We are thrilled that the print edition of Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide is now available on Amazon! To preview the content of the book, read the blog posts in our Research Like a Pro series. Today I want to tell about the journey of writing the book.
But first, here’s a bit about our upcoming eCourse. We are creating a brand-new Research Like a Pro e-course, to be released this summer. Each part corresponds to the first 7 chapters in the book:
- Research Objectives
- Analyze Your Sources
- Locality Research
- Research Planning
- Source Citations
- Research Logs
- Report Writing
- Organization and Productivity
The content is similar to the Research Like a Pro study group, but will be available for those who want to work through the assignments at their own pace.
How it started
How did the book evolve? I didn’t set out to write a book. One year ago, I took my final test in the process of becoming an Accredited Genealogist professional through The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Once I was awarded the credential in July of 2017, I wanted to share the research process I had perfected as I brought my research skills up to a professional level. I wrote a series of blog posts titled “Research Like A Pro.”
Curious if the process would work as well for others as it had for me, I started the Research Like A Pro Study Group. The researchers ranged from those who had worked mainly on FamilySearch and Ancestry to others who were graduates of the Boston University genealogy program. By the end of the 12 week course, the success of the study group members told me I had something that needed to be shared. Nicole and I compiled the blogs posts and course material into a single format and titled it Research Like A Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide. Available only as an e-book for the first three months, we’re excited to launch the print version.
What it’s all about
If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning your wheels as you jump from website to website this is the book for you. If you have long standing brick walls in your genealogy and don’t know what to do next, this is the book for you. If you know there’s a better way to research than your current process, this is the book for you.
Research Like A Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide is a step-by-step method that guides you through each part of the research process. Each chapter includes examples from my own genealogy research and ends with a specific task. You’ll learn how to form an objective, review your research by creating a timeline analysis, construct a locality guide to direct your research, create a plan, style source citations, set up a research log to organize and track your searches, and write a report detailing your findings and ideas for future research. Work samples and templates give you the tools you need to be successful.
Stop spinning your wheels
We all have done it. Clicking from website to website, looking for the one record that will solve our family history conundrum. Unfortunately, that approach just leaves us exhausted and feeling overwhelmed. Focusing in on a specific objective then following the Research Like A Pro process will keep you on track and at the end of the project, you’ll know where you’ve looked, what you’ve found, and what to do next. You work at your own pace. Start with a relatively small project and learn the process, then start again with a new project. Each time you follow the steps you’ll boost your research skills.
Join the community
There are a lot of ways to participate in the Research Like A Pro community. With the purchase of the book, either the electronic or print version, you’ll be eligible to join the secret Research Like A Pro Facebook group. Get assistance from Nicole and me as well as other group members as you work through the process.
If you’d like more accountability, join one of the study groups that will start in September. You’ll have eight interactive webinar presentations, assignments, and feedback on each assignment.
Watch for the Research Like A Pro e-course coming soon. You’ll be able to view all the webinars and work through the assignments at your own pace. However you like to learn, we can help!
What are you waiting for? It’s time to Research Like a Pro!
Click here to purchase Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide
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