Education

You Should Write a Book!

SoYouWantToWriteABook

How many times have your friends said, “You should write a book!”? Would you like to write a memoir or do you have expertise in one unique thing that no one else has written much about? Are you overwhelmed by your term paper, thesis, or dissertation? Or have you finished researching your family history and want to share it with the community? Perhaps your employer wants a souvenir book about its history to present to VIPs.  Is your neighborhood or house of worship’s history missing from the library’s bookshelves? Or you’ve already published some essays or you had a blog and you want to collect your best work in a single volume.

If you are contemplating a book project, getting published is easier than ever.  The bewildering variety of options include self-publishing, online publishing, and traditional commercial publishing. And there is much more to finishing your project than choosing your words, sentences, and paragraphs.

The Buffalo History Museum is pleased to offer a 4-part workshop series on navigating the nonfiction publishing process called So You Want to Write a Book? On all four Saturday mornings in February 2018, we will tackle critical questions on copyright and intellectual property, citing your sources, overcoming roadblocks, and finding a publisher or self-publishing.

Aspiring authors can sign up for the full series or pick and choose which sessions to attend.  All sessions will be held in the auditorium of The Buffalo History Museum at 1 Museum Court, corner of Elmwood and Nottingham Terrace.  Parking is free in our lot, plus we are on the #20 bus line.

The schedule is:

  • Week One: February 3, 2018, 10 am – 12 pm 

Copyrights and Copywrongs

Nonfiction writing 101; how to make sure your research is legal; understanding permissions and intellectual property. Featured speakers are Cynthia Van Ness, Daniel DiLandro, and Stephanie “Cole” Adams

  • Week Two: February 10, 2018, 10 am – 12 pm

Give Me Proof

Citing your sources, using footnotes or end notes, compiling bibliographies and indexes; establishing your authority, and crediting those whose work you relied on. Featured speakers are Cynthia Van Ness, Daniel DiLandro. Frank Kowsky, and WNY Indexers.

  • Week Three: February 17, 2018, 10 am – 12 pm

Roadblock Day

How to get unstuck, featuring a Q&A panel of local authors who have been in your shoes: Rosanne Higgins, Tom Reigstad, Shane Stephenson

  • Week Four: February 24, 2018, 10 am – 12 pm

Meet the Publishers

You finished your book, now what?  Meet with local publishers and distributors and discuss book layout, marketing, and social media. Featured speakers are Brian Meyer of Western New York Wares and Marti Gorman of Buffalo Heritage Unlimited.

  • Member rate for entire series: $30
  • Member rate for individual sessions: $10
  • General public rate for entire series: $50
  • General public rate for individual sessions: $20

To register online, go to:

www.buffalohistory.org/Visit/Calendar.aspx

Click on February.  Then click on any of the workshops and scroll to bottom.  

Questions? Call 716-873-9644 x320 or email mmacneill@buffalohistory.org

Education & Educators at The Buffalo History Museum

Hello!  My name is Doreen Dell and I am the education assistant at The Buffalo History Museum. As teacher for 50 years, my position at the Museum perfectly aligns with my passion and expertise as an educator and history lover. Additionally, I get to work with teachers and students all over Western New York, a privilege I have always enjoyed. I’m excited about this coming October and looking forward to meeting educators who are not only seeking to share Western New York history with their students, but to share ideas with Museum staff and colleagues. Through our new after-school event, Teachers’ Night Out, we hope to help teachers unwind from a day of teaching and socialize over the Museum’s offerings.

Mark your calendar: Teachers’ Night Out will be held on Wednesday, October 12 from 4 – 6 pm at The Buffalo History Museum.

tno_postcard

streetofshops2

Buffalo Bliss photo studio located in the Street of Shops

Teachers will have multiple opportunities to learn about the resources available while exchanging ideas with other teachers. Featured are tours on varied topics that will suit a number of lesson plans: We have World War I posters, Paper Bullets: The Posters That Sold the War, in our State Court. You can see Inside Tim Russert’s Office: If it’s Sunday, it’s “Meet the Press” exhibit. The John R. Oishei Native American Gallery exhibit features the history of the Haudenosaunee. In The John R. Oishei Pioneer Gallery, you can learn about Buffalo Creek from 1806 to the burning of Buffalo. The Neighbors exhibit highlights those who came to Buffalo and made the city what it is today. In the Victorian Street of Shops, early businesses are featured on a cobble stone lane. The Bliss photo studio is popular with youngsters and funsters who like to dress up and take selfies for social media sharing. thumb_img_2507_1024My personal favorites are the newly developed history kits, proven to be an effective teaching tool that students will love; the Native American Kit and the Pioneer Kit have artifacts, reproductions, mini posters and an activity book and are available to rent for your classroom. These kits have been met with rave reviews. You will also have the opportunity to try your luck at identifying an artifact from the early 1800s as you examine our Artifact Detective Program that can be presented at your school.

In addition to the program tours and learning tools to explore, our research library will be open so that you can learn how to obtain primary source materials.

Other participating cultural organizations include: The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village, Steel Plant Museum of Western New York, Old Fort Niagara, and the Niagara Frontier Council for the Social Studies.

Did I mention there will be prizes and a happy hour? One of my favorite parts of my job is working with teachers to integrate our resources into their programs. Drop in for a minute or stay as long as we’re open; I look forward to meeting you and your classroom needs.