How to Create an Autobiography

Autobiographies give individuals a chance to share their life story.

Whether you are young or old, writing an autobiography can be a daunting task as it requires you to condense the events of your life into a narrative. Looking at that first blank page, you might be wondering how you will ever remember everything that you wish to say about your life. However, you may be surprised how quickly events will come back to you once you begin thinking about your life. Here are some tips to get you started.

Things You'll Need

• Word processor
• Pen
• Paper

Instructions

Remember

1. Think about your life and jot down any key moments that come to mind.

2. Write down when and where you were born and any memories from your childhood, including your first memory if you can. Don't be afraid to recall funny moments from your childhood even if they seem insignificant -- they will be sure to endear the reader to your story.

3. Write down the ten highlights of your life to date.

4. Write down any low points in your life and how you overcame them.

5. Make a list of the important people in your life and try to recall how you met and when.

6. List any important world events that happened during your lifetime and what you were doing when you found out about them.

7. Talk to friends and family for more information as you may find that they will remember things that you had forgotten. Also, talking about the events of your life with them might help you to make connections between events and how that has made you the person you are today.

Compile

1. Begin to fill out the details you have remembered by writing as much as you can about each important memory or event.

2. Structure the memories into categories or eras. For example, you should have a section concerning birth and childhood, teen years, adolescence, young adulthood and so forth.

3. Think about who your target audience is when you choose to linger on a memory. For example, a sportsman will want to write about his career as much as his personal life so make sure you have a healthy balance of information that your target audience will find interesting.

4. Write a final section about where you are in your life today and what your future hopes and aspirations are.

Review

1. Read through your first draft and take notes about which sections need changing, editing or augmenting. Leave the autobiography for a week or two and then read it again to see if you still feel the same way about the sections that may need changing. If so, make the changes and repeat the process until you feel happy with the flow of the book.

2. Give your autobiography to a few people to read. This may be hard to do but an outsider's perspective will be invaluable. Ask them to be completely honest in their feedback.

3. Consider the feedback you receive and decide if there are any parts you wish to alter.

Tips & Warnings

• Always ask someone's permission before revealing any of their personal details in your autobiography.

References

• How to Write Your Autobiography: Writing Your Memoirs; Maury M. Breecher
• Writing Smart: How to Write an Autobiography
• Life Script: "9 Tips For Writing Your Autobiography"; Jamie Simmerman; September 2007