Do you wish you could write engaging and relatable family histories but feel hindered by word choice? Are you afraid to express certain things in your story because you're unsure of others' opinions? If you're nodding, you've come to the right place. During an interview with Carol Baxter, author of "The Fabulous Flying Mrs. Miller: The True Story of Australia's First Internationally Famous Aviatrix," I learned amazing tips that will help you write relatable family histories. Journey From Hobby to Career The interview beings with Carol recounting her journey to becoming an internationally-acclaimed published genealogist. During the early '80s in Australia, there was no established industry. Undeterred, Carol majored in linguistics, English, and psychology while conducting her family history research. She even embarked on a journey to London, immersing herself in record offices across Britain. These experiences laid the foundation for her future endeavors. After gaining substantial knowledge and expertise, Carol recognized the need to turn her extensive research into engaging prose. While initially adopting an encyclopedic-expository writing style, Carol yearned to infuse her narratives with immediacy and relatability. The Epiphany: Embracing Relatable Character Narration During a moment of clarity, Carol realized the power of allowing characters to take center stage in her storytelling. Rather than relying solely on a detached narrator, she wanted readers to hear and see the characters directly, immersing themselves in their lives. This shift in perspective brought an immediacy to her writing, making it more compelling and relatable. Despite her commitment to factual accuracy, Carol used the tools of fiction writing to enhance the readability of her non-fiction works. She researched extensively to uncover details about the weather, dialogues, and other aspects that enriched the narrative. The result was "An Irresistible Temptation: The true story of Jane New and a Colonial Political Sex Scandal." This genealogy received unexpected high praise from book critics and revealed the nature of Carol's unique writing style. To hear more about this journey, listen to the full interview. Carol's Best Tips for Writing Relatable Family Histories During the interview, Carol emphasized this key point: "I don't make it up! I use the tools of fiction writing to make non-fiction interesting." By leveraging the tools of fiction writing and embracing a creative mindset, you can breathe life into non-fiction accounts and engage your audience on a deeper level. Harnessing Fiction Techniques: While formal training in creative writing can be advantageous, what truly matters is your passion and excitement as a writer. Let's delve into some valuable advice to enhance your writing style and create compelling family history narratives. Embrace the Story Flow: While facts are essential, organizing them in a chronological or detached manner might not create an engaging narrative. Instead, focus on crafting a cohesive story flow that takes readers on a journey through time and connects them emotionally with the characters and events. Unleash Your Expertise: As a family historian, you are the expert in your research. While it's crucial to maintain accuracy and adhere to facts, don't be afraid to present your own judgments and interpretations. Through extensive research and understanding, you can provide unique insights into the lives of your ancestors. Avoid Overqualification: While it's essential to qualify certain statements, be cautious of overqualification. Constantly using words like "almost," "likely," and "probably" can distract readers and break the flow of the story. Strive to balance providing credible information and maintaining the reader's immersion in the narrative. Embrace your role as an author, trust your expertise, and make decisive judgments where appropriate. ↪️ Do you want to write a family history book? Grab your copy of this FREE Writing Guide: Enhance Your Family History Writing Style To enrich your family history narratives, consider incorporating the following writing techniques: Descriptive Writing: Descriptive writing adds depth and sensory experience to your stories. Instead of relying solely on factual accounts, transport your readers by vividly describing the settings, people, and events. Engage their senses by incorporating strong verbs, adjectives, and adverbs to bring the story to life. Consider the sights, sounds, smells, and emotions your ancestors would have experienced, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the narrative. Storytelling Ingredients: Transforming facts into engaging stories involves using storytelling ingredients. By employing narrative techniques, you can convert generic accounts into immersive experiences. Instead of stating that your ancestors "walked up the gangway," make judgments and craft a more engaging description. Carol provides clear examples of what to do instead in the video. Word Choice: Choose your words thoughtfully to maintain reader engagement. Avoid non-words and throwaway phrases that hinder the narrative's impact. Develop a word bank to expand your vocabulary and find alternative terms for commonly used verbs like walk, said, moved, etc. Start Writing Relatable Family Histories Now Writing a family history is a unique opportunity to preserve and share your ancestors' stories. By incorporating fiction techniques, embracing your expertise, and enhancing your writing style, you can captivate readers and create narratives that connect them to the past. Remember, as the author, your role is not only to inform but to engage, inspire, and bring the past to life. So, pick up your pen, immerse yourself in the research, and let your ancestors' stories unfold in the captivating pages of your family history narrative. More Family History Writing Inspiration Why Your Family Doesn’t Want to Read Their Family History How to Avoid Writing a Boring Family History Tips for Writing a Compelling Family History

