Literary Writing Workshop with Robert Patrick Conlon
Advertisement
From Ancestry to Artwork
Saturday, October 17 | 2:00 PM
How do you transform your family history into a compelling story?
Join author Robert Patrick Conlon for From Ancestry to Artwork, a special literary workshop exploring how genealogy, historical research, family memories, and creative writing can come together to bring the stories of our ancestors to life.
Drawing from his own experience researching and writing Celtic Knots, Conlon will take participants through his process of tracing his grandfather’s story from Ireland to Chicago and transforming that history into historical fiction.
He’ll discuss working with family documents, photographs, interviews, Irish and American genealogical records, historic newspapers, maps, and archival resources, as well as the creative process of filling in the gaps when the historical record only tells part of the story.
Participants will learn how writers can balance historical fact with creative storytelling, build a vivid sense of time and place, develop characters from real family histories, and avoid getting lost in the research process. Conlon will also share practical advice for anyone interested in beginning their own Irish ancestry research, overcoming common genealogical roadblocks, interviewing relatives, and preserving family stories through writing and family history journals.
Whether you’re an aspiring writer, researching your Irish ancestry, or simply interested in the stories that connect generations, this workshop offers an engaging look at how the facts of a family tree can become something much more: a story worth telling. ✍️📚☘️
Saturday, October 17 | 2:00 PM
How do you transform your family history into a compelling story?
Join author Robert Patrick Conlon for From Ancestry to Artwork, a special literary workshop exploring how genealogy, historical research, family memories, and creative writing can come together to bring the stories of our ancestors to life.
Drawing from his own experience researching and writing Celtic Knots, Conlon will take participants through his process of tracing his grandfather’s story from Ireland to Chicago and transforming that history into historical fiction.
He’ll discuss working with family documents, photographs, interviews, Irish and American genealogical records, historic newspapers, maps, and archival resources, as well as the creative process of filling in the gaps when the historical record only tells part of the story.
Participants will learn how writers can balance historical fact with creative storytelling, build a vivid sense of time and place, develop characters from real family histories, and avoid getting lost in the research process. Conlon will also share practical advice for anyone interested in beginning their own Irish ancestry research, overcoming common genealogical roadblocks, interviewing relatives, and preserving family stories through writing and family history journals.
Whether you’re an aspiring writer, researching your Irish ancestry, or simply interested in the stories that connect generations, this workshop offers an engaging look at how the facts of a family tree can become something much more: a story worth telling. ✍️📚☘️
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
4626 N Knox Ave, Chicago, IL, 4626 N Knox Ave, Chicago, IL 60630-4030, United States, Lincolnwood
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherIrish American Heritage Center
