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AUTOBIOGRAPHY in a Sentence Examples: 21 Ways to Use Autobiography
Have you ever wondered what goes into writing an autobiography? An autobiography is a self-written account of one’s own life, detailing personal experiences, memories, and moments that have shaped the individual.
Table of Contents
7 Examples Of Autobiography Used In a Sentence For Kids
14 sentences with autobiography examples, how to use autobiography in sentences.
Autobiography is a noun that refers to a written account of a person’s life, written by that person themselves. To properly use autobiography in a sentence, follow these guidelines:
Introduce the Autobiography: Begin your sentence with a clear introduction that the text is an autobiography. For example, “In his autobiography,” or “Her autobiography details.”
Use Correct Punctuation: Place the title of the autobiography in italics or quotes, following the appropriate punctuation rules.
Proper Grammar: Ensure that your sentence is grammatically correct and clearly conveys the intended meaning.
Example: In her autobiography, “Becoming,” Michelle Obama shares her journey from a young girl in Chicago to becoming the First Lady of the United States.
By following these steps and tips, you can effectively use autobiography in a sentence to accurately convey the subject and context of a person’s life story.
Autobiographical sentences serve as powerful tools for self-reflection, self-expression, and storytelling. They offer a unique window into the author’s inner life, allowing readers to connect with the author’s journey and gain a deeper understanding of their perspectives and values. Through autobiography sentences, authors create a lasting record of their lives, leaving behind a legacy that can inspire, educate, and resonate with others for generations to come.
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in a sentence ? Here are some examples. is written chastely, elegantly, self-critically and charitably.
While going through such varied sources, it is a great joy when one finds an or a biography or an unpublished piece of writing.
This will appeal most to those interested in the history of the Chattahoochee Valley.
In his he concludes, somewhat apologetically, that perhaps he preferred objects to people.
In his , My Life, he tells of his lifelong passion for golf both as a player and a commentator.
George is the survivor, the cat with nine lives, and he has an for every one of them.
In his he points to influences from punk, reggae, rock and pop with hip-hop, which really gave him his sense of direction.
It was reprinted by former LIFE editor Edward K. Thompson in his , along with the story behind it.
Nelson Mandela, for example, describes in his the depth of presence of Robben Island in the Xhosa language.
I want to say that Campion's An Angel at My Table is faithful to Frame's , specifically to the writerly vision of the writer's life.
Spanning four albums, this collection is an of her life over the past decade.
In his , he explains in detail why it did not become a worldwide business.
Every time you turn a page of his , you're going, you're kidding me, this happened?
Oskar has convinced Bruno to buy him a ream of blank white paper so that he can write out his .
It is in that episode that the larger implications of Schreiner's intricate weave of fiction and become apparent.
In his he accredits the story to Neil Collins, Bennett's Daily Telegraph counterpart.
The Times repeats, in summary, Said's false , as though it were factual.
Except for Lucy's , all the primary source materials I found are influenced by a dominant, cissexual perspective of people.
We must bear in mind that an reveals more about the mind set of its author than about factual occurrences.
In various passages from her , Hepburn, the daughter of a suffragist and birth-control crusader, sounds disconcertingly unliberated.
A vitrine contains parts of the original manuscripts for his 15,000 page novel and his 5,000-page .
Rather pettily, he made a point of correcting an error in his .
A pastiche of and post-modern plot twists, it was haunted by an off-putting tone of smug precociousness.
Note the dramatic narrative and implicit that emerge from this penetrating insight.
There is only one possible reason for a book such as this, the of a television personality.
Honesty, Amos says, is one of the advantages of committing her to CD rather than to paper.
By producing his , modest, unassuming Tom hopes he has scored a point.
The result is a literary in which the self revealed is simultaneously the self concealed.
He plainly confessed it in his , as did his ex-wife in her rather sympathetic memoir of their years together.
What gives to this its particular value is its inversion of insider-outsider positions.
Her CV, hand scrawled in a bi-tel across nine pages of A4 foolscap is a terribly poignant .
Well, you can wait for the or you can come with me to shop for formalwear.
It is not everyday that you find an so disarmingly direct and candid.
The translation represents Dante's as a prolepsis of the culminant visions in the Paradiso.
She wrote her , besides authoring books on the status of women, handicrafts and embroidery.
But if her is anything to go by, her success has come at a price.
She was so dismayed with the ghostwriter's draft of her 1998 that she rewrote it completely.
Like Jack, he contributed to the substantial body of Lindsay , a significant oeuvre in its own right.
An is an attempt to bring up all the facts, and to stick to them, faithfully and chronologically.
The golden girl of Tinseltown was due to appear at WestQuay's Waterstone's bookshop to sign copies of her new .
Ireland, in short, has no monopoly on the use of memoir, fiction, biography or as a political tool.
But one thing about now, as opposed to then, has been the rise of graphic novels, and comics biography and .
He re-read his father's and realised they shared many character traits.
Her opens with an epigraph by Virginia Woolf that firmly sets this metanarrative within a matriarchal tradition of storytelling.
Her , The Kindness of Strangers, published last year, is exceedingly short on personal detail.
His was serialized in magazines and on radio, bought by a major book club, and reprinted a number of times.
Finally, by facilitating self-discovery and personal growth, has therapeutic power.
It was published in 1937 so is probably unobtainable now, but it was a marvellous by a man who edited pulp magazines.
The covers the author's early years up to the threshold of university.
The film is not quite a confessional cry for help, but on some level it functions as scrambled .
But his does not mention the tax shelter advantages of his museum and foundation, which were hardly negligible.
He's got a book that just came out, an , in which he admits that he was a mainliner as a teen-ager.
In four volumes of and three books of journals he distilled much of the flavour of each decade of a remarkable century.
It is a unique record that pushes at the boundaries of and fiction.
Although he claims that his films should not be read as , he is a past master at transforming his life into art.
The blues sounded like , like ordinary people telling the story of their lives.
I'm always reluctant to do so because I don't want this blog to turn into by other means.
If all fiction is , then we must suggest that perhaps all autobiography is fiction.
It is part , part history, part psychological investigation of the Scottish character.
The details, he says, are pretty much straight , the sentiments also.
Indeed there is probably more fiction in than there is in fiction.
This is , and since when have we been worried about autobiography being indulgent?
He then adds in elements of , fragments of myth and history and a dose of magic realism.
Let's just say that by 30, I want to have had an international best-selling .
In a surprisingly candid , he reveals how his upbringing shaped his writing.
And members of the winning team will each receive a signed copy of his new .
In his Russell reports this sad interlude with agonized regret.
After my hit single I chose to take a year off to write my and produce this new album.
For now Ricky is busy attending book signings around the country to promote his Ricky.
Part of Harold Evans' , My paper chase, just out in paperback, describes his travels in America.
In this untypical but engaging sports , he portrays himself as a man of destiny, overcoming all obstacles in the way of England's Rugby World Cup victory.
I was intrigued to read in your that your relationship with your parents was starchy and formal, while you were close to your grandmother.
Since starting the whirlwind publicity tour to promote his , he has done his best to seem high-minded.
Like any example of oral history or the studies have both weaknesses as well as strengths.
He said he'd been working hard recently on his , which was now half finished.
It's curious that the Long Island Lolita is publishing her coincidentally with the Washington schoolteacher's release from the slammer.
Still, may be the land of the invented past but, when the person is interesting enough and the life is large enough, the compensations are considerable.
They're my particular way of writing my , the fragments of my day which make up an impression of my state of mind in a particular place.
A short is prefixed to the 1827 edition of Juvenal.
In sharp contrast to the , it tends to be prolix and muddled with excessive detail, and it often reads like a jumbled mix of fantastic stories.
After Lacroix, Man Ray spent about six years with the famed Parisian demi-mondaine Kiki de Montparnasse, to whom he devoted an entire chapter in his .
Gorgeously filmed and acted, Frida reveals the in Kahlo's art by occasionally punctuating the action with tableaux based on her paintings.
The assertive title boldly lettered on the gunmetal gray book spine makes this volume look like another tiresome by a former SAS trooper.
His memoir, in a translation that preserves the author's gorgeous, discursive style and his love of wordplay, is a social history embedded within an .
It is based on Barris's in which he claims to have led a double life as a CIA assassin, fronting game shows by day and murdering government targets by night.
Andrea described the whole scene very well in her , Talking Back to Presidents, Dictators, and Assorted Scoundrels.
Nobody writes an saying I was a loser, a failure and a fool.
Hulanicki was the subject of a 2009 documentary, Beyond Biba, based on her 2007 From A to Biba.
In his 'Still Me,' Reeves recounted how Williams helped save his life.
Her later works became even more experimental, blending elements of , history, myth, religion, and politics.
Its genre, fictional , goes back to Akkadian literature.
John Huston recalls in his , An Open Book, a time when he asked Mitchum to crawl across the grass on his elbows.
The splicing of vignettes and evokes moods wonderfully, but in later chapters, not pinned to Rembrandt, argument dissolves under the pressure.
Political anoraks who want to get ahead of the game should read Winning Back America, the former Vermont governor's recently published campaign .
In her she said curiosity had made her take the job, but 60 years on she admits she failed to let herself see the atrociousness of the regime she worked for.
I'm of another party, the one that says all is fiction.
Her art combines romantic and detached conceptualism.
The relation between and your writing is a complicated one.
Huston never publicly acknowledged that any of San Pietro was fake, not in his , not in any interview.
One wishes one of her many friends and admirers had advised her not to make her sound like a list of testimonials from famous people interspersed with anecdotes.
