Telling the Stories of Buildings and Places - Professional Track (on demand)

Research and tell compelling stories about a building or ancestral place.

Do places have special meaning for you?

What does home mean to you? Have you ever considered a building a character? Where do you start researching a property? We will discuss these questions and more as we examine the power of place. All of our stories have settings, and sometimes those settings deserve their own stories. But how do you find those rich details and showcase them in an interesting narrative?

This topic is a passion of mine and I love sharing what I've learned over the years. There have definitely been some uncanny moments in my own historical detective work! This class is a combination of my personal research experience, real stories and case studies, and tools I've learned from historians and other professionals.

We will cover:
     - What questions to ask when writing stories of places
     - A checklist of the best sources for information on historical buildings
     - Unexpected helps and habits to consider
 
Class will include heaps of encouragement for beginning writers and those with more experience. No matter where you are in your family history journey, your stories matter, and they should be shared and loved by others.


Course Pricing

How it works...

Enroll in the course

Use our secure and convenient portal to purchase your on-demand class.

Get immediate access

Your self-paced course will be available immediately for you to enjoy! 

What's included

On-demand access to videos, checklists, and other helpful resources. Instructor is  professional writer, Rhonda Lauritzen.


Rhonda Lauritzen

Rhonda Lauritzen is a professional biographer with multiple published books. She specializes in life stories, collecting oral history, and historical storytelling. She earned an MBA from the University of Utah and was selected as the Outstanding Graduate in her undergrad major. Before she founded Evalogue.Life in 2016, she served as a college marketing director, Vice President, and a corporate CEO. In 2007, her writing journey began with her parents’ family business saga, which became her first book. Since then, she has been hired to help tell the stories of families, cities, and nonprofits. She believes that when you tell your story, it changes the ending. This is why her passion is teaching, coaching, and presenting at conferences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

That's completely up to you! You can binge the videos and resources in one long day or pace yourself.

Yes, watch the video and access all the materials on your own time.

We will have ideas on how to research and tell stories about places. You'll find writing checklists, links to supportive resources, uncanny real-life writing experiences and other inspiration. We also include a downloadable workbook to further help you on your project.

It is great if you have already done some writing, but all skill levels will feel welcome here. Everyone will learn and can benefit from the structure to complete a story in class. 

Course Curriculum

What Students Say About our Live Classes

"This was my first time attending one of  your presentations, and I am now a big fan.  Your style is informative, interesting, and easy-to-follow.  I appreciate your well-organized handout.  Finally, and most importantly, I have been looking for an effective approach for researching places.  This presentation is worth the price of the Summit for me.  Thank you.”  
Karen E. Attendee when this class was taught at the Utah Genealogical Society annual conference, fall of 2022
“Fantastic presentation! Thank you for all the tips, tools, and source suggestions. Really enjoyed hearing stories about your project.”
Teresa K, Virginia. Attendee when this class was taught at the Utah Genealogical Society annual conference, fall of 2022
“Thank you, excellent advice! So many good ideas I hope I can go back and watch this presentation again.”
Angela C. Attendee at one of Rhonda's presentations at the Association of Professional Genealogists Professional Management Conference, fall of 2022
“Outstanding presentation. Great information for someone ‘thinking’ of moving in this direction as well as a really good engaging speaker.”
Anonymous attendee at one of Rhonda's presentations at the Association of Professional Genealogists Professional Management Conference, fall of 2022
"One of the best classes I’ve ever attended—thoughtful, focused useful, informative!"
Anonymous attendee feedback through the app, RootsTech 2023
"Excellent presenter & thoughtful presentation. Very informative and helpful." 
Anonymous attendee feedback through the app, RootsTech 2023

Teaching & Presentation Experience

Organizations that have hired us