Workshop: From Research to Story: Writing and Sharing your Family History

You've compiled the names, dates, and places and gathered photographs. But how do you transform those facts and images into an engaging story?

In this workshop, we will review archival resources and types of materials to enrich your family story. Going beyond basic genealogical information, we will also explore setting, voice, and the use of nostalgia and details to add colour to your writing. We will also look at how to bring these elements together through real examples of strong storytelling from museums and archives, family historians, and other sources. Finally, we will discuss paths and platforms for sharing your story, from digital, no- or low-cost options, to printing and publishing.

Sonia Nicholson is an author and archivist in Victoria, British Columbia. She has over 17 years of experience in community, corporate, and religious archives. Previously an Archives Specialist at Saanich Archives, she is currently Archivist for the Log Cabin Museum and Archives in Saanichton, in addition to working with a religious organization and private clients.

A storyteller at heart and a published author, she mentors emerging writers on writing, the industry, and publicity. Her work, which explores themes of memory and identity, has appeared in Inspirelle, Literary Heist, Pinhole Poetry, Heimat Review, Rivanna Review, The New Quarterly, and others. Learn more at https://sonianicholson.com.