He penned pamphlets of protest, left his mark on Philadelphia's most significant free black institutions, and produced a moving spiritual .
After all, in her 1993 she disclosed one or two juicier titbits contained in the files, which she was allowed to see soon after the Wall came down.
His eagerly awaited is a solid good read about the life of a top international soccer star, although hardly the seminally honest account we were promised.
Along the way he offers a sort of of his bibliomania, which takes him across New England and the rest of the country searching for old books.
This image of a monastic, reclusive author, wilfully at odds with much of modernity, was confirmed by the posthumous appearance of Brown's .
Stiff cliched characters, unreal situations, and a bit too much .
The White House physician, who was not a psychiatrist, did describe Coolidge in his unpublished as being mentally unbalanced and mentally deranged.
It should not surprise anyone if it turns out that Jean Houston's is a piece of fiction, a heroic myth spun by her imagination out of the fabric of her desires.
In his early life, Oldfield used drugs including LSD, whose effects on his mental health he discussed in his .
At 13 Drew was using cocaine, and by the time she was 16 the rockily-rehabbed actress was co-authoring an about it all.
Smith was listed as the author of his , but a ghostwriter did most of the work.
At night, as creative author, the cognoscente sketched out the first draft of his expanded .
Six years later, she wrote her Prime Mimicker, chronicling her childhood and career as impressionist.
The aborigine's was also an autoethnography. It told much about the culture he grew up in.
They cover postmodernity, textuality, , masculinity, sexuality, postcoloniality, and post-theory.
Incorgnito Publishing Press has just signed martial artist and cult film legend Taimak to present his , Taimak, The Last Dragon.
The aborigine's contained much that was autoethnographic. How much more insightful into his culture than the views of a foreigner.
Following upon Patricia Cholakian's earlier work, the book frames Marguerite's life around a reading of her Heptameron as .
The Voice judge and Olympic ceremony hogger Jessie J will chat about her , Nice To Meet You.
McEwan had included a brief note at the end of Atonement, referring to Andrews's , among several other works.
In 1971, he published his , The Moon's a Balloon, which was well received, selling over five million copies.
In his , Rudolf Carnap describes Wittgenstein as the thinker who gave him the greatest inspiration.
In a fragment of dated 25 July 1894, Gladstone denounced the tax as.
Davies died at the age of 76 in 2015 and, as a tribute to his longstanding friend, Jon Gower republished Davies' in English.
Her , The Breakaway, was published in the summer of 2014 to significant critical acclaim.
The album's track titles are interwoven into the chapters of his Over the Top and Back released at the same time.
She released a second titled Keep Smiling in late 2007, this time with a very different tone than the previous.
Jenkins's , Time to Say Hello, was released on 28 January 2008, and was also serialised in The Mail on Sunday.
Much more than a methodical treatise, The Physiology of Taste is part , part theory, part axiology.
In his Slide Rule, Shute recalls writing the book twice over and rewriting large portions a third time.
Many elements of the novel follow events in Dickens's own life, and it is often considered his veiled .
Her publications, especially her The Life of Theresa of Jesus, had multiple effects.
As he relates in his , he examined the bronze powder made in Nuremberg which was the only place where it was made at the time.
According to Wainwright, in his Fellwanderer, he initially planned the series for his own interest rather than for publication.
And it was also during the phase of the higher .
Commando, the posthumously published of punk pioneer Johnny Ramone, is not a typical rock'n' roll confessional.
This is the of Nobel Peace Laureate Albert Schweitzer, published in commemoration of Schweitzer's 1949 visit to the United States.
But he has promised to return to the micro-blogging world once he has completed a follow-up to his Moab Is My Washpot.
However, he promised to return once he has finished a follow-up to his 1997 Moab Is My Washpot.
However, he has promised to return to the micro-blogging world once he has completed a follow-up to his , Moab Is My Washpot.
He covers the prehumans, the humans, chronicle, , Lucy the fossil, and Lucy the symbol.
Any interested in mobile living and yurts will find this an inspirational, revealing packed with insights and encouragement.
He also fronts his own game show, Alan Carr's Celebrity Ding Dong, has written his , and continues to perform as a stand-up.
Englund even co-wrote her bestselling 2009 , Cloris.
He made it clear to his publishers that this slim book was in no sense a full .
Lewis wrote a compellingly readable called Surprised by Joy.
He wrote his in Welsh, but said he lacked the necessary grasp of the language to employ it in his poems.
The whole novel is presented as if it were the he wrote between being forced to retire from the ministry and his eventual death.
For example, his Satyasanjeevani was meant for a women readership.
She escaped to the North in 1842 and became the first freedwoman to write her own .
Many of his novels contain elements of , and feature various locations in his native Scotland.
He had no patients according to his and his efforts as an ophthalmologist were a failure.
In 1962 Waugh began work on his , and that same year wrote his final fiction, the long short story Basil Seal Rides Again.
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, a spiritual was published in 1666, when he was still in jail.
Lynam, whose is called I Should Have Been At Work, lives in Chiswick, west London, with long-term partner Rose Diamond.
In September 2010, she published a second entitled Full Circle.
On the Fred Astaire theme, I enjoyed reading the star's , Steps In Time.
In an excerpt from his , he describes the reaction.
In 2002, MacArthur released her first entitled Taking on the World.
He has written an with the late Sky TV darts commentator Sid Waddell.
In 1971 she published her entertaining, and modest, tennis , A Game to Love.
He will also star as iconic war photographer Don McCullin in a film based on McCullin's , Unreasonable Behaviour.
A self-confessed bibliophile, this show felt like an but without any hint of sententiousness or showboating self-satisfaction.
Malala's father's story is glancingly told in her , which has been banned in Pakistan.
Andrews discovered her true parentage from her mother in 1950, although it was not publicly disclosed until her 2008 .
He then published Stone Alone, an based on scrapbooks and diaries he had been keeping since the band's early days.
Lewis also wrote an titled Surprised by Joy, which places special emphasis on his own conversion.
David Copperfield is regarded by many as a veiled of Dickens.
Who would have thought that we would end up working together when he became manager of Darlington, and that I would cowrite his ?
Scholars consider it as Dickens' veiled with the title character modeled after the author himself.
According to his , he and Shaw played cowboys in a silent film that was never released.
Much of what is known of Hooke's early life comes from an that he commenced in 1696 but never completed.
Septimius Severus does not mention her in his , though he later commemorated her with statues when he became Emperor.
Suetonius quotes Claudius' once and must have used it as a source numerous times.
Self-abasement was a Chaucerian inheritance that Shakespeare merged with the Plautine plaudite, and as such should not be mistaken for .
He wrote a boastful , recording all his great deeds.
His time there is documented in his , An Island To Oneself.
In 1997, his and art book, I Want To Spend the Rest of My Life Everywhere, with Everyone, One to One, Always, Forever, Now, was published.
He remarked in his that his keenest interests were in religion and mathematics, and that only his wish to know more mathematics kept him from suicide.
According to his , Errol Flynn and he were firm friends and rented Rosalind Russell's house at 601 North Linden Drive as a bachelor pad.
According to his , as a young man Chesterton became fascinated with the occult and, along with his brother Cecil, experimented with Ouija boards.
The texts written by Caesar, an of the most important events of his public life, are the most complete primary source for the reconstruction of his biography.
Benn's , published in 2001, is called Dark Destroyer.
It is his lesbophilia that sets Proust's narrator apart from the author, that marks the novel as a novel rather than a perverse exercise in selective .
His Changeling was published in May 2007 by Virgin Books.
She began to write her , as she expected her life to end.
It was only later in that week I had the courage to venture into my bottom drawer and pull out the synopsis of his , together with the first couple of chapters.
And when I revealed this fact in my I'm Not The Only One he took my publisher Penguin to the High Court in Edinburgh seeking to injunct publication.
But that's just what he has done, in typically exuberant, no-holds-barred fashion by detailing his life story in a volume of entitled Kickups, Hiccups, Lockups.
He's had an amazing time, he assures me, although reading between the lines of his Funny Peculiar, his path to happiness hasn't always run smooth.
In his , the South African poet Roy Campbell recalled his youth in the Dargle Valley, near the city of Pietermaritzburg, where people spoke only Gaelic and Zulu.
The photographer Eric Hosking lost his left eye after attempting to photograph a tawny owl, which inspired the title of his 1970 , An Eye for a Bird.
Freddie Foreman, a friend of the Krays, claimed in his Respect that he shot Mitchell dead as a favour to the twins and disposed of his body at sea.
Contrary to some longstanding accounts, Stewart states in his 2012 that he was never signed to the club and that the club never called him back after his trials.
Christie's makes no reference to her disappearance.
In the autumn of 2003, Sting released his , Broken Music.
In it Bunting tells his but also traces the lineage of poetry in the North back to the Viking Skaldic tradition and the Celtic bards that they went to war with.
Make your story unputdownable whether it's your , the portrait of a lost industry or town, or a speculative fiction set on another world.
We do not know who is the author of this very interesting of an old and popular coleus.
But there is one point about the book that deserves some considering, its credibility as .
The charm of these essays is a frank note of tempered by a kindly humor and whimsicality peculiar to Lamb.
The plotless narrative, reading like , of a kid who ran away from a farm in East Texas to be a cowboy in Arizona.
The volume included his loges of several academicians, and the of his great-grandfather, the first Cassini.
In addition to writing an , she authored articles and a swimming instruction book for women.
I wasted myself on too nice points, laments Brea in his deep, honest, clear-eyed .
To take them as an attempt at would be a mistake.
Writing one's life story in the form of a personal memoir or an can have immense value for benefiting posterity.
