You
don't have to be a prize-winning novelist to capture your family's story
on paper! This class will cover how to document your family's story
in simple manageable steps. Learn how to conduct an oral history interview-including
what questions to ask, when and how to record an interview, how to handle
privacy issues, how to write from family photographs and documents,
and how to blend genealogical and historical facts with family stories
to produce a compelling and lasting narrative.
Bio:
Lisa A.
Alzo
Lisa Alzo,
grew up in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, and earned a Master of Fine Arts
degree in Nonfiction Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She
is the author of five books: Three Slovak Women, Baba's Kitchen: Slovak
& Rusyn Family Recipes and Traditions (both by Gateway Press), Finding
Your Slovak Ancestors (Heritage Productions), Pittsburgh's Immigrants
and the recently released, Slovak Pittsburgh (both by Arcadia Publishing),
as well as numerous magazine articles. Lisa has spent more than 15 years
researching her Slovak roots. She is the Second Vice President for FEEFHS,
and also serves as on the Board of Directors for the Czechoslovak Genealogical
Society International. Lisa is a frequently invited speaker for national
conferences, and genealogical/historical societies. For more information
see www.lisaalzo.com
LESSON
TITLES
Lesson
1: Introduction: Why Write?
Lesson 2: Organizing Your Material
A. Family trees
B. Documents
C. Photographs
D. Oral History Interviews
E. Miscellaneous resources
Lesson
3: Formatting your Family History
A. Charts and reports
B. Scrapbooks and Journals
C. Ancestor profiles
D. Books
E. Presentations
F. CD/DVD
G. Web sites and Web logs (BLOGS)
Lesson 4: Time Management for Family History Writers
A. Setting goals
B. Blocking out time to write
C. In fifteen minutes or less…
Lesson
5: Step-by-Step
A. Writing from documents
B. Writing from photographs
Lesson
6: Writing from family research/interviews
A. Transcribing interviews
B. Obtaining permission
C. What material to include
D. Selecting the best details
Lesson
7 - Putting Your family in historical context
A. Historical research
B. Using timelines
Lesson
8: Ready, Set, Write!
A. Putting it all together
B. Reference materials
C. Writing your story
D. Writing exercises
|
Lisa A. Alzo