“If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.”
~Mary Engelbreit
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.
About Sean Platt
colors are good, header is cool
hmm, add a bit more “padding” on the left side, for content …
colors are good, header is cool
hmm, add a bit more “padding” on the left side, for content …
I like the new look — very “writerdadish” and “bloggerdadish.”
I like the new look — very “writerdadish” and “bloggerdadish.”
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.
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.
Change and routine in equal measures — a good recipe indeed.
The site looks lovely and fresh :)
Change and routine in equal measures — a good recipe indeed.
The site looks lovely and fresh :)
The new design looks great!
The new design looks great!
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.
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.
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!
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!
This will probably sound strange, but this is so romantic!
This will probably sound strange, but this is so romantic!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
“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.
Hi Sean,
I love the new design. I especially like the green. It’s soothing.
Great job!
Hi Sean,
I love the new design. I especially like the green. It’s soothing.
Great job!
Excellent look, great direction. Congrats!
Excellent look, great direction. Congrats!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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 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 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 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.
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.
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 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!
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!
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!
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!