The Power of Writing Research Reports to Yourself

I just finished watching an incredible webinar from Legacy Family Tree Webinars that’s going to transform how you do genealogy.

The presentation? “Dear Me: Writing Research Reports to Yourself” by Yvette Hoitink.

If you don’t know Yvette, she’s a powerhouse in the genealogy world. A professional genealogist from the Netherlands, she specializes in Dutch ancestry research and holds both Certified Genealogist and Qualified Genealogist credentials.

Her articles have won excellence awards from both the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly.

And this week, she dropped some serious knowledge about a game-changing practice: writing research reports to yourself.

This webinar was presented through the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG), which has been setting the gold standard for genealogical excellence for 60 years.

But don’t worry – this method isn’t just for professionals. It’s for anyone who wants to level up their family history research.

Why You Need This in Your Life

Look, I get it.

You’ve got names, dates, and places scattered across your family tree software. Maybe even a bunch of source citations.

But something’s missing.

What’s missing is the story of how all these pieces fit together. The explanation of why you believe these records belong to your ancestors. The actual proof.

Your brain is going to forget things. Important things. Like that weird pattern you noticed in the church records. Or why you think that 1850 census entry is actually your great-great-grandfather even though the name is spelled totally wrong.

Writing research reports solves this problem. They’re your time capsule of genealogical thinking.

The Magic Happens When You Write

Here’s what Yvette revealed in the webinar that blew my mind: writing triggers your brain in different ways.

You’ll start seeing patterns you missed before.

Making connections that were invisible.

Finding evidence that was hiding in plain sight in records you’ve had for years.

It’s like giving yourself a fresh pair of eyes.

The Basic Recipe

Yvette shared her tried-and-true formula for a solid research report:

• Introduction (what are you trying to figure out?)
• Background info (what do you already know?)
• Research notes (what did you find and what does it mean?)
• Analysis (how do all the pieces fit together?)
• Conclusions (what have you proved – or not proved?)
• Next steps (what still needs to be done?)

Pro Tips from the Webinar

Want to make this process even more powerful? Yvette shared these tips:

1. Use templates. Don’t start from scratch every time.
2. Create comparison tables to spot patterns and conflicts.
3. Include images of original records in an appendix.
4. Write up your analysis as you go – don’t wait until the end.
5. Keep a running list of new research ideas (Yvette calls this her “bright shiny object parking lot”).

Level Up Your Research Game

One of the most exciting parts of the webinar was Yvette’s “Level Up Challenge.”

It’s brilliant in its simplicity: Define different levels of completeness for your ancestors.

Maybe Level 1 is just basic vital records.

Level 2 adds occupation and residence.

Level 3 includes property records and military service.

Then use your research reports to systematically work through these levels. Track your progress. Watch those ancestors level up.

The Power of Slow

Here’s the thing about research reports that Yvette emphasized: they force you to slow down.

And that’s good.

Really good.

Because when you slow down, you notice things. Important things.

That neighbor who keeps showing up as a witness? Maybe they’re actually family.

That weird occupation listed in one census? Maybe it leads you to a whole set of records you never knew existed.

Don’t Miss This Opportunity!

Here’s the exciting news: Right now, you can watch Yvette’s complete webinar for FREE on Legacy Family Tree Webinars. But don’t wait – this free access is only available until November 26th.

Yvette walks you through:

• Exactly how to structure your research reports
• Real examples from her own research
• Templates and tools to make the process easier
• Her Level Up Challenge system
• And so much more

Trust me – you want to catch this while it’s free. I’ve been doing genealogy for years, and I still learned so many new techniques and strategies from this presentation.

Head over to Legacy Family Tree Webinars now to watch “Dear Me: Writing Research Reports to Yourself.”

Your ancestors (and your future self) will thank you.

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