BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS-RESEARCHING AND WRITING REGULARLY

I have a new method to my writing. I have several family story articles saved in draft.

As I research and find a little tidbit for a story I record it directly now in the story.

When I upload a picture or document. Same process- uploaded to the story or stories.

Sometimes one little tidbit can be added to several storylines.

It is much easier than making piles of paper and a list of adding to a story.

Today I discovered I had not started a story on one of my grandparents. So title, introduction, lots of spots needing further information. But the little tidbit with the source citation was put in the story.

I also have a research notebook on the go. So as I find information, a simple note is made. I do not transcribe if I have made a note on a piece of paper. I either staple or tape that little note in the research notebook.

I am quite organized. However, I have discovered I still make my little pile of papers. So putting that one piece somewhere as soon as possible makes for less work later. Of course the waste basket may be the place for it as the information has been added to that story.

I check the facebook groups too.

I had my hands slapped this week. There was an inquiry from someone asking about cemeteries in Mariposa Township. I had the 1988 cemetery record and was willing to do a lookup as well as suggesting it could be bought from the branch. My post was greeted by the big cheeses that stated no look ups on that group as the "boots on the ground" need to be acknowledged. I get it. However many people do look ups. The lady inquiring would probably buy the record anyway.. I felt like bad Barb for wanting to help someone

The genealogy world is fun but sometimes people do take themselves way too serious.
#genealogyworld#helpingotherswithresearch#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbardimambro#researchingandwriting#barb'sgenealogytidbits

RETIREMENT BRINGS THE PURCHASE OF MAGAZINES

So I am finding myself subscribing to more magazines. A variety like the Walrus, Good Times -already had Canadian Living, Home and Beautiful and some off the shelves at the store. From Country Living to modern crafts, I am looking for themes and what interests people. What writers are writing! What is trendy! We have one daily newspaper but Adolph uses it for the sudoku he likes to do. Retirement is a chance to review and look and see what is out there in a bigger way than just the job and what comes through on the Internet. Reading from writers that really know how to write, use words and make the reader think.  I am a news groupie so watch news daily and check in on world events. Reading what is out there gives me a chance and opportunity to research so I can find some ideas on writing too. Writing and researching have always been a part of my life. This blog has given me so much latitude to write down ideas. However, perhaps it is time to take my writing to another level. I might try my hand at trying to write something for one of those magazines. There are sites online that include 1-3 page articles. So another avenue.  I want to write about my knowledge, expertise and the experiences of my profession while I still have those concepts fresh in my head. Of course, there is fictional writing that allows for more creative process. Genealogical articles are fine to write but they are factual, cite your sources, don't speculate and need to be clean. Fictional as you can fathom is another realm and may be fun. So back to those short articles and how each magazine likes their content to evolve. Have you tried your hand at writing? How is it going?
#purchasingmagazines#writingaboutcurrenttrends#writingaboutnewsworthyitems#freeingupmywritingenergy#readingtofindnewideasandtrends#magazinesarefuntoread#retirementgivestimetoresearch

GENEALOGY A GOOD INDOOR ACTIVITY

Enjoying the Fall cleanup! Yes! Before we need it, the yard will be winter ready and just need to concentrate on indoor activities. More reading. Hand crafts. Organizing all the written projects like the family history binders. Checking out the best digital and computer program to organize online. I had a program years ago but did not understand it very well. With the change of computers, perhaps it is time to revisit it. The tedious task is inputting all the details- one person at a time. Never liked being a data entry clerk!! There is something pleasurable about revisiting the correspondence over the years from fellow family historians in hard copy form. Hard to squeeze all the work compiled  in single names on paper! Genealogy entails the whole story about a person and family not just the bare details. Like my cousin Roy who years ago provided information on his speciality- bugs and all the writings he had done. The information adds depth to the family's story. See- more than just a birth date and location.  So with one methodical project put to rest, the reorganization of the family history binders will begin. Of course, buying pretty coloured binders for the job was fun too. One of my goals is to write short articles for each of the genealogical societies where my family roots are located. So far 2 out of 8 are done. Unlike this blog that is easy and breezy to write- genealogical articles must be precise information, dates correct and the sources of all information must be cited. Some people believe those ads- just type in a name and your family history will emerge. Actually it is more like detective work. However if you are lucky, there is someone in the family that will do it for you. So the computer and sending files by email will take the work away! Eventually! Not today! Photocopying pages for interested parties is time consuming and expensive!! So one family line at a time will be scrutinized and reviewed. All the good tidbits and stories will be saved too! Like family letters written in a person's handwriting are so endearing. What are your plans now that the Fall cleanup is almost behind you? Do you have winter projects planned?