Have you ever wondered how it's possible to distinguish individuals from their DNA, even though we share nearly 100% of our genetic makeup? It's a perplexing question, and today we're delving into the depths of genetic genealogy to shed light on this mystery. I'm Andy Lee from Family History Fanatics, and together, we'll unravel the secrets behind DNA matches. The 99.9% Similarity Puzzle of DNA Matches When you contemplate the fact that we share almost 100% of our DNA, it's natural to question how we can differentiate between individuals. After all, in a crowd at a train station, you can easily spot distinctions in hair color, skin tone, clothing, and height. However, DNA operates on a different level, focusing on the underlying code responsible for these observable differences. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, all humans—past, present, and future—share 99.9% of their DNA. This staggering similarity is crucial to our very existence. Without this genetic foundation, we wouldn't be the humans we are today. It's the remaining 0.1% that sets us apart, contributing to variations in traits like hair color and other distinctive characteristics. To see the math of DNA matches, watch this video. Decoding the 0.1%: Insertions, Deletions, and Substitutions To understand this minute yet significant genetic diversity, we must explore the concept of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). SNPs are the genetic differences that make each of us unique, given that we are 99.9% identical to one another. These differences arise from variations in our DNA code. Within our genome, there are approximately three billion locations, and the 0.1% variation corresponds to three million potential differences. These variations manifest in a myriad of ways, encompassing traits such as hair color, eye color, skin tone, height, and even blood type. Although the actual number of distinctions may surpass three million, let's consider this figure as a representation of the countless possibilities for diversity. The Complexity of SNPs: Unraveling the Varieties Each SNP consists of two letters, and there are three possible combinations between them. You can have both letters as the same type, representing "PP" or "QQ." Alternatively, you could have one of each letter, denoted as "PQ." Thus, for every difference, there are three potential variations. Let's examine two SNPs to illustrate the magnitude of possibilities. Considering the three varieties, if the first SNP is "PP," the second SNP could be "PP," "QQ," or "PQ." With the first SNP as "QQ," the second SNP could be "PP," "Q," or "PQ." Even for the combination "PQ," the second SNP allows for "PP," "Q," or "PQ." As each SNP operates independently, we uncover nine distinct possibilities with just two SNPs. Now, if we expand this to the aforementioned three million SNPs, you can begin to comprehend the enormous scope of genetic diversity. If this explaination is clear as mud, watch the video linked above. ↪️ Are you looking for more genetic genealogy resources? Grab our FREE DNA Related Research Guides: The Mind-Boggling Numbers: Beyond Calculations Let's delve into the numbers, although they may seem daunting at first. Mathematicians and astrophysicists would undoubtedly be astounded by the figure: three raised to the power of three million. Given the three potential variations within each SNP and the three million SNPs that can differ among individuals, we arrive at an immense number. It can be expressed as a 1 followed by 1.4 million zeros—an incomprehensible magnitude. Thankfully, genetic testing companies focus on approximately 500,000 SNPs. Consequently, we can modify the equation to three raised to the power of 500,000, resulting in a number with 240,000 zeros—a gargantuan figure surpassing any practical usage. Narrowing Down the Numbers: The Power of Genetic Testing Realistically, when considering any random person, you share about half to three-quarters of the SNPs with them. The degree of relatedness influences the proportion, with closer relatives having a higher shared SNP count. However, even when comparing with a stranger on the street, you still share at least half of the SNPs. Let's refine our calculations further, reducing the number to three raised to the power of 150,000. Remarkably, we are still confronted with an astronomically large number. The sheer size of this figure surpasses the computational capacity of existing technology. Nevertheless, this vastness enables us to distinguish between individuals with relative ease. Unmasking Identical Twins: An Exception to the Rule One might assume that identical twins, who possess an extraordinarily high degree of genetic similarity, are indistinguishable from one another. However, even among identical twins, there are estimated to be between five and a hundred unique mutations in their DNA at birth. These mutations are not accounted for in standard SNP tests, resulting in identical twins appearing as a single individual in genetic profiles. For everyone else, genetic tests offer a straightforward means of differentiation. ↪️ Do you want to dive even deeper into genetic genealogy, writing family histories, and climbing your family tree? Join the FHF Xtra Premium Membership and get a wealth of exclusive content. The Power of Genetic Genealogy: Unlocking Our Genetic Family Tree Considering the vastness of genetic diversity, it becomes evident that DNA testing can effectively identify and differentiate individuals. These tests become incapable of distinguishing only in the case of identical twins due to unaccounted-for mutations. Yet, for the rest of us, genetic genealogy uncovers the rich tapestry of our ancestry with remarkable precision. If you found this article enlightening, don't miss our other captivating videos. Subscribe to the YouTube channel, or join our mailing list while picking up the free guide, 5 Most Common Questions Asked About DNA. More Insights into Genetic Genealogy Are all humans 99% the same? Why are my DNA test results wrong? Can DNA Testing Determine Race? Should You Take a DNA Test if Your Tree is Full? 30 Questions that Cover the Basics of Genetic Genealogy

Crafting a life story about an ancestor you've never met may seem like an insurmountable hurdle. How can you possibly do justice to someone you have no personal memories of? The FREE Webinar " Write a Life Story About an Ancestor You've Never Met " will equip you with strategies to skillfully piece together the life of a relative using historical documents and details. This free webinar will provide valuable insights and techniques to help you embark on this remarkable genealogy writing journey with confidence and creativity. By learning these techniques, you can paint a vivid portrait of your ancestor's life, even without the luxury of personal memories. The Ability to Write About Ancestor Strangers Awaits Are you ready to embark on a captivating journey of writing about your ancestor? Don't miss out on the opportunity to enhance your storytelling skills and bring the life of your ancestors to light. Discover what fellow genealogists have learned that is the secret strategy to writing captivating family history narratives. The one-hour recording of "Write a Life Story About an Ancestor You've Never Met" is available on the Write Your Family History Channel. A webinar handout is linked in the description box. More Free Writing Webinars Ethically Writing Family Histories How to Use Copyright Material In Your Genealogy Book Like a Pro Unbelievable Secrets to Capturing Your Life Story in Just 30 Minutes!

