Technology and Writing our Family Histories

As you may have discovered I am very technology enabled. However, as we write our family stories, we don't want the technology or tools get in the way of writing those histories. I started this discussion to help each other with the tools we may use in publishing our family histories. This may include writing software, publishing software, self-publishing, etc., etc. etc.
Trudy

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Trudy Doolittle on July 17, 2009 at 3:59pm

For those considering MagCloud, there are magazine covers out there to protect the magazines and covers.

Permalink Reply by Trudy Doolittle on July 17, 2009 at 4:00pm

When printing you need to consider acid-free paper. It is more archivable. DAR actually requires a rag paper for their official documents.

Permalink Reply by Trudy Doolittle on July 17, 2009 at 4:46pm

You can always start your family story is Word. Most publishing software has a way to import Word into their text boxes. This way you can concentrate on your story and not the technology.

Permalink Reply by Caro Nally on July 18, 2009 at 10:26am

I'm planning to design my layout self using a normal word processor and pictures and such. To publish, I was just going to use a print on demand service since they can do a much better job for a cheaper price.

I'm definitely not going to do any layout design until after I have completed the writing. That is last on list. If for some reason I don't get to finish it, at least someone can pick up where I left off and they will still have the story, which is more important. I'm going to save it on my computer and my external hard drive, as well as print things out every so often. I'll also save my documents to our family website, just to be extra save. (I have the best luck with finishing a huge project and having my hard drive crash.)

Permalink Reply by Trudy Doolittle on July 18, 2009 at 11:37am

Sounds like a great approach to me. Here is an idea. At work I don't work directly to my computer hard drive--because I have sooooo many biiiig graphic files that I ran out of space. So now I work off of 250 gig hard drive. Then I back that hard drive to another 500 gig hard drive. The software I use is free and works very well. It's call Allway Sync. I have it set up to backup a file within an hour after I have saved it. That way both drives are almost always in sync.

Permalink Reply by Caro Nally on July 18, 2009 at 11:40am

Fabulous idea! I'll definitely check that out tonight. Thanks!

Permalink Reply by September McCarthy on July 20, 2009 at 4:17am

Greetings! I am also a new member here, and as yet, unpublished, but very computer literate (my paying job is as a programmer). In preparing for my first venture into publishing, I have been researching the software options for desktop publishing. InDesign and Quark do seem to be the software of choice for professionals, but their cost is prohibitive. The PagePlus software is a good, lower cost alternative which users seem to be quite satisfied with.

What I wanted the share was a no-cost alternative I am now trying out. It is what is known as Open Source software, and it is called Scribus 1.3.3.13 and can be found at http://sourceforge.net/projects/scribus/. It has been around since its first release in 2004, runs on Mac, Windows, Linux/Unix, and O/S2, and has been downloaded more than 2 million times. It will create both PostScript and PDF files, and so far my experience with it has been very good. I always try to work with an application without consulting a manual, which gives me a good idea of how intuitive it is, and so far I haven't had any problems. Since it is free, I would recommend you give it a try. If you have problems, they do have support, or you can ask me and I will try to help. If you don't like it, you can always uninstall it, and you haven't lost anything but a little time, but will have at least gained the experience to know that paying money for such an application is worthwhile for you.

Happy writing!

Permalink Reply by Trudy Doolittle on July 20, 2009 at 8:07am

Thanks September, this is great information for this group. I started out my life as a programmer in 1967 when people didn't even know what a computer was. Along the way I transitioned into project manager, consultant, and now graphics and marketing.

Welcome to the group.

Permalink Reply by Karen Rhodes on August 19, 2009 at 7:46pm

I sometimes irritate the computer-convinced because I will not let the computer program write my prose, as one can do with most genealogy programs. To me, the technology is there to help me accumulate, manage, and marshal my facts. I am a much better writer than any computer.

Not that I'm computer-hostile! I can't be, because my husband was a computer programmer for the Navy (civil service) for over 20 years, and is a certified computer security professional. In addition, our older daughter has a degree in computer information science from the University of North Florida.. We all use computers . . . in fact, I own three! They're handy little devils, for sure, and the dividing line between the time when we didn't have them in our homes and the time that we did is a watershed in modern culture and society.

But I write better than any machine.

As to the tools, there are a number of 'em out there, for sure. I may look into Scribus, that September suggested. OpenOffice.org word processor will also create .pdf files. For most word processing I use Microsoft Word 2007. For one thing, it seems to be the standard among my classmates at the University of North Florida (I went back to college for yet another degree at 61!). My genealogy database is The Master Genealogist. I'm not sure it isn't a bit too complicated for my taste, though, and am wondering what Family Tree Maker 2010 is going to be like. I also use Clooz to keep physical track of my documents, which themselves are divided into binders by individual or by married couple.

Permalink Reply by Trudy Doolittle on August 19, 2009 at 10:46pm

I started programming computers in 1968. I've written a 300 page novel. I have a published short story. I agree with you--don't let the computer take the creativity out of what you are doing. Let your creative voice shine through. Even trying to follow the grammar rules can stunt you. You go for it Karen!

Permalink Reply by Shari McLaws on October 8, 2009 at 9:23am

I never would have started doing Family History, gathering old family pictures or writing those stories until I found the Heritage Makers publishing system. They have:
Story maps to help you start working on the story (feel free to print this out if you want to use it).
Free 1 G photo storage space
totally customized layout design ability
several publishing choices (hard-bound books, individual pages, even posters and cards) Acid free
the ability to print just one copy
an Archive, so you project can be published again later

I'm 25 with 3 kids ages 5 and under. I know that my time is precious so I'm really grateful that there is so much Technology to help me better use my time and still get these important histories recorded before I lose the family members who know the stories are gone. I am an independent publishing consultant through Heritage Makers now. So I get to help others with their stories. I'd love to help you too, message me or go to www.sharingheritage.com for more info. Thanks!

Shari McLaws

PS- Trudy Where do you get your magazine covers at?

Permalink Reply by Trudy Doolittle on October 10, 2009 at 8:51am

Just do a google search on "magazine protectors". There are many different kinds.
TD