Writing and Publishing Your Family History

Learn to write about your ancestors, and how you found them, in this session focusing on good storytelling and essential writing skills. M. Teresa Baer, from the Indiana Historical Society, will discuss the basics of writing family history.

Baer touches on getting started, the importance of audience and purpose, building blocks of effective communication, considerations of genre and format, copyright, and documentation. This session will also help you prepare a professional presentation.

In addition, Baer discusses how to determine if your work is ready for publication, the editorial process, how to locate publishing opportunities, and self-publishing versus traditional publishing.

As the managing editor of the Indiana Historical Society Press, Baer oversees ethnic, immigration, and family history publications including the award-winning journal The Hoosier Genealogist: Connections. She also manages children’s historical fiction and nonfiction.

Baer authored Indianapolis: A City of Immigrants—used widely in central Indiana schools—and compiled Finding Indiana Ancestors: A Guide to Historical Research (with Geneil Breeze), which has won national genealogical and historical awards.