Genealogy Blog Memes

When I first started this blog, I’d never actually visited another genealogy blog. As I began posting, I started wondering about what I should be posting—besides my research findings, that is. I got curious. What were other family researchers posting? Just their research? Genealogy news? Helpful how-tos?

While surfing from blog to blog, I came across the idea of a blog meme. Now I don’t consider myself a newbie, but I’d never heard of a meme. What is it? you ask. Well, you’ve probably already seen one, but just didn’t know what to call it. Chris Garrett on his blog about the business of blogging and new media defines it like this:

“For bloggers Memes have become synonymous with internet quizzes, surveys, and novelties that people link to and pass around on their blogs, forums and via email…”

The interesting ones that caught my attention, however, were the themes of genealogy posts for days of the week. Geneabloggers had a list, with tips on what to do if you want to participate. The memes are suggested by various bloggers and passed around. Bloggers post content to their site that corresponds with the theme all on the same day. Here’s some of the topics that were suggested:

1. Tombstone Tuesday (yep, photos of grave stones)
   
2. Wordless Wednesday (just the photo, please)
3. Madness Monday (the ancestor who drives you crazy)
4. Saturday Surnames (tweeting the names you’re researching)
   

Aren’t they great? I love the idea of a “regularly scheduled feature,” with additional posts as available. I also got to thinking of other ideas (at 3 a.m., of course in lieu of sleeping):

1. Friday Finds (unexpected or gratifying research finds)
2. Monday’s Memories (remembrances, yours and those passed on to you)
3. Theory Thursday (the latest research theory you’re following)
4. Sunday’s Sources (new or helpful sources of information, site/book reviews, etc.)
   

Of course, I don’t have to post anything. I’ve never been one to do what everyone else was, just because they were doing it… But I did see a lot of good ideas on my tour of the blog-o-sphere, so don’t be surprised if you see some of them popping up here. :^)

• Category: Fun stuff