How to Write a Family Genealogy Journal

Collect anecdotes for your family genealogy journal from your cousins, aunts, uncles and even remote relatives.

Writing a family genealogy journal is a project that changes the way the writer views her family. The family genealogy is typically a pedigree: a chronology with names and dates and who begat whom. Scholars of the Christian Holy Bible will remember the Old Testament chapters that begin with a genealogy, often colloquially called "The Begats." The family genealogy journal will include the "begats," but it will also provide anecdotes, oral history, family traditions, reflections, character profiles and even photographs.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Word processing software
• Family pedigree chart software, optional

Instructions

Set Up a Filing System for Your Family Genealogy Journal

1. 

   A laptop computer makes it possible to record family stories and anecdotes during an interview or while reflecting on an event.

   Create a filing system for your collection of family genealogy journal entries. On your computer, open "My Documents." Go to "File" and select "New." Choose "Folder." Name your folder "Family Genealogy."

2. Open your new "Family Genealogy" folder. Go to "File" and select "New." Choose "Folder." Name this folder by one of your family surnames. For instance, if your parents were John Smith and Jane Doe Smith, create a folder named "Smith." Then create another folder named "Doe." This way, each time you write a family genealogy story about one of your Smith family members, file it under "Smith." Do likewise for "Doe." If desired, break your filing system down even further. For instance, if your mother has two brothers, under "Doe" create a folder for each of your mother's brothers.

3. File genealogy journal entries according to the name of the individual who is the subject of the story. Cross-reference for married names, if desired.

Collect Family Genealogy Journal Entries

1. Interview family members. Begin with your family of origin, such as your parents or grandparents. Make note of any questions that are raised but cannot be answered by the person being interviewed. Interview aunts, uncles, cousins, first cousins once removed, neighbors and also consider talking with schoolteachers, the local historian and others who may your family's history. You never know where you will get the answers to your questions and gain additional stories and photographs along the way.

2. Listen for the "twist" or feature that makes the story special, such as sensory information. References to sensory memories make characters and stories come alive. For instance, the elderly daughter of a former Naval officer may reminisce about the excitement she felt when her father returned home after deployment. During her reflection, she may remark that her father always smelled like the engine room of a submarine. Sensory information pulls the reader into the story.

3. Pay attention to details while interviewing family members for your genealogy journal. Details make characters come alive. For instance, the son of a smoker may remark that his father always smoked Marlboro cigarettes, which he lit with Three Torches matches.

4. Begin your journal entry with a "hook," such as starting in the middle of the story. The hook draws the reader into the story and makes them want to know more or what happened next. An example would be a great-grandmother sharing that her husband never kissed her until their wedding day. Such a thought-provoking statement will pique your reader's interest for the rest of the story.

5. Keep the middle of the family genealogy journal entry interesting by holding back on information, hinting, but not giving it away right away. Make your reader curious.

6. Bring the family genealogy journal entry to a logical conclusion. Write the climax of the story, the answer to the cliff hanger, and close the entry.

Publish Your Family Genealogy Journal

1. Select a publication method: print or ebook. Or you could publish your book by both methods.

2. Establish publication standards, such as the font, font size for headings, font size for text and indented or not indented paragraphs. Edit each entry in your family genealogy journal files to meet your publication standards.

3. Place photographs, if available, on pages with corresponding text. Move photographs around until the placement is pleasing to your eye. The upper left-hand corner is the most common placement for photographs.

4. Open a new document in your word-processing or page-layout software program. On the first page of your document, create a title page with the name of your book and other pertinent information. On succeeding pages, copy and paste each individual page of your family genealogy journal, arranging pages in your desired order. If you created a family pedigree chart, include this chart at the end of the book for reference.

5. Print your book on your home printer or burn the file to disc and have it printed at your local office supply store. Office supply stores with print shops typically offer printing and binding of desktop-published books, such as yours. If your software program has an export-to-.pdf function, export your document to .pdf to create an ebook to be shared electronically, via email, CD or DVD.

Tips & Warnings

• Your family genealogy journal will benefit from a references section that includes a pedigree chart.

• Always ask for copies of photographs or printed articles about the subject of your journal entry to add additional interest and bring your characters to life.

References

• Power of 1: Family Ties
• Genealogy: The Secret to Writing a Compelling Family History
• GeneaSearch: Re-Energize Your Journal Writing Today for Tomorrow

Resources

• Legacy: Create, Connect, Change
• Family Tree Magazine