Start your family history with what you already have
Turn family papers, memories, and a single question into a manageable first research project.
2 min readMake room for your next idea.
Twenty-five practical guides for researching your roots, working on a manuscript, and sharing the stories that matter.
25 guides · 6 include free tools
How to turn a family mystery into a research question
Define the person, place, time, and uncertainty before you begin another broad search.
2 min readRead a census record beyond the name search result
Examine the full record, compare household details, and preserve the source before drawing a conclusion.
2 min readWhat to do when family records disagree about a date
Compare conflicting information without erasing uncertainty or choosing the answer you hoped to find.
2 min readSearch surname variations without losing track of the person
Build a controlled list of spelling possibilities and test each candidate against more than a name.
2 min readWrite source notes your future self can follow
Capture what you consulted, where it came from, and which claim it supports without waiting for a perfect citation format.
2 min readOrganize family photographs without separating them from their stories
Create a practical photo inventory, preserve uncertain identifications, and link digital copies to their originals.
2 min readA genealogy research log that records more than discoveries
Use the free research-log tool to track searches, results, sources, and next steps, then download your work.
2 min readBuild a family-history timeline without hiding uncertain dates
Arrange documented events chronologically with a free timeline tool that keeps dates, confidence, and sources visible.
2 min readPlan a family-history interview with better questions
Build and download a gentle interview outline with prompts about places, routines, turning points, and family memories.
2 min readBeta reader or copyeditor: which kind of help do you need?
Match the feedback you request to the stage of your manuscript so you can revise in a useful order.
2 min readBuild a beta-reader questionnaire that gets useful feedback
Choose focused questions about clarity, pacing, characters, or nonfiction structure and export a reader brief.
2 min readA manuscript revision checklist, from structure to final details
Work through six revision areas and download a progress summary without trying to fix everything in one pass.
2 min readPlan a writing goal around the days you can actually use
Calculate a words-per-session target using your remaining word count, deadline, and selected writing days.
2 min readWhy your paperback and ebook need different formatting checks
Understand the difference between fixed print pages and reflowable reading, then prepare separate proofing plans.
2 min readWrite a book description that gives readers a reason to care
Build a focused book description around the reader, the central promise, and the stakes.
2 min readWrite an author bio that sounds like you
Create short and medium author biographies with relevant details and a consistent voice.
2 min readRevise a scene by following the change
Find what a scene needs by examining desire, resistance, and the difference at its end.
2 min readPrepare a manuscript before sending it to an editor
Send an organized file, a clear brief, and useful questions for a more focused editing conversation.
2 min readA practical proof check before you publish
Inspect the print proof and digital edition as readers will encounter them before approving publication.
2 min readTurn family-history notes into a readable story
Build a family narrative that separates documented facts, remembered experiences, and unanswered questions.
2 min readWrite a meaningful scene from an ordinary memory
Use a small remembered moment to begin a personal or family story without forcing a dramatic lesson.
2 min readWrite family humor with kindness
Find the comic rhythm in a true story while considering the people who appear in it.
2 min readMake a read-aloud welcoming for different children
Plan a flexible story session with choices for participation and respectful discussion of differences.
2 min readMake a small family-story booklet people will actually read
Plan a short collection of stories, photographs, and source notes that you can finish and share thoughtfully.
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