Sometimes the most powerful part of a story is not what is said outright, but what is left unsaid. In this video, I explore “the gap” as a silent story
How to Choose the Ancestor You Write AboutHow to Choose the Ancestor You Write About
You’ve done the work. You have the binders, the photographs, the spreadsheet with three hundred names — and now you want to write, but you cannot pick which ancestor to
The Difference Between a Life and a StoryThe Difference Between a Life and a Story
Have you ever noticed that a life and a story are not the same thing? A life is everything.Every ordinary Tuesday. Every meal cooked. Every chore finished. Every year that
How to Recognize a Story Worth TellingHow to Recognize a Story Worth Telling
Not every ancestor detail becomes a story—but some absolutely do.The question is… how do you know when you’ve found one?
The Hidden Story inside a Single RecordThe Hidden Story inside a Single Record
Sometimes the story you’re searching for isn’t in the next record…it’s already waiting inside the one you have.
What Makes One Ancestor Story More Powerful Than AnotherWhat Makes One Ancestor Story More Powerful Than Another
It’s easy to think powerful stories come from more dramatic lives.But often, the difference lies in how the story is shaped.
Why Family History Research Doesn’t Automatically Become StoryWhy Family History Research Doesn’t Automatically Become Story
You can spend years gathering records and still feel like you don’t have a story.Because research collects information—but story requires something more.
The Ancestor You Should Write About FirstThe Ancestor You Should Write About First
The hardest part of writing your family history isn’t the writing—it’s knowing where to begin.Let’s find the ancestor who’s already waiting for you.
The Myth of the Ordinary AncestorThe Myth of the Ordinary Ancestor
In this week’s episode of Storylines, we explore a belief many family historians carry with them: the idea that their ancestors were “just ordinary people.” But when we look more
The Secret to Writing Stories Your Grandchildren Will Actually ReadThe Secret to Writing Stories Your Grandchildren Will Actually Read
You don’t need more facts.You don’t need more time. You need one powerful shift that changes how you write your scenes — and today, I’m going to show you what