Writing a family history can be challenging, but is there an innovative solution that can make the process super easy? Recently, I attempted to use ChatGPT as a family history story generator. ChatGPT has gained attention for its potential to write novels and essays. Could it also write family histories? Intrigued by its capabilities, I decided to put ChatGPT to the test. My Experiment With ChatGPT Begins Initially, I set out to determine if ChatGPT could effortlessly write a biography about a moderately known individual. My subject of choice was Luke Norris, an actor particularly famous for his role as Dr. Dwight Ennis in the beloved television miniseries "Poldark." To put ChatGPT to work, I entered a simple prompt requesting a biographical sketch about Luke Norris. With anticipation, I eagerly awaited the generated content. However, upon review, I noticed an important omission—the absence of any mention of "Poldark." Undeterred, I realized that evaluating the quality of the prompt was crucial. By providing feedback and instructing ChatGPT to include "Luke Norris" and "Poldark," the subsequent iteration of the biography improved significantly. It seems you must guide ChatGPT with a few details rather than what previous blog posts and videos suggested. To view the experiment in its entirety, watch the following video: Unveiling the Capabilities and Limitations Based on my experiments, it became apparent that ChatGPT could indeed produce a brief biography of a famous individual. However, as I turned the focus on myself, the results proved to be less accurate. ChatGPT's attempt to depict my life story presented several errors, attributing me to experiences and affiliations that were not a part of my reality. Despite providing corrections, the generated content consistently failed to portray an accurate account of my personal background. The same trend continued when attempting to create biographies for lesser-known individuals like Robert Victor Zemstein and Effingham Townley. Later, I learned that you have to provide ChatGPT with an outline of details about a person if you actually want to write a story. However, ChatGPT seemed to handle stories about the German Immigrant experience in America around the 1850s and historical details about Gillersheim, Hanover. But, while these essays appear to provide excellent social history context. I became skeptical when I asked ChatGPT the following prompt. The BIGGEST Failure of ChatGPT for Genealogists Good genealogy work requires we cite our sources. For the social history essays, what sources does ChatGPT use to generate its content? No matter how often I inquired, ChatGPT informed me that it could not provide the external sources consulted to generate the text. Consequently, the absence of source citations made verifying the provided information's accuracy impossible. ChatGPT's inability to substantiate its claims hindered its effectiveness as a reliable tool for genealogical standards. ↪️ Do you want to write a family history book? Grab your copy of this FREE Writing Guide: The Imperative of Sourcing and Accuracy for Genealogists In the world of genealogy, facts without sources amount to mere fiction. While ChatGPT might be a valuable tool for unsourced novels or general essays, its limitations render it unsuitable for authoritative historical narratives. When crafting a family history, the key lies in gathering the necessary groundwork and reliable research material. By following the proven process outlined in my "Write Your Family's History" program, you can experience an easy and efficient approach to writing captivating and accurate stories about your ancestors. Will You Use ChatGPT for Your Family History? So my takeaway is that you don't use ChatGPT to find your genealogy research and turn it into a story. Instead, you use ChatGPT to take the information from your sources and ask it to write a family history story. If this ChatGPT and family history writing exploration has intrigued you, I encourage you to try the tool yourself. Share your experiences in the comments section. More Help Drafting Your Family History The Easiest Way to Write Family Histories How to Write About Ancestors When You Have NO IDEAS The Only Outline Family History Writers Need Storied StoryAssist: Writing Family History and Life Stories Made Easy Write A Family History Faster Using This One Trick

In this fast-paced digital age, genealogy enthusiasts are constantly seeking innovative tools to unravel the mysteries of their family history in an organized way. RootsMagic, a leading genealogy software, has introduced a groundbreaking feature that simplifies the process of tracing direct ancestors and pioneers the incorporation of cluster research. The revolutionary Associations feature eliminates the need for cumbersome workarounds and offers a seamless solution for interconnecting and managing friends, associates, neighbors, and more. Understanding Cluster Research Cluster research involves exploring the relationships between individuals who are not immediate family members. By investigating these connections, researchers can unlock hidden puzzle pieces and gain fresh perspectives on their ancestors. To delve deeper into the concept of cluster research, it is recommended to check out these articles: A Brief Review of Cluster Genealogy Research (FAN Club) Common Questions About Cluster Research How to Organize Your Genealogy Cluster Research Getting Started with RootsMagic Associations To begin utilizing the Associations feature in RootsMagic, navigate to the main screen and select the person you'd like to associate with another individual. For example, let's choose the person with the last name "Short." In the index field, simply type "Sho" to find the Shorts. RootsMagic's intelligent search feature allows you to filter the list by typing only a few characters of the last name. A Brief Overview of Adding RootsMagic Associations Once you have selected the desired person, Locate the plus sign, known as the add button, in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Clicking on this button presents four options: adding an individual, adding a spouse, parent, child, or the new option—adding an association. Upon selecting "Add Association," a pop-up screen appears, displaying the name of the person previously selected. On this screen, you can specify the type of association, identify the other individual involved, and add details such as dates, places, and descriptions. By meticulously creating a pathway to connections, you can enhance your understanding of your ancestors' lives. Exploring Multiple Associations To link another person to the selected individual, simply click on the associate box, and a search screen will appear. Search for the desired individual by typing their name or selecting from the available options. If the person is not yet in the database, you can easily add their information using the "Add New" function. Once added, the new associate will be included in the family tree. Defining