Writing Tips for new Obituarists
It's not a eulogy
An obituary, unlike a eulogy, is not intended to be a tribute. Obits, as published,
are concise factual accounts of a person’s life meant to contribute to the historical record.
Remember, published obituaries are one of the most-often utilized archival materials for historians, genealogists, scholars and the general public.
Nor is it a paid death notice
Paid death
notices are formulaic announcements of a person’s death.
Historically, they were published as part of a newspaper’s classified advertising.
Include the basics
For the record, make sure
you include the following information in the obit:
- Name, age, occupation and address of deceased
- Time, place and cause of death
Birth date, birthplace - Survivors (typically immediate family)
- Beloved pets
- Funeral and disposition arrangements
- Outstanding or interesting activities and achievements
- Memberships in fraternal, religious or civic organizations
- Service in armed forces
- Anecdotes or recollections from friends or relatives
Be a storyteller
Write a story, not a
chronology. Use anecdotal material, and keep it lively.
Keep it genuine
Avoiding clichés such as “he
never met a stranger” will add credibility to the obituary. Also, try to avoid being overly sentimental.
Revise
Even Ernest Hemingway rewrote his
manuscripts several dozen times—and he did his work
in longhand!
Ask others to proof your copy. Reading it aloud is also a great way to catch awkward phrasings and punctuation issues.
Remember, these will probably be the last published words on your subject; you want to get them right.
