Top 10 genealogy writing tips

How do you turn your genealogical research into something that people want to read? Try these suggestions:

• Read the top genealogical journals. Besides the articles, check the book reviews to see what the reviewers consider to be well-done genealogies and follow their suggestions for your own article or book.  

• Cite your sources! Provide full source citations in footnotes and bibliographies. That way readers and researchers can follow up on the materials and references you've used to reach your conclusions. For proper citations, check out Elizabeth Shown Mills’ Evidence Explained:Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace 2nd Edition and Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian. These two books go beyond the earlier Cite Your Sources: A Manual for Documenting Family Histories and Genealogical Records by Richard S. Lackey.

• Use standard numbering systems, such as the Register System (NEHGS), the NGS Quarterly Numbering System, the Henry System, and the Sosa Stradonitz System for genealogies.

• For grammar and composition questions, follow the The Chicago Manual of Style. 

• Develop an interesting story, not just a list of begats. Include transcriptions of family letters, journals, Bibles, and other records—if you have them. If not, read histories of the time and place so you can create a setting for your people. 

• Use photographs (with captions and whereabouts of originals) of people, places, and things. Use maps or other graphics to illustrate a story, such as migration patterns or land holdings.

• Protect information about the living. You should not give out personal information and vital statistics. Beware of sharing skeletons in the closet, especially if they may hurt, offend, upset, shock, or embarrass your family members.

• Have an editor edit and proofread your work carefully. Double-check all your facts and citations.

• Know how copyright affects your publication.

• Create a complete index of people and place names. 

There are lots of books for would-be writers, including a bunch specifically for genealogists and family historians.