Writing a Non Boring Family History
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Title:"Writing a Non Boring Family History Author: Hazel Edwards Publisher: The GHR Press Distributor NewSouth Books ISBN: 9780868067162
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NEWS:
Face-to-face 10am-4pm 'Writing A Non Boring Family History' workshop at Writers Victoria, May 8th BOOK HERE
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 'Complete Your Book in a Year' . Online, during Pandemic.
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 published.
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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.
Why Self Publish? Hazel's realistic answers about online publishing of histories and memoirs.(Who Do You Think You Are?' Magazine)
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Latest News
Stay connected with Hazel!
Events & Appearances 2022
Private online mentoring 'Complete Your Book in a Year'
2022
PROV 'Complete Your Book in a Year' starts on first Friday of each month, 10am-1pm. North Melb Archives.
Flexibility to go online.
JULY
1st PROV 10 am North Melbourne
17th 3pm-4.30 Eltham Bookshop Panel.'Inside Story'
28th-30th Society of Women Writers' festival.
28th Juky 11am-12.30 Realistic Approaches to keep Writing in Difficult Times
AUGUST
2nd 11am 'Recollections' Launch, Hawthorn Community House.584 Glenferrie Rd.
5th PROV 10-1pm North Melbourne
23-24th 10. 30 am BRISBANE 'Hijabi Girl the Musical' Premiere & book signings
BOOK WEEK Larrikin Puppets
SEPTEMBER
2nd 10-1pm PROV Nth Melbourne.
9th 10am PROV Survivors Zoom.
18th Noon. Witty Women Lunch
OCTOBER
7th PROV Nth Melb.
NOVEMBER
4th PROV Nth Melbourne
10th Monash.
DECEMBER
2nd PROV Mini Book Launch