Course Four – Writing and Publishing for Genealogists

“Far exceeded my expectations.”

“I came away feeling more confident to write up my own research and, perhaps. make a successful submission to a peer-reviewed journal.”

“This syllabus is the best syllabus that I have ever received. It is now bound and on the shelf with other reference material.”

“Thank you for all your efforts to make the virtual class happen. My family situation does not allow for extensive travel and I am so thankful I did not have to miss this invaluable experience.”

Course Four – Writing and Publishing for Genealogists


  • Registration is now open through Monday July 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern – register here!
  • Maximum: 30 students
  • Virtual classrooms using Zoom
  • All courses come with a digital syllabus
  • Students will receive a digital certificate upon course completion

Course Coordinator

Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG®, FASG, FUGA, FNGS

Description

Students registering for this course should be experienced family historians who want to prepare compiled genealogies, articles, books, and reports. In activity-based classes, they will develop skills in writing, documentation, organizing, and self-editing and learn how to prepare products for publication in print and online. Besides activities, discussions, and lectures, the course will include three homework assignments. Before the course begins registered students will receive two articles to analyze and study. They also should bring a 500-word genealogical writing sample in a Microsoft Word–compatible format.

Prerequisites, textbooks, and other student information

Course prerequisites:

Genealogical research experience and a desire to write and publish family history.

Course requirements:

Before the course begins, registered students will receive two articles to analyze and study. They also should bring a 500-word genealogical writing sample in a Microsoft Word–compatible format.

Required books:                                                                                                     

Board for Certification of Genealogists. Genealogy Standards 2nd ed. rev. Nashville, Tenn.: Ancestry.com, 2021.

*Curran, Joan Ferris, Madilyn Coen Crane, and John H. Wray, Numbering Your Genealogy: Basic Systems, Complex Families, and International Kin. Arlington, Va.: National Genealogical Society, 2008.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed. Worcester, Mass.: Merriam Webster, 2004.

*Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Evidence Explained, 3rd ed. rev. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2017.

Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White. Elements of Style (any edition).

*Books that may be needed for reference during the course.

Recommended books:

The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed. Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2017.

Ross-Larson, Bruce. Edit Yourself: A Manual for Everyone Who Works with Words.

Any usage dictionary.

Course Schedule (All times listed are Eastern Time)

Monday
10:30 – 11:00 Introductions (T. Jones)
11:00 – 12:15 Introduction to the Dreaded Footnote, Part 1 (T. Jones)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Introduction to the Dreaded Footnote, Part 2 (T. Jones)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Resources for Genealogical Writers (T. Jones)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Writing as You Go (E. Powell)
 
Tuesday
10:30 – 11:00 Homework 1 Debriefing (T. Jones)
11:00 – 12:15 Editing Yourself, Part 1 (T. Jones)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Editing Yourself, Part 2 (T. Jones)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Creating Readable Prose (T. Jones)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Ethics for Genealogical Writers (T. Jones)
 
Wednesday
10:30 – 11:00 Homework 2 Debriefing (T. Jones)
11:00 – 12:15 Learning by Receiving Peer Review (A. McGhie)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Avoiding Common Mistakes in Genealogical Writing (K. Jones)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Organizing Your Ancestors in a Genealogical Format, Part 1 (T. Jones)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Organizing Your Ancestors in a Genealogical Format, Part 2 (T. Jones)
 
Thursday
10:30 – 11:00 Homework 3 debriefing (T. Jones)
11:00 – 12:15 Writing Articles for Publication (T. Jones)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Deconstructing a Peer-Reviewed Article (A. McGhie)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Working with a Traditional Publisher (P. Graham)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Analytical Writing: Client Reports, Proof Summaries, and Similar Works (T. Jones)
 
Friday
10:30 – 11:45 Aesthetics of Writing (T. Jones)
11:45 –12:00 Break
12:00 – 1:15 Self Publishing Your Genealogical Work (K. Jones)
1:15 – 1:30 Break
1:30 – 2:45 Review of Student Project 3; Closing Activities and Remarks (T. Jones)

Course Faculty