MGS is starting a Writing Club SIG (Special Interest Group) in September. We have five MGS members signed up for this so far. We also have interest from the Alberta Genealogical Society-Edmonton Branch, AGS – Camrose Branch, and the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society. We are in discussions to see how we can work together to do a joint SIG.
We did a poll of MGS members who have signed up and the majority (4/5) clearly want to meet Tuesday mornings via Zoom from 10 am to noon. We will be meeting the third week of the month. Dates for the first quarter are:
Tuesday, Sept 19, 2023 10 am – noon CDT
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 10 am – noon CDT
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2023 10 am – noon CST
Sign Up By Filling In Our Writing Club Poll
NOTE: Although you give your email address in the Poll, answers are group answers only. We have no way of knowing who said what. We use your email address to contact you for the Writing Club SIG. If you want a response to a question, please email vpcommunications@mbgenealogy.com
Click to see brochure
MGS has created a 10-month outline (Sept, 2023-Jun, 2024) covering the ten main genealogical publishing styles: Family Tree format, Pedigree Chart format, Descendant Chart format, Journaled Scrapbook, Theme-based Family History, Family Biography, Anthology-Style History, Event History, Memoir, and Living Memory. This includes writing both short and long form biographies and ways in which to use them.
We plan for a one-hour presentation which usually includes a 10-15 minute assignment mid-presentation to get us started on our homework, followed by a one-hour period for discussion, sharing, and/or continuing on the homework assignment – either silently on Zoom, or you can sign off. We plan to stay open on Zoom for the 2nd hour so if you have questions while working on the assignment, you can ask or even share what you have written (although not everyone is comfortable with that and it is optional). We are all there to learn and share together. Assignments will not be handed in, and are for your benefit only.
Although your assignments fit into one of the ten (10) main genealogical publishing styles, MGS has identified four outcomes they would like to see from the Writing Club SIG:
• Short one-page biographies for the Manitobans Remembered series and Lest We Forget series.
• Articles for the monthly MGS Generations digital journal on any genealogical topic. This includes articles about research techniques to memoir style articles.
• My Own Story submissions for the MGS Generations digital journal. Typically, a My Own Story is a 2,500-word (or less) biography of a family with images, but does not have to be. Options for a My Own Story can be a Theme-Based Family History, Family Biography, Event History, Memoir, or a Living Memory—all covered in our Writing Club.
• Member publications of pedigree chart, family groups sheets and biographies for inclusion in the MGS archival collection of member-submitted genealogies.
Of course, submission of Manitobans Remembered, Lest We Forget, or Generations articles are optional, we hope you will consider it. Generations submissions go to Library and Archives Canada, Manitoba Archives and to many genealogical societies with the MGS journal exchange program. This gets your family information before many more people and future genealogists may find your publication in an archive or library and be as excited as you would be if you found a story from one of your ancestors.
We hope that you will join us. The Writing Club SIG is a MGS member-benefit at no cost to members.
Brochure – Writing Club SIG 2023-24