This is a powerful book of love and sociology.
May they all get thwacked over the head with Coleen McLoughlin's .
Trajectory is Malcolm's in which he writes about growing up in India with Armenian parents and an English education.
The following account of this performance is abridged from his .
An , when confronted by a careful editor with documentary evidence, is usually found to be full of obviously inadvertent errors.
He had the training that a coloured youth receives at Hampton, which, indeed, the does explain.
Gareth wrote a fanfare for Owain Arwel Hughes' 70th birthday to coincide with the launch of Owain's .
The Australian rubbished the claim made in Tendulkar's Playing It My Way, and said he never contemplated the change in captaincy.
He sat down to write his new book which was, in a way, an .
The whole episode takes about three pages of his .
Smith, in his , laments the mortality among the settlers.
So wrote Trollope in the concluding chapter of his .
I will observe, in parenthesis, that Heine says that a true is almost an impossibility, and that man is bound to lie about himself.
She broke into the industry in 1973 with her Halfbreed.
Oprah natters to Mia Farrow about her What Falls Away, giving her account of her relationship with Woody Allen, surely one of Movieland's wackiest characters.
The irrepressible charisma and unnatural good health radiated by George Zoritch in the Goldfine-Geller movie permeates every page of this anecdotal .
Rugby men don't possess a sympathetic ear for smart alecks, and that is what our Gav is now perceived to be after his controversial .
the story of an individual’s life written by that individual
Examples of Autobiography in a sentence
To learn about the deceased celebrity, you should read the autobiography he wrote about his life. 🔊
It was interesting to listen to the actress share a memory she had included in her autobiography. 🔊
During the interview, the singer took a few moments to promote the autobiography he penned about his college days. 🔊
Writing my autobiography has been difficult because my childhood was unpleasant. 🔊
While an autobiography is self-written, a biography is written by someone other than the book’s subject. 🔊
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Literary Terms
Autobiography
Definition & Examples
When & How to Write Autobiography
I. What is Autobiography?
An autobiography is a self-written life story.
It is different from a biography , which is the life story of a person written by someone else. Some people may have their life story written by another person because they don’t believe they can write well, but they are still considered an author because they are providing the information. Reading autobiographies may be more interesting than biographies because you are reading the thoughts of the person instead of someone else’s interpretation.
II. Examples of Autobiography
One of the United States’ forefathers wrote prolifically (that means a lot!) about news, life, and common sense. His readings, quotes, and advice are still used today, and his face is on the $100 bill. Benjamin Franklin’s good advice is still used through his sayings, such as “We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.” He’s also the one who penned the saying that’s seen all over many schools: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” His autobiography is full of his adventures , philosophy about life, and his wisdom. His autobiography shows us how much he valued education through his anecdotes (stories) of his constant attempts to learn and improve himself. He also covers his many ideas on his inventions and his thoughts as he worked with others in helping the United States become free from England.
III. Types of Autobiography
There are many types of autobiographies. Authors must decide what purpose they have for writing about their lives, and then they can choose the format that would best tell their story. Most of these types all share common goals: helping themselves face an issue by writing it down, helping others overcome similar events, or simply telling their story.
a. Full autobiography (traditional):
This would be the complete life story, starting from birth through childhood, young adulthood, and up to the present time at which the book is being written. Authors might choose this if their whole lives were very different from others and could be considered interesting.
There are many types of memoirs – place, time, philosophic (their theory on life), occupational, etc. A memoir is a snapshot of a person’s life. It focuses on one specific part that stands out as a learning experience or worth sharing.
c. Psychological illness
People who have suffered mental illness of any kind find it therapeutic to write down their thoughts. Therapists are specialists who listen to people’s problems and help them feel better, but many people find writing down their story is also helpful.
d. Confession
Just as people share a psychological illness, people who have done something very wrong may find it helps to write down and share their story. Sharing the story may make one feel he or she is making amends (making things right), or perhaps hopes that others will learn and avoid the same mistake.
e. Spiritual
Spiritual and religious experiences are very personal . However, many people feel that it’s their duty and honor to share these stories. They may hope to pull others into their beliefs or simply improve others’ lives.
f. Overcoming adversity
Unfortunately, many people do not have happy, shining lives. Terrible events such as robberies, assaults, kidnappings, murders, horrific accidents, and life-threatening illnesses are common in some lives. Sharing the story can inspire others while also helping the person express deep emotions to heal.
IV. The Importance of Autobiography
Autobiographies are an important part of history. Being able to read the person’s own ideas and life stories is getting the first-person story versus the third-person (he-said/she-said) version. In journalism, reporters go to the source to get an accurate account of an event. The same is true when it comes to life stories. Reading the story from a second or third source will not be as reliable. The writer may be incorrectly explaining and describing the person’s life events.
Autobiographies are also important because they allow other people in similar circumstances realize that they are not alone. They can be inspiring for those who are facing problems in their lives. For the author, writing the autobiography allows them to heal as they express their feelings and opinions. Autobiographies are also an important part of history.
V. Examples of Autobiography in Literature
A popular autobiography that has lasted almost 100 years is that of Helen Keller. Her life story has been made into numerous movies and plays. Her teacher, Anne Sullivan, has also had her life story written and televised multiple times. Students today still read and learn about this young girl who went blind and deaf at 19 months of age, causing her to also lose her ability to learn to speak. Sullivan’s entrance into Helen’s life when the girl was seven was the turning point. She learned braille and soon became an activist for helping blind and deaf people across the nation. She died in 1968, but her autobiography is still helping others.
Even in the days before my teacher came, I used to feel along the square stiff boxwood hedges, and, guided by the sense of smell, would find the first violets and lilies. There, too, after a fit of temper, I went to find comfort and to hide my hot face in the cool leaves and grass. What joy it was to lose myself in that garden of flowers, to wander happily from spot to spot, until, coming suddenly upon a beautiful vine, I recognized it by its leaves and blossoms, and knew it was the vine which covered the tumble-down summer-house at the farther end of the garden! (Keller).
An autobiography that many middle and high school students read every year is “Night” by Elie Wiesel. His story is also a memoir, covering his teen years as he and his family went from the comfort of their own home to being forced into a Jewish ghetto with other families, before ending up in a Nazi prison camp. His book is not that long, but the details and description he uses brings to life the horrors of Hitler’s reign of terror in Germany during World War II. Students also read “The Diary of Anne Frank,” another type of autobiography that shows a young Jewish girl’s daily life while hiding from the Nazis to her eventual capture and death in a German camp. Both books are meant to remind us to not be indifferent to the world’s suffering and to not allow hate to take over.
“The people were saying, “The Red Army is advancing with giant strides…Hitler will not be able to harm us, even if he wants to…” Yes, we even doubted his resolve to exterminate us. Annihilate an entire people? Wipe out a population dispersed throughout so many nations? So many millions of people! By what means? In the middle of the twentieth century! And thus my elders concerned themselves with all manner of things—strategy, diplomacy, politics, and Zionism—but not with their own fate. Even Moishe the Beadle had fallen silent. He was weary of talking. He would drift through synagogue or through the streets, hunched over, eyes cast down, avoiding people’s gaze. In those days it was still possible to buy emigration certificates to Palestine. I had asked my father to sell everything, to liquidate everything, and to leave” (Wiesel 8).
VI. Examples of Autobiography in Pop Culture
One example of an autobiography that was a hit in the movie theaters is “American Sniper,” the story of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. According to an article in the Dallas, Texas, magazine D, Kyle donated all the proceeds from the film to veterans and their families. He had a story to tell, and he used it to help others. His story is a memoir, focusing on a specific time period of his life when he was overseas in the military.
An autobiography by a young Olympian is “Grace, Gold and Glory: My Leap of Faith” by Gabrielle (Gabby) Douglas. She had a writer, Michelle Burford, help her in writing her autobiography. This is common for those who have a story to tell but may not have the words to express it well. Gabby was the darling of the 2012 Olympics, winning gold medals for the U.S. in gymnastics along with being the All-Around Gold Medal winner, the first African-American to do so. Many young athletes see her as an inspiration. Her story also became a television movie, “The Gabby Douglas Story.”
VII. Related Terms
The life story of one person written by another. The purpose may to be highlight an event or person in a way to help the public learn a lesson, feel inspired, or to realize that they are not alone in their circumstance. Biographies are also a way to share history. Historic and famous people may have their biographies written by many authors who research their lives years after they have died.
VIII. Conclusion
Autobiographies are a way for people to share stories that may educate, inform, persuade, or inspire others. Many people find writing their stories to be therapeutic, healing them beyond what any counseling might do or as a part of the counseling. Autobiographies are also a way to keep history alive by allowing people in the present learn about those who lived in the past. In the future, people can learn a lot about our present culture by reading autobiographies by people of today.
List of Terms
Alliteration
Amplification
Anachronism
Anthropomorphism
Antonomasia
APA Citation
Aposiopesis
Bildungsroman
Characterization
Circumlocution
Cliffhanger
Comic Relief
Connotation
Deus ex machina
Deuteragonist
Doppelganger
Double Entendre
Dramatic irony
Equivocation
Extended Metaphor
Figures of Speech
Flash-forward
Foreshadowing
Intertextuality
Juxtaposition
Literary Device
Malapropism
Onomatopoeia
Parallelism
Pathetic Fallacy
Personification
Point of View
Polysyndeton
Protagonist
Red Herring
Rhetorical Device
Rhetorical Question
Science Fiction
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Synesthesia
Turning Point
Understatement
Urban Legend
Verisimilitude
Essay Guide
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autobiography
Definition of autobiography
Examples of autobiography in a sentence.
