Why You Should Care that I’m related to AJ Jacobs
Because it’s not really about AJ and me. It’s about the fact that we’re all related—by blood, adoption, and marriage. Well, in a way it’s about AJ, since he’s the one organizing the Global Family Reunion. I can sense your heads tilting to one side, trying to puzzle...
Making Stories Public: How Much to Share
Making your stories public isn’t an easy decision. There’s sharing and then there is sharing. How public do we want to make our stories? Sharing everything is akin to living life out on a public stage, imperfections and all. I remember watching The...
Community Learning and Storytelling
Dear Myrtle, “Your friend in Genealogy since 1955,” was the would-be storyteller’s friend on her February 25, 2015 Wacky Wednesday show (embedded below). And, as the guest on her show, I got a great taste of community learning. If you’re not a family history buff, you...
Are Stereotypes Bad for Stories?
Are stereotypes bad for stories? Do we want our readers to type cast us—or the loved ones we write about—as simple stereotypes? Or do stereotypes help us build a setting for a story? Breaking the Stereotypes: Steel Magnolias and Cast Iron Camellias Stereotypes seem...
Who Inspires You?
Roots Tech 2015 (#Rootstech) opened with the question “Who inspires you?” Video clips showed various individuals naming famous heroes. After a few minutes, the answers segued into naming family members. It was a nice way to start thinking about how we introduce our...
Don't Wait.
Put the episodes of the past to paper.
We all have stories to share with our children and grandchildren. Whether it’s a proud moment, memories of grandparents, or a lesson you’ve learned, Memories of Me: A Complete Guide to Telling and Sharing the Stories of Your Life helps you put the episodes of your past onto paper and share them with loved ones.
