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Bring ‘Em Back Again! Advanced Workshop for Writing Our Ancestors’ Stories
- September 6, 2025
- Posted by: Melody Daisson
- Category: Uncategorized
Bring ’Em Back Again! Advanced Workshop in Writing and Revising for Genealogists
A Comprehensive 10-Week Journey in Genealogical Writing
Running from January 13 through April 28, 2026, this advanced-level course is designed for genealogists ready to refine their writing and revision skills in a supportive, workshop-style environment. Each Tuesday from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm Mountain Time, you’ll participate in live instruction, guided exercises, and dedicated writing sessions that move your work from draft to polished form.
Prerequisites
To ensure participants are prepared for this advanced-level experience, one of the following is required:
- Completion of Bring ‘Em Back to Life: Writing Our Ancestors’ Stories, SLIG Spring Virtual, either 2024 or 2025.
- Completion of a full-length institute-level course on narrative genealogical writing.
- Instructors’ approval after the submission and review of a writing sample of two or more pages.
What Makes This Course Special?
This workshop goes beyond foundational writing skills to focus on refinement and revision. You’ll learn how to:
- Strengthen clarity, flow, and narrative arc.
- Apply advanced editing techniques to your own work.
- Enhance writing with context, voice, and supporting detail.
- Gain constructive critique from instructors and peers to elevate your writing to professional standards.
Expert Instructors Guide Your Writing
Faculty include Annette Burke Lyttle, MA, CG, and Jenifer Kahn Bakkala, both accomplished writers and instructors who will provide specialized sessions on organization, editing, voice, and publishing.
Together, this team ensures that each participant receives guidance tailored to both skill development and project goals.
Weekly Deep Dives Into Advanced Writing
Week 1: Solid Skills for Story Writing
Week 2: Getting and Staying Organized
Week 3: Managing Writing Projects Big and Small
Week 4: Editing Yourself – Advanced Skills
Week 5: Expanding Enhancements to Support Your Writing
Week 6: Advanced Source Documentation, Copyright, and Fair Use
Week 7: Finding Your Voice: Making Your Writing Your Own
Week 8: Pulling It All Together: Writing’s Final Stages
Week 9: Publishing Options: A Closer Look
Week 10: Sharing Our Stories
Interactive Learning Experience
This course blends live lectures, peer review, and dedicated writing time to ensure that participants make measurable progress on their own projects. By the end of the workshop, you will not only have advanced your skills but also refined real pieces of genealogical writing for publication, portfolio submission, or personal history projects.