10 Steps to Write A Book About Your Family History

How do you write a book about your family history?

The first rule in successfully writing a book about your family history is not to think of it as a daunting and tedious task.

It can be an overwhelming process…

Collecting all the information from various sources, writing it down, editing, making sure you don’t anger that one particular aunt (you know what I’m talking about!)

Even if some family members and close relatives continuously nag you about it, take it as some motivation.

After all, it is something you must do out of fun and satisfaction.

Organizing a book about family history is pretty much like writing any other type of nonfiction work.

You ought to follow some steps, the purpose of which is to keep you organized.

The lack of direction could lead to failure.

You do not want to end up with an unstructured collection of documents masked in a cover with a title.

No one is going to be interested in your work if it is confusing to read and disorganized.

Here are the steps on how you should do it:

Step 1 – Figure Out A Purpose For Your Family Book

You write a book to accomplish something, and a written account of your family history is no exception.

But there is a chance you end up on a brick wall.

The only way to finish writing a book about your family history is when you have a purpose laid out.

Are you planning to organize all the information you already have from previous research.

Or do you intend to talk about your family’s role in your town’s history?

Do you want to talk about your family’s ethnic heritage in extensive detail?

Incorporating all those things in one book may overwhelm you.

Having a purpose will make the project manageable.

Step 2 – Define The Scope of Your Family Book

The next step is deciding on the book’s scope.

This decision is crucial as it determines the direction and focus of your narrative.

Here are some approaches you might consider:

Single Line of Descent: This approach traces the lineage of a particular surname from the earliest known ancestor down to yourself or another specific individual. Your book would unfold chronologically, with each chapter dedicated to one ancestor or generation. This method allows for a detailed exploration of a direct lineage, providing a clear narrative thread throughout the book.

All Descendants: Starting with an individual or couple, this method covers all their descendants, organizing the chapters by generation. This approach is especially fitting if you’re concentrating on an immigrant ancestor, offering a panoramic view of how a single family line branched out over time.

Grandparents’ Tales: Another engaging angle is to dedicate sections to each of your four grandparents, eight great-grandparents, or even sixteen great-great-grandparents, depending on your ambition and the availability of information. You could either trace their ancestry backward or chronicle the lineage forward from their earliest known ancestors. This method provides a broader view of your family tree, allowing for a rich tapestry of stories and backgrounds.

Each of these frameworks can be tailored to suit your unique interests, time constraints, and what you want to accomplish with your book.

The key is to choose a focus that resonates with you and your intended audience, be it family members or a wider readership.

Step 3 – Create An Outline

Once you have your purpose and target audience, the next step is to come up with a concrete plan that takes your book in one direction.

Doing so requires an outline.

This outline serves as the framework of your book.

It also contains a preview or list of all the things you hope to integrate, including the people to mention, stories to tell, and elements to discuss.

The outline is critical if you are looking at examining multiple families.

Step 4 – Determine Your Target Audience

Who is going to read your book?

Understanding your audience is as critical as the book’s purpose. I

f you intend for your family and relatives to read the book exclusively, then a casual writing style should suffice.

But if your target audience is broader and you intend to publish the book for sale, then an authoritative writing style is required.

You must focus on conducting a more thorough research process, with footnotes and source lists for citing sources.

Step 5 – Use Family Pictures

This step is where you begin to focus on the specifics.

You have a purpose for your book, target audience, outline, and the scope. Reinforce your information with pictures.

A book on family history will never be interesting without photos and graphs that will arouse your readers’ interests. Make them feel like there is more to see as they follow the lineages and genealogical reports you showcase in your narrative.

If you want to know more about the book writing process check out this blog post HERE

Step 6 – Don’t Forget The Supporting Cast!  

This one requires in-depth research.

But it sure does help make your book a lot more exciting if you find some interesting side story for your book.

If you happen to know an ancestor with an interesting background or life, say a war hero or an inventor, then you should tell that story.

Likely, the younger generations of the family are not even aware of this person.

Step 7 – Ask for help.

Even if you get credit for the book about your family history, it does not mean you do the hard work on your own.

If you do not have enough information to proceed with the rest of the book, then you should ask for assistance from family members and relatives.

There might be some historical facts that are not in the record, and the only way to obtain them is from stories passed from one generation to another.

There is no shame in getting references from other people, be sure to credit them.

Step 8 – Do not forget the historical backdrop.

Remember that the purpose of a book on family history is to showcase the lives of your ancestors and lineage of the current generation. You want something compelling in terms of facts.

Hence, it would help if you emphasized on creating a detailed account of your earliest ancestors. A broad canvas of your family’s history is not merely about tracing your roots.

Once you succeed in gathering information and creating an informative book out of it, then you will get the recognition you deserve.

A historical backdrop should include the places where your ancestors live, their ethnic identity, religious background, and economic status.

Step 9 – Review your work and make the necessary supplements.

One thing that stands out in nonfiction work is the emphasis on context and details.

Unlike fiction where you can come up with a story from your imagination, a book on family history must rely on facts.

The more supplements you inject on your work, the more reliable it becomes.

You should review your facts and add some more to support them. You can do so by citing newspaper articles and browsing genealogical websites.

You can even add old postcards and town histories.

Step 10 – Take Your Time and Go Easy On Yourself.

The excitement of starting a project like this can sometimes lead to an underestimation of the time and effort required.

To navigate this, setting realistic deadlines is essential.

Deadlines are indeed a motivation for every writer to get the job done.

However, a book about your family history requires a lot of time.

The book is not about making money.

It is more about bringing your family together and letting them know about your shared past.

Your writing project may take a year or even more, but do not stress it.

The only way for it to be comprehensive is if you take your time.

Here’s how to manage deadlines effectively:

• Schedule Writing Time: Treat your writing sessions as you would any important appointment. By allocating specific times for writing, you make consistent progress and avoid the pitfall of procrastination.
• Break Down the Project: Divide your book into manageable sections or chapters and set deadlines for each. This approach makes the task less daunting and allows for a sense of achievement as you complete each segment.
• Allow for Flexibility: While it’s important to adhere to your deadlines, also give yourself the grace to adjust them if necessary. Research can sometimes take unexpected turns, and new discoveries may lead you down unforeseen paths.
• Revise and Polish Later: Focus on getting the first draft completed within your set deadlines. Remember, perfection is the enemy of progress. There will be ample opportunity to revise and refine your work later.

Last Thoughts on Writing About Your Family History

Writing a family history book is a labor of love that requires patience, dedication, and a well-thought-out plan.

By defining the scope of your project and setting realistic deadlines, you lay the groundwork for a successful and enriching writing journey.

The key is to start with a clear focus and maintain momentum towards your goal.

Your family history book is not just a collection of names and dates; it’s a testament to the lives and legacies of those who came before you, preserved for generations to come.