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Producing a Quality Family History
Whether you want to produce a short family history overview for your next family reunion or a more complex family history for publication, these books will provide the instruction and guidance you need to make your family history publication a treasure that everyone will want to read.
1) Producing a Quality Family History
Jam-packed with information on every aspect of writing and publishing a family history, this book covers everything from writing the narrative to practical ideas on choosing type faces, grammar styles and punctuation. Author Patricia Law Hatcher also includes many useful tips on how to make a family history interesting and how to find a publisher to meet your needs.
2) Bringing Your Family History to Life Through Social History
Bridging the worlds of history and genealogy, Katherine Scott Sturdevant shows researchers how to weave historical details into their personal genealogies to form a truly unique family history narrative. Mandatory reading for any author who actually wants someone to read and enjoy their family history book!
3) For All Time: A Complete Guide to Writing Your Family History
This practical, easy-to-read guide takes you beyond the traditional family history book to long captions in a scrapbook, biographies of current family members, and even family newsletters as means of documenting a family history. Author Charley Kempthorne also includes suggested writing topics, techniques for making your family history come to life, and a chapter on publication options.
4) Writing Family Histories and Memoirs
Author Kirk Polking begins at the beginning - helping you define your approach, decide on topics, research your family tree, select your style, improve your writing, and explore publishing options in this combination research guide/writer's manual. Includes plenty of excellent family history writing examples and a sample letter for requesting information from far-flung relatives.
5) The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Your Family History
Lynda Rutledge Stephenson offers advice on how to track down your family's history, get organized, use creative jumpstarts, write your story, and "make it sing" in this well-written book.
