You’ve decided to do SOMETHING with all that family history stuff you’ve gathered—but somehow your project keeps growing. Here’s how to cross the finish line.

family historyDawn M. RoodeMarch 10, 2025avoid family history project creep, how to organize all my family history stuff, overwhelmed by genealogy papers and family history photosComment

What do you wish you had asked them?

“I wish I knew why Mom moved to New York when she was just 16.” “I wish Papa told me how he makes his Sunday sauce.” Don’t wish for stories; ask for them.

family history, why tell your stories?Dawn M. RoodeFebruary 24, 2025ask your parents questions before it's too late, how do i get my parents to tell me stories about their life, i never got to ask my parents about their memories before they died, how to preserve a legacy for my childrenComment

“Write Your Life” delivers weekly memory & writing prompts via email

Learn about our Write Your Life course, providing memory prompts, writing guidance and a dose of inspiration to anyone who wants to preserve their stories now.

family history, memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeNovember 25, 2024writing courses, life story writing prompts, memoir writing courseComment

Thanksgiving story sharing, made easy

A roundup of the most popular (and helpful!) posts from Modern Heirloom Books to help you prompt and preserve family stories this Thanksgiving season.

family historyDawn M. RoodeNovember 10, 2024Thanksgiving memory-keeping ideas, family stories around the Thanksgiving table, how to do family history at Thanksgiving holidayComment

How to ask good follow-up questions in a family history interview

Five easy ways to get the best stories from your family member just by responding thoughtfully to their answers (hint: it starts with really listening!).

family history, the art of listeningDawn M. RoodeOctober 28, 2024what is an open-ended question, how to ask good follow up questions in a family history interview, what types of questions get the best family stories, tips for family history interview questionsComment

The power of a follow-up question

Whether you’re interviewing your parents about their childhood or gathering family history info from your grandparents, good follow-up questions are key.

family history, the art of listeningDawn M. RoodeOctober 9, 2024why follow-up questions are good, family history interview techniques, is there such a thing as a bad family history interview questionComment

Friendly reminder: Your personal story is part of a broader family history

While your memoir is telling your stories in your words, a family tree chart outlining your relationships has a real place in that book—here’s why.

family history, memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeSeptember 9, 2024should i inlude a family tree in my personal history book, when to include a family tree in a memoir, how to make my memoir more relevant to my familyComment

In conversation about “the gift of family stories”

Podcast host Melissa Ceria and personal historian Dawn Roode discuss the importance of family history preservation and finding solace in stories after loss.