How to Start Writing: the Overall Plan
What to do? What to do?
Last month I wrote about the importance of writing for genealogists and family historians, particularly the importance of starting now rather than at some unspecified point in the future. I also wrote about some steps we can take to overcome whatever reasons we’ve given ourselves for postponing. In the intervening weeks, I’ve been asked more specifically about—and I’m synthesizing and paraphrasing here—how to organize one’s efforts to facilitate writing to completion.
I can’t reiterate strongly enough how subjective this topic is. If any of the following is helpful to you, terrific. If any of the following is not helpful to you, dismiss it. It’s that simple. Nothing about your writing projects will go wrong if you don’t adopt my methods. I share them only insofar as they may provide you with some tools to add to your toolbox, to be used when and if you need them.
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About Author
Aaron Goodwin
Aaron is a genealogist and house historian specializing in New York City research across all time periods, from the Dutch colonial era to the 20th century. His book, New York City Municipal Archives: An Authorized Guide for Family Historians, won the National Genealogical Society’s 2017 Award for Excellence: Genealogical Methods and Sources. He is also editor of NGS Monthly, former contributing editor of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, and former editor of the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine. In 2011, he received the American Society of Genealogists’ Scholar Award.
Thanks Aaron, this was a timely article for me!
I recently decided it was time to write up what I know before I am unable. This article has helped me to decide to take your monographic approach.
My research has taken in my paternal and maternal lines and also those of my wife. I also expand to include the collateral lines. I want an understanding of their lives.
So much to do, so little time.
Douglas Mann
Aaron, I like your approach very much. I opened a project about six months ago to do a three generation kinship article for each of my eight great grandparents. Most have been researched in some form or fashion, but not formally written up. The work has been instructive and interesting. I have several lines of German immigrants into Minnesota and it is those I am concentrating on initially. I am also finishing a biographical sketch for my son-in-law on his immigrant German ancestor and the completed work will run about 20 pages with images. Do you have a word or page count range in mind for each booklet? I am interested in what others might be using as a guideline for the length of each manuscript or booklet. I hope you will write periodically of your progress – thanks! Jean Andrews, CG (NGS Director)
Aaron,
Deciding on the form and overarching design of the end product and breaking up the project into manageable pieces is definitely the way to go as you suggest. I also appreciate your advice to start with projects that are inherently more interesting to the writer. In writing, beginning with what we know or care most about can be the lever that will jump start a plan and a project. Sometimes, family history writers want to begin writing about an ancestor for whom they have little information, and this creates instant writer’s block. Beginning a project with a specific writing goal you *know* you can complete can help with a successful launch. Like Jean, I am also interested in monograph guidelines. I did go to the NGS Guidelines page at https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/free-resources/guidelines/ and as well as “Going to the Next Level,” but didn’t see a guide sheet specifically for monographs. If you are anyone else has one to share, that would be helpful. Thank you! Cynthia
I am an amateur genealogist who has managed to acquire some experience and lot of data over 4 decades (started in my 20’s). Started awhile ago to put in narrative form for my 3 main lines (dad’s German lines pretty similar; mom’s very different) and husband’s two lines. But at this point things are getting pretty unwieldy and I have been trying to figure out how to try to break it up into manageable bits. Thanks for the structure–I think it will work for me. Barbara
Aaron, great ideas here! I have completed my second of two 3 generation descended maternal lineages. I used the descended lineage format for its ease. Each took about 2-1/2 years to research and complete. I published the first for the family and am ready to publish the second (soft cover, spiral bound). Writing is not my strong suite. I can never really finish editing. LOL. I study, but it remains a weakness. Active vs. passive voice and all the rest—grammar, punctuation… yuck! I will not quit though!
I too have recently committed to using a chronology or timeline for documenting ancestors in all future research and writing. It just works! I am organized automatically as I go. I am going to continue to write about the females in my family and bring all the males along with them.;) Thank you for the inspiration.