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Want to write about your ancestors but don't know where to start? Discover some tips to get started easily.
The choice of the ancestor who will be the protagonist of your story is very important. Indeed, several elements need to be considered to ensure you have enough material to write:
- What era did they live in? Prefer a period that is neither too recent nor too distant.
- Do you have a particular interest in this ancestor?
- Are archives easily accessible where they lived?
- Do you prefer to write about a man or a woman? More information is available about men than about women.
To write a detailed biography, you need to gather as much verified information as possible about your ancestor. To help you, you can check out our article 29 Questions to Ask to Know (Almost) Everything About Your Ancestors. You'll find links to other resource articles to guide you in your research.
Don't hesitate to use multiple types of archives (civil, military, notarial, etc.) and sources to reconstruct your ancestor's life timeline. You can also ask family members for information.
To expand your story and place your ancestor in the broader context of history, you can also research the historical, geographical, political, economic, social, and climatic context.
Don't forget to also research your ancestor's family and place of residence. These contextual elements, closer to your ancestor's life, can lead to beautiful discoveries.
Adding illustrations, family photos, or other visuals can help bring your ancestor's biography to life. For illustration ideas, you can refer to our article 8 Ideas to Illustrate Your Genealogy.
Consider the elements in your story and try to visualize them: a village, an event, a tradition… Anything that could help your readers immerse themselves in your story.
Facilitate the writing of the biography by creating an outline in advance. The most common approach is to divide it by major life or historical periods. But feel free to shape your story as you wish! Ask yourself what you want to highlight and when to make the biography easily understandable.
Also, consider the layout of the biography. Where will you place the illustrations? What will your chapters look like? These elements will help your readers and, if planned in advance, will save you time.
You have all the necessary information, illustrations, and an outline… Now it's time to start writing! This is likely to take the most time. Finding the right tone to tell your ancestor's story without judgment won't always be easy. But it's important to think about your readers. Help them immerse themselves in your ancestor's life—use short sentences, explain what needs to be explained (think about footnotes, but don’t overuse them), and illustrate your points.
Don't be afraid to take a step back and take breaks before reviewing your work. Editing will help you simplify your complex sentences even more.
Finally, enjoy it! Write as if you were reading, discovering, and learning…
Happy writing!