Did you know it’s National Novel Writing Month? Also known as NaNoWriMo, November is a month to carve out some time to write.

But you don’t have to have a novel in mind. Genealogists have great stories: each of our ancestors has at least one tale to tell. Why not use this month to put a few of them down on paper?

How do you know what to write about? First, pick an ancestor, someone you know fairly well. This could be someone you knew personally, or someone you know through having researched her/him. Second, go over your research and pick a defining moment in the person’s life. It could be leaving the home country, getting married, suffering a loss or overcoming an obstacle. Third, pick up your pen and paper, or open a new document on your computer, and set a timer. Now, write-write-write for 15 minutes. When the timer has gone off, you will have a better idea of what you want to write and how you want to say it. Writing isn’t hard. Starting is hard. So get over the first hurdle and write something!

If you’re looking for encouragement, consider attending our Genealogy Writing Group on Tuesday, November 7, at 2 p.m. in the Cook Park Meeting Room. Or stop by Aspen Drive Library or Cook Park Library on Wednesday evenings during November for the NaNoWriMo “Write In.” You’re not alone. And that’s a good thing!