would you like to see, and what could make this the best place it can possibly be.

The site is in wonderful hands: Ours.

Writer Dad

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  • It's funny, I don't know how I stumbled across your website, but now I need to pull a cozy pillow and some orange juice and start my way back to the beginning.

    As former educator, I'm eager to see what you have in store for your writing workshop for children.
  • Sean,

    Aw, shucks. Just the truth, that's all. Outsider's eye, y'know.

    (Oh, and yes, I had already checked out The Inkwell. It's striking!)

    Until later,

    Kelly
  • Hi Kelly! What a wonderful comment. I absolutely love the way you articulated the merits of the design. I couldn't have said it better myself, nor would I have ever chosen those words. LOVE IT. And the quote at the end, awesome and one.

    Dave has an eye that is special. His work has soul. He's doing some design work for projects we have coming down the line that are just remarkable, even his most simple. I think The Inkwell is striking, and the rest of his stuff so friendly and warm I just want to leave them up to decorate my browser.

    Thanks for the comment Kelly, it was quotable.
  • Sean,

    It's beautiful. The new design matches your personality so well I'm blown away. Visually, without even digging into the words, I understand this is a place to come for cool comfort from the perspective of a man who hasn't lost the childlike twinkle in his eye.

    "All children are born artists. The problem is to remain an artist as we grow up."
    —Picasso

    Keep up the great work.

    Regards,

    Kelly
  • Laurie: Me too, and though I'd be happy writing on a standard blogger blog as well, it sure is nice to have digs as pretty as this to come home to.

    Kool Aid: I love the comments here even more than the ones on Twitter. A bit more personal I think. Thanks for taking the time to drop it.

    Kim: I'm hoping for an announcement on Monday. Just a couple more ducks I need standing straight. (P.S. I think I may have accidentally deleted your last email to Mia. Sorry. I would love it if you could forward me the entire thread. Thanks!)
  • Kim
    Yeah for the development of the children's on-line writing workshop!!! Sign my kids up; we're waiting with baited breath for it to get going.

    (This site looks great too, btw.) :)
  • I know I said something to you on Twitter about how good this looks, but I thought I'd come by and visit in person. I love it! And I can't wait to see what you and Cindy develop with writing for children. Keep up the great work!!
  • Laurie
    I think you could scratch your thoughts on a piece of scrap paper and I would love them but your new look is great. Easy on the eyes, jovial, pleasant colors, a bit frisky. I love it! I can't wait to see what spills out your pen in the posts to come!
  • Kristin: My hope is to have a sign up ready for Monday, with an initial pilot launch in early June. Lots of work to do in between now and then, but it is our constant.

    Maya: Dave has a way of making Thesis unrecognizable to its mother. : > )
  • Wonderful Sean. I am really enjoying seeing Writerdad evolve!
    The writing workshop sounds super. I cannot wait to hear more about that.

    Great makeover by Dave on the site. I love that it does not look like any other Thesis site.
    Lovely!
  • The site looks great! And I can't wait to hear more about the kids' writing workshop. A few aspiring young writers live at my house. :)
  • Dan: Me too. Hopefully we're looking at early June. It will be really cool whenever it happens.

    Matthew: LOL. I figured it out when Dave changed his to green about a month ago.

    Tricia: Thanks Tricia, for the compliment and the well wishing.
  • It's lovely, all of it. Wishing you much success and fulfillment here.
  • I didn't know green went with awesome.
  • I can't wait for the writers workshop site you are doing with your wife. Hopefully I can use it to the maximum potential and it can be a great resource for me in particular.
  • Randi: It does feel like new paint, doesn't it? I promise you, Randi, that style of writing is going nowhere. In fact, I hope to bring it into sharper focus. Thanks for everything, I'm glad you like the new look.

    Kyddryn: Well hello there Shade and Sweetwater! I totally know what you mean - those SEO posts are like verbal pushups. With two days a week, I should have more than enough time to prettify everything I put around these parts.

    Craig: Thanks for the compliment. Me too.

    Marc: Thanks, Marc. For the compliment and for spreading the lovin' : > )
  • Love the new look Sean. Looking forward to seeing what you have in store for your posts moving forward.

    I got my social bookmarking and Twitter accounts ready to spread the lovin' :)
  • The site looks great, nice work. Love reading parenting info -- from one dad to another.

    Craig
  • I like the new colors - so soothing, easy on the eyes.

    I enjoy your family stories and creativity better than content written for SEO or as an exercize - the former are so warm, welcoming, give me sense of connection, while the latter are often more linear, more bound by content rules and regulations, more formal. Considering how I write, is that any surprise? I enjoy reading your work when I feel part of a continuing and friendly conversation, if that makes any sense.

    Shade and Sweetwater,
    K (who is nearly dizzy with keeping up with all the blogs these days...she needs more hours...)
  • I can almost smell the new paint--aaah. I love the new colors and the whimsical font.

    As far as what I have loved about Writer Dad in the past, it has been your ability to take common life experiences and write them in a way that has universal appeal. For example, many dads take their daughter to a daddy/daughter dance. Not every dad though, can capture that memory in such a way that makes all the other dads misty-eyed. You don't let life pass you by, and then wonder where it went. You corral life and make it freeze in time. That's what I hope to see more of...
  • Dave: Sorry I missed you. You were in moderation while I was answering the last batch. I big giant heart Thesis. Easy on the eyes and the SEO as well.

