Follow Friday – Family History Writing Challenge

As part of our quest to encourage you to write your family history, Sort Your Story author Jennifer Holik has joined the Family History Writing Challenge created by Lynn Palermo of The Armchair Genealogist. I accepted a 500 per day word count to write. Visit Lynn’s website to sign up for her writing challenge newsletter and review all the writing options and get started today. The challenge runs from today through February 28!

What else happens when you sign up? You will receive daily inspiration, tips, writing prompts, and articles from others who have been writing a while. Take what you need from her newsletters and apply it to your writing.

Where can you write? In Sort Your Story under each ancestor’s profile, your journal, your computer on Word or other programs, in scrapbooks, anywhere! Keep track of your word count and post it on your blog or in Lynn’s forums to help you stay accountable.

Will you join Jennifer in this challenge this month? Please share in the comments.

Wisdom Wednesday – Writing Your Story #1

Many people have asked just how do you write a family history? There are many ways of doing so. In the coming weeks we will explore several options and provide several resources. Today let’s explore just some resources that will give you some inspiration on how to begin.

Stories to Tell is a company that assists authors with publishing. They have a book out on  how to self-publish and a blog full of ideas and resources to get you started.

The Armchair Genealogist offers many suggestions on how to write; writing challenges; resources; and tips. One of her latest posts is about organization so you can prepare to write. But don’t stop there – scan her blog for the topics that interest you where writing is concerned.

Also check out the Family History Writing blog. Joy’s latest post offers plenty of resources to help you get started.

Need other inspiration and ideas? Check out local writer’s groups. Barnes and Noble stores often offer these. Many genealogy societies and historical societies offer writing groups. Some libraries have monthly or weekly groups as well. No groups in your area? Why not start one? Or, start one virtually with your geneabuddies!

The sky’s the limit where writing is concerned. Check back next week for more ways to sit down and start the process.

© 2013 Sort Your Story, Lorel Kapke

Follow Friday – Genealogy Education

Many of us start our genealogical journeys through self-education. Then we reach a point where something else is needed. We need to attend a local genealogy society’s general meeting or workshop. Perhaps we investigate research library workshop offerings. We may go even bigger into the state and national offerings like state conferences, National Archives workshops, or national genealogy society conferences.

Angela Packer McGhie writes a blog called Adventures in Genealogy Education. Angela presents information about workshops, conferences, study groups, webinars, and new books related to genealogy education. Check out her blog and what is available if you are interested in taking that next step.

Harold Henderson writes a blog called Midwestern Microhistory: A Genealogy Blog. He recently wrote an article about Genealogy on the Cheap that is worth a read.

Considering going for genealogical certification? The Board for Certification of Genealogists just launched a blog to help those going through the process and those considering that option.

© 2013 Sort Your Story, Lorel Kapke

Think Ethnically in Genealogy

The following is a press release originally released on January 4, 2013. Have you thought ethnically when doing your genealogical research? Do you seek out ethnic libraries and museums to help tell your ancestors’ stories? If you live in the Chicago area or have Chicago roots, a new resource is becoming available!

Casa Italia Chicago Creates Genealogy Department

Chicago, Illinois – January 4, 2013: Jennifer Holik of Generations collaborates with staff at Casa Italia Chicago to create a new genealogy department. The mission of the Genealogy Department is to collect, catalogue and preserve vital records, documents, published materials, artifacts, and stories pertaining to the family history of Italian Americans in Chicago.

This department’s dedicated and energetic team works in conjunction with the Roselli Library goal of building the most comprehensive archive of Chicago Italian Americana in the Midwest. Scholars, students, authors, and family historians can utilize these materials to research a number of fields including sociology, religious studies, demography, and immigration. Currently, our resources include archives, newspaper articles, religious histories, oral history transcripts, ancestral town information, videos of past genealogy programs, Fra Noi articles and newspapers, the Communes of Italy publications, and many other genealogical references.

The department will present programs throughout the year for adults and children. A monthly genealogy group will form offering research assistance and programs presented by local genealogical speakers.

Casa Italia Chicago is a non-profit organization in Stone Park, Illinois, where people meet to pursue common goals, preserve our past, celebrate our heritage and ensure passage of values to future generations. Casa Italia offers a children’s summer camp, Italian language classes, and cultural programs throughout the year.

For more information, follow us on FaceBook, Twitter, our blog, or contact Genealogy Department Manager, Jennifer Holik.

© 2013 Sort Your Story, Lorel Kapke