An important part of writing our ancestor’s stories is building the world where they lived. Building an authentic world is the key to transporting our readers back in time. It’s
Social History ResourcesSocial History Resources
History and social history are important ingredients in building the world and stories of your ancestors. Below is a list of resources to help you with that research. If you
Who Do You Think You Are? – What it Teaches Us About StoryWho Do You Think You Are? – What it Teaches Us About Story
I’ve been watching Who Do You Think You Are? How about you? I enjoy following the celebrities in their journey to discover their ancestors. Now what occurs to me about
How to Use Flashbacks EffectivelyHow to Use Flashbacks Effectively
Flashbacks are writing tools that allow the writer to give the reader a window into their past. They allow the writer to bring the past into the present. Family history
7 Tips to Formatting Dialogue7 Tips to Formatting Dialogue
Aside from struggling with re-creating dialogue, many family historians find formatting dialogue a little intimidating. It’s important to understand the techniques of writing your ancestor’s conversations and how to format
What Kind of Family History Should I Write?What Kind of Family History Should I Write?
Before you begin to write your family history stories, you have a couple of decisions to make. One of those decisions: What kind of nonfiction narrative do I wish to
Identifying Your Protagonist AncestorIdentifying Your Protagonist Ancestor
The protagonist is the central character in a story. I’m going to assume you’ve watched enough movies and read enough books, that you understand every story has a protagonist. However,
Finding the FocusFinding the Focus
To write a good quality family history story, one must be able to take a lot of information, research and reduce it into a focused narrative. William Zinsser reminds us to
How to Begin Your StoryHow to Begin Your Story
Without a great beginning, a beginning that draws the reader in and hooks them your story is dead. The beginning becomes especially important in a family history narrative. We all
Goals, Motivations and StakesGoals, Motivations and Stakes
You’ve chosen your Protagonist Ancestor, and now it’s time to structure his or her story in a format that will keep your readers entertained and engaged from beginning to end.