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 – January 18, 2013
The new year is off to a great start! How many of you have already given up on your resolutions? How many have created new goals to work towards? Have you considered writing your family history? Not sure where to start? Here are two places to look where you can get started!
Lynn Palermo has posted a Family History Writing Challenge for February! Take a look and consider signing up for this challenge. You can grab a badge for your website or blog on Lynn’s blog, the Armchair Genealogist.
Also explore the Sort Your Story software which allows you to write family stories and include photos and documents within an ancestor’s profile. Very easy to use and organize your information and thoughts.
So what are you waiting for? Go grab Lynn’s badge and start writing! By the end of February you may be motivated enough to keep going and write a family history book!
© 2013 Sort Your Story, Lorel Kapke
