Family Tree Advice

[AnyaKimlin]

My writer's group asked for a family tree for Black's Nest, so I came up with one (It's still rough). I hope the following makes sense and I need opinions. Now they say I can't put down Ian's sons down as Ian's sons because biologically 3 of them aren't and 1 of them might not be (although as his identical twin fathered at least two of them in a way they are Ian's - it's a family saga and complicated). At the start of the book everyone knows the "secret" but everyone thinks nobody else knows the "secret". Ian had DNA testing done decades ago and his son's have their own reason for knowing whether or not they are Ian's sons. It has never been discussed. I really don't think I can fit the story onto the family tree. I was going to put it was from the front of the Black Family Bible at the top because if it was being written by Marion she would have put it as follows, because she doesn't know:

 

[The Judge]

If you as the author are compiling the family tree and you're happy for the readers to be aware of the question mark over paternity from the outset, then it's possible to show this by using a broken/dotted line instead of a complete one where it links up the names both across and down ie ----- Alternatively, you could use asterisks against the names of the sons with a footnote saying something like "paternity in question".

If you don't want the readers to know this as soon as they see the family tree, which will presumably be at the beginning of the book, then I'd leave it as it is. It's no more misleading than having a character list which says someone is, say, a merchant and we later in the book find out he's actually a spy.

If the family tree is composed by a character in the novel, then it should reflect what the character knows. If she doesn't know the secret and genuinely thinks the sons are his, then leave it as it is but make sure the heading reflects that it is her work based on her personal research/information ie you're already giving a clue that she's perhaps got it wrong.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

I don't mind readers knowing but it is better of they don't. I think I will give it a title that makes it clear it is her work. I think Camile should be a dotted line thanks Judge.

 

[Phyrebrat]

I strongly suggest you read Michael McDowell’s Blackwater Series; 7 short books set in the Deep South with a family saga oriented around the exact question marks you’re talking about. (c 1800s- 1980s)

They’re cheap as anything on ABE and I think it will get you far more help than a family tree,
Simply because it’s contextual, plot driven and not a Period Table of names.

Out of interest why is your writing group asking for this? Tell em where to go . I did a family tree for my wip, but that was for me, not a reader. My point is, if you need a family tree for readers to keep things straight, it’s probably best to look at how you’re reporting the family in the narrative.

I recall - as a huge Stephen King fan - his inclusion of a cast list and jobs in the opening to Under the Dome, and finding it somehow disappointing.

pH

 

[AnyaKimlin]

I strongly suggest you read Michael McDowell’s Blackwater Series; 7 short books set in the Deep South with a family saga oriented around the exact question marks you’re talking about. (c 1800s- 1980s)

They’re cheap as anything on ABE and I think it will get you far more help than a family tree,
Simply because it’s contextual, plot driven and not a Period Table of names.

Out of interest why is your writing group asking for this? Tell em where to go . I did a family tree for my wip, but that was for me, not a reader. My point is, if you need a family tree for readers to keep things straight, it’s probably best to look at how you’re reporting the family in the n

it is more because they aren't getting the whole story and new people come in halfway through. Also some of them are determined to struggle because it is fantasy or I have 43 characters.

None of my beta readers of previous draft said their were too many.