Before I get into my big news, I just want to apologize for not blogging regularly lately, it’s been a month and a half! And although some of you have emailed me to ask what is going on, I’ve been keeping quiet.

But not anymore. I have some really exciting news about a project I’ve been working on that has taken me away from my duties as a genealogy blogger. But I think you will be really excited to see it when it’s online.

Ok, the big news is this….

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Once you make the decision to document your family history, the next logical step is to document what you find. You are excited and feel tempted to plunge into the research. However, starting with a plan is a precursor to your success. Here is a beginner’s guide to starting your family tree.

Create your Roadmap. Imagine you decide to drive from Los Angeles, California to Miami, Florida. The first thing you do is to look at a map and plan your trip. You figure out the distance, the time it takes to get there and your route. Without looking at the map, you can wander along, get lost, take detours and may take twice as long to et to Miami. But, you would like to get to your destination as quickly as possible.

In order for you to document your family tree properly, you need a plan of action.

• What is your goal?

• What to include, maternal and paternal relatives?

• Where to look?

• How to document it? Download a family tree template to help you document your research.

Take the time to create a roadmap. You will increase your chances of completing your project successfully.

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