Book Review: Writer Dad by Sean Platt

I had tears in my eyes and fire in my heart by the time I finished this book, which charts Sean Platt’s journey from working in his father’s flower shop to full-time fiction writer.

I discovered Sean via his site Ghostwriter Dad (you can now find him at seanmplatt.com). His book Writing Online makes a great companion to this one, with loads of great advice for writers. This book however is much more personal and as a result was even more inspiring – and I believe will be for any writer.

I’m half-way through my second year of full-time writing so this book gave me a good sense of perspective as it spans five years of Sean’s writing career. I’m currently paying the bills with my writing, but it’s equally important to me that I find work that is also rewarding and enjoyable, and I’m not quite there yet. It means a lot to hear that Sean also struggled to find the right kind of work for him at the beginning, and so great to hear that he eventually found a way to make a living from fiction writing, which he clearly enjoys!

I was an early convert to Yesterday’s Gone, Sean’s sprawling post-apocalyptic fiction serial that he wrote with David Wright and was hooked, going on to read many of their other books published under the Collective Inkwell umbrella.  I was also delighted when they teamed up for the Self-Publishing Podcast and Better Off Undead with Johnny B Truant. Listening to these is one of the highlights of my week because they’re inspiring and hilarious (though they are definitely NSFW or for those with a sensitive disposition!)

In this book however we definitely see a much more introspective and personal side of Sean. At first this is a bit disconcerting as the style of writing is different to what I’m used to from the likes of their character Boricio, a filthy-tongued serial killer!

Sean has said on the Self-Publishing Podcast that this book is a love letter to his wife Cindy, and that really comes across, as does his love for his two children. Cindy sounds like a very special woman, encouraging Sean to write in the first place by buying him his first MacBook and also supporting him through thick and thin.

Whilst at first the writing style may seem a little sentimental compared to his fiction, by the end of the book you can understand why, and can really feel the deep love that Sean has for his family. Whilst I don’t have any children, my wife has been similarly supportive of my own journey in becoming a full-time writer I could really relate to this part of the book.

Highly recommended to any writers, or ‘wannabe’ writers, whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction.

Get Writer Dad at Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk & other Amazon stores worldwide.

This review contains Amazon.com affiliate links.