I'm writing a book......?

Question

I am so lucky that my great grand dad and grand dad wrote down all the family history with start from 1738 and up to 1950. It's not very detailed, but never the less very interesting (for me at least..)

I now have the idea of completing this book the way he wrote it, word by word, comma by comma.
Then, I want to complete it from 1950 and up to today. For this several family members have agreed to help me.
I also have managed to dig up quite some material from 1450 and up to 1738..

But, then I get the idea, of using all these people in a bigger book, and put fiction to it.

My question is then as follows:

Would you find it interesting to read about someone else’s family, told in a very straight way, 
or, would you maybe like to read several books on a big family line, their lives and intrigues, so many many years ago...

All ideas are greatly appreciated!

Anania M · Accepted Answer

Being a history buff, I like both!  I have my Gr.Grandma's journals that she wrote when she was "courting" my Gr.Grandfather back in the 1920's and up through his service in WWII. Talk about interesting!!!

Personally, I've spent over 20 yrs (since Elem. school) researching, and interviewing survivors of the Holocaust (WWII).  I've written their stories both word by word and used their experiences in science fiction/ fiction writing.  Either has a decent market.

The best advice I can give you is just to write. "...write what you know, write what you understand, and above all enjoy what you write!"  I got that advice from James A. Michener years ago when I first started writing...It's true and I love the hours I spend writing.  I hope you do to!!!

icy_tempest · Answer

I would probably enjoy a book told in a straightforward way, not several books. If you're talking about marketing this book to the general public, they will need to find a reason to be interested in reading about someone else's family. Unfortunately, I probably wouldn't be inclined to just pick up a random book about a stranger's family unless there was something out of the ordinary that grabbed my attention.

You are truly lucky to have all of this information and background on your family. Best of luck with your writing! You have an amazing gift to give to all of your future generations with this family information.

alimagmel · Answer

If you're looking to be published, you'll probably have better luck developing a fiction story than a family biography, because even though your family is (of course) interesting to you, why should others find their story interesting? Unless there's something really exciting that ties your family to well-known events, or to people, a publishing house most likely won't buy the book to publish because many consumers probably won't buy it. Publishing houses are interested in making money, that's all, and so they will publish what they think will sell.

Jbuns · Answer

Perhaps you can do both?  I think it would be wonderful to write a book as a family history.  Future generations will have an accurate account of their heritage and you will earn your place as the keeper of the family history.  You could also write a series of fiction novels about your family that would be more marketable to the general public.

wilma m · Answer

If you write historical novel, develop the straight way.
If a fiction novel, then families" lives and intrigues.
What is your plot? your conflict? if you answer that ,then start writing before its too late.

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I'm writing a book......?

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