MGC Writing Programs

August 09, 2011

Many genealogists trace names, dates, and places. Others want to know the stories beyond the facts. The only way they can learn those stories is if someone preserved them. The act of writing your story is an act of love, and your children, grandchildren, and descendants want to know who you are.

For ten years, the Midwest Genealogy Center has been teaching adults how to write and preserve their family stories and traditions. The program, held annually in the fall, is a six-week workshop. The teacher of Build Your Life Story describes how to include color and movement into the story. These stories are then compiled into an anthology. Each participant receives a copy of all the stories written by the group, and a copy is cataloged and becomes part of the Midwest Genealogy Center permanent collection.

Another program helps authors write a book about the research they have finished. The Writer’s Block class is not about "the blank-paper" block, but the building blocks of creating a great book. There is a great variety of books that have come from this group. In the four years that Writer’s Block has been meeting, eight books have been published and added to the MGC collection. With the author’s permission, written stories will be shared on the Midwest Genealogy Center’s website. No cost is associated with these activities, but donations are gladly accepted. You can sign up for the next Writer’s Block class, but keep your eye out for the Build Your Life Story workshop this fall!

Angela M.
Midwest Genealogy Center