Notables in Literature and Journalism

Question

A new subproject has been created to nest within the Notables Project.  My name is Ros Haywood, and I will be leading the adventure (with a small 'l').

This subproject will cover authors worldwide in all time periods: their profiles, as well as their works.  The subproject is looking for general profile improvement, including writing bios, sourcing, cleaning up GEDCOMs, and more for Notable Authors and Journalists.  

Here is a page covering English Authors (an England Project Topic): 
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:English_Authors
but of course this subproject will cover every country there is! Are there any other space pages out there in WikiTree-land that could be linked to this subproject?

Do you have a favourite author or journalist whose profile you would like linked?  Let me know!

Answer 1

Greetings Ros, great idea, here are 3 to start.  There are so many great ones to choose from:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Austen-489 Jane Austen (one of my favs)

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Poe-521 Edgar Allen Poe (a little dark I know)

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Johnson-26692 Maya Angelou

Answer 2

Splendid idea !! I will be interested in folowing this project from the sidelines. May even sign up at some future date. 

Answer 3

Is there going to be a specific category for this in addition to the literary ones currently in use (Nonfiction Writers, British writers, War Correspondents, etc)?

Writers/journalists are some of my go-to categories when I feel like randomly connecting people, so I'd be happy to update categories when I come across those pages.

Comments

Yes, there will be a category specific to this subproject.  It has only just started, so I am still working on it. :)

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Why though? Isn't it repetition? Disney Project doesn't have a category of Disney Notables. The profiles have general occupation categories then they have Classic Disney Cast Members or whatever it is. It's not an extra notables category.

This is why a category proposal is done, so this can be discussed and worked out collaboratively.

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You need to talk to the Leaders of the Notables Project.  If you look at their page, they have created several little subprojects.  I'm just the messenger ie trying to get this one off the ground.

Don't shoot the messenger.  Talk to the Leaders instead.

Answer 4

Will there be any subcategories within this project?

It seems very broad to put writers of literature and fiction in a single group with those who write non-fiction, history, etc.  Not to mention TV journalists or those who use social media as their form of publication.

Comments

There will very probably be subcategories.  I haven't decided on the category, yet, though! I'm still working on that.  Please be patient. :)

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Why duplicate the categories we already have for authors, writers, etc? It will confuse people.

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Also, the categories should be spelled out and not have "LJ" in the name, it's considered code and not allowed on public WikiTree pages (outside of personal categories).

Like Nat, I am worried about that additional literature category? There are already so many categories related to writing that I rarely know where to put authors/writers and frequently end up not categorizing them at all. Again, if these are project categories (and it looks like it), they should be named and handled as such... please?

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Talk to the Leaders of the Notables Project, then.  They're the ones who set this up.  I'm just beautifying it.  And tomorrow, after I have slept on it, I will work on renaming the category.

Answer 5

Great idea!  Here are some Canadians for consideration. Canadian notables.  Here you can also see some options for possible subcategories if you find them helpful. 

Comments

Thank you! I will take a look.

Answer 6

The Scotland Project has a small Scottish Authors team https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Scotland_-_Scottish_Authors_Team and we are currently using three categories:

Scotland, Authors

Scottish Poets and

Scotland, Journalists

Comments

Many thanks. "English Authors" also has English Diarists, English Historiographers, English Playwrights, English Poets, and English Travel Writers.  The new subproject now has Literature, LJ Notables and Journalism, LJ Notables.

Answer 7

Greetings, Ros!

I want to thank you for initiating and overseeing this really splendid subproject idea for Notables. I will keep your subproject in mind as I work on profiles, mine and others. This is just such a great idea!

Comments

Well, credit where credit is due, it was really David Randall's idea.  I've just taken the concept and started the ball rolling.  But it's fun! finding images, such as the font which mimics Edgar Allan Poe's signature, etc. :) Thank you for your kind words.

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Ros...so kind (and typical) of you to provide credit where it is due. So, my thanks to David Randall as well. Nevertheless, your skills as a children's book author and on WikiTree will really expand the WikiTree horizons! I love the idea of using an Edgar Allen Poe font (for example). Very clever. 

BTW...my daughter teaches high school English now (Freshmen and Juniors...not sure how this compares to England's levels). She wishes she could include Brit Lit, which she loves, but she has to focus on U.S. authors (for now). Poe is one of her favorites. I will check back on his profile, then send it to her. 

Actually, I am going to get a list of ALL the authors she is covering in her classes to see if all of them are on WikiTree! She could add having students read their biographies from WikiTree so they not only learn about literature, but that these authors were 'real' human beings with lives, loves, losses, families when they read the WikiTree bios! 

Thank you for helping this idea pop into my head! 

Have a great Holiday Season!