Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
What happens when you take raw newspaper clippings of a "criminal" ancestor and put them through the Recipe for Writing Family History?
In this episode, I’m taking on a massive challenge. My friend and one of my favorite genealogists, Jen Baldwin of Findmypast, shared some incredible (and scandalous!) newspaper records about her own ancestor. Now, I’m putting my narrative techniques to the test to see if I can do that story justice live on air!
The Challenge:
I’ll be drafting a story based on Jen’s research right here in the studio. Will I stick to the angle she shared in her podcast, or find a brand-new way to tell this ancestor’s tale? Once the draft is done, Jen will join me to provide live feedback and expert tips to make the story even stronger.
🔗 Resources Mentioned in This Video
Listen to Jen’s Podcast: Hear the original story and the research that started it all here.
Deep Dive into Newspapers: Watch Jen’s full RootsTech presentation on how to analyze newspaper articles to capture the full, authentic story of your ancestors.
Get the Book: Want to follow along with the method I'm using? Pick up your copy of "A Recipe for Writing Family History" on Amazon.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory #WritingChallenge #Findmypast #Storytelling #NewspaperArchive
What happens when you take raw newspaper clippings of a "criminal" ancestor and put them through the Recipe for Writing Family History?
In this episode, I’m taking on a massive challenge. My friend and one of my favorite genealogists, Jen Baldwin of Findmypast, shared some incredible (and scandalous!) newspaper records about her own ancestor. Now, I’m putting my narrative techniques to the test to see if I can do that story justice live on air!
The Challenge:
I’ll be drafting a story based on Jen’s research right here in the studio. Will I stick to the angle she shared in her podcast, or find a brand-new way to tell this ancestor’s tale? Once the draft is done, Jen will join me to provide live feedback and expert tips to make the story even stronger.
🔗 Resources Mentioned in This Video
Listen to Jen’s Podcast: Hear the original story and the research that started it all here.
Deep Dive into Newspapers: Watch Jen’s full RootsTech presentation on how to analyze newspaper articles to capture the full, authentic story of your ancestors.
Get the Book: Want to follow along with the method I'm using? Pick up your copy of "A Recipe for Writing Family History" on Amazon.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory #WritingChallenge #Findmypast #Storytelling #NewspaperArchive
