Penning the Past Workshop: Storytelling through Genealogy

In Person Workshop. No hybrid meeting available.

Have you come across some amazing family stories while you were working on your research projects, and now you want to bridge the gap between research and crafting the narrative that will transform your data and documents into relatable characters and drama? Attend our workshop and discover tools and inspiration from successful authors to help you overcome writer’s block, enhance your storytelling skills, and bring your ancestors’ stories to life.

Penning the Past is a writer’s workshop for genealogists and nonfiction writers who wish to preserve and share their family stories by way of vivid characterization and compelling narrative. Whether by memoir, fictionalized facts, or straightforward storytelling, discover some writing techniques for approaching your past and engaging your present readers.

This event is open to the public, invite your friends and family.

Tickets will be:
$30.00 per person for CGS members

$60.00 per person for non-CGS members

After 7 March, no lunch provided, sorry.

There is a 100 person limit to registrations.
You may use your credit card via PayPal or by downloading the pdf form and mailing it to the P.O. Box on the form with your check.
Tickets are non-refundable.

Program:

8:30 am: Registration

9:30 am: CGS Business Meeting

10:00 am: Nathan Dylan Goodwin (recorded)

The Journey and Process of Writing Genealogical Crime Mystery Stories

Following an introduction as to how he came to be writing genealogical crime mystery books, Nathan explores the actual process of writing. Using books from his genealogical crime mystery series as a basis for case studies, he discusses the progression from development of the initial idea, explores the real genealogical research methodology involved, through to the final writing of the novel.

11:30 am: Nathan Dylan Goodwin (recorded)

Using Fact in Fiction

Nathan discusses how he uses real genealogy and historical facts in his fictional writing. Using his genealogical crime mystery stories as case studies, he discusses the issues and problems of combining fact and fiction and the use of authentic genealogical methodology. Nathan will share some of the more interesting and less familiar records which he has used in the process of writing his books.

12:30 – 1:30 pm: Lunch (lunch provided onsite, included with registration; NOTE: no lunch provided after 7 March registration)

1:30-2:10 

“Unlock Your Story: The Must-Know Basics for Writing a Compelling Book”

with Michael J. Klassen 

Writing a book can be overwhelming and intimidating—but it doesn’t need to be.

In the first session of the afternoon, Michael J. Klassen will give you the basics of writing your book. This forty-minute session will cover:

The Importance of Knowing Your Audience

• You’ll learn why every successful author is more committed to their audience than they are to their story.
• How reader analytics helps you organize your manuscript and even select your book cover.
• The beginning assumption every author must make about their reader.
• How reading habits have changed in the last hundred years—and how it impacts good writing.

The Process of Defining Your Audience

• Learn the three basic categories for all books
• How to discover not only your primary audience, but your secondary and tertiary audiences
• How research can help you write a book that sets it apart from similar books

The Keys to Mastering the Basics of Book Writing

• The expected word count for your particular genre, and reasonable word counts for your chapters, paragraphs, and sentences.
• Author tips and tricks that will help you find your writing style and outline your book
• Learn about writing from other writers

2:10-2:20 break

——————–

2:20-3:40 Writing For Story

Presentation by Karen Bouchard – 

• Writing for Story – dramatic nonfiction techniques

3:40-3:50 Break

3:50-4:30

A Writers Best Friend: Putting AI to Work as Your Research Assistant

with Michael Klassen

During this time together, Michael J. Klassen is going to show you how to use ChatGPT to cut your writing time in half. Elements will include

AI—Your Secret Weapon for Writing Historical Fiction 

• What AI can (and can’t) do for historical fiction writers
• How AI acts as a research assistant, not your ghostwriter
• Copyrights and ethical considerations

Digging Up the Past: Using AI for Historical Research

• Unearthing historical facts, timelines, and cultural details with AI
• The best AI tools for research (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Bard)
• How to fact-check AI-generated information for accuracy

Breathing Life Into History: AI for Character & Setting Development 

• Crafting believable historical characters with AI-generated backstories
• Using AI to create authentic period dialogue and cultural nuances
• Building immersive settings with historical accuracy

Plot Like a Pro: Structuring Your Novel with AI 

• Brainstorming riveting plotlines and historical conflicts
• Using AI to develop a three-act structure or key story beats
• How to generate an AI-assisted outline for a historical fiction novel

Your Story, Your Voice: AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch

• Best practices for balancing AI with creativity
• Top AI tools for historical fiction writers

Purchase Tickets

Once your ticket is purchased via PayPal, you will not receive electronic or paper tickets, but your name will be included on a list of guests that will be checked at the entrance. You can check your PayPal account to confirm that payment has been made.
If you wish register with a check, please download this form, and follow the instructions there.