This is a valuable angle. I think I will update my Substack intro to "This writing is not free. You have to comment to avoid charges. Any feedback whether negative, informative, positive or corrective is welcome. Say something or you get a bill."
I've been thinking about coming up with a metaphor that describes each of us as not researching a family history book but instead toiling to compile and provide order to a family history archive. We then use that archive (and the inherent meaning and structure we've built into it) to tell stories in a variety of projects.
Projects could be scholarly books, but they don't have to be. They may slip in bits of opinion, conjecture, and myth, but they're labeled as such. That's where the easy and fun comes in. It also makes it easier to recruit family to share what they know. Sourced, these recollections add to the archive with color, context, and insight.
The archive becomes the inheritance and the added projects are the left behind color and additions each of us make to the archive. None of us really owns the archive, we're merely guardians, curators, archivists. The care of thoughtful genealogists are like advanced mathematicians and engineers making sure the stated facts in the archive are on a solid footing.
Our conversations are sporting a lot of these posts I’m making. You my friend are in the process of helping people birth new things and what those are we don’t know until they arrive. Just got to encourage people to see them through.
<Blush> thank you for your kind words, but yes, it does feel a little like being a mother. You grow (almost uncontrollably). You feel awkward. You stumble around. Yet you know what you're doing is something important.
Yeah, I see it.
I remember a lovely conversation with the incomparable Lisa Lisson a year ago as we were wrapping up Ponga.com. It was about how genealogy was changing in a world where all records are digital and new generations readily pick up on the work of their ancestors. Here's where it really does feel like a cultivated digital tree, annotated, and decorated with stories and artifacts from the past. Let's skate to where the puck is going and develop social constructs to make that work.
A great idea. As you say, you have to make clear what is not based on fact, but then let the imagination rip. Read books around that time to add context, then have fun. How about a family fancy dress party focused on one person. Dress for the time, have food and music of the time ...
Ooh! Thank you for this perspective and the practical suggestions! I am hoping for my genealogy work to be collaborative, but I can see already how it's difficult to include new information to an already-published post. So I love the idea of sharing info first on a private platform.
Good point on adding more information. There is always more information! I seriously have found that the more I make my writing look like a small part of a work in process, the more involved my family is and the more excited they are about it. I should have added to this piece that the more excited they are, the more it keeps me going.
Great advice! Recently I've begun speaking at genealogy societies about the importance of transitioning from "names and dates" to a narrative format to ensure that our audience (our families) will be engaged in what we write. In my presentation I cite studies that say this type of storytelling is 22x more memorable than straight factoids. I go on to say that we shouldn't be afraid of sharing the narratives with our families (who are generally not genealogists) because oftentimes it triggers new memories for them that they then share back to us -- providing us with more fodder for our narratives!
This is an excellent article, and I am sure will motivate people to write their family stories. I hope they are encouraged to write their own stories as well, so their ancestors don't struggle to find information.
This is a valuable angle. I think I will update my Substack intro to "This writing is not free. You have to comment to avoid charges. Any feedback whether negative, informative, positive or corrective is welcome. Say something or you get a bill."
Ha! Love the idea of charging for not commenting! My family would get a kick out of that.
🤔 that's an interesting business model. It's worked for teachers demanding participation for grades, but they have a captive audience.
I've been thinking about coming up with a metaphor that describes each of us as not researching a family history book but instead toiling to compile and provide order to a family history archive. We then use that archive (and the inherent meaning and structure we've built into it) to tell stories in a variety of projects.
Projects could be scholarly books, but they don't have to be. They may slip in bits of opinion, conjecture, and myth, but they're labeled as such. That's where the easy and fun comes in. It also makes it easier to recruit family to share what they know. Sourced, these recollections add to the archive with color, context, and insight.
The archive becomes the inheritance and the added projects are the left behind color and additions each of us make to the archive. None of us really owns the archive, we're merely guardians, curators, archivists. The care of thoughtful genealogists are like advanced mathematicians and engineers making sure the stated facts in the archive are on a solid footing.
Ya think?
Our conversations are sporting a lot of these posts I’m making. You my friend are in the process of helping people birth new things and what those are we don’t know until they arrive. Just got to encourage people to see them through.
<Blush> thank you for your kind words, but yes, it does feel a little like being a mother. You grow (almost uncontrollably). You feel awkward. You stumble around. Yet you know what you're doing is something important.
Yeah, I see it.
I remember a lovely conversation with the incomparable Lisa Lisson a year ago as we were wrapping up Ponga.com. It was about how genealogy was changing in a world where all records are digital and new generations readily pick up on the work of their ancestors. Here's where it really does feel like a cultivated digital tree, annotated, and decorated with stories and artifacts from the past. Let's skate to where the puck is going and develop social constructs to make that work.
(lisalisson.com... are you listening?) 🥹
You are on to something here. I need some sleep to respond intelligently.
🤫 David's sleeping.
A great idea. As you say, you have to make clear what is not based on fact, but then let the imagination rip. Read books around that time to add context, then have fun. How about a family fancy dress party focused on one person. Dress for the time, have food and music of the time ...
That sounds so fun. Now I want to drop everything and have a party.
Oh my... I love THAT!! 💃🕺
Ooh! Thank you for this perspective and the practical suggestions! I am hoping for my genealogy work to be collaborative, but I can see already how it's difficult to include new information to an already-published post. So I love the idea of sharing info first on a private platform.
Good point on adding more information. There is always more information! I seriously have found that the more I make my writing look like a small part of a work in process, the more involved my family is and the more excited they are about it. I should have added to this piece that the more excited they are, the more it keeps me going.
Great advice! Recently I've begun speaking at genealogy societies about the importance of transitioning from "names and dates" to a narrative format to ensure that our audience (our families) will be engaged in what we write. In my presentation I cite studies that say this type of storytelling is 22x more memorable than straight factoids. I go on to say that we shouldn't be afraid of sharing the narratives with our families (who are generally not genealogists) because oftentimes it triggers new memories for them that they then share back to us -- providing us with more fodder for our narratives!
We are on the same wave length! I can feel the tide turning away from genealogy databases to something more human.
This is an excellent article, and I am sure will motivate people to write their family stories. I hope they are encouraged to write their own stories as well, so their ancestors don't struggle to find information.
Thank you! My goal is finding ways to make it simple and easy to start (and keep going).