When is it okay to use artificial intelligence tools for writing assistance? If it’s okay to use AI, how and when should we disclose the use of AI tools? Learn how various applications of generative AI — from grammar assistance to generating new text — may need to be approached differently. We will go over specific methods for disclosing and citing AI tools, such as mentioning the use of generative AI in the limitations section of a report and citing the specific AI tool in a reference note citation.

Bring your ancestors to life with this webinar! Author Nathan Dylan Goodwin will teach you the basics of how to write your own genealogical crime mystery. He will cover outlining a story, creating believable characters with realistic dialogue and show how to incorporate genealogy into your story.

This presentation addresses the challenge of creating compelling genealogical narratives beyond simple lists of names and dates. By utilizing historical records, archives, research methods, and integrating historical context, participants will learn how to transform their family histories into engaging stories. The presentation will teach genealogists how to perform historical research and incorporate first-hand narratives, pension files, and other historical data using the example of a Gettysburg soldier. Participants will be guided through the research journey, highlighting key decision-making moments and demonstrating where and why to include historical context. This innovative approach will help genealogists add depth and authenticity to their writing, making narratives more vivid and meaningful. The presentation will inspire attendees to share their passion for family history, fostering a deeper appreciation and enthusiasm for genealogical research.

There are 5 writing systems in the world. These are abugida, syllabary, logography, abjad, and alphabet. These writing systems have been used anciently through today. As genealogists go back in time and across the globe, they may run into these different types of scripts. This lecture briefly explains the differences, gives examples, and directs you where to find more information. Scripts that will be covered include but are not limited to Cherokee, Baybayin (Filipino script), Egyptian, Hebrew, and Old English.

Big writing projects call for an organizational structure and efficient workflows to keep the work on track. This class will share what Rhonda wishes someone had taught her when she first started writing books and presenting historical research. These are the best practices learned along the way. We will begin with the files and infrastructure Rhonda now sets up at the start of every project and the tools she uses every day. New AI technologies and automations now make quick work of parts that used to be tedious without sacrificing your unique voice and perspective. Learn state-of-the-art tools that will save time without breaking the budget or requiring a ridiculous learning curve. Note: This class does not focus on photo management or genealogy research but emphasizes writing historical fiction, memoirs, and other big projects.

Face it: most genealogists never get around to publishing that family history book based on their genealogy research. How about a different approach: producing short 3-5 page “sketches” about an ancestor? You’ll learn how to include a cover, photos, facts, family stories, source citations and more! And guess what, once you get a few of these ancestor sketches done, you can compile them together for one big book!

Research reports are not just for professionals, but are a great tool for anyone who wants to answer their research questions. Write a research report to yourself to organize your thoughts, analyze the evidence, document your findings, and solve your puzzles. Using an example from the Netherlands, this presentation demonstrates how you can organize a research report to spot more clues in records, discover and resolve discrepancies, and build reliable conclusions.

As researchers, family historians, compilers, bloggers, or writers of other ilk, genealogists face legal and ethical perils they often do not anticipate. This crash course offers practical guidance to enhance your skills and keep you safe as you explore history, reconstruct lives, and “write up” your findings. While the issues are serious—from the legal issue of copyright to the ethical issue of plagiarism—the lessons are taught with a light heart and humor.

Genealogists write. Their written narratives include stories of ancestral families, biographies of individual ancestors, and explanations supporting genealogical proofs. For their writing to succeed, genealogists—like all effective writers—repeatedly self-edit everything they write. The process results in polished products that the genealogist’s readers will understand, enjoy, and cherish. Emphasizing genealogical narrative, these two webinars will address the self-editing process. Part 1 will focus on “big-picture” editing, including stages of self-editing; focus; keeping the writer out of the narrative; editing the writing’s overall structure, organization, and flow; and improving major and minor subdivisions of written genealogical narratives, including paragraphing. Part 2 will focus on “nitty-gritty” editing, including capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, spelling, word choice, and reducing word count.

Genealogists write. Their written narratives include stories of ancestral families, biographies of individual ancestors, and explanations supporting genealogical proofs. For their writing to succeed, genealogists—like all effective writers—repeatedly self-edit everything they write. The process results in polished products that the genealogist’s readers will understand, enjoy, and cherish. Emphasizing genealogical narrative, these two webinars will addresses the self-editing process. Part 1 will focus on “big-picture” editing, including stages of self-editing; focus; keeping the writer out of the narrative; editing the writing’s overall structure, organization, and flow; and improving major and minor subdivisions of written genealogical narratives, including paragraphing. Part 2 will focus on “nitty-gritty” editing, including capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, spelling, word choice, and reducing word count.

Learn how to conquer family history writer’s block with 50 fun and practical tips for getting words on the page.

This workshop will guide researchers through a series of steps and stops to find the history of buildings and places. Follow some case studies and learn how to find excellent records in MyHeritage, the steps to follow followed, and the ideal interplay between primary and secondary sources. Also, learn pro-tips for writing a compelling narrative. This presentation will inspire attendees with the power that the places of our ancestors have to draw us near and to strengthen a sense of community.