30 Family History Writing Prompts

[Pages:32]30 Family History

Writing Prompts

Writing your family history can be tricky. It's hard to know where to start. Use these 30 writing prompts as fuel to kickstart your family history writing journey. Some prompts are silly, some prompts are serious, but all will get you thinking about your genealogy in new ways. Beneath each prompt are lines for you to fill in digitally, but please print out this book if writing by hand is easier. Write as much or

as little in response to each prompt as you would like.

Happy writing!

from the editors of

For more family history writing inspiration, download our workbook Story of My Life. Pass the stories of your life through the future generations of your family and re-discover old memories in one organized workbook.

family history writing prompts

Write a letter to an ancestor you've never met. Include questions you've always wanted to ask him or her, plus some that reflect what you've already learned about your ancestor (for example,

"Do you enjoy your new job?" or "How are you coping with your father's death?").

Write your response here:

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family history writing prompts

Think of your ancestor as a character in a novel, and describe him or her in a few short paragraphs. What color are her eyes? What is she wearing? How does she carry herself? What kind of voice

does she have?

Write your response here:

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family history writing prompts

Imagine your ancestor getting the keys to his first house or car. Write a journal entry from his point of view that describes the car/

place and his feelings about it.

Write your response here:

5

family history writing prompts

Write an obituary for an ancestor. Be sure to include information about any surviving ancestors, the deceased's occupation, and his

age at death. Use contemporary obituaries as a guide.

Write your response here:

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family history writing prompts

Write a scene that describes a block party in your ancestor's hometown, and invite everyone who appears on a page in a US

federal census record. Use census data to learn ages, occupations, and relationships, and tap into your imagination for the rest. Who's talking to who, and what's the hot gossip?

Write your response here:

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family history writing prompts

Select your favorite family photo, and write about the moments just before and/or after the photo was taken. Why was it taken? Was your ancestor happy to be in it?

Write your response here:

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