Group Interviews Give Added Value

For beginning and experienced writers.

Genre: Nonfiction – Writing History (family, town, church, organization, military, events)

ISSUE FIVE: Five Tips for a Productive Group Interview

Issue 4 discussed tips for conducting interviews for your story. Group interviews take a little different approach which can pay big dividends in information as the members of the group stimulate the memories of others. Capture all the information on video and voice recordings. Keep a notepad handy to jot down spellings of names or to note additional questions that occur to you during the interview.

1. Invite a small, select group of people who are knowledgeable about your subject. Too large a group may not allow each person to speak and tell his/her story. You also don’t want people talking at the same time which can more easily happen with a large group.

2. Tell interviewees in advance the kinds of questions you plan to ask especially if you are covering a controversial topic. Ask them to check dates or names you have been unable to verify.

3. Video the interview, if possible. A simple voice recorder may not be able to distinguish the person speaking. The local historical association may be interested in helping you set this up as part of their oral history program. Ask a staff person, familiar with the equipment, to run the video allowing you to concentrate on the interview.

4. Keep control of the interview as participants may start to wander off the subject. However, don’t be too quick to bring the subject back as you may discover an entire area of new information.

5. Take a picture of the group. Identify each member of the group with correct spellings and contact information. Ask each person to sign a release form to use the material and possibly the picture in the final published product.

Based on Write History Right by M. H. Collins, Copyright 2007, CHS Publishing Company

ISSUE SIX: Write Family History

Read Full Post »

Five reasons to write local history

Genre: Nonfiction — writing history.

Beginning or seasoned writers, entering this field for the first time, will find that the practical writing and marketing tips on this site provide the skills needed for creating a successful nonfiction book, magazine article, or family story.

ISSUE One (Issue Two: Find Your Story) 

Here are five reasons for choosing to write local history:  

1. You become a part of preserving your town or region’s history: Storytellers have preserved the lives of ancient people through the ages. Modern historians–yes, that’s you–keep family stories alive, the town’s history from slipping into oblivion, and take time to identify people and events found in photographs hidden away in grandma’s attic.
2. Research information is easy to find: You may have access to original diaries, letters, and photographs from your family or of people who founded your town, church, or organization. Capture the stories of family members or long-time residents before they are lost forever. Talk to the local library or museum director and check the newspaper morgue for information about the past. These are good sources, easy to locate,  and can point you to additional research avenues. 
3. You gain instant credibility as a local writer: Writing nonfiction is a good way for a beginning writer to make a mark in the writing world. The plot, setting, and characters are already in place. Your job is to be accurate and make the story come alive for the reader.
4. Travel expense is minimal: Much of a small town’s history is clustered around the town square. Take a walking tour noting the architecture, historic plaques, statues in the middle of the square, and names of streets. Stop by the town hall, Chamber of Commerce, or a Main Street office to find further information.
5. There’s a built-in readership: Families who have lived for generations on this land are usually happy to show you their pictures and reminisce about the old days. They can be a great source for information as well as becoming a part of a ready-make audience for later buying your book. Your readership is not confined just to local residents. Heritage Tourism is a growing industry. Visitors to your town also want to know more about the story behind an old grist mill by the river that runs through town,unusual architecture of downtown buildings, or the story behind the hanging tree still standing on a vacant lot.   

(Issue Two: Find Your Story) 

Based on the upcoming Write History Right by M. H. Collins, © 2007 CHS Publishing Company.

Read Full Post »