Progress made this last week but somehow managed not to write anything. I finished going through the “Buddy Line” newsletter for the Underwater Swimmers School last week. So far this week, I took the info I pulled from the “Buddy Line” and filed it in the folders I have set up under different subjects as reference when I actually start writing. I think this information will really be helpful. I don’t know of anything else I should gather or research so no more excuses for not to get started. Hopefully once I start writing it won’t be so painful to keep going. I’m committing to have some writing done by next week’s check in. In a perfect world I’d get at least 500 words written five times by then. Wish me luck!
Category Archives: My Projects
Key West: update
I met with my Dad again yesterday to work on his history about the three years he was an instructor at the Navy’s Underwater Swimmers School in Key West, Florida. The goal was to try to make sure that I understand all the equipment etc. that he used. I’m amazed at how much I have learned about SCUBA and what he did there. I’m sure there is still more to know, but it is time for me to get back to writing. That is where I will figure out what I need to know.
Someone started a Facebook group for the Underwater Swimmer School. I created a Facebook account for my Dad so he could be apart of it. Not too many members yet but one was a student while my Dad was there and he remembers him. He even remembers that my Dad was known as Red in those days. He commented on how he lead them in PT drills (I think that was the term he used). I’m not sure what that means. Looks like I already have another question for my Dad.
Key West: update
I found an introductory SCUBA class. It lasts about an hour and costs $25. Not bad. I think I’d better wait for my seasonal allergies to pass before I jump into the pool. Popping my ears doesn’t work to well when my noses is stuffed. Plus the last week or so my allergies are driving me crazy. Too much time outside one day sets me up for a really bad day the next day.
I’ve had mixed success on writing 500 words per day. I was good last Wednesday, but Thursday and Friday not a word was written. Monday I did my 500 words and worked on a list of possible stories that might be included in the book. On Tuesday I got my 500 words in but it was a late night rush to get it done. I did better today having just finished my writing along with some research on the building of the railroad into Key West and the Castro revolution.
One thing I found helpful this week, that I finally did last time I chatted with my Dad about Key West. I used my phone to record the conversation so I could refer back to it and not worry about taking notes. I also took a short video clip with my camera of how to clear the water out of your face mask. I highly recommend it. Both have been helpful. With today’s technology it is super easy to do.
Key West: a new challenge
practicing in the pool at U/WSS in Key West
Yesterday I spent some time chatting with my Dad about his memories from the Underwater Swimmers School. As he was explaining how different parts of the SCUBA equipment work he came up with and idea that is both exciting and scary. He wants me to take a SCUBA class. That is not something that I’ve ever thought of having on my bucket list. While the thought is kind of scary and invokes claustrophobic images in my head, I think it would really give me some insight into this history and even other volumes of my Dad’s Navy experience. So I’ve add finding a class to my to do list for the week.
I’ve been working on writing at least 500 words on this project everyday. It is rather haphazard now but I’m doing it and that is a very good thing. My parents are heading back to Idaho tomorrow. I’d hoped they would stay down until the end of next week so I could get with my Dad some more but my Mom really want to get back home. They will be back in a couple of weeks.
I had no idea where this story project was going to take me when I started. It is stretching me in so many ways I never imagined. It is good to learn and do new things especially as I get older. I don’t want to get so old that I’m not willing to try to do new things. What ways have your family story projects helped you to learn new things?
Writing Challenge: day 58
The last day of the Armchair Genealogist‘s writing challenge has finally come. Kind of unbelievable. At times I wondered if I’d ever get through it but I was determined, no mater how long it took me to complete this. One of my goals with the challenge was to make a regular habit of doing something toward my Dad’s Key West history. For the most part I’ve accomplished that. I’ve also learned how much I still have to learn about writing creative non-fiction. But I have a plan for continuing to move forward with the history and improving my writing skills. Here are highlights of Lynn’s advice on the last day of her 28 day family history writing challenge:
- Take a lesson from this challenge and enlist the help of others.
- Continue to improve your craft.
- Find your ideal time.
- Plan your writing.
- Seek deadlines and accountability.
- Believe you are a writer.
The last one hit me the hardest. I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “I’m not a writer.” I am now vowing to never utter those words again. I certainly won’t become a writing if I keep saying that. To accomplish my goals I need to become a writing. The other one that needs some attention is finding an ideal time to write. While I’ve gotten this done almost everyday during the challenge, I haven’t been consistent with the time. So I’m setting a goal to figure out when that is and try it and adjust until I really do find the best time to write everyday.
Thanks to all of you who have stuck with me through this challenge. I think I’ll do at least weekly updates on how the Key West history is doing.
Writing Challenge: day 57
Second to the last day of the Armchair Genealogist‘s writing challenge! And fittingly today’s topic is about last lines. I’ve honestly never thought about this topic before. At least not consciously. Just another example of how much I have learned and still have to learn about writing. Here are the things that Lynn suggested to consider in writing great last lines in a family story:
- Your last lines certainly need to bring a sense of finality to your story.
- Your last line should resonate with your theme.
- Your last line should be about your main ancestor and his final thoughts. If you’re writing a memoir, then your final thoughts should be expressed in those last sentences.
- Your last lines should demonstrate your ancestor’s growth or your growth through your family history journey.
- Your last lines should slow the pace of your story down and ease the reader to the end.
- Your last lines can teach a lesson or moral (of course without being preachy).
- Your last lines should leave your reader with an understanding of how your ancestor’s life proceeded after the story is over.
- Your last lines should be uplifting and hopeful.
Lynn also talked about writing the ending in advance. It helps in plotting the story to come full circle to the ending you want. She also has four formats to try in writing the last line.
- As a line of description
- Demonstrating your ancestor’s actions
- As a line of dialogue by your ancestor
- As an internal monologue by your ancestor or a thought or feeling by you the narrator.
Another excellent lesson by Lynn Palermo!
Writing Challenge: day 56
“Reading Like a Writer” is the topic for today in the Armchair Genealogist‘s writing challenge Day 26. Just two days to finish. I’ve loved reading since the 5th grade when my teacher taught me to read for the enjoyment not so I could write a book report. Most of my reading in the last few years has been audio books that I listen to while I make dinner and do the dishes etc. Since starting this challenge I’ve noticed some of the tools authors use to tell their story that I’ve never noticed before. From reading the list below I see there are still more ways I can learn from my reading. Here are Lynn’s suggestions on how reading can help us to become better writers:
- Concentrate on reading books in your genre but don’t limit yourself. Read a wide range of books in a wide range of genres.
- Just like writing make reading a habit – a daily habit.
- Set a reading goal, I try to read 3 books a month. I wish it could be more. Set a goal based on your own schedule. Join a book club; this is one of the best ways to make sure you’re reading on a regular basis and exposes you to a variety of books that others are choosing for you.
- Carry your reading with you; make the most of every opportunity to read.
- Read for enjoyment but also analyze character, plot and theme when reading.
- If a book resonates with you, read it a second time focusing on the more specifics of the story structure, the writer’s style and choices.
- Pay attention to the words, the preferences the writer makes and the organization and flow of those words.
- Don’t be afraid to take notes. It deepens your learning, gives you time to absorb what you’ve read and provides a resource for future reference.
- Write a review of a book you read, this provides you the opportunity to share some lessons you learned or explore some of the ideas it brought up for you.
- Read a wide range of writers from great writers, classic writers to current writers and unknown writers. There is a writing lesson in every book.
- Don’t waste time reading a book you don’t enjoy or understand. There are too many books in the world, put it down and move on to the next.
- Take cues from other writers. Experiment with concepts you see other writers doing, then take it one step further and manipulate it and make it your own.
Writing Challenge: day 55
It is my 55th day in the Armchair Genealogist‘s writing challenge but it is her 25th day and the topic is “Improving Your Story Through Feedback”. Lynn gives some consideration in finding a group to give valuable in improving the quality of our family stories. Here they are:
- Critique groups and writing groups are not necessarily the same thing.
- In-Person or Online Groups. There are pros and cons to both in-person and online groups.
- In-person groups can be more restrictive.
- On-line Groups offer flexibility.
- Open and closed groups.
- Genre-based groups.
- Consider a single critique partner.
- Don’t be discouraged if your first group doesn’t work out.
I’m glad that we have a writing coach to work with on this project. I think her teaching will really help me progress faster and get a better story in the end. Today writing exercise was to take one sentence in which you are “telling” and revise it into a “showing” sentence. Here is my original sentence:
Ray started the 2600 miles journey across the southern United States on Labor Day weekend.
Here is my attempt at showing:
The warm air flowed across the drop of sweat that trickled down the side of his check as Ray crossed into Arizona. At 60 miles per hour the telephone poles clicked by at an amazing speed and flags fluttered on many of the houses that he passed by.
I still feel really clueless even though I’ve learned lots in the last couple of months. So much more to applying these principles but at least I have some awareness of them now. “One day at a time,” I keep telling myself.
Writing Challenge: day 54
Day 24 of the Armchair Genealogist‘s writing challenge featured guest author Jean-Francois de Buren. He gave an excellent list of things to think about while working on a family story project. Lots of great food for thought here:
- The story must be personally resonant. The story must be meaningful to you first and foremost. If you are not moved by it, do not proceed, it will simply be too difficult, and the result will be lackluster. While you might be writing your family story to ultimately share with other family members, this cannot be your primary motivation. If you write for others in the hope of receiving praise for your efforts, you will never receive the level of acclaim you desire, no matter how effusive it is.
- Start modestly. Start small and see where it the story takes you. It does not need to be a multi-generational epic to have impact.
- It should feel original to you. While any great story will have timeless themes, the story should still feel real to your family. What you write will inspire others to be sure, but in ways that you can never predict, nor should you try. Authenticity is key here. If you do not believe in what you are writing it will come through.
- Be forthright. Don’t be afraid to search for and tell the truth. Family stories are often embellished over time, and the stories we choose to tell say something about us. What really happened can often times be more interesting than the stories that were handed down. If you don’t know what “really” happened, feel free to offer open-ended questions that will leave the reader thinking. Have a point-of-view.
- Think about milieu. Historical context is critically important. Your ancestors certainly did not leave their home countries on a whim. What was the social, religious, racial tenor of the time?
- It should have drama. It is easy to fall into the trap of focusing on facts and figures when it comes to family history, but that alone does not make for great storytelling. Wade into the emotions of your ancestral protagonists. If you were in their shoes, what would you have felt, what would you have done?
- Trust yourself. This is critical. The story that you will tell has waited for you to tell it—own that fact. Once you get into the story and feel the emotional power, it will take you where you need to go.
- Give yourself a deadline. The process cannot be fully open-ended. A goal is key. It could be a deadline to finish the first chapter, the first 20 pages or the first draft. If you are committed to the process, the muse will marshall the resources to assist you. Showing up matters.
- Revise and edit. Once you feel it is exactly where you want it to be, let two people whom you trust to look at it. Take a deep breath and know that the comments are there to make your work better. Their tasks are different, so chose wisely. One is looking at the story from a macro level. Is the story compelling? Does it have drama? Would someone who does not know me or my family want to read it? The other is looking at the story from a micro level. Checking grammar, spelling, syntax and sentence structure.
- Enjoy the process. Let go of the fear of failure, the final product is already within you simply waiting to be expressed. Take the plunge.
Here are two of Jean-Francois de Buren’s projects that you might be interested in. He wrote about his literary journey with his ancestor http://www.common-place.org/vol-13/no-04/tales/ and an adaptation of his ancestor’s journals can be found on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Voyage-Across-Americas-Journey-Henri/dp/2940531021/
Writing Challenge: day 53
Today, day 23 of the Armchair Genealogist‘s writing challenge was about revisions. Since my writing experience is very limited I hadn’t really thought about the differences between revisions, editing and proof reading. I learned recently about content editing and editing for grammar etc. I like the term proof reading. My mom is a good proof reader but she isn’t much help in editing content or revisions. At 91 even proof reading is getting hard for her. Lynn explains that revising is about the big picture of the story, editing is on a sentence level and proof reading the last step to catch grammatical and punctuation errors as well as spelling mistakes. It takes dozens of rewrites to get to the editing stage. Here are Lynn’s suggestions on what to look at in the early stages of revision:
- Does each scene serve the story?
- What is the real subject of this story? Is the theme visible to the reader?
- Where does the story ring out?
- What seems superfluous and does not enhance the story?
- Does your back story get to the point, is it necessary to the story, or does it arrive too early?
- Is the beginning, the ending?
- Is the beginning deadweight, does your story start several hundred or thousands of words in?
- Are your characterizations strong and does your ancestor act with purpose?
- Does your plot make sense? Does everything lead to the climax?
- Are the stakes clear, do they create tension and hold the readers interest to the end.
Another tip she gave was when it is hard to cut some favorite part that really needs to go, put it into a file for future reference. She suggests calling this file, “Fragments” or “Bits and Pieces” or “Story Starters.”
Today’s free writing exercise was to write about a small incident in an ancestors life that shows their courage and kindness. Not sure if I ended up with the right kind of incident but too late now. My Dad doesn’t show much emotion but I think he is more sentimental than he realizes. The first time he met my Mom she through some corn kernels at him. He picked them up and put them in his pocket. That night when he should have thrown them away he kept them. After they were engaged he decided to save them and then plant them someday and tell his children the story about the corn. When I was 5 or 6 they planted that corn. I don’t remember the corn planting but I love the story. With lots of revisions etc. it could make a really good story. Maybe it would work to start the story on the day he is planting the corn and flashback 10 years to the day they met. Maybe I’m starting to think like a writer. Not sure but I’ve never thought about it that way before.
telling family tales 