WRITING IS HARDER THAN IT SEEMS

Finishing a small writing project was quite an enjoyable process over the weekend. Belonging to several Genealogical Societies in Ontario, I had promised myself to try to write an article for each one this year, i.e. their newsletters. Surprisingly a 3 page one took 6 drafts. Needing to find the details and make them accurate. Citing my sources correctly. Rewording and double checking for meaning and trying not to use the same word twice in the same paragraph. Sometimes I wonder how I wrote 20 -50 page essays at University. Then I remembered a whole week would be used revising and rewriting and it was in the days before word processors and computer spell and grammar check. I thought the greatest invention was paper that can be erased with a pencil so I could put the paper back in the typewriter to correct the sentence carefully. Of course my job was being a student with little else to do.  Now I am on a roll. There is something about finishing and sending a submission even if it is to a simple newsletter read by a select audience. Like this blog. Just writing and using my photos keeps me on my toes or should I say my keyboarding fingers. Organizing other areas that are boring, brainless activities are being completed. With a card table in the corner of my bedroom, the little mess can be left so each night for 2-3 hours I am awake watching TV while I methodically work on the project. I am very pleased with myself. During the summer I found myself doing nothing at night, even had trouble reading. So now with the monotonous task a lot is getting done in a timeframe that does not interfere with other activities. Then reading several pages of my current book before drifting off to sleep. There is something about just doing it. Just take an insurmountable task and attack it. Over time the pile becomes smaller and the end product is a neatly organized project. Of course, my Christmas list was written the end of August and slowly little purchases are being made. Day by day! A little at a time! The little messes where my projects live are out of sight from visitors so there is no need to try to tidy before company comes. How are your projects going? Just get started and see where they go.

A PROJECT WITH A DEADLINE

Do you ever notice a project gets completed faster with a deadline? I make crafts all the time. I like a stash of knitted and crocheted products for various reasons and events. However, if there is an event or a person in mind my hands move so much quicker. A dinner party gets more cleaning done in the same timeframe as routine cleaning. More baby blankets are designed and made with people in mind. The photos taken at personal gatherings are printed and scrapbooked in a timely fashion.  I need a deadline for my writing projects that are tackled slowly. They are getting done but not with the speed preferred. Give me a deadline, someone!

CLEANING AND WRITING ARE NOT COMPLIMENTARY

Writing takes concentration and dedication. But many other tasks can not be done. So Spring brings the urge to do some cleaning, sorting and decluttering. Especially in the area around the computer where writing occurs, the small chaos was taking over. It pays to look through the piles and throw out the unnecessary items as well as review the important papers that can be used in future projects. The various genealogical newsletters are sorted and those marked with relevant information are stacked for further scrutiny. One area of the house tidied and several more to go.

2013 IN WITH THE NEW

Each January 1 brings hope of a good and successful New Year! Looking forward rather than looking backward! A new calendar on the desk or the wall with a total clean slate for the year ahead! Putting away Christmas items cleans up the house. Returning to those unfinished projects and picking up those books to read during the winter months. The days are really starting to get longer again as the Sun  returns to us. For me there is not much new but renew! No resolutions- just continue with my goals! Write! Photograph! Exercise! Healthy eating! Read! Craft! Knit! Crochet! Sew! Play! Love! Connect! Travel! Explore! And yes- work- at home and work! What about you? Any resolutions? Or just continue as is? Are you finding new activities or renewing?