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'autobiography.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
auto- + biography , perhaps after German Autobiographie
Kids definition of autobiography, more from merriam-webster on autobiography.
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for autobiography
Nglish: Translation of autobiography for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of autobiography for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about autobiography
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What Is an Autobiography?
What to Consider Before You Start to Write
Writing Research Papers
Writing Essays
English Grammar
M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
B.A., History, Armstrong State University
Your life story, or autobiography , should contain the basic framework that any essay should have, with four basic elements. Begin with an introduction that includes a thesis statement , followed by a body containing at least several paragraphs , if not several chapters. To complete the autobiography, you'll need a strong conclusion , all the while crafting an interesting narrative with a theme.
Did You Know?
The word autobiography literally means SELF (auto), LIFE (bio), WRITING (graph). Or, in other words, an autobiography is the story of someone's life written or otherwise told by that person.
When writing your autobiography, find out what makes your family or your experience unique and build a narrative around that. Doing some research and taking detailed notes can help you discover the essence of what your narrative should be and craft a story that others will want to read.
Research Your Background
Just like the biography of a famous person, your autobiography should include things like the time and place of your birth, an overview of your personality, your likes and dislikes, and the special events that shaped your life. Your first step is to gather background detail. Some things to consider:
What is interesting about the region where you were born?
How does your family history relate to the history of that region?
Did your family come to that region for a reason?
It might be tempting to start your story with "I was born in Dayton, Ohio...," but that is not really where your story begins. It's better to start with an experience. You may wish to start with something like why you were born where you were and how your family's experience led to your birth. If your narrative centers more around a pivotal moment in your life, give the reader a glimpse into that moment. Think about how your favorite movie or novel begins, and look for inspiration from other stories when thinking about how to start your own.
Think About Your Childhood
You may not have had the most interesting childhood in the world, but everyone has had a few memorable experiences. Highlight the best parts when you can. If you live in a big city, for instance, you should realize that many people who grew up in the country have never ridden a subway, walked to school, ridden in a taxi, or walked to a store a few blocks away.
On the other hand, if you grew up in the country you should consider that many people who grew up in the suburbs or inner city have never eaten food straight from a garden, camped in their backyards, fed chickens on a working farm, watched their parents canning food, or been to a county fair or a small-town festival.
Something about your childhood will always seem unique to others. You just have to step outside your life for a moment and address the readers as if they knew nothing about your region and culture. Pick moments that will best illustrate the goal of your narrative, and symbolism within your life.
Consider Your Culture
Your culture is your overall way of life , including the customs that come from your family's values and beliefs. Culture includes the holidays you observe, the customs you practice, the foods you eat, the clothes you wear, the games you play, the special phrases you use, the language you speak, and the rituals you practice.
As you write your autobiography, think about the ways that your family celebrated or observed certain days, events, and months, and tell your audience about special moments. Consider these questions:
What was the most special gift you ever received? What was the event or occasion surrounding that gift?
Is there a certain food that you identify with a certain day of the year?
Is there an outfit that you wear only during a special event?
Think honestly about your experiences, too. Don't just focus on the best parts of your memories; think about the details within those times. While Christmas morning may be a magical memory, you might also consider the scene around you. Include details like your mother making breakfast, your father spilling his coffee, someone upset over relatives coming into town, and other small details like that. Understanding the full experience of positives and negatives helps you paint a better picture for the reader and lead to a stronger and more interesting narrative. Learn to tie together all the interesting elements of your life story and craft them into an engaging essay.
Establish the Theme
Once you have taken a look at your own life from an outsider’s point of view, you will be able to select the most interesting elements from your notes to establish a theme. What was the most interesting thing you came up with in your research? Was it the history of your family and your region? Here is an example of how you can turn that into a theme:
"Today, the plains and low hills of southeastern Ohio make the perfect setting for large cracker box-shaped farmhouses surrounded by miles of corn rows. Many of the farming families in this region descended from the Irish settlers who came rolling in on covered wagons in the 1830s to find work building canals and railways. My ancestors were among those settlers."
A little bit of research can make your own personal story come to life as a part of history, and historical details can help a reader better understand your unique situation. In the body of your narrative, you can explain how your family’s favorite meals, holiday celebrations, and work habits relate to Ohio history.
One Day as a Theme
You also can take an ordinary day in your life and turn it into a theme. Think about the routines you followed as a child and as an adult. Even a mundane activity like household chores can be a source of inspiration.
For example, if you grew up on a farm, you know the difference between the smell of hay and wheat, and certainly that of pig manure and cow manure—because you had to shovel one or all of these at some point. City people probably don’t even know there is a difference. Describing the subtle differences of each and comparing the scents to other scents can help the reader imagine the situation more clearly.
If you grew up in the city, you how the personality of the city changes from day to night because you probably had to walk to most places. You know the electricity-charged atmosphere of the daylight hours when the streets bustle with people and the mystery of the night when the shops are closed and the streets are quiet.
Think about the smells and sounds you experienced as you went through an ordinary day and explain how that day relates to your life experience in your county or your city:
"Most people don’t think of spiders when they bite into a tomato, but I do. Growing up in southern Ohio, I spent many summer afternoons picking baskets of tomatoes that would be canned or frozen and preserved for cold winter’s dinners. I loved the results of my labors, but I’ll never forget the sight of the enormous, black and white, scary-looking spiders that lived in the plants and created zigzag designs on their webs. In fact, those spiders, with their artistic web creations, inspired my interest in bugs and shaped my career in science."
One Event as a Theme
Perhaps one event or one day of your life made such a big impact that it could be used as a theme. The end or beginning of the life of another can affect our thoughts and actions for a long time:
"I was 12 years old when my mother passed away. By the time I was 15, I had become an expert in dodging bill collectors, recycling hand-me-down jeans, and stretching a single meal’s worth of ground beef into two family dinners. Although I was a child when I lost my mother, I was never able to mourn or to let myself become too absorbed in thoughts of personal loss. The fortitude I developed at a young age was the driving force that would see me through many other challenges."
Writing the Essay
Whether you determine that your life story is best summed up by a single event, a single characteristic, or a single day, you can use that one element as a theme . You will define this theme in your introductory paragraph .
Create an outline with several events or activities that relate back to your central theme and turn those into subtopics (body paragraphs) of your story. Finally, tie up all your experiences in a summary that restates and explains the overriding theme of your life.
Revising a Paper
What Is a Bibliography?
How to Write a Solid Thesis Statement
Et Al. Meaning and How to Use It
5 Steps to Writing a Position Paper
Words, Phrases, and Arguments to Use in Persuasive Writing
The Introductory Paragraph: Start Your Paper Off Right
How to Find Trustworthy Sources
Research Paper Writing Checklist
How Long Should My Paper Be?
How Can You Stretch a Paper to Make it Longer?
How to Write a News Article That's Effective
Writing an Annotated Bibliography for a Paper
When to Cite a Source in a Paper
Convince Me: A Persuasive Writing Activity
Finding Trustworthy Sources
15 Autobiography Examples to Inspire Your Own
So you’re ready to write an autobiography ! Congratulations; this can be a gratifying personal project. And just like any creative endeavor, it’s a great idea to start by getting inspired.
In this article, we’re sharing 15 stellar autobiography examples to get your wheels turning. We’ll also share some need-to-know info on the different types of autobiographies and autobiography layouts, and we’ll leave you with a list of catchy ways to start your book. Let’s get going!
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In this article, we’ll explore:
What are the different types of autobiographies .
As it turns out, there are many different ways to write a book about yourself. You can go the traditional autobiography route, which is a chronological account of your entire life. Or you can write a memoir , which zeroes in on specific themes or time periods in your life.
If you’d like, your autobiography can be composed of individual personal essays, or you can blend your autobiography with literary techniques to create a piece of creative nonfiction .
There are graphic autobiographies that use comics or other combinations of images and text to illustrate your life story, or you can simply publish an edited version of your journal or diary .
You can write a travelog that documents your life through your adventures or blend elements of your life with made-up stories to create autobiographical fiction .
When it comes to sharing your life story, there are few rules!
How can I lay out my autobiography?
Did you know there are multiple ways you can structure your autobiography? The most common is to put it in chronological order . But you can also lay out your book in reverse chronological order or even jump around in time .
Here are a few other layouts to consider:
Thematic or topical . As you outline your autobiography, pay attention to themes that emerge. You can lay out your autobiography by central ideas rather than by time.
Flashback and flash-forward. This nonlinear approach can be a great way to create some excitement and intrigue in your life story.
Cyclical structure. Is there one event that you feel defined your life story? Why not try circling back to it throughout your book? This can be an interesting way to demonstrate how your perspective changed with time.
If you need a little more help laying out your autobiography, we have free autobiography templates and free book templates to help you.
Related: 50 Eye-Catching Autobiography Titles
15 Autobiographies to inspire your own
Ready to get your creative juices flowing? Here are some examples of autobiography to add to your reading list.
1. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
One of the best-known autobiographies, The Diary of a Young Girl, is an excellent example of a journal-style layout. Featuring the story of a young girl who is hiding during the Holocaust, aspiring writers will find inspiration in Frank’s raw emotions and candor.
2. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
A favorite of Steve Jobs, this autobiography details the author’s spiritual journey through yoga and meditation. It’s a wonderful example of how to blend the recounting of events with spiritual insights and philosophical teachings.
3. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
The former South African president wrote this stunning autobiography about his struggle against apartheid, his imprisonment, and his presidency. Aspiring autobiography writers who want to write a book about social change should read this one.