Association Types RootsMagic offers several predefined association types, including apprenticeship, classmates, employment, godparent, grave neighbors, and more. If the predefined options do not fit the relationship you want to establish, you can create a new association type. By selecting "New Association Type," you can define custom association types, such as engagement in this example. To see the RootsMagic Associations tool in action, watch this video. Creating Custom RootsMagic Association Templates When defining a custom association type, you can also create sentence templates to generate meaningful descriptions automatically. By clicking on the "Edit" button in the association window, you can copy and paste the template into a notepad program. Customizing the sentence templates allows you to accurately convey the relationship between the two individuals involved. Once saved, the templates can be used to generate consistent and informative reports. Adding Additional Details and Enhancing Associations Beyond establishing associations, RootsMagic allows you to enhance the quality of these connections by adding sources, notes, and media. By incorporating sources, you can strengthen the evidence for the associations you've made. This helps to ensure the accuracy and credibility of your research. Notes can be added to provide additional context or details about the association. You can include personal observations, anecdotes, or any other relevant information that adds depth to the relationship between the individuals. Additionally, you can attach media files such as photos, documents, or audio recordings to further enrich the story of the association. ↪️ Are you looking for more genealogy resources? Grab your copy of FREE Genealogy Research Guide: Navigating and Analyzing Associations RootsMagic provides a user-friendly interface to navigate and analyze the associations you have established. You can easily view all the associations for a particular individual by selecting their name in the main screen and clicking on the "Associations" tab. This allows you to gain a comprehensive overview of the person's network and connections. The Associations feature also enables you to perform cluster research by exploring the associations of an individual's associates. By clicking on an associate's name within the association list, you can navigate to their profile and uncover new associations and connections. This approach expands your research beyond direct ancestors and opens up new avenues for discovery. Generating Reports and Sharing Discoveries Once you have meticulously built associations and gathered valuable information, you can generate reports to document your findings. RootsMagic offers a variety of report options, including narrative reports, charts, and graphs. These reports provide a concise and visually appealing summary of your research, making it easier to share your discoveries with family members, fellow researchers, or online communities. By sharing your findings, you not only contribute to the collective knowledge of genealogy but also have the opportunity to connect with others who may have additional information or insights to offer. Collaboration can be key to unlocking further mysteries and expanding your family tree. ↪️ Do you want to dive even deeper into genetic genealogy, writing family histories, and climbing your family tree? Join the FHF Xtra Premium Membership and get a wealth of exclusive content. Embrace the Power of RootsMagic Associations RootsMagic Associations is a revolutionary tool that revolutionizes the way genealogy enthusiasts trace their family history. By embracing cluster research and seamlessly managing and connecting friends, associates, and neighbors, you can gain fresh insights and uncover hidden details about your ancestors' lives. With the ability to define custom association types, create sentence templates, and enhance associations with sources, notes, and media, RootsMagic provides a comprehensive solution for organizing and presenting your research. Navigating and analyzing associations opens up new possibilities for cluster research, allowing you to delve deeper into your family history. So why wait? Dive into RootsMagic Associations and unlock the potential of your family tree. Discover the power of connections and unravel the mysteries that have eluded you thus far. Start your journey today and embrace the fascinating world of genealogy. Disclaimer: The information and instructions provided in this blog post are based on the RootsMagic software as of June 2023. Please refer to the official RootsMagic documentation or website for the most up-to-date information on using the Associations feature. Additional RootsMagic Show Notes Never Get Lost In Your Tree Again With RootsMagic Color-Coding Free Form Citations Track Your Genealogy Research Steps: RootsMagic Tasks Using RootsMagic 8 to Track Genealogy Evidence Analysis

Millions of immigrants have come to the United States throughout history in search of a better life. Many immigrants faced significant challenges upon arrival, including language barriers, discrimination, and economic hardship. As such, they may have taken handouts and we should not shame them for so doing. Immigrant Aid Societies Helped our Ancestors Welfare, as we think of it today, didn’t exist for our ancestors. But other assistance was available. Immigrant aid societies and charitable organizations, including the YMCA, YWCA, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and Salvation Army, had representatives on Ellis Island. They helped new arrivals with funds, employment, living arrangements, transportation, education, etc. Such groups continued the assistance from offices in cities across the country. The Legal Aid Society, for example, began in 1876 in New York City as Der Deutscher Rechts-Schutz Verein (The German Legal Aid Society) to represent Germans against their employers’ corrupt labor practices. The Order Sons of Italy in America established orphanages and offered scholarships and death benefits. Other Programs Benefited Immigrants During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration provided jobs to millions of Americans, including immigrants, and helped to build infrastructure and public works projects that benefited the entire country. It's also worth noting that many immigrants worked in low-paying and often dangerous jobs, such as factory work and mining. These workers often organized themselves into unions to demand better wages and working conditions. Stop Spreading This Immigrant Myth In conclusion, the myth that "my immigrant ancestor didn't take handouts" is just that: a myth. Throughout history, immigrants have relied on community resources to help them build new lives in America. By recognizing how assistance programs supported immigrants, we appreciate the reality of our ancestors' lives when they came to this new world. Then, we can tell a more accurate family story. ↪️ Are you looking for more genealogy resources? Grab a copy of our FREE Genealogy Research and Writing Guides: Additional Writing Improvement Tips How to Handle False Family Legends in Family Histories How to Write About the Sensitive Stories in Your Family History Family Historians Should Avoid Presentism "I Don't Have BLACK SHEEP in My Family Tree" - Stop Believing This Myth