REFLECTIONS OF MAY 2012

As May begins to come to an end, it has been a memorable month. Time to garden, write, and organize areas of my life.  Small projects finished, larger projects getting closer to completion. First Mother's Day without a Mom. Thinking about the meaning of family and priorities in my life. Spending time with the grandchildren and trying to work on patience! Hopefully as we head into June, the summer will bring renewed energy, exercise and fun! Fun is a much needed commodity in life! Do you find ways you can have some fun? Summer helps us to slow down. Spring revs us up to clean, plant, garden. But the summer months rewards us with some time to enjoy the good weather! So what are you doing to have some fun?

DOUBLE CHECK YOUR WORK-IT COULD PAY OFF

It was not a lot of money but while checking a pile of lottery tickets recently I rediscovered why it is a good habit to double check any activity. Little amounts and one free ticket were found but worth the checking. Even writing this blog is grounds to check and review what is written. I discover the use of the same words in the same paragraph, for example. There are times I am making a point so do use the same words in my whimsical blogs. Sometimes my sentences do not make sense when I read them again. In the hospital all diagnostic images are read by two clinicians for accuracy. Nurses double check the medication count. Editors are fierce but keep all of us on our toes. My worst critic is my husband who likes to point out errors especially if I try to write a sentence in Italian! Of course, the math used to balance a home account. If it looks like I have too much money left over after doing the bills, I check again. Then the suitcase needing all the right items for a trip. Lists and checking! That's why vacations in Canada are good because we know we can find the same stores across the country where the same item costs the same price in case anything is forgotten! Like one of my favourite stores- Shoppers Drug Mart. It has the same layout whether you are in Ontario or British Columbia!  Too much checking though can be part of an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder so be wary not to cross that line!

ONE YEAR OF BLOGGING

And more blogs to come. Reflecting back on the year, I have found the blogging process such a wonderful opportunity to write. Write ideas, write clinical concepts, write short vignettes, just write. Using my photos to convey the message has urged me to view the world with a creative eye to take not only pictures but to consider- wow I could use that in my blog! Sometimes I will peruse my photos and a blog comes from the photo and sometimes I have an idea and I search for a photo to accompany it! I want to develop my Nana Says series further. My Sunday blogs that are now- A Postcard From- series let's me review not only my travel stories but those of others who have crossed my path. Have you noticed my Canadian themes! They actually bring in readers from around the world. Love it! I really think I have been blogging all my life but was not able to publish my stories, poems, articles- not from trying- but from the fact some editor did not want them. My photos have been entered in many contests, used on photocards, enlarged but are not great sellers either. So the use in the blogs give them a chance to be seen! Thank you to my regular readers- cousin Roy; friends like Mary and Rose; my favourite workmates-Amy and Heather; brother and wife-Reed and Edna; some cousins in Italy- grazie Paolo, Roberta, Carlo; and all the others who drop by occasionally- please keep visiting and give me your comments. Just go into the comment profile and type your name, post and watch for the commands to transcribe those funny letters to make it legitimate. If you have an idea you want me to reflect, well just let me know. Must run as the world is waiting, actually my husband wants to grocery shop! Keep on visiting!

FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED

The creative process is a fun one to have. Mentioning to my cousin Roy, that the idea is easy but actually starting, and finishing a project is the work. Ideas are cheap and good to have. One idea can lead to another which leads to the piece of work needing to be done. Writing takes many drafts for me. One genealogical writing project I have been methodically doing is taking longer than I wanted. Every time I think yes I have enough information, another idea of what can be added comes along and more research is needed. The question I have - do I just write it for me and my immediate family or do I include others thus increasing the potential readership. I am obviously opting for the second choice which has extended the project. Anyone that writes- articles, poetry, stories has a collection that no one has read. There is the satisfaction that the writing occurred or is it satisfaction. Perhaps a venue to share has not existed previously. Some of my blogs have been laying dormant until the decision to share with the world occurred. For me blogging has become the venue to dust off many literary ideas and take a chance of sharing. Have you had written projects laying dormant? What have you done to share with the world? Are you trying to finish what you started?