Writing vs genealogy

 

                                  The double rainbow I saw going home from SIWC one year seemed like a good omen

It's easy to get lost for hours scrolling through email. I have the unfortunate habit of saving things to "look at later". As if "later" ever comes! Part of my problem is that I'm involved with so many things that generate virtual messaging. As any genealogist knows, there are lots of people trying to get our attention about webinars, meetings and new tech advances which will change the way we research. On top of that are messages about the latest records available on the big databases like Ancestry and Find My Past.

Sorry, I got pulled away for a minute because an email about writing family history caught my eye. That's because another of my interests is writing. Big Surprise there, but what you may not know is that, while I write this blog about genealogy and history, I'm also interested in other kinds of writing. I'm in the beginning stages of producing a work of fiction and have ideas about writing memoir. Believe me, the subject of writing also generates a lot of emails. Writers are not shy about putting down their words in electronic form!

Sometimes it feels like my interests in genealogy and writing are pulling me in two different directions, each demanding my attention and time. Not only to do family research or get down the words, but to learn more about the latest research techniques or to find better ways to convey my thoughts or show the actions of my characters. Both genealogy and writing each have their own online and in-person events to teach me more.

Last week I put genealogy aside to attend the Surrey International Writers Conference (SIWC). It's an event where writers, agents and other members of the publishing world come together to celebrate and learn. This year, for the first time in a couple of years, it was held partly in-person. There was also an online component, a holdover from the pivot done to allow the event to continue when getting together was problematic.

I enjoy attending SIWC, mingling with other writers, learning more about my craft. Being there is a big part of the experience but the learning doesn't stop there. A lot of the sessions are recorded and available for subscribers to view for 30 days after the event. That's both good and bad. I now have a playlist to get through in the next while. That reminds me of all those RootsTech videos that I really should get back to. With these two time consuming interests, it's no wonder I'm so far behind reading my emails!