How to Write a Compelling Family History

Posted by Anonymous , 9/5/2007 Tags:WriteCompellingFamilyHistory
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How to Write a Compelling Family History

Introduction

When you write your family history, you are really writing a family novel. Rather than just recording facts, explore your genealogy and imagine what life was like for your ancestors. A good family history can be even more compelling than fiction.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Steps

1

Step One

Interview relatives of all ages. Keep it informal; just ask a few questions and let them talk about their memories. Prod them to talk about certain things by sharing what you know or have read about the time period they are remembering.
2

Step Two

Start a family genealogy forum. Invite comments from others with the same surname. You may find relatives you never knew or help in expanding your own genealogical search.
3

Step Three

Keep it personal. Tell readers about yourself or what you do know about your ancestor to invite them in. It's more interesting to read about people than about things, so think about your ancestors as characters.
4

Step Four

Think like a writer by adding color and involving the senses. Include what the person might have seen, smelled, heard, touched or felt.
5

Step Five

Add suspense and keep the reader wanting more. For example, if you don't know if an ancestor found gold in the Gold Rush, you can still include enough information to make his quest real.
6

Step Six

Be a detective. Ask yourself what your ancestors could have logically done and where they would have gone after an event. This will help flesh out your story and possibly lead to new areas of investigation.
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