Tell a story; don’t just get stuck in the dry facts. Anyone who reads your personal or family history will likely be interested in the facts, but what they’ll enjoy most and remember are the everyday details – favorite stories and anecdotes, embarrassing moments and family traditions. Sometimes it can add interest to include varying accounts of the same event from different perspectives. Personal stories offer a great way to introduce new people and chapters, and will help keep your reader interested. If your ancestors left no personal accounts, you can still tell their story as if they had, using what you’ve learned about them from your research. Look at historical information at the time to see what was happening in their city. Be sure to make it clear that this
information is not from their own writing but is added to give an example of what your relative might have been doing at the time. Use a phrase like “Mary didn’t say this in her record but I can just imagine her …” The stories in your history will help to make it memorable and enjoyable for the reader and satisfying to you. The Stories will make it great.
Chris Stevenson cs@sgenealogy.com
