Tell us a story about one of your ancestors! Create a story that will become part of your family's genealogy!
Short Story Writing Lab Workshops are open to anyone working on a short story about an ancestor.
There’s still plenty of time to participate & share your Ancestor’s story. This IN-PERSON ONLY program is FREE to members & non-members. Registration is required for each workshop.
All Workshops are 1PM to 3 PM and are held atWilliamson Hall, behind Jake’s Diner.
Come get help or give support to fellow Genealogy Writers working on their family history narratives!
THE BGS LIBRARY IS OPEN EACH WORKSHOP THURSDAY 11am to 4pm - COME EARLY, BRING A LUNCH, COFFEE ETC...MAKE IT A WRITING DAY!
GET STARTED! Our Ancestor Short Story Get
Writing Workshops are for anyone who is writing a short story about their
ancestors.
BGS Members may choose to submit
their story for our BGS Publication or NOT! While the publication is for member
submissions only, the Writing Workshops are open for anyone to attend if they
are working on a short story about an ancestor.
Kelly McCray & Pat Kliewer
will be there along with other participants that bring their own experience
& knowledge to share. It’s a workshop so we all can help each other!
Registration is required &
you should bring your laptop, journal or digital notebook. We have Wi-Fi &
extension outlets for your use. The workshops are free to members and
non-members.
While there is no set program we
might share a learning video, resources, or advice the first hour. You can
support & share with each other while we work on our stories.
Kelly McCrayis the host for the Ancestor Short Story Project Workshops. She is a member of the BGS Leadership Council, host of Coffee & Cousins, and is the editor of our newsletter, Distant Voices.
She has been researching her family history for 35+ years and began writing their stories, several years ago. She has helped numerous people find their ancestors and solve family mysteries with DNA. She looks forward to helping you write your ancestor's story.
Pat Kliewer has always loved teaching, researching and writing about ancestors and local history. She is a well-known researcher in Central Oregon about people, buildings, canals, properties and old cemeteries from her work for the Deschutes County Historic Landmarks Commission. She is an expert at finding records and building accurate trees on Ancestry.com.
2024 / 2025 ANCESTOR SHORT STORY SCHEDULE ALL WORKSHOPS ARE ON THURSDAYS, IN-PERSON AT WILLIAMSON HALL
Sep 26, 2024 – 1 PM to 3 PM
Ancestor Short Story Orientation & Writing Workshop
Introduction to the project with Kelly McCray and Short Story Writing with Pat Kliewer, who will instruct about writing specifically for this project. Optional, bring your laptop.
Oct 24, 2024—Nov 14, 2024—Dec 12, 2024—Jan 23, 2025
1 PM to 3 PM
Short Story Writing Lab Workshops
Short story writers are welcome to come work on their story and ask for help and advice. Bring your laptop.
Feb 27, 2025 – 1 PM to 3 PM
Citing Your Sources We'll have you watch several things online prior to attending this class. Then, we'll have you practice writing your own citations, including the one for your own short story. Bring your laptop.
Mar 27, 2025 – 1 PM to 3 PM
Using Graphics & Photos
We'll go through a variety of examples and how to steps when working with photos and graphics. Try adding a picture to your own short story. Bring your laptop.
Apr 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2025 – 11 AM to 3 PM
Finishing Your Short Story Workshops
Come to the Library any Thursday in April. Work on your story and do some final editing. We can help review your story, suggest some edits and steps to submit your final product. Bring your laptop.
May 15, 2025
Submission Deadline
BGS Members Only - Email your story to distantvoicesnl@gmail.com to have it included in the BGS Ancestor Story Book.
