The 3 Layers of Decisions That Turn Genealogy Into a Story

If your family history writing feels stuck…or worse—like it’s turning into a list of facts—you’re not alone.

And the problem might not be your research.

It might be the decisions you haven’t made yet.

In my latest video (Part 2 of the Write With Me series), I walk through the key decisions that

shape a family history your readers will actually want to read.

This post is your companion guide—a simple, skimmable reference you can come back to as you write.

• Story Framework

• Style Guide

• Story Guardrails

• AI Prompts

Watch the Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCycyf8BsIo

The 3 Layers of Decisions for Genealogy Story Writing

Before your writing flows, your decisions need to be in place.

Think of these as three layers that shape your genealogy story from the outside in.

Layer 1: Story Framework

This is the container your story lives in.

Decide:

• Chapter Focus Areas

  • Generational (Generation 1, 2, 3…)

  • Biographical (Early Life, War Service, Post-War Life…)

  • Thematic (Survival, Migration, Faith, etc.)

• Chapter Structure

  • Chronological timeline

  • Narrative storytelling

  • Summary with analysis

• Chapter Hooks

  • Scene-setting (zoom into a moment)

  • Fact-first (“Here’s what happened next”)

  • Quote lead-ins

• Chapter Length

  • Short vs. long

  • Consistent vs. varied

Layer 2: Style Guide

This is how your story looks and feels on the page.

Decide:

• Citation Style

  • Footnotes, endnotes, inline, or minimal

• Use of Images

  • Documents, photos, maps, newspapers

  • Decorative vs. explanatory

• Sidebars / Commentary

  • Included or not

  • When and why

• Layout Choices

  • Headings, fonts, spacing

  • Overall readability

💡 Tip: Look at books you enjoy reading. Your preferences as a reader are clues for your writing decisions.

Layer 3: Story Guardrails

This is what keeps your story consistent and believable.

Decide:

• Story Arc

  • Quest, resilience, tragedy, rebirth, etc.

• Story Presentation

  • Chronological

  • Flashback

  • In medias res (starting in the middle)

• Tone

  • Conversational, documentary, academic

• Voice

  • First person

  • Third person

  • Omniscient or limited

• Dialogue

  • None

  • Source-based only

  • Interpretive (if used, define limits)

• Themes (Optional)

  • Let them emerge—or define them intentionally

Need Help Making These Decisions?

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure, you don’t have to figure this out alone.

You can use AI tools to help you think through your family history story options.

👉 The key: use AI to help you decide—not to write your genealogy story.

 Prompt 1: Story Framework

I’m writing a family history about my ancestor, and I already have a rough draft and research notes.

Here’s a brief summary of their life:

[Insert summary]

Can you suggest 2–3 different ways to structure this story into chapters?

For each option, explain:

- What the chapter focus areas will be

- Whether it’s chronological, thematic, or narrative-driven

- What kind of reader experience would it create

Do not write the story—just help me compare structure options, so I can decide.

Prompt 2: Style Guide

I’m writing a family history for this audience:

[Describe audience]

I want the reading experience to feel like:

[Conversational, immersive, documentary, etc.]

Can you recommend:

- A citation style that fits this audience

- How to use images (minimal, frequent, decorative, explanatory)

- Whether to include sidebars or keep a single narrative

- General formatting suggestions

Explain the pros and cons so I can choose what fits best.

Prompt 3: Story Guardrails

I’m writing a family history and want to establish clear writing guardrails before I revise my draft.

Here’s what I’m considering:

- Tone:

- Voice:

- Dialogue:

- Themes:

Can you:

- Suggest a consistent set of guardrails

- Point out any conflicts or inconsistencies

- Ask me 2–3 questions to help me finalize my decisions

Do not write any story content—just help me refine my approach.

Time to Decide

Most people don’t struggle with writing.

They struggle with not deciding.

You don’t need a perfect plan.

You just need enough clarity to take the next step.

👉 What’s Next in the Series

This post is part of my Write With Me video series:

• Part 1: I Thought I Knew How to Write My Family History—Until ChatGPT Asked This

• Part 2: (This video) The decisions that shape your story

• Part 3: Where Do You Start a Family History? (Even with Missing Records)

  
  

💬 Your Turn

Which of these decisions have you already made—and which ones are still holding you back?

Let me know in the comments.