Are you struggling to find the right words to tell your story or the story of your ancestors? Do you have a few key points or memories but don't know how to turn them into a compelling narrative? Look no further! With StoryAssist from Storied, you can easily write your family history and life stories with confidence. How StoryAssist by Storied Works StoryAssist is designed to assist you in crafting a rough draft based on three to five key points or memories. These points serve as an outline that guides the AI assistant in generating a story. You don't need complete sentences or detailed descriptions—just a few prompts to get started. Once you enter your outline into the StoryAssist interface, the magic begins. Within moments, StoryAssist uses a large language model to expand your outline into a believable and engaging story. It adds depth and context to your key points, bringing your memories to life. Watch this demonstration on how to use StoryAssist and you'll be amazed how quickly and easily you can write your life story. With a few tweaks, you can use this tool to write about your ancestors as well. Adding Your Personal Touch The generated story may not be perfect right away, but that's where your creativity comes in. To make the story truly yours and avoid similarities with other stories, you can revise and add more details. You'll be amazed at how StoryAssist sparks your creative juices and provides a solid foundation to build upon. In the video above, Brandon Camp from Storied demonstrates how easy it is to use StoryAssist. Brandon takes us through the process of creating a story using StoryAssist's intuitive interface. He starts by adding a happy memory of making a Hershey Kiss piñata with his mom for his birthday. He provides a few details about the piñata's construction and the joyful moment when they broke it open. StoryAssist generates a rough draft of the story, which closely matches Brandon's memories. Brandon shows us how he can easily make changes to the story by simply clicking on the text and editing it. He adds more specific details, such as the location, date, and a photo of the piñata. With StoryAssist, you have complete control over the story's content and can personalize it to your liking. ↪️ Do you want to write a family history book? Grab your copy of this FREE Writing Guide: Organizing and Sharing Your Stories But StoryAssist doesn't stop there. It offers a comprehensive platform for organizing and sharing your stories. You can create multiple stories, capture memories from books or personal experiences, and upload photos to enrich your narratives. The platform allows you to create groups and control who can access your stories, ensuring privacy and selective sharing. Storied also provides a tree-building feature that allows you to connect individuals to your stories, even if they are not part of your family tree. This feature is particularly useful when writing about close friends or significant people in your life who have had a profound impact on your personal journey. Easy Access and User Experience Once you've written your stories, you can easily access them from your personal story area, group feeds, and your home screen. Storied offers a seamless and intuitive user experience, making it effortless to navigate and showcase your storytelling achievements. Are You Ready to Try StoryAssist By Storied? Storied StoryAssist is a powerful tool for writing family history and life stories. With its AI-powered assistance, you can transform your key points and memories into captivating narratives. Whether you're writing for yourself, future generations, or sharing with loved ones, StoryAssist provides the foundation for creating memorable stories. Start using Storied StoryAssist today and unlock your storytelling potential. Let your words weave a tale that will be cherished for generations to come. Continue Learning How to Write Family Histories Unlock Your Memories BEFORE Writing a Personal History 3 Memory Trigger Exercises for Your Next Interview The Easiest Way to Write Family Histories How to Write About Ancestors When You Have NO IDEAS The Only Outline Family History Writers Need How to Write Your Story When You Can't Write

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to let precious moments slip away without documenting our personal history. We all have stories to tell, memories to cherish, and lessons to pass down to future generations. However, two common obstacles prevent us from delving into t he fulfilling endeavor of writing our life story: Lack of large chunks of time Uncertainty of how to make the most of the available time. Fear not! In the captivating webinar "Unbelievable Secrets to Capturing Your Life Story in Just 30 Minutes!," I will unravel the secrets to overcoming these hurdles and embark on a remarkable journey of capturing your life story in just 30 minutes! So grab a coffee, sit back, and prepare to be inspired. In this free webinar, you'll learn: 1. How to Make Time for Writing Your Life Story While tackling a comprehensive personal history project in these fragments may seem daunting, rest assured that it's indeed possible. The key lies in maximizing the value of these smaller pockets of time and utilizing them to their fullest potential. You'll learn about the tools that empower you to make every minute count. Writing your life story will happen quickly, one 30-minute block at a time. 2. How to Spend Your Time Efficiently Even if you do manage to find a spare 30 minutes here and there, the overwhelming question of how to utilize that time may still linger in your mind. This is where the true magic of this webinar comes into play. I'll share four tasks you can do to turn 30 minutes into a tapestry of family stories. Discover What You Can Write in 30 Minutes or Less The time to embark on writing your life story project is now. Don't let the excuses of limited time and uncertainty hold you back any longer. Watch "Unbelievable Secrets to Capturing Your Life Story in Just 30 Minutes!," and open the door to a world of unlimited possibilities. Unleash the power of storytelling, leave a lasting legacy, and inspire generations to come. Take the leap, invest 30 minutes, and forever capture the magic of your life story. The one-hour recording of "Unbelievable Secrets to Capturing Your Life Story in Just 30 Minutes!" is available on the Write Your Family History Channel. A webinar handout is linked in the description box. More Free Writing Webinars Ethically Writing Family Histories How to Use Copyright Material In Your Genealogy Book Like a Pro