4. The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi
In his autobiography, Gandhi explores his philosophy of nonviolent resistance through his political and spiritual journey. Writers will appreciate this book for the way it weaves stories of personal growth into a larger narrative of social change.
5. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
One of several autobiographical works by Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings explores her coming-of-age experience amidst racism and a traumatic childhood. Writers should read this to hear Angelou’s powerful story and be inspired by her vivid language.
6. The Story of My Life by Hellen Keller
Keller details her remarkable life as a deaf and blind person, sharing intimate details about her education and advocacy work. Aspiring writers will benefit from reading Keller’s sensory-rich language since she has the unique experience of navigating the world through touch.
7. The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X
This autobiography, written in collaboration with journalist Alex Haley, tracks Malcolm X from his youth through his adulthood as a prominent activist in the civil rights movement. Read this one to learn tips and tricks for writing about your personal evolution.
8. The Story of My Life by Clarence Darrow
Darrow shares his experiences as a civil libertarian and prominent American Lawyer in this enlightening autobiography. Writers should read this one to learn how to build a persuasive argument in their book.
9. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
South African comedian, television host, and political commentator Trevor Noah wrote this autobiography detailing his upbringing during apartheid in South Africa. This is a must-read for writers who are looking to infuse humor into their autobiographies—even when writing about heavy subjects .
10. I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
In her autobiography, Yousafzia recounts her tumultuous and sometimes terrifying journey advocating for equal education for girls. If you want to write your own autobiography, read this one first to learn how to bring an authentic voice to your narrative.
11. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Boom’s autobiography shares the harrowing story of her family’s efforts to hide Jews from the Nazis during World War II. Writers should read this to witness how Boom weaves a historical narrative into her life story.
12. Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie
Renowned mystery writer Agatha Christie took time away from her suspenseful novels to write a book about herself. If you plan to write an autobiography, read Christie’s first to learn how to build a sense of intrigue.
13. Chronicles: Volume 1 by Bob Dylan
If you’re an artist writing your autobiography, you’ll be inspired by Dylan’s. It shares his unique perspective on the creative process in music and literature and delves into what it means to maintain your artistic vision.
14. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
This well-known autobiography may make you cry, but it’s well worth the read. Written by a surgeon as he faces a terminal illness, it’s a must-read for any author exploring themes of mortality in their writing.
15. Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama
This autobiography by the former U.S. president is a great read for anyone aspiring to write an autobiography that intertwines their personal story with a larger societal and political narrative.
31 Best Autobiographies
30 Celebrity Autobiographies
What is a catchy autobiography introduction?
Sometimes the hardest part of a new project is getting started. If you’re ready to begin writing your autobiography and need a good opener, here are some angles to consider:
Start by describing a childhood dream and how it influenced your journey.
Open with a letter to your younger self.
Share a formative childhood memory.
Start with a thought-provoking question you’ll answer as your book progresses.
Talk about an object that’s meaningful to you and tie it to a larger story about your life.
With so much inspiration and so many wonderful resources, there’s never been a better time to write your autobiography. If, after reading a few books on this list, you’re not sure where to start with yours—let us help! Just sign up for a book consultation to get started.
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How To Write an Autobiography 2024 (Tips, Templates, & Guide)
Your life story has value, merit, and significance. You want to share it with the world, but maybe you don’t know how .
Here’s how to write an autobiography:
Write an autobiography by creating a list of the most important moments, people, and places in your life. Gather photos, videos, letters, and notes about these experiences. Then, use an outline, templates, sentence starters, and questions to help you write your autobiography .
In this article, you are going to learn the fastest method for writing your autobiography.
We are going to cover everything you need to know with examples and a free, downloadable, done-for-you template.
What Is an Autobiography?
Table of Contents
Before you can write an autobiography, you must first know the definition.
An autobiography is the story of your life, written by you. It covers the full span of your life (at least, up until now), hitting on the most significant moments, people and events.
When you write your autobiography, you write an intimate account of your life.
What Should I Include In an Autobiography?
If you are scratching your head, baffled about what to include in your autobiography, you are not alone.
After all, a big part of how to write an autobiography is knowing what to put in and what to leave out of your life story. Do you focus on every detail?
Every person? Won’t your autobiography be too long?
A good way to think about how to write an autobiography is to use the Movie Trailer Method.
What do movie trailers include?
High emotional moments
The big events
The most important characters
When you plan, organize, and write your autobiography, keep the Movie Trailer Method in mind. You can even watch a bunch of free movie trailers on YouTube for examples of how to write an autobiography using the Movie Trailer Method.
When wondering what to include in your autobiography, focus on what would make the cut for a movie trailer of your life:
Most important people (like family, friends, mentors, coaches, etc.)
Significant events (like your origin story, vacations, graduations, life turning points, life lessons)
Emotional moments (When you were homeless, when you battled a life-threatening condition, or when you fell in love)
Drama or suspense (Did you make it into Harvard? Did your first surgery go well? Did your baby survive?)
Autobiography Structure Secrets
Like any compelling story, a well-structured autobiography often follows a pattern that creates a logical flow and captures readers’ attention.
Traditionally, autobiographies begin with early memories, detailing the writer’s childhood, family background, and the events or people that shaped their formative years.
From here, the narrative typically progresses chronologically, covering major life events like schooling, friendships, challenges, achievements, career milestones, and personal relationships.
It’s essential to weave these events with introspective insights.
This allows readers to understand not just the what, but also the why behind the author’s choices and experiences.
Towards the end, an effective autobiography often includes reflections on lessons learned, changes in perspective over time, and the wisdom acquired along life’s journey.
Example of the Structure:
Introduction: A gripping event or anecdote that gives readers a hint of what to expect. It could be a pivotal moment or challenge that defines the essence of the story.
Childhood and Early Memories: Recounting family dynamics, birthplace, cultural background, and memorable incidents from early years.
Adolescence and Discovering Identity: Experiences during teenage years, challenges faced, friendships formed, and personal evolutions.
Pursuits and Passions: Describing education, early career choices, or any particular hobby or skill that played a significant role in the author’s life.
Major Life Events and Challenges: Chronicles of marriage, parenthood, career shifts, or any significant setbacks and how they were overcome.
Achievements and Milestones: Celebrating major accomplishments and recounting the journey to achieving them.
Reflections and Wisdom: Sharing life lessons, changes in beliefs or values over time, and offering insights gained from lived experiences.
Conclusion: Summarizing the journey, contemplating on the present state, and sharing hopes or aspirations for the future.
How To Write an Autobiography Quickly: Strategies & Templates
Want the quickest way to organize and write your autobiography in record time? You can literally write your autobiography in 7 days or less with this method.
The secret is to use done-for-you templates.
I have personally designed and collected a series of templates to take you from a blank page to a fully complete Autobiography. I call this the How to Write an Autobiography Blueprint.
And it’s completely free to download right from this article. 🙂
In the How to Write an Autobiography Blueprint, you get:
The Autobiography Questions Template
The Autobiography Brainstorm Templates
The Autobiography Outline Template
Here is an image of it so that you know exactly what you get when you download it:
How To Write an Autobiography: Step-by-Step
When you sit down to write an autobiography, it’s helpful to have a step-by-step blueprint to follow.
You already have the done-for-you templates that you can use to organize and write an autobiography faster than ever before. Now here’s a complete step-by-step guide on how to maximize your template.
Brainstorm Ideas
Order your sections (from medium to high interest)
Order the ideas in each section (from medium to high interest)
Write three questions to answer in each section
Choose a starter sentence
Complete a title template
Write each section of your by completing the starter sentence and answering all three questions
Brainstorm Your Autobiography
The first step in writing your autobiography is to brainstorm.
Give yourself time and space to write down the most significant people, events, lessons, and experiences in your life. The templates in the How to Write an Autobiography Blueprint provide sections for you to write down your brainstormed ideas.
This will help you organize your ideas into what will become the major sections of your book.
These will be:
Y our most significant events and experiences.
The people who impacted you the most.
The challenges you have overcome.
Your achievements and successes.
The lessons you have learned.
The “other” sections on the second page of the Brainstorm template is for creating your own sections or to give you more space for the sections I provided in case you run out of space.
As I brainstorm, I find asking myself specific questions really activates my imagination.
So I have compiled a list of compelling questions to help you get ideas down on paper or on your screen.
Order Your Sections (From Medium to High Interest)
The next step is to order your main sections.
The main sections are the five (or more) sections from your Brainstorm templates (Significant events, significant people, life lessons, challenges, successes, other, etc). This order will become the outline and chapters for your book.
How do you decide what comes first, second or third?
I recommend placing the sections in order of interest. Ask yourself, “What’s the most fascinating part of my life?”
If it’s a person, then write the name of that section (Significant People) on the last line in the How to Write an Autobiography Outline Template. If it’s an experience, place the name of that section (Significant Events) on the last line.
For example, if you met the Pope, you might want to end with that nugget from your life. If you spent three weeks lost at sea and survived on a desert island by spearfishing, that is your ending point.
Then complete the Outline by placing the remaining sections in order of interest. You can work your way backward from high interest to medium interest.
If you are wondering why I say “medium to high interest” instead of “low to high interest” it is because there should be no “low interest” parts of your autobiography.
But wait, what if you met the Pope AND spent three weeks lost at sea? How do you choose which one comes first or last?
First of all, I want to read this book! Second, when in doubt, default to chronological order. Whatever event happened first, start there.
Here is an example of how it might look:
Order The Ideas in Each Section (From Medium To High Interest)
Now, organize the ideas inside of each section. Again, order the ideas from medium to high interest).
Within your “Significant People” section, decide who you want to talk about first, second, third, etc. You can organize by chronological order (who you met first) but I recommend building to the most interesting or most significant person.
