Plotting the Next Stop: Why I’ve Been Writing, Not Posting
While It Seems I've Gone Dark, I've Got News
In today’s piece…
🤲🏾 How You Can Shape “Our” Next Project
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This platform will celebrate three years in just a few months. As we continue to grow, it’s hard to believe that 1,000 subscribers are just around the corner.
I wasn’t sure where Density Dad would be by now, but it’s clear that it’s time to step out of our little corner. Subscriber count has long been the go-to measure of success on social media, but in this work, success has to mean more—something that actively shapes how we live, not just how we see the world.
I’ve been pretty lowkey on here as of late but for the best reason to date.
DRUM ROLL PLEASE…
I have submitted my first book proposal, ever!
I buckled down and spent just over three weeks in January carving out every aspect of this book. I conducted meetings with colleagues who are now authors. I locked myself in my home office and wrote all hours of the night. I found the hunger that helped launch this platform in the first place.
In that same breath, I was burnout writing-wise and didn’t want to think of words for a while. Almost 20 pages of writing will do that to you, I suppose.
While I haven’t heard back yet, I’m not waiting for my yes to move toward completion of the book. I am confident in what I’ve submitted and believe next steps should be to build off of this momentum by sharing the excitement and gathering feedback in advance to those who understand me most.
So I need your help.
This platform has always been about community, and right now, I want to start by addressing everyone. Your support—whether through time, feedback, or simply being part of this journey—means the world. But today, I need to center the voices of those who have made this work possible financially. The reality is, the support from paid subscribers has helped me keep the lights on, cover rent recently when things got tight, and bridge the gap as I pour everything into launching a nonprofit (Transit First CLT!) and blocking out the necessary time to write this book. I don’t take that lightly.
That’s why I’m prioritizing the input of paid subscribers first. I’ll be gathering your thoughts and weaving them into this project. After that, I’ll open up the conversation to everyone next week, so we can have a more open "chat" and keep this process as collaborative as possible.
One-time contributions also go a long way. If you believe in this work but aren’t in a place to commit long-term, every bit helps push this forward.
I’ve been reflecting on what’s missing from the usual narratives around family life in cities. We hear about the challenges—lack of safe infrastructure, the constant pushback against anything but car dependency—but what about the joy? The moments when it all clicks, when you realize your kid sees the city differently because of the choices you’ve made? I want this book to capture that. So tell me: what are the little wins that keep you going?
If there is anyone willing to be interviewed to share their personal wins, please shoot me an email so we can schedule time together.
Beyond personal stories, I also want to tackle the practical side—what you wish you had known earlier, the resources that actually helped, and the advice you’d give to someone just starting out. Whether it's your biggest lesson, a tool that made your life easier, or a mindset shift that changed everything, I want to feature the knowledge we’ve built together in this space.
And lastly, let’s talk about what’s next. This book isn’t just about looking back—it’s about where we’re headed. If you could shape the conversation around urban parenting in the next five years, what would you want to see? What’s the next big battle worth fighting? I want to make sure this book doesn’t just document, but also drives change.
Til, next time cut loose.
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density dad is brought to you by our generous paid supporters who believe in building infrastructure that includes families and vulnerable populations.
Your contributions make it possible for us to continue creating quality content. Consider becoming a paid supporter today.