There are many ways to share your family history research. You may wish to create a blog or website, a podcast or a digital story. Write an article for a family history group newsletter or a profile for Wikitree or Find a Grave. You could create a heritage photo album, present a talk, write a novel inspired by your family history – or write a screenplay!
Be inspired and directed by your intended audience and by similar projects by others. Incorporate social and local history to add context to your ancestors lives.
Browse the library shelves for inspiration. Read the first page and last page - the beginning and end that may stir an idea for a hook to engage your reader. Look for non-fiction, biographies and fictionalised accounts inspired by true stories.
Check out these online resources for ideas to writing your family history.
NYPL, 20 Reasons why you should write your family history
Family Search: Create a Family History
Family Search: Tips for Writing Family History Books
Family Search: A Guide to Printing your Family History
Borders Ancestry: Eight Easy ways to create compelling Ancestral Life Stories
Evalogue: Pioneer stories help us work harder
Virtual War Memorial Australia: How-to-guides Research & Writing
Genealogy explained: Genealogy writing
The Secret to writing a compelling family history
Family History Connections: Alexander Henderson Award (see Guidelines)
Who Do You Think You Are Magazine May 2023
DaleSpaulding.com: Crafting Your Family History Narrative (two videos)
Family Locket: Six tips for excellent writing
Cyndi’s List : Writing Your Family History (links)
The writing process can help you organize your research and unearth gaps you may have. Have you gathered old photos? Have you talked to elderly relatives? Oral History is a wonderful addition to add to any written family history project. Capturing stories not found in other records.
Other Resources
Australian Migration History Timeline
Take Me Back To Type in a date. Provides information on what happened in history on that day.
Blak, Black, Blackfulla: language is important, but it can be tricky - Article from Sydney Morning Herald with advice on language and references to Indigenous Australia
52 Weeks Blogging Challenge sign up for a series of weekly prompts
Get started!
Join a writing group. Commit to a few minutes every day, write, edit and polish. Bring along to one of our family history groups to share and discuss.
Enjoy the process and congratulations on bringing your family history research to life.
