#10: Preserving Personal and Family Narratives: We All Can be Storytellers

07/07/23 • 20 min

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Throughout my time speaking with people about my mission to help others “preserve their past through powerful personal stories.” I have had a lot of people assume that this topic was mostly for an older family member, usually a mother or grandmother who was collecting the family’s history.

I am here today to break this assumption and let you know why even if you do not fit into that group, you should be considering beginning to write your stories.

So who should be writing their stories?

In this episode we touch on the unique role of parents - from those experiencing the early milestones of their newborns to those engaging in deeper dialogues with their grown children, all with the shared goal of preserving family history.
Next we spotlight the invaluable role grandparents play in tying together past and present, weaving engaging narratives from their life experiences. We also discuss how individuals, even without their own children, contribute to this priceless legacy. Be it through sharing wisdom with nieces, nephews, siblings, and friends, or remembering a departed loved one, each story becomes part of a collective memory that transcends time.
So, whether you're a parent, grandparent, or simply someone who cherishes the past, this episode is your prompt to capturing and sharing those irreplaceable moments.
Link to related blog post

I am here today to break this assumption and let you know why even if you do not fit into that group, you should be considering beginning to write your stories.

So who should be writing their stories?

Previous Episode

#9: How Adding Story to Your Introduction Can Make Your Research More Compelling

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After talking with dozens of genealogists at the New England Genealogy Consortium 2023 in May about their passion projects and juicy family stories, I heard the same question over and over:

How can I add more “story” to help my research be more compelling?
After all of these conversations I created a talk specifically for Genealogy Associations and Clubs, and would like to share one of the five tips I offer to the participants - one that I believe can be used in a variety of scenarios.Creating an introduction in narrative form giving further background to the information you have collected in your research.

This introduction can be used for several purposes:

Setting the stage
Sharing Your Motivation
Share Your Process
Introduce the “characters”

For more specific notes on each of these you can head on over to the blog post on this topic.
Related Blog Post Here

Next Episode

#11: From Heart to Pen: Writing Stories for Our Children

From a cozy campsite in Maine, I’m bringing you a heartfelt conversation on how parents can weave beautiful narratives for their children. Allow me to share inspiring prompts to capture irreplaceable moments and milestones in the form of stories. You'll discover how these narratives can resonate with your children, regardless of age, and how they can help forge a stronger bond. This sharing is not limited to the present; I’ll recount how my son Curtis got his name, revealing how our past can be a treasure trove of stories waiting to be told.
Embarking on a narrative journey can be the bridge connecting our past, present, and future. I'll provide guidance on expressing appreciation and respect for your children through writing, thus creating a legacy that outlives us.
Join me on this journey, and let's narrate the stories that matter.

The Preserve Your Past Podcast - #10: Preserving Personal and Family Narratives: We All Can be Storytellers

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:01.725

Welcome to the Preserve Your Past podcast , where we'll explore all things related to the creative process of writing your stories for future generations . I'm your host , melissa Ann Kitchum , author , teacher , speaker and coach . I believe that your personal history is a priceless gift for family , friends and generations to come ,

Speaker 100:00:23.059

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