This creates a more compelling read.
Keep in mind that the most significant person might not be the most well-known, most famous, or most popular. The most significant person might be your family member, friend, partner, or child.
It comes down to who shaped your life the most.
So, if your “significant people list” includes your dad, a famous social media influencer, and Mike Tyson, your dad might come last because he had the biggest significance in your life.
Write Three Questions to Answer in Each Section
Ok, you’ve done the heavy lifting already. You have the major sections organized and outlined.
Next on your autobiography to-do list is to choose and write down three questions you are going to answer in each section. You can write your questions down in the provided “boxes” for each section on the template outline (or on another piece of paper.
This is easier than it might seem.
Simply choose one of the sample autobiography questions below or create your own:
Why did I choose this person/event?
What does this person/event mean to me?
How did I meet this person?
Where did it happen?
When did it happen?
Why did it happen?
How did it happen?
What is the most interesting part?
How did I feel about this person or event?
How do I feel now?
Why does this person or event matters to me?
How did this person or event change my life?
What is the most challenging part?
How did I fail?
How did I succeed?
What did I learn?
Questions are the perfect way to write quickly and clearly. I LOVE writing to questions. It’s how I write these blog posts and articles.
Choose a Starter Sentence
Sometimes the hardest part of any project is knowing how to start.
Even though we know we can always go back and edit our beginnings, so many of us become paralyzed with indecision at the starting gate.
That’s why I provided sample starter sentences in your How to Write an Autobiography Blueprint.
Here are the story starters:
I began writing this book when…
Of all the experiences in my life, this one was the most…
I’ve been a…
My name is…
Growing up in…
It wasn’t even a…
It all started when…
I first…
I was born…
Keep in mind that you do not need to begin your book with one of these story starters. I provide them simply to get you going.
The key is to not get bogged down in this, or any, part of writing your autobiography. Get organized and then get writing.
Complete a Title Template
At the top of the How to Write an Autobiography Outline is a place for you to write your book title.
Some authors struggle forever with a title. And that’s ok. What’s not ok is getting stuck. What’s not ok is if coming up with your title prevents you from finishing your book.
So, I provided a few title templates to help juice your creativity.
Just like the story starters, you do not need to use these title templates, but you certainly can. All you need to do is fill in the title templates below and then write your favorite one (for now) at the top of your outline. Presto! You have your working title.
You can always go back and change it later.
How to Write an Autobiography Title templates:
[Your Name]: [Phrase or Tag Line]
The [Your Last Name] Files
Born [Activity]: A [Career]’s Life
The Perfect [Noun]: The Remarkable Life of [Your Name]
Examples using the Templates:
Christopher Kokoski: Blog Until You Drop
The Kokoski Files
Born Writing: A Blogger’s Life
The Perfect Freelancer: The Remarkable Life of Christopher Kokoski
Write Your Autobiography
You have your outline. You have your title, templates, and sentence starters. All that is left to do is write your autobiography.
However, you can use tools like Jasper AI and a few other cool tricks to craft the most riveting book possible.
This is the easy way to remarkable writing.
Check out this short video that goes over the basics of how to write an autobiography:
How To Write an Autobiography (All the Best Tips)
Now that you are poised and ready to dash out your first draft, keep the following pro tips in mind:
Be vulnerable. The best autobiographies share flaws, faults, foibles, and faux pas. Let readers in on the real you.
Skip the boring parts. There is no need to detail every meal, car ride, or a gripping trip to the grocery store. Unless you ran into the Russian Mafia near the vegetables or the grocery store is perched on the side of a mountain above the jungles of Brazil.
Keep your autobiography character-driven . This is the story of YOU!
Be kind to others (or don’t). When writing about others in your story, keep in mind that there may be fallout or backlash from your book.
Consider a theme: Many autobiographies are organized by theme. A perfect example is Becoming . Each section of the book includes “becoming” in the title. Themes connect and elevate each part of the autobiography.
Write your story in vignettes (or scenes). Each vignette is a mini-story with a beginning, middle, and end. Each vignette builds. Each vignette should be described in rich sensory language that shows the reader the experience instead of telling the reader about the experience. Each vignette is immersive, immediate, and intimate.
Include snippets of dialogue. Use quotation marks just like in fiction. Show the dialogue in brief back-and-forth tennis matches of conversation. Remember to leave the boring parts out!
Choose a consistent tone. Some autobiographies are funny like Bossy Pants by Tina Fey. Others are serious such as Open by Andre Agassi. Your story (like most stories) will likely include a mix of emotions but choose an overall tone and stick with it.
Don’t chronicle, captivate . Always think about how to make each section, each chapter, each page, each paragraph, and each sentence more compelling. You want to tell the truth, but HOW you tell the truth is up to you. Create suspense, conflict, and mystery. Let drama linger until it becomes uncomfortable. Don’t solve problems quickly or take away tension right away.
How Do I Format an Autobiography?
Most autobiographies are written in the first person (using the pronouns I, me, we, and us).
Your autobiography is written about you so write as yourself instead of pretending to be writing about someone else.
Most autobiographies are also written in chronological order, from birth right up to your current age, with all the boring parts left out. That doesn’t mean you can’t play around with the timeline.
Sometimes it’s more interesting to start at a high moment, backtrack to the beginning and show how you got to that high moment.
Whatever format you choose, be intentional, and make the choice based on making the most compelling experience possible for your readers.
How Long Should an Autobiography Be?
There are no rules to how long an autobiography should be but a rough guideline is to aim for between 200 and 400 pages.
This will keep your book in line with what most readers expect for books in general, and will help get your book traditionally published or help with marketing your self-published book.
How To Write a Short Autobiography
You write a short autobiography the same way that you write a long autobiography.
You simply leave more out of the story.
You cut everything down to the bones. Or you choose a slice of your life as you do in a memoir. This often means limiting the people in your book, reducing the events and experiences, and shrinking your story to a few pivotal moments in your life.
How To Start an Autobiography
The truth is that you can start your autobiography in any number of ways.
Here are four common ways to begin an autobiography.
Start at the beginning (of your life, career or relationship, etc.)
Start at a high moment of drama or interest.
Start at the end of the story and work backward
Start with why you wrote the book.
Good Autobiography Titles
If you are still stuck on titling your autobiography, consider going to Amazon to browse published works. You can even just Google “autobiographies.”
When you read the titles of 10, 20, or 50 other autobiographies, you will start to see patterns or get ideas for your own titles. (HINT: the title templates in the Autobiography Blueprint were reverse-engineered from popular published books.
Also, check out the titles of the full autobiography examples below that I have included right here in this article.
Types of Autobiographies
There are several different kinds of autobiographies.
Each one requires a similar but slightly nuanced approach to write effectively. The lessons in this article will serve as a great starting point.
Autobiography Types:
Autobiography for School
Autobiography Novel
Autobiography for a Job
Short Autobiography
Autobiography for Kids
Therefore, there is actually not just one way to write an autobiography.
Memoir vs. Autobiography: Are They The Same?
It’s common to feel confused about a memoir and an autobiography. I used to think they were the same thing.
But, nope, they’re not.
They are pretty similar, which is the reason for all the confusion. A memoir is the story of one part of your life. An autobiography is the story of your full life (up until now).
What Is the Difference Between an Autobiography and a Biography?
An autobiography is when you write about your own life. A biography, on the other hand, is when you write the story of someone else’s life.
So, if I write a book about the life of the President, that’s a biography.
If the President writes a story about his or her own life, that’s an autobiography.
What Not To Include In an Autobiography
Autobiographies are meant to be a snapshot of our lives that we can share with others, but there are some things that are best left out.
Here are three things you should avoid including in your autobiography:
1) Anything That Readers Will Skip
Your life may not be filled with non-stop excitement, but that doesn’t mean you need to include every mundane detail in your autobiography.
Stick to the highlights and leave out the low points.
2) Character Attacks on Others
It’s okay to discuss conflicts you’ve had with others, but don’t use your autobiography as a platform to attack someone’s character.
Keep it civil and focus on your own experiences and how they’ve affected you.
3) Skipping Highlights
Just because something embarrassing or painful happened to you doesn’t mean you should gloss over it in your autobiography.
These are the moments that shape us and make us who we are today, so don’t skip past them just because they’re uncomfortable.
By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your autobiography is interesting, honest, and engaging.
How To Write an Autobiography: Autobiography Examples
I have always found examples to be extremely instructive. Especially complete examples of finished products. In this case, books.
Below you will find examples of published autobiographies for adults and for kids. These examples will guide you, motivate you and inspire you to complete your own life story.
They are listed here as examples, not as endorsements, although I think they are all very good.
The point is that you don’t have to agree with anything written in the books to learn from them.
Autobiography Examples for Adults
A Promised Land (Autobiography of Barack Obama)
If You Ask Me: (And of Course You Won’t) (Betty White)
It’s a Long Story: My Life (Willie Nelson)
Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography (Rob Lowe)
Becoming (Michelle Obama)
Autobiography Examples for Kids
This Kid Can Fly: It’s About Ability (NOT Disability) (Aaron Philips)
Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid (Mikaila Ulmer)
Tools to Write Your Autobiography
Here are some recommended tools to help you write your autobiography:
Recommended Tools
Learn More
Jasper AI
Show Not Tell GPT
Dragon Professional Speech Dictation and Voice Recognition
Surface Laptop
Bluehost
Sqribble (eBook maker)
Final Thoughts: How To Write An Autobiography
Thank you for reading my article on How to Write an Autobiography.
