#40 Update

I've created the webpage, email and facebook page for the short story contest. You can find it at boldnewworlds.blogspot.com.

And here is the link for the Facebook page.
For questions email boldnewworlds @ gmail.com

Starting #40 Set up a high school scifi/fantasy short story contest

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Perhaps it's because I just finished judging a short story contest for high school students. This was my third year and I've learned a lot from the experience. I think I'd like to do my own contest that is genre specific.

Imagination Begins With You is not specific and the talent is widely diverse. Which is wonderful! However, I keep thinking that if I could judge areas that I am more invested in, I might be able to give better feedback to these young writers. They are starting earlier than I did and therefore I feel they have the chance to really excel at this craft.

The plan:

• Talk to the creator of IBWY and see how he pulls it off each year
• Research some different methods for the students to submit their stories
• Find scifi/fantasy authors who would be willing to judge
• Pick a topic
• Market, market, market!

Goal:

Have the rules and regulations, a website, facebook page, twitter account and judges ready to go by August 1st. With a November 15th entry deadline.

Summer project! 

Starting #34 Update Family History Book

I've started looking into updating the descendants book that I made for my grandmother ten years ago. To be honest I feel a little overwhelmed. The program I used before is no longer on my computer and I don't know where the file is anyway. That means I will have to start from scratch. The original book was over 100 pages with scanned documents, photos and stories.

Where to start?

I believe I'll start with typing up all the stories. Maybe even try using the Dragon software my hubby bought me. Then I'll have to start begging all my relatives to scan and email me pictures for the book.

I also downloaded a new program that is compatible with my old PAF genealogy file. Hopefully that will make adding the pedigree charts and family group records easy to include. It's called Ancestral Quest 14.

I'll let you know what I think when I get a chance to sit down and play around with it.