    Mike: The old one was clean and uncluttered as well, but this one just does so much more without adding a single messy element. Thanks for the subscribe. I'm really happy to have you!
  • I never came across your site before, so I have nothing to compare your new look with in my mind. But your design is fresh and uncluttered, and I like it a great deal.

    I'm looking forward to following you in your journey. I've subscribed to your RSS feed so I can keep up with what you're doing!
  • GreenJello: Naw, it's not too late! Kool Aid just moved over to WordPress this morning after being on Blogspot, I believe, for two years. Enter the contest at the Collective Inkwell. You could win one of these puppies for yourself.

    Karen: I would never cut this tree. I love it dearly.
  • I don't know what the old site looked like, but the new one looks good. Nice and calming. And it's running Thesis which is a bonus.
  • I love the new site! And I am glad to see you are branching out rather than cutting down the whole tree to plant a new one : ))
  • I am ever so jealous. Had I known years ago what I know now, I would have started up my blog on WordPress! A little late now, darnitallanyway...

    Love the new look!
  • Bamboo: This project has been a long time in the works. Really since before WD was so much as a domain. It will be really, really exciting to finally gather it all together and get it out to the world.

    Barbara: I love it too. If it wasn't for Dave, I probably would've just given up and gone to Blogspot (not really).

    Henry: Thanks, thanks and THANKS!
  • Excellent look, great direction. Congrats!
  • Hi Sean,

    I love the new design. I especially like the green. It's soothing.

    Great job!
  • "flagship projects: an online writer’s workshop helping children to become better writers."

    I think this may have good potential. Particularly if you build a culture of how cool it is to write. Good luck with that project, I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes. I think it's a great business idea.

    This is a cool new design too.
  • Ian: Cozy and comfortable might be the best way to describe Dave's work. It is ALWAYS both.

    Cindy: Hey baby, you take them with me. Without you I'd be flying solo and probably lost somewhere around the middle of the Atlantic.
  • I am enjoying the evolution of WriterDad, but I agree with Trina: "your collection of words used to describe experiences and whimsy keep me coming back, new look or not."
    Your ability to take risks and adapt quickly is awe inspiring.
  • WD,

    The new design is cozy and comfortable. Nice work.

    As for the content, I prefer to read your posts about family, language, and your creative writing pieces. I don't mind SEO as long as I'm not reading a lot of HOWTOs on SEO, but the occasional article never hurts as your presentation is always engaging.

    Be well.
  • Janice: I think it's important, at least for me and especially here, to include the community in my thought process. This is the only site I write for where there is a healthy percentage of the audience who are not bloggers and they do not read blogs. I believe this is a boon to future growth, but also means that time must be taken to explain what on other sites might seem somewhat obvious. Writer Dad is a wonderful place to wax lyrical on my aha! moments indeed.

    Trina: Yes, it is the quality of the life behind the walls, not the color of the paint outside. Still, we all know a pretty house when we see it and some of us long to live inside. : > ) Thanks, Trina.
  • Trina
    Fun new look, especially love blue with green any time. As far as content goes, its your collection of words used to describe experiences and whimsy that keep me coming back, new look or not.
  • Love the new theme and completely understand what you're saying about creative titles not being exactly SEO friendly. Thank you for sharing your thought processes about that with us. Many bloggers would just go ahead and do it without explaining the why's. Do what you can to build your brand, Sean, and we'll read whatever shows up here! I personally like to read people's aha! moments, the ones that aren't planned, where the universe just channels something 'important' through the writer.
  • Sandra: I look forward to giving it to you. I think the old WD is about to take off in some entirely different skies. Thanks for being a part of it.

    Hayden: Not strange at all. I try to make everything that has my name on it as romantic as possible. Thanks for noticing!
  • This will probably sound strange, but this is so romantic!
  • Hey Sean,
    I like the look - just enough to engage but not overwhelm. I'm a new subscriber and I'm really looking forward to hearing more from the "Dad" viewpoint. I work with Work At Home Moms primarily so some perspective will be very welcome!
    Enjoy your journey!
  • Dinu: The header says so much in the most subtle way. Elegant and fun. Dave did a wonderful job, I can't imagine changing a thing.

    Lori: Perfect description. : > )

    Tracy: I don't mind writing for SEO at all. It's bread and butter. But sometimes, like when I'm telling a story about my children, I don't even want it to be a remote consideration. I do agree though, it can really spark creativity. Especially when you use a few tricks.

    Zoe: Thanks, Zoe. I feel like I moved into a pretty new house, a welcome change after a while of routine.

    Deconstructing Jen: Dave needs to come back around here and take a bow. His perfectionism shows in his design work. Thanks for the compliment.
  • The new design looks great!
  • Zoe
    Change and routine in equal measures -- a good recipe indeed.

    The site looks lovely and fresh :)
  • I really love the new look. I can't wait to see what you come up with! I know it's different writing for SEO, but look at it as a challenge. Sometimes our best creativity comes when we have to work around a framework.
  • Lori - SpaceAgeSage
    I like the new look -- very "writerdadish" and "bloggerdadish."
  • colors are good, header is cool

    hmm, add a bit more "padding" on the left side, for content ...
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