In an article for Writer’s Digest, Yvette Manessis Corporon says that your family stories can help you craft compelling historical fiction. “Sometimes the only difference between our family stories and those studied in history books is that someone took the time to write them down,” she says. Corporon shares five tips for finding inspiration in your family’s stories:
- Start talking and recording. If you’ve never paid attention to family stories, start now. Ask elder family members about their childhood memories and greatest regrets. “The thing about history is that we don’t typically realize when we are living it, we are too busy trying to survive it,” Corporon says. “You might not know what you are looking for, but if you engage in conversations about the past, you’ll find that history has a way of revealing itself, sometimes in the most surprising ways.”
- Use recipes to tell a story. Food is central to many families and therefore their stories. Favorite meals and recipes may be rich sources of story.
- Study old photo albums as if they were history books. Write down the stories of people and events you remember and ask about anyone you don’t recognize. Ask your relatives about the details in the photo – the time, season, their clothing or jewelry.
- Let an object be your guide. Does your family have any treasured objects or heirlooms? Where did it come from and who kept it? What does it mean to your family? Who took care of it all these years?
- Focus on a family event and use a small story to tell a larger one. “Family events are a treasure trove of stories, personalities, color, and yes, conflict,” Corporon notes. “Was there an event in your family history that was especially meaningful, dramatic, or impactful?” Use a family story to place a larger historical event in context and share the personal meaning.
