In The Works

I apologize for the lack of posts lately, but I promise to be back soon with some great articles.  I’ve been out of town most of September and now I’m packing up the house for our move in a week.  And although I haven’t had time to sit down and write anything, I’ve been accumulating article ideas and outlines.  Here are a few of the upcoming topics I have planned:

• Writing for Magazines:  Niche Markets & Your Family History
• Organize Your Writing Projects with Scrivener
• Using 1000memories to Capture Your Family Stories

These are just a few, so stay tuned!

Pre-Order: My Life & Times

My Life & Times: A Guided Journal for Collecting your Stories is available for pre-order from shopfamilytree.com at a special price of $19.79 (special offer good until October 31, 2011).

Part journal, part keepsake, the prompts on the fill-in pages allow you to “write down key moments from childhood to adulthood.”  This journal is a 3-ring binder and includes a bonus CD with additional refill pages that can be printed as needed.

Placing Your Ancestors in Time

One of the biggest challenges of genealogy research and writing is putting your ancestors in context based on time and location.  This information is what gives meat to the story, which helps you understand your ancestors’ actions and motives. 

Earlier tonight, the GeneaBloggers Radio show topic was “Ancestors in Place” featuring Jane E. Wilcox and Lisa Alzo.  There are some great tips and ideas, so be sure to catch the recorded version, when you have about an hour-and-a-half to spare.

Got Ontario Roots?

I came across yet another writing contest.  This one is the Keffer Writing Contest, sponsored by the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS).  The contest, which is open to OGS members, awards four cash prizes ranging from $25 to $100.  Winning entries are also featured in the OGS journal Families.  Entries should be 1,500-2,000 words (including footnotes) and relate to Canada or Ontario genealogy.  The deadline is November 1, 2011.

Click here for additional information or contact Families editor at familieseditor@ogs.on.ca.

Win a Family History Publishing Package

A 500-word essay about your family history could win you a complete Premium publishing package from Abbot Press, a Family Tree Magazine partner.  The deadline is September 30, but they will only draw the grand prize winner from the first 200 submissions. 

For complete details, rules, and how to enter, click here.

Great Tips for Writing Your Family History

Valerie, author of the Family Cherished blog, shares what she learned from Eleanor Jensen’s family history writing class at the UGA Family History Conference in her post “The Easiest Way to Write Family History Stories Revealed!”

Some good advice!

Write Now!

Kimberly Powell of About Genealogy wrote an excellent post last week entitled “10 Steps to Writing Your Family History.” 

This is a must-read article with solid tips to get the juices flowing and start writing NOW!

Writers’ Week Writing Contest

Writers of all varieties are invited to participate in the Writers’ Week Writing Contest hosted by Emily Suess at her blog, Suess’s Pieces.  First, second, and third places will be awarded great prizes, including Amazon gift certificates.

Emily has supplied 50 writing prompts to choose from.  To enter, choose one of the prompts and write as much or as little as you like.  You have to post the entry on your blog or website with the official entry badge and provide a link to your entry.

The deadline is Friday, September 16, 2011 at 11:59pm (Eastern).

Refer to Writers’ Week Writing Contest Rules for details on prizes, how to enter, and of course, the writing prompts.

Writing-Related Lectures at the FGS 2011 Conference

If you are attending the FGS 2011 Conference in Springfield next week, you should consider attending at least one lecture related to the subject of writing your family history.  This is a great way to learn about different aspects of writing as well as find some motivation to start capturing your stories.

Wednesday Sessions

Although Wednesday is “Focus on Societies” day, there are a few lectures that are still applicable to the individual writer.

• 9:30am – But It’s My Family: Copyright Issues for Genealogists, Cath Madden Trindle
• 2:00pm – Effective Editing and Writing, Pamela Boyer Sayre
• 3:30pm – Printed vs. Online Publishing for Societies, Donna M. Moughty

Thursday Sessions

• 12:15 – Get Off That Fence and Start Writing!, Pat Richley-Erickson (this is part of the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors luncheon, which is an additional fee)
• 2:00pm – Citing Your Sources, Russell Lynch
• 5:00 – Going Beyond the Bare Bones: Reconstructing Your Ancestors’ Lives, Thomas W. Jones
• 5:00 – Writing a Quality Client Report, Linda Turner (research reports are also good for your personal files and can help jumpstart the family history writing process)
• Workshop* – Social History and Genealogy: Writing a Family Narrative, Diane VanSkiver Gagel
• Workshop* – Writing Your Family History With Microsoft Word, Michael J. Leclerc

Saturday Sessions

• 8:00am – Digital Scrapbooking, Linda Woodward Geiger
• 9:30am – Build a Genealogy Blog, Thomas MacEntee
• 9:30am – Write Your Family History Step-by-Step, Lisa Alzo
• 11:00am – A Dozen Ways to Jumpstart Your Family History Project, Loretto D. Szucs
• 2:00pm – The Place of Place in Your Family History Narrative: Anchoring Your Family History in Its Setting, Dawn Thurston
• 5:00pm – Using Diaries and Journals to Add Personality to Your Research, Laura Prescott

*Workshops have an additional fee.  I’m not sure if you can sign up for them at the conference, or if you had to register for them beforehand.  I do know a few were “sold out.”