Writing an article for The New Zealand Genealogist

2. The New Zealand Genealogist is for New Zealand
Society of Genealogists (NZSG) members:
• provides space for NZSG members to record their
research
• provides methodology for genealogical and family
history research
• promotes NZSG services and products
• informs about sources of interest (websites,
institutions etc)
• is the ‘publication of record’ about major
NZSG events (conferences, constitution
changes, obituaries etc.)
IT’S ABOUT THE AUDIENCE!

3. The New Zealand Genealogist is for the public:
• provides articles of interest on research
• promotes NZSG services and products
• encourages membership
The New Zealand Genealogist is for
researchers:
• provides articles of interest on research
• informs about sources of interest (websites,
institutions etc)
IT’S ABOUT THE AUDIENCE!

4. Types of Content
Narrative
• Biography, Family stories
How to ...
News
• Institutions, Branches and Interest
Groups, Administration
Member’s Interests

5. Who Writes for
The New Zealand Genealogist?
• NZSG Members
• NZSG Officers
• Institution Staff
• “Commissioned” authors

6. How to Start?
Keep it simple – have a beginning, middle and end
Fewer words than more
Provide a genealogical chart if it helps explain the
story
Don’t forget:
• References
• Notes
• Bibliography

7. Themes
Most issues have an advertised theme
- subject, place, etc
Provides inspiration and helps writers focus on
writing something achievable
Each article should consider what it’s theme or
focus is:
- research process, social history, adoption,
migration, or employment patterns etc

8. Research Your Theme
Think about your audience
How does your story relate to what has already
been written? By historians, other genealogists
Read – books, journals, websites
Make notes about themes that resonate
with your family history

9. Gather Your Resources
Bring your resources together in a folder
- either physical or electronic
Make sure quotes are acknowledged
Do not copy large amounts from existing sources

10. Length
A page contains about 900 words
Articles are usually 2-3 pages – 1800-2700 words
Shorter also welcome – 400-900 words
e.g. book reviews, interesting news about
sources, extracts from newspapers
Fillers also required – 100-400 words

11. Voice
First Person – I, We
• Suited to travelogue, explanation of personal
research
Third Person – He, She, They
• Perhaps the most common or appropriate
• Don’t mix with First Person
Second Person - You
• Less suitable, can be used for ‘How-to’

12. Formatting
Don’t overuse Capitals - Proper names, Titles only
Plain font – Times New Roman, Calibri
No enhancements – no bold or italics
Use italics for book titles and ships’ names
Double quote marks “...” for quotes
Minimal use of emphasis, such as !!!

13. Images
Label well – descriptive or numbered
Provide separately
• don’t embed in text document
• if necessary, indicate placement in text with
bracketed reference <johnsmith.jpg>
Format
• .jpg, .jpeg
• 300 dpi (website photos will only be 72dpi)
• About 1MB in size

14. Notes
A place to include references (and a bibliography
if you so wish)
Also can include explanations so they don’t
complicate your story

15. Review
• Leave it for a day or three
• Ask someone else to read it

16. Summary
1. Think about who is your audience
2. Think about a story and focus on a theme
3. Start, middle and end
4. Use other people to give you feedback
5. Know what format best aids editor
– saves time

17. Email submissions to:
editor@genealogy.org.nz