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4 EXPERT Family History Writing Tips From RootsTech 2025 – Did You Catch These?
- Devon Noel Lee
- May 2
- 3 min read
Updated: May 4
Have you ever stared at a blank page, unsure how to even start telling your family's story? Or worried that maybe you're doing it "wrong"? I know I have. Writing about family history can feel overwhelming—until you get the right advice at just the right time.
That’s exactly what happened to me while watching some of the free RootsTech 2025 sessions on writing. They were packed with practical gems that instantly made writing feel less daunting—and a lot more doable.
If you missed the conference or didn’t know which sessions to catch, don’t worry. I’m sharing four of the best writing tips I discovered at RootsTech this year, plus a few thoughts on how they can transform the way you write your next story.
Tip 1: Start Strong: Make Readers Ask, "Then What Happened?"
Rachel Trotter’s session, Tell Your Story Like a Reporter, offered one of the smartest shifts I’ve heard in a long time. She encouraged family history writers to borrow a page from journalism and structure stories using the Inverted Pyramid: lead with the most important information first, then fill in background and context afterward.
But Rachel added a special twist: your opening paragraph should leave readers thinking, "Then what happened?"
It’s a small but powerful mindset shift. Instead of spending three paragraphs setting the scene, you jump straight to the action—hooking your reader’s curiosity right from the start.
It’s a simple technique, but one that can instantly make your family history stories more engaging.
Tip 2: Think Small, Write Often
Another important reminder from Rachel’s session: you don’t have to start with a book.
In journalism, reporters publish short, frequent pieces. Family historians can do the same. Telling smaller stories more often builds your skills, creates momentum, and makes the entire writing process a lot less intimidating.
The bonus? Short stories are finishable.
Unlike full-length books, which can take years (or sometimes never get completed), a collection of finished short stories can be just as meaningful—and a lot more manageable.
Even if your ultimate goal is a full book, starting small might be the smartest first step.
Tip 3: Let Your Title Emerge Naturally
From a MyHeritage vendor session came a surprising but valuable tip: wait to title your book until after you’ve written it.
It sounds backward, right?
But when you're gathering family memories, the true theme often reveals itself only after the stories are on the page. One family, for example, found that every significant memory from their grandmother's life centered around a raspberry patch. Without planning it, the raspberry patch became the natural title for the book.
I’ve seen this in my own writing too. When I was working on a memoir about my pageant journey, my early title didn’t quite fit. It wasn’t until I finished the draft that the real title surfaced: From Metal to Rhinestones: A Quest for the Crown.
Titles rooted in your story’s emotional core are stronger—and waiting until the end lets them find you.
TIP 4: Accuracy Is Your Best Protection
Laura Hedgecock’s session, Navigating Sensitive Topics: Writing about Difficult Chapters of the Family’s History, delivered a critical reminder for anyone writing about real people: accuracy is your best defense against defamation.
Tough family stories—criminal records, addictions, scandals—deserve honesty. But telling these stories responsibly means sticking to verified facts, clearly labeling unproven theories, and being transparent about your sources.
One strategy I love is including family rumors or speculative stories in an appendix, rather than mixing them into the main narrative. That way, you honor family lore without confusing it with documented truth.
And if someone isn’t happy with the facts you uncover?
Remember: you’re just the messenger. It’s not your name on that old court record—you’re simply preserving history.
Which Family History Writing Tips Stuck with You?
RootsTech 2025 had so much to offer, but these four writing tips really stuck with me. They’ve already changed how I’m approaching my next family stories—and I hope they’ll help you too.
Which tip resonated with you the most? Or do you have another writing strategy that’s helped you finally get words on the page?
Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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