Writing a Non Boring Family History 

Latest Edition
		Title:"Writing a Non Boring Family History Author: Hazel Edwards Publisher: Hale& Iremonger Distributor NewSouth Books ISBN: 9780868067162

Crafting Your Family History

Family history sleuthing is the biggest hobby worldwide. Most genealogy books and sites show how to research your family. TV programs like 'Who Do You Think You Are?' glamorise. But crafting your findings into a format others will want to read, is the real challenge. Why are you writing it? Who is your prospective reader? How can you craft the facts for them to access easily?

Under the auspices of the Public Record Office (Vic) , Hazel offers a year -long mentoring of book length projects.

Chapters in 'Writing a Non Boring Family History' are based on answering the most common questions asked during Hazel's popular workshops. These include:

• Avoiding chronological boredom 
• Using humour
• Dramatising but keeping to the facts
• Fact, faction or fiction?  Can't call it a history, if you 'fiddle' with the facts.
• Viewpoints. Whose?
• What if the family criticise what you've written?
• Collaborating?
• Diplomatically handling family secrets?
• What if you've only got a name on a shipping list?

In Writing a Non Boring Family History, strategies are included for

• interviewing relatives
• shaping anecdotes, not just listing dates
• structuring
• publishing
• costing
• launching
• distributing, and
• overcoming procrastination

Links to Hazel's published articles:

• Sharing History via Fake_ID Buzz Words July_2013.pdf (532.01 KB) Young Adult e-novel with historical links.
• Kids' Book Review; Capturing Childhood Memories in Stories hints on writing their 'histories' with and for children

 

Buy e-book of Fake ID  for teen family interested in a history mystery.

Tamil translated edition to be published SOON!

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This revised,'Writing a Non Boring Family History' includes visiting historic military or family history sites, eulogies and e-formats as well as writing history for children.

Other Formats:

You might also like to check out Hazel's podcast interview on ABC Life Matters : about genealogy & military history researching 'Searching for a Lost Garnet'.

Have you considered using your historical research in fiction or for child readers?  Check Hazel's 'Antarctic Close Up'  for use of memorabilia and  'Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop'.

 

 This book is used as the basis of one day workshops. Check Events for workshops which cover:

• Researching and Interviewing Skills
• How to organise your material
• Structuring a Book 
• Making it interesting for the reader
• Formatting and Publishing Options
• Handling Family Secrets
• Editing and Proofreading
• How to write using all senses and perspectives
• Launching and Marketing possibilities

Suitable for all who wish to improve their writing skills as well as for those contemplating or struggling with a book length project such as a family history, corporate history or autobiography/memoirs. 

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Reviews & Comments

'Clarifies how to organise a book length project, and still talk to your family.'

'Stimulating and informative...Excellent...Hazel Edwards encouraged me to really get going.' Amateur historian.

'Loved the recipe for a family history and the generic checklist was invaluable before our reunion launch.'

Shauna Hicks review  respected historian writes in a non-boring review.

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