When you begin diving into personal papers, family records, old documents and original manuscripts in archives from around the world, you're no longer a beginning genealogists. The gateway into these underutilized collection is the free webiste - ArchiveGrid. Think of ArchiveGrid as a finding at to offline records that may contain essential genealogical clues to deepen your understanding of your ancestors or help you bust that persistent genealogy brick wall. 1. Search for Your Ancestors on ArchiveGrid You may discover biographical material, correspondence, speeches, scrapbooks, journals, appointment books, ledgers, photographs, audio records and so much more. If you strike it lucky, you can find an entire collection pertaining to your ancestor, such as this one from Robert Kerr in the University of British Columbia Archives. Or you might find a letter written by your ancestor to a colleague within their collection, such as what Robert Victor Zumstein wrote to Raymong Thayer Birge in a Californian archive. How are you going to find these entries? You search the rather daunting website known and ArchiveGrid. But you might be asking, how do I search ArchiveGrid? Start by typing in a person, place, or event in the search box. This is a great time to do surname only research for uncommon last names. For example, I typed the surname Zumstien in the search box. Sadly, ArchiveGrid returned no results. Thus, I need to try spelling variations. I could try Zumpstein, Zumpstien, Zumpstine, Zumstine, and Zumstein. When I used the surname Zumstein, ArchiveGrid found 18 possibilities. My favorite results have a green button that says, "View the Finding Aid." These are particularly helpful when the collection title doesn't seem obvious as possible item to further investigate. The William Francis Gray Swann Papers 1900-1961 collection doesn't initially seem promising, but the description indicate that he was a physicist. My Great-Grandfather was a Physics professor, so I think I know where this collection will lead. The ArchiveGird entry links to the American Philosophical Society entry for the Swam Papers. An assisted search (Crtl+F or Command +F) for Zumstein, rewarded me with an entry for "Zumstein, R. V. in 1927." This was likely a letter received by Mr. Swann from my grandfather. I can now request a copy of the letter if I can not visit the society in person to do research. Then I'll be able to view my great-grandfather's handwriting and discover his letter language style. Hopefully, I won't be completely confused about the physics discussion that may appear in the correspondence. Use First Names Perhaps you have an ancestor with a more common surname. I searched for Emery Barrus, hoping to find a man who joined the LDS church before the pioneers moved west. I discovered entries for his likely grandson, Emery F Barrus, including a mission diary and correspondence. Another entry relates to biographical sketches in the Mrs. Paul Barrus collections. That Emery Barrus is the one I'm looking for. Now, I can reach out to the Utah State Historical Society to consult about obtaining a copy of this biographical sketch. Use Filters Archive Grid has a few ways to help you narrow down your searches. Two of the easiest to utilize are: Put quotes around phrases you want to find exactly in order, such as "Luther Titus" or "Titus Luther." Use NOT to exclude entries Emery Barrus NOT Vannoy To view additional filters, read this help file. Another way to filter results involves the Summary View. For the Zumstein surname, I could filter the topic to Physics or filter the location to Cincinnati, Ohio. Watch this video. 2. Search for Locations Not every item in an archive is categorized by a person's name. And, not everything you need to know in genealogy research relates to a specific person. Thus, do location research on ArchiveGrid to find information about the places your ancestors lived. I'm trying to learn more about Sabinoso, New Mexico. I can key in Sabinoso, New Mexico and two entries appear. One documents the cattle brands in New Mexico. The other is intriguing. What was a place for people to live in the early 1900s is now a federal wilderness area. I'd be interested in learning about the archaeological reports of Sabinoso, because it might have clues as to the people who lived there recently and anciently. Do not limit your research to a specific town or village. Expand your investigation to the county or state level. When I expand to records regarding San Miguel County, I can review over 1000 possibilities. The Pecos Pueblo Grant and the Maxwell Land Grant Company have caught my eye. Look for record collections in a location. Be more methodical in your search by looking for a place and a record type. For instance, try something like Essex County New Jersey Tax and you'll find an entry for "Essex County, New Jersey Tax Office Account Book." When I clicked "View the Finding Aid", I opened the New Jersey Historical Society catalog. The finding aid had numerous details. But then, I could search this website for Elizabethtown and find more resources I hadn't known before. Particularly manuscript collections for families that lived in Elizabethtown. Use Search Filters Archive Grid has a few ways to help you narrow down your searches. Two of the easiest to utilize are: Put quotes around phrases you want to find exactly in order, such as "Luther Titus" or "Titus Luther." Use NOT to exclude entries Emery Barrus NOT Vannoy To view additional filters, read this help file. Another way to filter results involves the Summary View. For the Zumstein surname, I could filter the topic to Physics or filter the location to Cincinnati, Ohio. ↪️ Are you enjoying the genealogy journey? Grab FREE Genealogy Guides to make the journey enjoyable. 3. Search for Archives to Donate Your Family History At some point, you might need to conduct research for places for you to donate your research rather than find your research in archives. ArchiveGrid can help you discover unfamiliar repositories that might accept your collection. Remember, this collection can contain just about anything from documents, to books, to correspondence, to artifacts and photos. Start with the map tool on the home page. Click and hold your cursor on the map to move it around. Use the plus (+) or minus (-) tools to zoom in or out. Click on pins in an area to discover the museums, universities, and other repositories that reside in that location. This is how I found the New Mexico State Library in Santa Fe. Or use the text links to discover museums by their name and location. This is how I learned about the National Hispanic Cultural Center. You can then search their collections or access their contact information. If you can not find a donation page on their website, find the institutions' phone number or email. Request information about making physical donations of documents and artifacts. If you leverage this tool now, you can find the best future home for your family archive. Continue Learning About Genealogy Research and Preservation A reference for all blog posts and videos mentioned in the YouTube episode.

