How Should You Handle Blemishes on Your Family’s History? Write About Them or Not?

Family stories aren’t always happy go lucky.*

Welcome to installment one of my new advice column where I answer any question readers ask about writing compelling stories from family history.

Jim asks: As a general rule, are you okay with leaving out the blemishes in family stories? (I’m not talking about something horrific that is required to be included in order to make your point.)

My answer:

I think this depends on a) whether that blemish had any consequences that affected later...