I have been asked by Joan, Suzy, and Helen, among others, concerning how to organize your efforts to write a family history.  Honestly, no answer that would fit here or take less than 6 months to write is possible; the subject is simply too broad.  That said, a couple of ideas come to mind.

First, you should know that where - what family or ancestor with whom you begin - is not atall important, and I teach that you should start by gathering together every bit of data and material you have as to your favorite ancestor or single family unit.  Though you must plan to write about ALL the family in order that you most benefit your descendants (or tell your readers some very good reason why you will not do that), as I have said you must start someplace and your favorite person or family is that place.  You will much later decide what chapter that first writing will be, but for now the chapterage and titles are of no importance 

Genealogy itself provides a very satisfactory organization for the effort; you do it by dates from now back through time or from your earliest known ancestor down to now.  Pick one or the other of those directions and, whichever you choose, stick to it for the entire book.  Next, lay out all your materials as to that favorite ancestor or family in chronological order.  

One of the better ways to move ahead is to start with your earliest known ancestor of your favorite family, write about him or her, and then write about the husband or wife of that favorite and HIS or HER family.  Next come forward toward now with the next generation - your direct ancestor, the son or daughter of that favorite and earliest ancestor in that line, write of that person and then of the family of the spouse of that person.  Then come forward another generation - your ancestor, the grandchild of that favorite person, write of him or her and then of his or her spouse the family of that spouse.  And so on and on till now.

As you are writing about each of those ancestors and their spouses, you can write what and however much you wish concerning the siblings of that ancestor and their descendants. I prefer to write of those siblings - collateral lines - in an appendix to that family, otherwise, after only a couple generations, you will have more material than your readers will find interesting.

Enough then, for a beginning; start that process in the way suggested or in any other fashion, however whatever plan you choose, be consistent and use the same approach generation after generation.

One final thought for this tiny summary: good writers of family history always observe what we call "equality of treatment". That does not mean that you must write the same number of words about everybody, but it does mean that you at least mention and put in their rightful place all your direct predecessors.  As an example, if you intend to write about a G-GMother who had 12 kids and worked diligently in a factory to keep her family together, then you must follow that with at least a description and a tad of info about her husband or mate.

Enough then.  I will help any who start the effort, but not I or anyone can help you if you don't start writing.  As I said, a book is accomplished by the writing of it, and not by thinking, planning, and discussing it.  Paul

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