The family tree is a symbol of heritage and pride. It connects us to our ancestors and the roots of our existence. But there is a myth that some families believe - that they don't have any black sheep in their family tree. How the Black Sheep Myth Appears in Families Have you heard your relatives or friends say the following? "I don't have any black sheep in my family tree. We are all good people." "My family is pretty much perfect." I'm sure you can think of other variations. But the truth is, every family has its share of black sheep (a disfavored or disreputable relative). These family members stand out for their misdeeds or unconventional behavior. They may be the subject of gossip or even scorn, but they are still a part of the family. Take, for example, Uncle Joe, who spent time in prison for embezzlement. Cousin Sarah, who got pregnant at a young age and dropped out of school Great-Grandpa George, who had a reputation for being a womanizer. Stop Believing No Black Sheep Are In Your Family The idea of a perfect family tree without any black sheep is just a myth. It's important to remember that everyone makes mistakes; some may struggle more than others. When honest family members take time to explore their families, they may begin saying: "Actually, now that I think about it, we do have a few black sheep in our family." "I guess every family has them." If that happens, this blog post has succeeded. In short, we must embrace and document everyone in our family tree, even if we don't always agree with their choices. Remember that every branch has its own story to tell, even the black sheep. If you need help writing your family histories, pick up your copy of this free writing guide. Additional Writing Improvement Tips How to Write a Better Family History Through Editing Enliven Family Histories With One Simple Trick Avoid Writing Dialogue in a Family History Better Ways to Add Action to Family History Stories

After you write a family history draft, hopefully, you’ll begin to discover different stories within the overall life story of your ancestor. For Berton Lee, Andy’s grandfather, some mini-stories are childhood, meeting Jeanette, flying airplanes during WWII, working for United Airlines, fatherhood, etc. These mini-stories will become scenes in the life story. As you revise your rough draft with these scenes in mind, how do you switch from one to the other without boring your audience? Insert In The Middle Place your audience in the middle of the action, creating a sense of immediacy and tension. ‘Action’ suggests movements, choices, or transitions. For example, we’ll rarely have an ancestor running through a dark alley, chased by a shadowy figure. Instead, our ancestors faced hardships, married, divorced, and buried the dead. Start your scene at that point and then fill in the story. Summarize Between Scenes Another way to begin a scene is to summarize what has happened leading up to the location. This approach is particularly useful when significant time jumps between events occur. Describe Setting to Begin a Scene Finally, try starting a scene by describing the setting. This approach allows the reader to imagine the scene's environment, creating a sense of immersion or anchoring a story in a specific time and place. My favorite way to establish a setting is to zoom in from the world into an event's specific location. Beginning a mini-story (or scene) with one of these approaches can significantly impact your story's effectiveness. ↪️ Are you looking for more genealogy resources? Grab a copy of our FREE Genealogy Research and Writing Guides: Additional Writing Improvement Tips How to Write a Better Family History Through Editing Enliven Family Histories With One Simple Trick Avoid Writing Dialogue in a Family History Better Ways to Add Action to Family History Stories

It’s easy to get lost in your family tree as it grows. Who is related to whom? What is the status of your research? Are these people DNA matches? All those answers can be tracked in Family Tree Maker, especially since you can add more than one color to a person. How to Color Code Your Family Tree Maker Tree Select the person you wish to color code in the index or tree view. Click the “Color coding” icon in the top bar in the right corner. Family Tree Makers offers several options from which to choose. This feature is rather exciting. Color Current Person To add color for one person, in the row marked “Current Person,” click on one of eight colors. Notice changes in the tree view and the index. A colored bar appears under the person’s name in the tree. A colored dot appears in the index. But wait! You can add multiple colors to any person in the tree. Again, select the person you wish to color code in the index or tree view. Click the “Color coding” icon in the top bar in the right corner. Select the colors you wish that person to have in the row marked “Current Person. To remove a color, uncheck the colors in the row marked “Current Person.” Color Code Multiple Persons at Once Family Tree Maker allows you to color direct lines from a specific person. For example, you can choose ancestors from a starting person or descendants. This action will quickly highlight genetic relatives apart from genealogical kin. While you can color All Ancestors (1 color) All Ancestors (4 colors) All Descendants Let’s discuss a few strategies to make this work for you. You can start by choosing your home person. Choose the All Ancestors (4 colors) option. You have three color palette options. Blue, green, red, and yellow- this is Mary Hill’s Color-Coding System. Pink, purple, blue, green Red, orange, yellow, green Light blue, dark blue, purple, pink - this one is similar to the color coding I recommended for coloring your Ancestry DNA Matches. Choose the palette that makes the most visual sense to