Looking to make your family history last? Whether you want to write your own “Roots” or “Angela's Ashes” or just hope to record your research in a form your relatives might actually read, here's how to plan, write and publish your own family history book.
Whenever I think about writing my family history, I get a craving for lasagne. Doesn't everyone? I think it's because writing family history is so similar to making lasagne. Here's what I mean: When I decide to make lasagne, my first step is to go to the store and gather ingredients like Italian sausage, ground meat, garlic, a jar of Ragu and lasagne noodles. The next step is to prepare and layer the ingredients in the pan. The final step is baking, where all the flavors blend and the aroma in the kitchen can't be beat. That's what I proudly serve my family
Writing your family history follows the same three-step recipe and is just as important as feeding your family — after all, you're feeding the curiosity of family members and future generations about where you came from. First, you head to the library, courthouse or archives to gather ingredients like censuses, vital records, land deeds, wills and background histories. Then you analyze and organize your research in preparation for writing. The final step, baking — I mean writing — is where you blend all the research ingredients into an interesting family history account, one that you proudly serve to your family.
But, as with making lasagne, there are some decisions you need to make. Do you want to make your lasagne vegetarian, traditional or a blend of cheeses only? Likewise, what kind of family history do you want to serve to your family? Let's look at your options.