{"id":490,"date":"2009-04-23T05:48:07","date_gmt":"2009-04-23T13:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=490"},"modified":"2009-04-23T05:48:07","modified_gmt":"2009-04-23T13:48:07","slug":"write-about-your-family-and-go-down-in-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=490","title":{"rendered":"Write About Your Family and Go Down in History"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did you notice that I missed a day of blogging? And today, I hope to post two blog entries\u2014one for this blog site and one for my Catscapades site. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades<\/a>. Why didn\u2019t I blog yesterday? I was working on some genealogy material.<\/p>\n

How many of you writers have written or are writing or even plan to write about your family? Some of you start out your writing \u201ccareers\u201d writing your memoirs. Others like to pen short stories reflecting family incidents. Many of you simply use examples from your wealth of family experiences in your fiction or nonfiction writing. I once used a research opportunity to learn more about our family and then I wrote a book for interested family members. <\/p>\n

Unlike some of you, I live in the same county where I was born. In fact, I\u2019m a fifth generation native to this county. While I was doing the research for a book reflecting the history of the Ojai Valley, California (where I have lived most of my life), I came to realize how deep my roots are buried in this little community. And the research for the Ojai book also became genealogy research. I even had the privilege of researching our family at the huge genealogical library in Salt Lake City. Of course, I also spent time quizzing family members for information and stories.<\/p>\n

In 1986, I put together a 40-page booklet filled with information, facts and stories focusing on one branch of the family. The material dates back to the supposed origin of the family name to around 1000 A.D. And we can trace family back only as far as 1639. All of the early data about our ancestors coming to America is interesting, but I especially enjoyed putting together actual stories of our family\u2019s day-to-day lives as was reported in the local newspapers throughout the late 1800s. Family members enjoyed my efforts, as well.<\/p>\n

This month, I\u2019ve been revising the little book. Obviously, in 1986, I did not have access to the Internet. So I am locating tons more interesting facts that were previously hidden away. I found a site, for example, that told me the location of every American town with our family name. I have uncovered additional information about a great aunt who was a ghostwriter and am becoming aware of some of her works. I am able to incorporate stories my dad told about his childhood as we drove around town together one rainy day in 1999. As various landmarks and points of interest sparked his memory, I recorded the stories he told.<\/p>\n

Have you become interested in your genealogy? I suggest that you gather more than simply the dates and cities of birth and death, names of all the children, etc. Create something of greater value for future generations. Go to the city where your ancestors lived and research their daily activities through newspapers and information stored in the local museum libraries, for example. Interview your elderly relatives. Locate lost relatives and others who might have known some of your ancestors through an Internet search. <\/p>\n

There are a lot of genealogy sites where you might find that some of your family material has already been compiled.<\/p>\n

Consider writing your family history just for fun or for posterity. Heck, maybe your story will be interesting enough to launch your writing career and bring you fame and fortune.<\/p>\n

If you are new to writing and publishing, be sure to order my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em><\/strong> to help you through the writing, book proposal, publishing and marketing of your book. http:\/\/www.matiljapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Did you notice that I missed a day of blogging? And today, I hope to post two blog entries\u2014one for this blog site and one for my Catscapades site. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades. Why didn\u2019t I blog yesterday? I was working on some genealogy material. How many of you writers have written or are writing or even plan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t