When creating a family Web site, one of the first things you may want to do is hold a brainstorming session with the people who will be working on, and appearing in, your site. The purpose of this initial meeting is to think of the stories, images, and other features you may want to include on the Web site, such as photos (old and new), lists of favorite books, awards and schedules of team events, descriptions of other activities, and favorite family anecdotes.



Writing it down

To tell the best story with your Web site, someone in the family has to do some writing. Many people find this a daunting task, so here are a few tips:

Write about what interests you. If you're not interested in what you're writing, why should you assume anyone else will be?
Step away from overused introductions and cliches and look for creative verbs, colorful adjectives, and unusual ways to tell a story.

Interview family members to get the best stories and details.Don't trust your memory to get the facts right. Grab a notebook or a tape recorder and interview each family member to collect the best stories and the intimate details that bring a biography to life.

Write in a conversational tone. Many people are more formal and serious when writing than they would ever be when talking. The result is often stiff and dull writing. To avoid this trap, try writing your Web site text as if you were writing a letter to a favorite aunt or telling a story to a friend.

Write one thing at a time.Trying to write too much at one time is a quick way to discover writer's block. Instead of sitting down to write all the text for your Web site, focus on one section or one family member's biography. Then move on to the next writing assignment.

Determine who, what, where, when, and how.These provocative little words provide a powerful tool for making sure you've covered the key points in a story. If you're stuck, ask yourself each of these questions. As you review your writing, make sure you've answered them all.

Read other Web sites for ideas. Still not sure what to say on your Web site? Consider reading what other families have
said on their sites.

Write a first draft.Don't expect your writing to be perfect the first time you sit down to put pen to paper or fingers to a keyboard. If you do, you'll probably have a hard time getting anything on the blank page. Most professional writers revise their work over and over again and then have someone else edit and revise it again.

Less is more.When revising and editing, cut out unnecessary words. Trying to fill space is a bad habit some of us learned when we had to write a ten-page paper in high school. It takes more time to write concisely, but a story that is told well in few words has more effect than one that drags on and on and on.

Make sure the text is readable on your Web pages. When you lay out the text, don't use a type size that's too small or distracting background patterns. Make sure the color of the text contrasts well against the
background.

Find an editor.Every writer needs an editor. Before you let your words go on a live site, ask someone who has a good eye for detail to look over your work. And don't get defensive if the person suggests ways to improve your work. Constructive criticism is not personal; it's about getting the best story on the page.