you. Next, you can click the option to color code descendants of these ancestors. I love this option because those who share an ancestral line will have more than one colored dot. The best way to view these dots is in the index. What these multiple dots mean depends entirely on how you use the colors in your family tree. Watch this video. Use Color Coding Methods With the ability to apply multiple colors to your family tree, you can layer meaning into the colored dots and bar lines. The following includes several ideas: 4 Grandparents + 4 Additional Great-Grandparents Suppose you feel generationally limited by only color-coding four great-grandparents. In that case, you can expand the colors to mean your eight great-grandparents (assuming no adoption or other splits in your family tree). Ensure you have no color coding applied to your family tree. Expand your family tree until you see your eight great-grandparents. Click on the first one, which will likely be your father’s father’s father. Click on the Color Coding icon. In the row “All Ancestors (1 color)” and clicking on include descendants, click on a color for the first ancestor. You can use the following color choices: Red, orange, green, dark blue, light blue, purple, and pink from top to bottom in the pedigree view. Dark blue, green, red, and yellow (for the great grandfathers) and light blue, purple, pink, and orange (for the grandmothers) Or some other combination that makes the most sense to you. After you click the color for the first great-grandparent, navigate to the next great-grandparent in the chart and repeat the process above. If your ancestor has a color split (like Robert Zumstein, Adeline Snyder, Alonzo Comfort, and Clementina Comfort), you’ll find tree collapse (or endogamy) somewhere further up their family trees. ↪️ Are you struggling to break through your brick walls? Grab your copy of this FREE Brick Wall Busting Guide: 4 Grandparents + Research Status Next, you may like the coloring of four grandparental lines, but you also want to highlight the status of your research. In that case, you’ll do the following. First, color code the four grandparent lines using the “All Ancestors (4 colors)” with the descendant option checked. Then, as you’re researching individuals within your database, assign colors for Validated - ancestors' facts and sources that you’ve verified all of their supporting evidence and confirmed their relationships to others. In short, you completed research on this individual. In progress - individuals in your database that you’re actively working to validate. Problem - individuals with unresolved relationships or details that you are currently unable to resolve. Anyone in your database with the research status or relationship colors is likely a higher-priority person to research. You can also use the indicated related but not yet connected or F.A.N. Club members. Color coding validation, in process, problem, related, or FAN Club members will require a manual assignment of colors to persons in the index after the Indian relationship assignments. 4 Grandparents + DNA Those using Family Tree Maker to manage a family tree with genetic genealogy research as well might do the following: First, color code the four grandparent lines using the “All Ancestors (4 colors)” with the descendant option checked. Then, using the extra colors, they may assign colored dots for: DNA Confirmed - relatives where you’ve triangulated DNA to a common ancestor and confirmed the relationship. DNA Match - Another color would represent individuals within a tree that have taken DNA tests. If you have a database with several possible answers for a DNA mystery, you can color code those theories after color-coding genealogical lines. ↪️ Do you want to dive even deeper into genetic genealogy, writing family histories, and climbing your family tree? Join the FHF Xtra Premium Membership and get a wealth of exclusive content. 4 Grandparents + Biographical Elements Many relatives share something in common that you want to highlight. Then, you can highlight those items using Family Tree Maker search filters or manually add the colors as you research. You wish to highlight any of the following: Military Immigrant ancestors Enslaved Native Tribes Royalty Same Birth Place Burial Location Again, color code the four grandparent lines using the “All Ancestors (4 colors)” with the descendant option checked. Next, click on the “Filter” button below the name index. On the pop-up window, create a filter by clicking the “Filter In” option in the middle of the upper section. Chose either: Vital, All facts, or Other Vital facts is an easy-to-understand option, focusing on the name, sex, birth, marriage, and death. All facts are standard and custom fields ranging from annulment to height. Other filters are a little more complex, so I’ll leave that for others to explain or for you to explore. After selecting the type of facts to filter, then create your filter. For instance, select burial. Then, place. Then, it Contains, Then add a value, such as “Ohio.” Then click “Okay.” Now you’ll see the list of names that meet that criterion. Click "Apply. " Now, the only names showing in the index meet those criteria. Then you can click on a person listed in the list. Click on Color Coding. Add the color for the burial location in Ohio. Be aware that you must remember which colors you’re using for what. Now, I'm curious. How do you keep track of your color coding system? Let's discuss that in the comments. Continue Learning About Genealogy Organization Tips for Organizing Genealogy Research 5 Systems for Organizing Genealogy Paper Files How to Organize Genealogy Discoveries and Training Using Pinterest RootsMagic 8 Fact Types: Improve How You Track Your Ancestor Never Get Lost In Your Tree Again With RootsMagic Color-Coding