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Every family has a story, but not everyone knows how to tell it. If you're eager to write your family's history but unsure how to start crafting a compelling narrative, you're in the right place. As genealogists, we often focus on gathering facts, but turning those facts into a captivating story requires a bit more strategy. Let’s dive into one of the most effective tools for storytelling: the narrative arc.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to identify the story arc in your ancestors’ lives, which will help you write a narrative that is engaging, meaningful, and true to their experience.
Build a Timeline of Key Events
The first step in discovering your family's story arc is creating a timeline of significant events. This might sound simple, but it's the backbone of your story and ensures you don’t overlook critical moments. When building your timeline, include more than just the vital records—births, marriages, and deaths. Think about other important aspects of your ancestor’s life:
Migration: Where did your ancestors move, and why? What events might have triggered these moves?
Occupations: How did their job shape their life and family?
Religious Rites: Were religious milestones a key part of their life journey?
Education: How far did they go in school, and what did that mean for their opportunities?
Military Service: Did they serve in any wars or significant conflicts? What impact did that have on their lives?
Including these events helps create a fuller picture of your ancestor’s life. A timeline serves as the outline for your narrative. It’s also a fantastic way to spot any gaps in your research that might be key to telling a complete story.
Add Historical and Social Context
Your ancestor didn't live in a vacuum. The world around them played a major role in shaping their life. After building your timeline, consider adding events from the broader world—historical, technological, and social changes that would have impacted their life.
For example, if your ancestor lived during the Great Depression, even if you don’t know exactly how it affected them personally, adding that context helps paint a more vivid picture of their life. These social factors help you better understand their decisions and experiences.
Don't worry if you don’t have specific dates for these events. Sometimes, a range of dates is enough to give you the context you need.
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Identify Themes and Arcs in Your Family History
Now that you have a timeline and some context, it's time to spot the themes that run through your ancestor’s story. Ask yourself:
Did they triumph over adversity?
Did they endure great loss and trauma?
Were they part of a migration story, either as immigrants or moving around within a country?
For instance, if your ancestor was a child during the Irish Potato Famine and later migrated to America, their story could revolve around survival and new beginnings. If they started poor and ended their life as a successful business owner, you’ve found a story of triumph over hardship.
On the other hand, stories like that of my husband’s ancestor, Benjamin Freeman Lee, showcase loss and resilience. Benjamin’s father lost several children and his business, spiraling into petty thefts and criminal behavior. Benjamin was so affected by his father’s decline that he changed his last name. Despite this, Benjamin rebuilt his life, creating a legacy of perseverance that carried on to future generations.
By identifying the arc—whether it’s overcoming adversity, surviving trauma, or another theme—you create a framework for telling your family’s story in a way that will resonate with readers.
Check out my full video for all my tips and suggestions.
Revise Your Draft with the Arc in Mind
Once you’ve mapped out your timeline and started seeing the arcs in your ancestor’s life, it's time to write—or revise—your family story. As you write, keep the arc front and center. Does each event in your ancestor's life move the narrative forward? Are there moments where your ancestor faced a major decision or a turning point? These are often the most compelling parts of any story.
Your family’s history is unique, and the story arc you uncover will be the key to making your narrative stand out. With the timeline as your guide, you can craft a story that captures the essence of your ancestor’s journey.
Share Your Story Arc
Now that you have the tools to start discovering the story arcs in your family’s history, I’d love to hear from you. What story arcs have you uncovered in your genealogy research? Have you found triumph, loss, migration, or something else entirely? Leave a comment below, and let’s talk about it!
And if you want to dive deeper into this topic, be sure to watch the Write Your Family History channel. See you next time!