Friday, August 30, 2013

THE BLOGGERS GENEAMEME - My Responses to 20 Questions!

Jill Ball at geniaus.blogspot.co.ukhttp://geniaus.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/the-bloggers-geneameme.html  posted a wonderful set of questions for genealogy bloggers several days ago, and here I am with my responses!  Somewhat delayed - it takes me a few days to get my head organized, and I had to finish my post yesterday on a not-so-brick wall ancestor first... 

20 Questions:
  1. Titles, URLs of blog(s):
    Twigs and Trees  is my personal blog on my ancestors
    Terwilliger Souvenir Album  is my page-by-page inventory and research of my maternal great-grandfather's 1800s souvenir album.  Many pages yet to go. 
  2. Cousin Bait blog story? 
    No - not yet, but I have high hopes.  My family enjoys the posts, however, so all is not lost! 
  3. Why start blogging? Someone who inspired me? 
    I enjoyed reading and commenting on others' blogs, Jill's among many others.  So many inspired me - Jill being one of them.
  4. Blog Title? 
    My mother's mother was a TERWILLIGER, and the nickname for males is often "Twig", thus the title for "Twigs and Trees".  My great-grandfather's Souvenir Album - it is what it is - the "Terwilliger Souvenir Album", being inventoried.
  5. Blog from mobile device?
    I don't yet blog from any mobile device - only one is my Galaxy S3 smartphone, and I want more availability to use photos, document snippets and more at the same time.
  6. Let others know about new posts?
    I "publish" then do a G+ comment for the Genealogy community on G+ plus I add Family for several of my kids on G+;  I also Tweet the new post linkage;  and finally, I do a FaceBook post on each new post, and highlight so it hopefully shows up on my busy kids'-cousins'-and friends' FB pages.  
  7. How long blogging?
    ONE YEAR for both of them - I started Twigs and Trees several months before the Album blog.  Can't believe it's already been a whole year!!
  8. Widgets, elements essential on genealogy blog? 
    Hmmm.  I like to add some photo or snippet of a document, for interest. Plus links to webpages of places or maps.  Anything to add some sense of place or person.  
  9. Purpose? Intended audience?
    Family - known family like cousins and kids, plus unknown cousins - or even some known but not talked with for awhile (years!).   Also, if anyone reads about their family - in the Album blog there are many calling cards, other papers listing friends and acquaintances - I hope to learn more about my greatgrandparents' social lives if readers share their bits of information with me. 
  10. Posts proud of?
    That is so hard to answer - not so much 'proud' but satisfied and pleased with the way posts came out.  The Inside Front Page of the Terwilliger Souvenir Album was a big deal for me - so many bits and pieces to write about.  I also got the most amount of help and views on G+ on that one.  But the photos on Wordless Wednesday posts - love those as well - here's one that received comments on G+, FB, as well.
  11. Keep up with blog reading?
    Feedly at the moment, although Google Reader was so easy.  Luckily many also publish on G+ as well, reminding me to read particular posts.  I have a small list of about 40 blogs-must-read, and zip through them most mornings. 
  12. Platform? 
    Blogger - easy, simple, trouble-free (except for the past 2 days!), and free - which is terribly important to me and my minuscule budget.
  13. New Features for blogging software? 
    I don't have suggestions - I just want it easy to use!!  
  14. Most popular posts with readers? 
    The Inside Front Cover, mentioned above, had the most views (Album). 
    Twigs and Trees posts are about equal, with little bumps up on Wordless Wednesday photos.
  15. Sole blogger or shared blog?
    I'm it, the one and only blogger.  
  16. How do I compose my posts?
    I sit at my computer and type, putting in the title first, then write until I'm done;  edit for readability, add links for webpages of interest, add images if I can, put in the names and places in the Labels section, add a final paragraph asking for contacts from people who might have something to add.  I love to write and simply - write  (well, type).  
  17. Non-genealogy related blogs? 
    Not at present.  However I'm trying to do more fiction writing, belong to several writing groups, and will hopefully be starting a whole new 'face' for my writing persona.  Within a year I hope.
  18. Listed at Geneablogger? 
    Of course!  
  19. Resources helpful for blogging?
    Others' posts are very inspirational for various reasons.  Nothing sticks out as particular resources.  Hmmm. This is an interesting question.  
  20. Advice to new Geneablogger?
    Do it.  Just do it.  Start and keep going.  Do it for yourself - you will learn so much from writing on your genealogy.  And the support from others in the community - PRICELESS!  A whole new world of wonderful people are out there wanting you to succeed according to your own personal standards.  Don't forget to comment on others' blogs as well - we all love to receive friendly comments. 

    Thanks so much, Jill. A very interesting exercise!

4 comments:

GeniAus said...

So pleased to hear from you Celia.
Interesting to learn the significance of "Twigs" in your blog title. I am learning so much about fellow bloggers from these posts.

Sharon said...

I agree with Jill. It is very interesting to see the significance of "Twigs" in your title.

I LOVED the Baby Betty post. I cannot remember a photo where the love between mother and child is so evident, especially when Betty is so young.

Celia Lewis said...

Thanks for commenting, Jill. It never occurred to me to explain the title before this - it seemed too obvious to me. Great questions.

Celia Lewis said...

Thanks Sharon. I played around with titles for a few days until this short title popped up in my mind; it felt so right.
I actually didn't know I had this photo until one day when I was clearing out the box with the Terwilliger Souvenir Album, and it was stuck in there with several other interesting photos. Very sad photo - you can see how bonded they were. Such love. GrandPete (Betty's mother/my grandmother) went on to have 2 more girls before having 2 boys, then another girl, my mother.

Welcome!

Family, friends, and others - I hope you enjoy these pages about our ancestors and their lives. Genealogy has become somewhat of an obsession, more than a hobby, and definitely a wonderful mystery to dig into and discover. Enjoy my writing, and contact me at celia.winky at gmail dot com if you have anything to add to the stories. ... Celia Lewis