The first step in writing your family history is to choose its format. Think about who will read it, how much time you have, and how long it should be, and then decide between a book (a memoir or a narrative), a family cookbook, or a scrapbook.
Families are fascinating. It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, or who is in your family: everyone has a story that is worth telling.
But too often, people only tell their family's stories. They are passed on by word of mouth and never written down. Writing your family history gets the rich, complex, and fascinating story of your family down on paper for everyone to see, including the family members of the future. For more reasons to start, see why you should write your family history now.
You have heard all the stories about when Grandpa went to war. Or maybe your family history is about growing up with no money and learning to survive. Other families may not have had such hardships, but that does not mean there was no drama, intrigue, or interesting events. Whoever you are, if you start digging and asking questions, you will find fascinating material for your family history.
It may seem like a daunting task, but it becomes easier when you break it down into a few steps. This article covers the first one: choosing a format. The second part of this guide covers the steps that follow.
Choose a format
Many people overlook this step when they start, but it is important. Are you planning to write a full-length book and have it published? Do you just want a few pages that you can print out at home and send to the rest of your family? Or would a website be the best way to capture your family's history?
To help you decide, think about the following:
- Your audience: is your family history just for you, for the rest of your family, or for the general public?
- Your time: be realistic about this. You may want to write your family's version of Roots, Alex Haley's famous family saga, but unless you have a year to focus only on writing a book, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.
- The length: how long will it be?
Format options
Writing a book about your family history is certainly an option, and one of the most lasting ways to keep your family's unique story. But it is not the only one.
Your family history could take any of these formats:
- Memoir or narrative: this is the traditional book format. It can combine your personal experience with your family's stories. A memoir usually focuses on a single person, while a narrative includes several members of your family. If you choose the memoir, see these tips for writing a memoir.
- Cookbook: collect your family's recipes and tell the stories of the people who created or perfected them. This can be a fun project, and a book like this can also include your favorite family traditions.
- Scrapbook or album: this is a great option if you have a lot of pictures from your family's past. Writing your family history does not have to be about being a good writer. You can just as easily tell it through pictures and keepsakes.
Once you have chosen your format, continue with part 2 of how to write your family history: defining the scope, researching, and writing.