Tag Archives: family history

Let It Go

Posted on October 3, 2019 by jayne bowers

One of my uncles had a vineyard and made his own wine. Who knew? I don’t know the size of his vineyard or whether the wine was for sale to the public or strictly for private consumption. I do know … Continue reading →

Posted in books, editing, families, family history, nonfiction, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Studebaker or Chevrolet?

Posted on July 29, 2019 by jayne bowers

Is there a friend of mine, Facebook or otherwise, who doesn’t know I’ve been working on a family history for nearly two years? Each time I’m “done,” someone finds an error, has a different memory of events, or wants to … Continue reading →

Posted in ancestry, Benjamin Dreyer, books, editing, families, family history, nonficion, stories, story telling, Uncategorized, writing, writing projects | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Blue Spiral Notebook

Posted on April 6, 2019 by jayne bowers

The writers I hang out with don’t write for money. Sure, they’d take it if offered, but that’s not their primary reason for putting pen to paper, fingers to keyboard. They do it because they must. They have a story … Continue reading →

Posted in families, journal writing, nonfiction, story telling, Uncategorized, writing, writing tips | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t Mess with Beatrice

Posted on April 1, 2019 by jayne bowers

This morning I read a supremely superb nonfiction essay titled “Mourning my Grandfather Through the Velveteen Rabbit” in an online publication, lithub.com.  Originally published April 11, 2017 and written by Sarah Gerard, it was undoubtedly the best article I’ve ever … Continue reading →

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Dick, Jane, and Hiawatha

Posted on June 7, 2018 by jayne bowers

Last night I met someone who told me about a family history book given to her by a relative. “It was more like genealogy,” she said, “and I wish there had been some stories in it.” “I know what you … Continue reading →

Posted in ancestry, books, Civil Rights, family histories, stories, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ivory Soap and Corn Flakes

Posted on May 30, 2018 by jayne bowers

  Being part of a writing group has helped me in ways too numerous to recount. My membership has also made me a little more hesitant to write, or rather to trust myself as a writer. For example, I’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in critique groups, family histories, lifestyle, memoir, Uncategorized, writing, writing groups, writing tips | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Sock Suitcase

Posted on May 27, 2018 by jayne bowers

I thought I was Done with a capital D. The family history was a mammoth task, a time drain, a major stressor, a sleep thief. But then one day after correcting one pesky out-of-place apostrophe, I thought thought Yes and hallelujah. Confident that … Continue reading →

Posted in ancestry, family histories, memoir, nonfiction, Uncategorized, writing, writing projects | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Our Lighted Seasons

Posted on February 27, 2018 by jayne bowers

It’s one thing to get an idea and quite another to make it a reality. I wanted to compile information about my ancestry and put it into a family history, but how to do it was a mystery. Where was … Continue reading →

Posted in ancestry, Annie Dillard, books, family history, Uncategorized, writing, writing projects | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Finish It

Posted on November 20, 2017 by jayne bowers

I’ve been stealing moments here and there to work on a family history, a project that I embraced wholeheartedly about a year and a half ago. Hmmm. Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration. I embraced the idea of putting … Continue reading →

Posted in books, family histories, memoir, nonfiction, stories, story telling, Uncategorized, writing, writing life | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Pistol Packing Grandmother

Posted on May 25, 2017 by jayne bowers

It’s turning out to be a mammoth task, this family history that I’ve been working on for a couple of years. I’ll start and stop and then start again. I’m fascinated by the people and their lives, but well, I … Continue reading →

Posted in books, family history, memoir, Uncategorized, writing, writing projects | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment