I was asked for suggestions concerning commencing to write one's family history.  Remember what someone said, "Writing is learned and accomplished by the doing of it, and not by wishing, thinking, planning, promising or talking about it."  So, try it, and don't just talk about it to your family, friends or internet friends.  In fact, QUIT spending time discussing it atall.     

Select your favorite family, person or line.  Gather before you all the pictures, mementos, and other writings that have to do with that person or family (by doing so, you will not be thrashing around the house looking for this or that source or name).  Forget what you already have written, forget the title, forget what chapter your first writing will be, forget trying to speak profoundly or like Shakespeare or Churchill, forget asking someone else to read it NOW, forget trying to revise or edit (except for spelling) till the whole chapter is in at least a rough draft, and forget how good, lovely sounding or nice you think your thoughts and sentences are (DO NOT fall in love with ANY of your sentences; you later will have plenty of time to do that).  Do NOT quit after two or three pages; most folks do, simply because it does not flow like you think it should.

Then put the cat out, turn on the phone answering gadget, tell everybody that you have work to do, get a cup of tea, coffee or Mountain Dew, and START.  More after you get that much done.  Paul

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