Interview With John Ward
Suite 101 Chats With the Creator of Familyware
Suite 101 talks to John Ward the creator of Familyware and asks him about his inspiration, his opinions on the art of memoir writing and his own memoir.
For anyone wanting to create a memoir or autobiography the high tech way or for anyone wanting a little extra help to inspire and organize them Familyware is an excellent software program to try. Suite 101 had a chat with John Ward, the creator of Familyware, to find out what inspired him to create this useful and poignant tool.
Inspiration
Suite 101: What first inspired you to create the Familyware service? Has it proved popular so far?
John: A few years ago a co-worker passed away. Like me, he was in his early 40’s and had two children under two years old. Given how much our kids meant to us, I couldn’t get over how heartbreaking it would be if I died, and they couldn’t learn how much love was behind their entry into the world. People who lose their parents when they are young children (through separation or death) yearn to know more about those parents. They often go to great lengths to learn about and discover their past. It seemed evident to me that my life mattered more than ever before, and if I didn’t preserve my story, I was potentially depriving my children of the history they deserve.
Familyware launched in February, 2008. User response has met expectations, and we’ve learned a lot about how to make the service even more valuable in the near future.
Documenting Life
Suite 101: Do you feel it is important for people to document their life?
John: Absolutely. I could write a book on this topic. Many people do not understand how much their life matters. The irony is that none of us really know who will benefit from our stories. It could be parents, children, aunts, uncles, siblings, or descendants 200 years from now. The Anasazi Indians used stones 3,000 years ago to etch their stories into mountain sides, and a lot has been learned from it. Pressing a few keystrokes each week in order to save our story seems like a worthy effort.
Writing a life story captures more than static facts: it lays out a progression path of growth as a person. It captures lessons learned, pride of accomplishment, and in some cases it communicates why a person believes in certain truths. Most people have had to overcome obstacles in order to move their lives forward, and seeing that progress in writing unveils a greater sense of self-worth.
Does Inspiration Come With Age?
Suite 101: Did you ever keep a diary as a child or do you think that the urge to write about one's own life is something which grows with age?
John: My “urge” to write originated solely from becoming a father. Journaling wasn’t an activity in our household when I was growing up, and it wasn’t discussed or valued in the schools I attended. My kids (6 and 8) keep a journal at school, it’s expected of them. I think that’s pretty cool!
If I were to guess, I think most people value the idea of documenting their journey, but plan to do so later in life, when the pace of life slows down. The sad reality is that they’ll forget many of their finest experiences, and their pace of life won’t slow down until it’s too late.
We also had a chat with John about his own memoir which can be read in a further Suite 101 article.
More information about Familyware can be found in the Suite 101 article “Multimedia Autobiographies”and also on the Familyware website where writers can choose between a free standard package and a premium paid for package.
