Family History Writer/Biographer

About Job

I am looking for a talented, compassionate, and experienced bilingual writer to help document my family's history and transform it into a professionally written English-language book.

The purpose of this project is to preserve my family's origins, ancestral roots, personal stories, traditions, and experiences so that future generations can understand where they came from.

The writer will conduct in-depth interviews with my parents in Bengali, explore our family's history across generations, and transform these conversations into an engaging and meaningful English narrative.

I envision a book that combines the authenticity of a family biography with the storytelling qualities of a novel—something that is historically grounded, emotionally compelling, and enjoyable for future generations to read.

Job Responsibilities:

Conduct Family Interviews in Bengali

Conduct thoughtful, structured interviews with my parents in Bengali.

Create interview questions that encourage detailed storytelling and meaningful conversations.

Explore childhood memories, family origins, ancestral villages, family relationships, traditions, struggles, achievements, and significant life events.

Conduct follow-up interviews to clarify details and uncover additional stories.

Record interviews with permission and maintain organized notes and transcripts.

Communicate patiently and respectfully with elderly family members.

Research Family History & Genealogy

Identify family members and trace relationships across multiple generations.

Develop a family tree using information gathered through interviews, photographs, and available family records.

Research relevant historical, geographical, and cultural contexts.

Document important dates, places, migrations, marriages, and major family milestones.

Identify gaps or inconsistencies in family accounts and help verify details where possible.

Transform Bengali Interviews into English Narratives

This is one of the most important requirements of the position.

The writer must be able to:

Understand conversational Bengali, including regional expressions and cultural references.

Accurately interpret Bengali interviews and translate their meaning into natural, polished English.

Preserve the emotional depth, personality, and authenticity of each person's story.

Turn conversations and personal recollections into compelling English prose rather than simply translating them word for word.

Maintain historical accuracy while using creative storytelling techniques.

Capture the unique voices and perspectives of different family members.