Find Your Story in 5 Easy Places

Genre: Nonfiction — writing history 

For beginning or seasoned writers

ISSUE TWO: Find Your Story in Five Easy Places

Every person, every place has a history. You can most easily find your story from listening and talking to family members. Recollections from people who lived in times we’ve just read about–like World War II–bring human passion, despair, fear, and hope to what were once battle names and casualty statistics.

If you don’t have an individual in mind to interview, check with the local historical society for copies of old newspaper reports, oral histories, letters, or diaries from the era you have chosen to cover. Ask to see their photograph file about your subject. Here are five topics that may have affected the people, economics, or future of your hometown:

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

1. Natural phenomenon: earthquake, flood, fires, hurricane, tornado, or drought
2. Famous or infamous people: writers, actors, heroes, educators, religious leaders, criminals, politicians, community leaders
3. Institutions: early schools, influx of different customs or religions to your area, effects of technology, fluctuations in political power
4. Sports: horseracing, boating, baseball, or a local famous sports figure
5. Transportation: stagecoach, riverboats, trains, cars, airplanes

(Issue Three: Organize Your Book)

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

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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.

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