Tag Archives: family history

Six People, No More and No Less

A couple of years ago, I wrote and self-published a family history of sorts. I say “of sorts” because the focus is on my parents, their siblings, and my grandparents. Mention is made of great grandparents, but it’s skimpy and … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Studebaker or Chevrolet?

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

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

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

Posted in books, families, family histories, nonficion, story telling, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dick, Jane, and Hiawatha

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

  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

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

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

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

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