A while back, Laura Mortensen sat down with a tape recorder and asked her mother, Melba, some questions about her life. The result was this sweet little book, "I Wish You Bluebirds." I wanted to show it to you, because it's a great example of what can be done with a recorded oral interview and a few pictures.
Read moreAutobiography, Memoir, Personal History - What's the Diff? And Does It Matter?
As "personal historians," Tom and I often use these terms interchangeably when blogging or teaching about the concept of writing one's life stories. But does that signify that they all mean the same thing?
Read moreGathering Stories at Family Gatherings
Holidays, for better or worse, are family gathering times (followed closely by weddings, funerals, and family reunions). What better time is there to interview those family members you only see once a year? Give your auntie an excuse to stay out of the kitchen and hold her comfortably captive while you ask a few questions.
Here are a few tips that will help you get better stories.
Read moreLost and Found: Do You Know Where Your Relatives Are?
But it also made me think: what will happen to my lost relatives? I have a box of unidentified ancestral photos, people I know are related to me, but in what way? They led full, interesting lives. Yet in a few short generations, nobody remembers who they are, what they did, what they lost, or who they loved. I crave knowledge of them, but because their stories weren't documented, I may never know.
Read moreQuick Writing Tip: Active vs. Passive Voice
Since it's Friday---and who doesn't love grammar advice on a Friday?---I'm going to show you a neat little trick that will make your writing clearer, stronger, and more to the point.
Read moreDon’t Like to Write? Dictate Your Stories Using Speech-to-text Software
You have stories to tell, but writing them is a pain. Or maybe you like to write, but you don’t like to type, and writing by hand takes too long. Speech-to-text technology now enables us to simply talk and let our computers do the typing.
Read moreIs Honesty the Best Policy when Writing Your Life Stories?
There is a difference between being honest, or truthful, and being accurate.
Accuracy alone, while important in certain essential facts like birthdates and college degrees, can be the kiss of death in a memoir.
Why? Because you are a human being, not a recording machine. You have a soul that interprets events, molding them into your own personal truth that is expressed in a way only you can express it. That subjectivity is what makes a memoir interesting. You are showing your reader what it feels like to be you.
Read moreLife Story Webinar #8: Putting Your Book Together
This week's webinar is the eighth and final one in the “How to Save Your Life, One Chapter at a Time” series: “Putting Your Book Together.” Now that you’ve written your stories and gathered your pictures, we will show you some options for turning them into a beautiful hardbound book.
Read moreMinimalism and Family History, Part Two
What is essential?
How do we tell the gold from the dross? How do we decide what to let go of? And what should we do with the stuff that is important enough to keep, so that it can be enjoyed and cherished by the whole family?
Read moreMinimalism and Family History, Part One
News flash: I have way too much stuff.
Our nest recently emptied, Tom and I live in a house that is now too big for us, filled with way more stuff than we need or have time to maintain. Recently, we have been longing for less, and have been considering our options. What in our lives is worth keeping as we slide into our "golden" years? What can we gleefully chuck into the dumpster with nary a second thought? These questions apply not just to stuff, but to all aspects of our lives: tasks, responsibilities, thought patterns, prejudices, relationships...
What does this have to do with family history, you ask? I promise to come back around to the relevant subject, if you, dear reader, can forgive a few personal musings along the way.
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We are so excited to be back at RootsTech live this year! Come by and see the Pictures and Stories booth (#1609) and see some of the many new books we’ve helped our clients create. Alison is giving two in-person classes: The Seven Deadly Sins of Building a Digital Archive, and Making a Genealogy Story Book. Hope to see you there!