Now that you know all of the secrets to write your book, you may want to get it published, market it, and continue to upskill yourself as an author.
In that case, read these posts next:
Can Anyone Write A Book And Get It Published?
The Best Writing Books For Beginners 2022 (My 10 Favorites)
Why Do Writers Hate Adverbs? (The Final Answer)
How To Write a Manifesto: 20 Ultimate Game-Changing Tips
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Writing an autobiography template isn’t an easy undertaking. When written, there will be as many life stories as there are people. What will make an autobiographical essay stand out are the essential topics.
Those which will make it unique among the rest, sorting out the most significant events in one’s life and writing about them are difficult. There is an abundance of experiences to choose from.
Table of Contents
1 Autobiography Examples
2 Formats for autobiography examples
3 Autobiography Samples
4.1 Map out your whole life
4.2 Creating your narrative
5 Autobiographical Essay Templates
6.1 Edit your information first
6.2 Publishing your autobiography
Fortunately, there are plenty of innovative and well-thought-out autobiography samples that are available. They can assist you in organizing your thoughts to come up with a great autobiography. These samples can save you valuable time, especially on how to start an autobiography. Check out our extra 40 biography templates
Formats for autobiography examples
As mentioned earlier, there could be as many life stories out there as there people. Each life story is unique; no two can be the same. It will be up to the writer to make his autobiography stand out.
The presentation of ideas will be an integral factor. Using the right strategies and format to make the writer more creative are necessary. As we all know, an autobiography is an account of a person’s life and it’s written by that person. Find out a suitable autobiography example to take reference from.
The reasons for writing an autobiographical essay differ from person to person. The main point of the writer’s exercise is to convey his life events using words. Autobiography samples will make it easy for the writer to organize thoughts.
To get you started, learn first the following types of written works:
Dramas or scripts Usually presented on stage or screen as the venue, this type is in script formats.
Graphic novels This new genre of novels is unique in the sense that they use drawn panels to convey a true story. Simply said, it’s a novel in comic-strip format. They tell stories through pictures and words.
Memoirs This type limits the information you will present. It’s an account written from personal knowledge or special sources. Its main focus is on specific moments in one’s life. Those which could either are historical, religious, philosophical, adversity, coming-of-age, and more.
Personal narratives or essays This type is shorter than a memoir. Its narratives focus on a single event in time. It expands that moment’s experience through conversations and imagery. These types are usually seen in classrooms, magazines or written by internet bloggers.
Traditional autobiographies This type usually covers the events of the writer’s life from birth to the present moment.
Vignettes This type covers just one particular occurrence at a time. It’s a brief evocative description, account or episode. You can even call it a lone chapter in a compilation of vignettes. You can have it published as a complete piece of work. Bear in mind, though, that each chapter in the collection is not directly related to the others.
Autobiography Samples
How to start an autobiography
Interesting lives make for good autobiographies. When we say interesting, it means the person lived a life full of fascinating experiences. Those he can and should share with others.
A good trick when writing your autobiography example is to think of it just like any other story, a good one at that. There’s always the protagonist, a central plot, and a number of compelling characters. All these will keep the reader’s attention.
Before venturing for an autobiography sample, think of an important event in your life and build your story on that. There is a writing craft or a technique that can make your story come to life. Read on and make your writing sing!
Map out your whole life
It wouldn’t be so hard to map out your timeline; after all, you have lived it. Before anything else, conduct a study on your life. Make a timeline to ensure you will include the important details, both events, and dates.
This will provide you a basis to work on. Don’t inhibit yourself from writing down all you can recall. Don’t underestimate the importance of each event.
Autobiographies needn’t always start with your birth Include a brief history of your ancestors if relevant. Introducing your family’s history can make readers relate. They can understand how you evolved into who you are at this moment.
Identify your main characters Make them interesting and compelling, either he/she be friend or foe. Be sure they help in moving the story along. Obviously, an autobiography sample will mention your parents. Also, include your spouse, friends, and relatives. But think past your family and friends. Search for those characters that have directly influenced your life. They should play their roles in your life story.
Include the best stories Your life is a collection of short stories and anecdotes. Each day, each struggle could be in itself a chapter. But there would be too many of them to contain in a book. Choose the best stories you can remember that have influenced you. Begin your manuscript with these chosen stories. Weave them together to create a picture of your life.
Write using your own voice Most people like reading autobiographies to experience what it’s like to be the writer. Being yourself when writing your story is a great way to maintain the reader’s attention. Remember, you are writing about yourself and your life experiences. Stiff and formal writing is for college essays . It won’t and can’t totally engage your readers.
Reveal things about your life You can reveal the truth about yourself without having to be too explicit. Write down the good as well as the bad experiences. This will make the reader feel the human side of you. You can write about your accomplishments but you also need to write the flaws that have made you what you are. Readers should empathize with you and may even cheer for you as the story progresses.
Show your weaknesses too You may have pitfalls in life but will still remain a protagonist. Write about your mistakes and the times that you have failed in some struggles. Writing too much about your positive side may even turn off some of your readers.
Creating your narrative
One, or perhaps the most important element of an autobiographical essay, is the plot. Not just a plot but a great one that could hold your readers spellbound. When you’ve gathered the material to work with, it’s time to create a fascinating story that would end with a climax as well as final resolutions.
Autobiographical Essay Templates
Craft your story by organizing your memoirs and anecdotes in an autobiography example. Keep in mind that these are coherent to your plot and should flow logically together. There should be a central conflict in your narrative.
It can involve an eventful experience in your life that took you years to conquer.
Build the suspense and tension to make it interesting Organize your plot in such as a way that every story would veer towards the conflict’s climax. Make it your goal to include anecdotes on your initial successes and failures. Readers love underdogs. Build on that.
Think about your climax Every story will have to end as the protagonist will deal with the conflict. You have read novels and seen movies. You should know what a climax is. You should also know that it’s very important.
Also, think about the resolution Autobiographies usually end with happy endings. If for some reason your story’s ending isn’t happy, just make sure that it’s profoundly satisfying. You might have lost the race but the wisdom you gain from the experience will be compensation enough.
Determine where to start your story Most autobiographies start with birth and end with the present. But many successful writers have resorted to mixing up their chronology. This makes the narration more interesting. If you’re bold enough, try doing this.
Weave in your themes Try to remember major themes in your life. Use them to link stories together by connecting the past with the now. Apart from a central conflict, there are themes that have followed us all through life. Use these themes as often as you can to form a consistent depiction of your story.
Reflect on the content of your autobiography template You surely have learned many lessons during the course of your life. It would be nice to relay your desires, intentions, feelings of joy and loss, and more you’ve gained in your life. You can include these lessons intermittently throughout the story. Reflect on these important experiences and what they have meant to you. This is a great way you can add profundity to your life story.
Add structure to your book by using chapters The use of chapters will permit you transition from talking about specific times in your life. We’ve all heard the expressions, “closed a chapter” and “opening a new chapter” in life. These are very applicable to autobiography samples and autobiography examples.
Creating and publishing your autobiography
After you’ve written everything, subject your work to several processes. Do this to make sure that its contents are true and accurate. Be sure to comply with all the rules of writing to avoid any problems that may arise later.
First, does a substance check. Second, do forms check? Here are some tips for you:
Edit your information first
Your facts should be completely accurate Double check or even triple if you have the time. Check the names, event descriptions, dates, and other things. Everything in your story should be accurate. Wrong facts will certainly get noticed at one time or another by people acquainted with you.
Ask permission from those you mention in your book You may name names or quote quotes from sources. In this case, make certain they’ve granted permission. Many don’t appreciate the thought of appearing in an autobiography. Respect that. If the character is central to the plot, describe them differently or change their names.
Go through your draft and edit if needed After you’ve finished the initial draft, go through your life story again. Comb through it by double checking your data. Reorganize the paragraphs, passages, and characters if necessary. Check your vocabulary and replace tedious words. Make your phrases more clear and compelling. And lastly, check your grammar and spelling.
Let other people read your work An outside or second opinion will be necessary to make sure that your work would appeal to all. You may find passages in your book that are funny or serious but would be mundane or even offensive to others. Present your work to as many close acquaintances and listen to their feedback. This will make sure that your thoughts will come across clearly with other people.
Hire a copy editor The job of a copy editor is to clean up your work and make those boring parts shine. Almost all writers seek the services of copy editors. Being a beginner, take a hint by seeking their help as well. Hire a seasoned copy editor to make sure that your book will have that professional polish.
Think of your title Think of a title that is intriguing and attention-grabbing. A simple and short title for your autobiography can be “My Autobiography”. If you find it too direct and common, choose something more unique.
Publishing your autobiography
Some people try self-publishing their books. That means they will have their finished work printed but only for themselves. It would also be appropriate to present your work to persons you mentioned in your book.
There are companies that can handle your book design, printing, and even shipping services. But if you want to go public on publishing your autobiography, the sensible thing to do is hire a literary agent.
He will send a query letter to research agents who work frequently with autobiographies. The query will contain information about your autobiography. It will also contain information about the author and how you want to market the book.
You can also send the query letter yourself directly to the publisher and wait. Depending on your query letter, he might get interested. Don’t send them your manuscript all at once. Send it when you get a request for your manuscript.
You can also try publishing your work online. This new alternative method is increasingly getting popular. It doesn’t involve expenses for printing and shipping. Search for online publishers and send them a query letter.
More Templates
Cover Page Templates
Booklet Templates
Newspaper Templates
Church Bulletin Templates
Reference Page Templates
Biography Templates
How to Write an Autobiography – Tips and Examples
Writing an autobiography can both be fun and a headache for students. Fun for those who know how to go about this art and a headache for those who are working on it for the first time. Plus, writing a great biography is a whole different thing!
