The Writer's Block - Spring 2025
Avoiding Basic Research Mistakes - Part 1
By Kristina Newcomer
Mistakes happen - we are only human - but to avoid incorporating them into our research, and by extension our writing, we need to become familiar with some of the more common genealogical pitfalls. Sometimes our intense focus on a specific research subject can cause us to develop a type of tunnel vision that translates into something I like to call that "well, duh" moment later on.
RELYING ON TOO FEW SOURCES
- Fundamental mistakes can happen when we rely exclusively on one or two basic sources.
- This can result in a one-dimensional subject that cries out for something more expansive.
- More records equate to more satisfying stories.
- Timelines are invaluable.
ALMOST-ANCESTOR PRUNING
- This function applies to those interesting individuals that you cannot prove are linked to your tree, but keep you locked into a never-ending genealogical loop.
- Don't let those "bright, shiny objects" stall your forward progress.
- It's time to get out the pruning shears and refocus your efforts.
- Stories are more fun when the ancestors are yours.
MAKING UNSUPPORTED ASSUMPTIONS
- As genealogists, we understand that documents can contain discrepancies, but that doesn't mean that we compound the problem by ignoring the inconsistencies and making unfounded assumptions.
- It is better to "dig deeper" into the records that may reveal the truth instead of assuming that they don't exist.
- Genealogists strive for non-fiction stories.