Family History Writing with Scrivener - June

Family History Writing with Scrivener

Course Type: Immersive

June 14 2025 | Live 2-Hour Course 1PM ET

Turn "daunting" into "done!" Tired of staring at a blank page, overwhelmed by your family history project? This 2-hour immersive course will revolutionize your writing process. Discover the magic of Scrivener, the ultimate tool for organizing and crafting your story. We'll ditch the distractions and dive into Scrivener's powerful features: built-in templates, intuitive project views, and time-saving shortcuts. Imagine effortlessly weaving together your research, photos, and writing into a compelling narrative. We'll guide you step-by-step, from setting up your digital "notebook" to mastering the inspector and compiling your final manuscript. Get ready to conquer your writing fears and transform your family history into a masterpiece.

Experience Interactive Learning with an Expert

This live, two-hour session is designed to immerse you in a hands-on learning experience. Led by author and instructor Lisa Alzo, you’ll benefit from:

• Expert Guidance: Learn directly from a renowned genealogy professional and published author.
• Practical Handouts: Access downloadable resources to enhance your learning.
• PLUS - Interactive Q&A: Get your questions answered during the live session and through our exclusive online forum for two weeks, ensuring all your questions are answered and you receive personalized guidance as you apply what you've learned.

What You’ll Learn

• Understand Scrivener Inside and Out: Get a clear introduction, navigate Mac vs. Windows, and master its help resources.
• Discover Scrivener's Versatility: Explore diverse family history project types and find the perfect fit.
• Start Strong with Project Templates: Learn to use Blank, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Miscellaneous templates for instant organization.
• Master the Scrivener Interface: Become a pro with the Binder, Main Screen, Inspector, and Toolbars.
• Navigate the Four Key Writing Modes: Seamlessly switch between Outline, Document View, Corkboard, and Scrivenings.
• Customize Your Scrivener Experience: Tweak settings and preferences for optimal workflow.
• Manage Your Project Files: Effortlessly add, delete, and organize files and folders.
• Integrate Your Research: Import PDFs, images, and other essential materials.
• Import Existing Documents: Bring your Word and Google Docs into Scrivener.
• Maintain Project Integrity: Learn to edit, close, and back up your work safely.
• Track Your Progress and Ideas: Master comments, notes, synopsis, status labels, color coding, and metadata.
• Compile Your Masterpiece: Utilize Scrivener presets and customize output options/formats.
• Boost Your Productivity with Shortcuts: Unlock time-saving Scrivener keyboard shortcuts.
• Get Insider Quick Tips: Gain practical advice for efficient Scrivener use.

How You'll Benefit:

• Organize your family history like a pro: Practical skills, instant results.
• Master Scrivener's templates: Set up, edit, and format with ease.
• Create your distraction-free writing haven: Customize your perfect workspace.
• Navigate Scrivener like a boss: Seamlessly switch between Outline, Document, Corkboard, and Scrivenings.
• Keep your research at your fingertips: Store notes, images, and citations directly in Scrivener.
• Boost your productivity: Unlock time-saving tracking features and shortcuts.
• Discover your ideal writing routine: Tailor Scrivener to your unique style.
• Compile and share your masterpiece: Learn to save, export, and print your final draft.
• Conquer Scrivener's learning curve: Access essential resources and support.
• Plus, unlock even more Scrivener secrets!

Meet Your Instructor

Lisa Alzo has been inspiring family history writers for over two decades. Lisa earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Nonfiction Writing from the University of Pittsburgh in 1997 and is the author of 11 books, including The Family Tree Polish, Czech and Slovak Genealogy Guide, and the award-winning Three Slovak Women. She is the recipient of the 2002 Mary Zirin Prize given by the Association for Women in Slavic Studies to recognize the achievements of independent scholars. Lisa has been a long-time contributing editor for Family Tree Magazine and is an internationally recognized lecturer. An avid genealogist for more than 30 years, Lisa also chronicles her family history adventures on her blog, The Accidental Genealogist.

Join us for this transformative live session and take your family history research to the next level.