teach sound method in accord with the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS);
help organize files and documentation to a professional standard;
evaluate analyses drawn from data;
think about next steps based on the evidence accumulated;
advise on the ins-and-outs of Jewish genealogical practice.
How sessions workEach session is one hour, by Zoom, and follows the same shape:
we review the work completed since the last session,
correct course where needed, and
assign the next task.
This assign-and-assess pairing is the core of the engagement:
a session that only assigns work, or only reviews it, doesn't fully advance the project
so every mentoring session does both.
The nitty-gritty
sessions are scheduled as we go, not sold as a fixed package
guided research works best on a steady, roughly weekly rhythm
when more than two weeks pass between sessions, momentum and continuity suffer
ideally, sessions are no more than two weeks apart
one email exchange for clarification and guidance is included between sessions
while each project will create its own demands, fewer than two sessions won't be meaningful for development and output
FeeRate$80 per session, billed individually.
A minimum of two sessions is required at sign-up: the assign-and-assess structure depends on a task being set and then reviewed, and a single session can't complete that pairing.
Beyond the two-session minimum, no number of sessions is fixed in advance. The engagement continues, session by session, until the research is far enough along that we agree together on next steps.
What HoldenWorks will do
help you identify and pursue the right records for each family line
guide you in building research logs
teach "pre-writing" methods that turn research notes into narrative blocks
advise on how to organize your files
bring documentation of each record up to a professional standard
guide the construction of your family trees
What HoldenWorks will not do
conduct research
offer manuscript editing
engage in original writing
provide legal advice
Note: the first three items in the above list are standalone services, with their own fee schedules, available elsewhere on this website.