The Fear of Writing Family History Stories

In my last genealogy class, a member said, “now I see why you want us to write stories!” I got to thinking about all the things that hold us back. Here’s a non-comprehensive list:

• I am not a writer
• What I write sounds stupid
• No one is interested anyway
• I don’t know how to write a story
• I have nothing to say, that hasn’t been said
• I might embarrass myself or another family member
• I might make a mistake
• I don’t know what to write about

So let’s take that last one first: “I don’t know what to write about.” This one is easy, pick anything. Pick something you know about or if you want more of a challenge pick something you want to know more about. Write what you Know, and Research what you don’t.

“I am not a writer.” Most family historians aren’t either. If you write, you are a writer. If you don’t write your stories and the stories of your ancestors, that you know about, they will be lost.

“What I wrote sounds stupid.” Yep, it does, so what? When you first started doing anything—did you do it perfectly? Of course not. Lighten up, take a few risks and have some fun. Or if you are in a mores serious mood. Out with the skeletons and traumas and family secrets. It doesn’t sound nearly as stupid if its juicy!

“No one is interested anyway.” You are right. No body cares or only a few. But later—when you are gone or a hundred years from now it will matter. Someone will read something you wrote and they will say, now I know what that was like? I never knew.

“I don’t know how to write a story.” Do you know how to tell someone about something that happened to you? Of course you do. So when you start putting words down on the page hear the conversation in your head as if you were telling it to someone. Just jot down or type or use google translate to type out what you would say. Do not worry about spelling or grammar or anything else. Whatever you get down—that is a draft. That is where we start.

“I have nothing to say, that hasn’t been said.” True. But the way you say it, the way you tell the story is from your unique perspective and that is important. You are important. Doesn’t matter whether it has been said a thousand times—you still must say it, in your own voice.

“I might embarrass myself or another family member?” Yep. So what. You have never embarrassed yourself or someone else? Did you survive? Did they? Everything worth doing in life involves risks. Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway. (also the title of a book)

“I might make a mistake.” Uh huh? So what? It’s just a draft. You can throw it out and start all over. You can edit and improve on it. You can ask for feedback. We learn the most from our mistakes. What works or what doesn’t its all a learning process.

“I don’t know what to write about.” Got that covered here is a whole page of ideas and prompts for you. Link to Family History Writing.

So enough with the excuses let’s do it!

Kelly Wheaton ©2024 All Rights Reserves