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.
Discount code: webtember25 (valid at Familytreewebinars.com)
Valid through: September 30, 2025
The Webtember writing series featured professional biographer Rhonda Lauritzen, who shared practical strategies for managing large-scale writing projects from start to finish. Drawing from her own journey of turning personal family stories into published books and client projects, Lauritzen offered an approachable framework for staying organized, motivated, and productive. Her presentation—Manage Large Writing Projects Through Optimistic Start, Muddled Middle, and Triumphant Finish—highlighted how genealogists can transform sprawling research into polished narratives while avoiding common pitfalls of disorganization and burnout.
Key Takeaways from the Webinar:
Laying the Foundation Early: Lauritzen stressed the importance of setting up file systems, naming conventions, and basic housekeeping at the beginning of a project. Establishing templates, backups, and organized storage (both digital and physical) creates stability when the project inevitably becomes complex.
Harnessing Tools and Techniques: She demonstrated how interviews, transcription tools, timelines, and software like Scrivener streamline large writing projects. Lauritzen emphasized practical hacks such as using AI-assisted transcription, automated tables of contents, and consistent file naming to save hours of time and reduce frustration.
Overcoming the “Muddled Middle”: Every project encounters resistance—whether procrastination, self-doubt, or simple overwhelm. Lauritzen encouraged genealogists to protect dedicated writing time, establish sustainable routines, and trust the process. By breaking tasks into manageable steps and keeping momentum, writers can move confidently toward a triumphant finish.
This session showed that large family history writing projects—whether personal or professional—are achievable with the right systems and mindset.
To experience the full depth of Lauritzen’s methods, genealogists are encouraged to watch the complete webinar. Her detailed demonstrations, tool recommendations, and real-life examples offer actionable insights that can transform the way you approach your own writing. The accompanying syllabus also includes templates, toolkits, and additional resources—ideal companions for anyone ready to bring their family stories from draft to polished completion.
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This was so awesome. I started 16 pages 4 years ago. My family story stopped. So back to the drawing board and my files. I will be finishing this by blocking in my “sacred” time, Thank you for these wonderful suggestions and processes.
This was awesome! I’m delivering a class next year in our University of the 3rd Age group on Writing Your Family History in Melbourne Australia. I have a section on organisation and your approach broadened my thinking for what that actually means beyond organising files. It also means organising yourself! You brought back so many concepts I used when I was writing and will incorporate many in the new class. Thanks!!!
Excellent presentation filled with enthusiasm. Thank you, now it is off to put into practice your advice.
Rhonda Lauritzen always gives us such good tips!
Rhonda’s enthusiasm is outstanding. Her experiences, knowledge and hints are spot on. Her emphasis on setting a ‘writing time’ plus the need to organize continues to ‘hit home.’ The sharing of the ‘hows and whys’ is invaluable!
Outstanding. Both informative and inspiring!
Rhonda’s presentation was excellent! I loved seeing how she organizes a project, and her tips for using various tools were so helpful!
Rhonda radiates her enthusiasm for her topic!