Presented by Lynn Palermo
2-Hour Workshop (Beginner)
This three-part workshop aims to guide participants in transforming a mere collection of facts into a captivating narrative that resonates with family members and is a joy to share. An accompanying workbook will be provided to reinforce learning.
Part 1 – Laying the Foundation: Preparing to Write The first part of the workshop will explore the genre of family history writing, setting up best practices and processes for embarking on your writing journey. Participants will gain insights into:
- Various approaches to writing a family history
- An introduction to Creative Nonfiction
- Establishing an organized writing workflow
- Identifying what constitutes a family history story
Part 2 – Unearthing the Narrative: Discovering Your Family’s Story The second part of the workshop will focus on extracting the story from your research and molding these facts into a structured narrative, along with techniques that enable you to transport readers back in time:
- Distinguishing between scene and summary
- Developing your ancestor’s character
- Recreating your ancestor’s world
- Utilizing social history to fill in gaps
Part 3 – Mapping the Journey: Crafting a Storyboard The final part of the workshop will guide you in creating a comprehensive storyboard, serving as the roadmap to your first family history story. You will learn about:
- The advantages of outlining before you write
- Understanding the concept of a story map
- Identifying key starting scenes and the 3-act structure
- Constructing a storyboard
Each participant will leave the workshop equipped with the skills to craft their unique family history narratives, bridging the past and present, through engaging storytelling.