This expert guide is for both of these types of students to learn writing a great biography. It means that we will be looking into things from the very basics. Slowly we’ll move into the examples to ensure you bag all the goodies of this academic activity.
Pretty sure this blog post will serve as a stepping stone for you to write an autobiography like an expert working with a professional paper writing service online. So, without further ado, let’s learn how to write an autobiography.
Table of Contents
What Challenges a Student Faces While Writing an Autobiography?
The only time students will love the word autobiography is when it’s the occasion of the autobiography of students. Students often face these obstacles while writing an autobiography:
Selecting relevant events
Figuring out what to include and what to leave out of your life story can be tough because there’s a wide array of experiences.
Maintaining objectivity
Staying neutral and accurately reporting on events, especially when the subject matter is intense or delicate.One of the common challenges a student face when asked how to write an autobiography.
Structuring the narrative
Deciding to arrange a life story can be difficult, like deciding what would be the most interesting way to keep readers engaged. The best you could do is to go through a comprehensive math autobiography example or some teacher biography examples.
Balancing depth and brevity
Make sure the story is interesting enough to keep the reader’s attention without making it too long.
Reflecting on personal growth
It can be hard for some students to figure out how to recognize their own growth and understand how certain experiences have shaped who they are.
Tips and Tricks on How to Write an Autobiography
Writing an autobiography is a deeply personal and rewarding endeavor that allows you to recount your life’s journey. Here are some tips for writing an autobiography from professional research paper writers to help you get started with this academic activity.
Reflect and Plan
Reflect: Take some time to think about your life and all the important moments that have happened. Think about any big changes, difficult times, accomplishments, the people you have relationships with, and any moments that have had a big impact.
Reflecting on your life involves introspection and contemplation of various aspects that have shaped your experiences and identity. Here’s a breakdown of what each element might entail:
Significant Events
Turning Points
Relationships
Themes: Think about what big takeaways have come out of your life so far. What has been the defining moments that have formed who you are? What values, beliefs, and characteristics have been the most impactful?
Outline Your Story (Autobiography Format)
Chronological or Thematic: Think about whether you want to tell your story in chronological order or if you’d rather group it by topics (like family, work, or hobbies).
Deciding between a chronological narrative and organizing by themes involves choosing the structure that best suits the story you want to tell in your autobiography. Here’s an elaboration on both approaches:
Chronological Narrative
Sequential Storytelling: This structure follows a timeline, starting from your earliest memories and progressing chronologically through your life.
A chronological narrative in an autobiography essentially mirrors the passage of time in your life. For a better understanding, it’s good to go through some educational autobiography examples for understanding, Anyways, here’s a more detailed exploration:
Linear Progression
Starting Point: It begins with your earliest memories or significant starting point, like your birthplace or a crucial childhood event.
Sequential Order: Each chapter or section moves forward in time, capturing the progression of your life events in the order they occurred.
Early Years
Childhood Memories: You might start by narrating your formative years, family dynamics, early interests, and influential experiences.
Educational Journey: Describe schooling, friendships, hobbies, and pivotal moments that shaped your adolescence.
Adolescence to Adulthood
Transition Phases: Highlight transitional phases like moving to a new place, major life decisions, career choices, or relationships.
Career Development: Discuss your career path, internships, jobs, promotions, and how they contributed to your growth.
Milestones and Challenges
Major Events: Include significant life milestones such as marriage, parenthood, significant achievements, or personal triumphs.
Challenges Faced: Address hardships, obstacles, failures, or crises that shaped your resilience and personal development. A very important aspect of autobiography format.
Reflective Closure
Present-Day Reflection: Culminate by bringing the narrative to the present, reflecting on how past experiences shaped your present self.
Lessons Learned: Offer insights, lessons, and takeaways from the chronological journey, emphasizing personal growth.
Logical Flow: The linear structure creates a cohesive and understandable flow for readers, mapping your life’s journey in a clear sequence.
Developmental Arc: It showcases your growth, experiences, and evolution over time, providing a comprehensive view of your life.
Detail Management: Balancing depth without overwhelming readers with too much detail can be challenging.
Transition Management: Seamlessly transitioning between different life stages might require careful narrative planning.
Clear Progression: It provides a clear and straightforward account of your life, from childhood to the present.
Natural Flow: Readers can follow the natural progression of events, which can create a cohesive and easy-to-understand narrative.
Considerations
Detail Overload: It might lead to including every detail, potentially making the story lengthy or overwhelming.
Skipping Around: Some events might need flashbacks or explanations, disrupting the linear flow.
Thematic Organization
Focused Themes: This structure categorizes your life events and stories into specific themes or topics, regardless of their chronological order.
Advantages:
Focused Exploration: Allows in-depth exploration of specific themes like family, career, passions, or personal growth.
Flexibility: You can organize chapters around topics that are most meaningful or impactful to your story.
Possible Fragmentation: It may involve jumping back and forth in time, potentially disrupting the sense of a continuous narrative.
Transition Challenges: Smooth transitions between themes might require careful planning to maintain coherence.
Key Chapters: Break your life into chapters or sections. For instance, childhood, education, career, relationships, personal growth, etc.
Start Writing
Engaging Opening: Grab attention with a compelling introduction. Share a vivid memory or an impactful moment from your life.
Authentic Voice: Write in your own voice. Be honest, sincere, and authentic. Readers connect with genuine stories.
Dialogue and Detail: Use dialogue, anecdotes, and sensory details to bring your story to life. Describe scenes, emotions, and thoughts.
Include Important Elements
Family Background: Discuss your family history, upbringing, and early influences.
Life Events: Detail significant life events – pivotal moments, achievements, setbacks, and how they shaped you.
Challenges and Growth: Describe challenges faced and how you overcame them. Reflect on personal growth and lessons learned.
Relationships: Discuss meaningful relationships and their impact on your life.
Career or Passion: Share insights into your career, passions, hobbies, and what drives you.
Be Reflective and Honest
Emotions: Don’t shy away from expressing your emotions. Your vulnerability can resonate deeply with readers.
Honesty: Be honest, even if it means acknowledging mistakes or regrets. Show your growth and learning from these experiences.
Editing and Refining
First Draft: Write freely without worrying too much about perfection.
Revise and Edit: Review your work critically. Edit for clarity, coherence, and flow. Consider seeking feedback from trusted individuals.
Refinement: Polish your language, structure, and storytelling.
Closing and Reflection
Conclusion: Wrap up your autobiography with a reflective conclusion. Summarize key points and reflect on your journey.
Impact: Consider the message or impact you want to leave on readers.
Optional Additions
Photographs or Memorabilia: Consider including photos, documents, or mementos that complement your story.
Epilogue: Add an epilogue if you wish to reflect on life after the events covered in your autobiography.
Seeking Help
Professional Assistance: Consider hiring a professional editor or an essay writing service online to help refine your work.
Understanding these Steps with Examples
let’s read examples of how someone might approach writing their autobiography following these steps:
Reflecting and Planning
Reflection: Emily, now in her 60s, reminisces on a life of varied experiences, including growing up in a small town, pursuing a career in education, and her adventures traveling the world.
Themes: She realizes her life has been about embracing change, fostering learning, and exploring diverse cultures.
Outlining Your Story
Chapters: Emily decides to structure her autobiography into sections: Early Years and Family, Academic Pursuits, Teaching Career, Travel Adventures, and Personal Growth.
Start Writing
Engaging Opening: Emily begins with a poignant memory of her first day at school, capturing the innocence and curiosity that shaped her thirst for knowledge.
Authentic Voice: Writing in a reflective yet conversational style, she shares her anecdotes and life lessons candidly.
Including Important Elements
Family Background: She delves into her family dynamics, emphasizing the influence of her parents’ encouragement in fostering her love for learning.
Life Events: Emily shares pivotal moments, like her decision to pursue education and her journey as a teacher, narrating both triumphs and challenges.
Challenges and Growth: She reflects on personal struggles, including times of self-doubt and how these instances spurred her to seek personal growth and resilience.
Relationships: She discusses the impact of friendships and mentors on her life’s direction.
Being Reflective and Honest
Emily dives into her emotions, describing the exhilaration of accomplishment and the weight of failure with equal honesty, showcasing her vulnerability.
First Draft: Emily writes freely, allowing memories and experiences to flow onto paper.
Revise and Edit: She revisits her draft, refining the narrative for coherence, adding descriptive details, and polishing language for clarity.
Conclusion: Emily wraps up with reflections on her journey, expressing gratitude for the lessons learned and the richness of experiences.
Impact: She hopes her story will inspire others to embrace change, cherish learning, and explore the world around them.
Photographs or Memorabilia: Emily considers including photos from her travels and teaching career to complement her narrative.
Emily might reach out to a trusted friend or professional editor for feedback and guidance.
Reflection: James, a man in his 40s, looks back on a life filled with entrepreneurial pursuits, global travels, and personal growth stemming from his multicultural upbringing.
Themes: His life has been about innovation, embracing diversity, and the pursuit of self-discovery.
Chapters: James organizes his autobiography into sections: Early Years and Multicultural Roots, Entrepreneurial Ventures, Travel Adventures, Personal Challenges, and Discoveries.
Engaging Opening: James begins with a vivid memory of a childhood trip abroad, highlighting the exposure to diverse cultures that shaped his worldview.
Authentic Voice: Writing in a dynamic and spirited tone, he captures his passion for entrepreneurship and cultural exploration.
Family Background: James delves into his upbringing in a multicultural household, emphasizing how it influenced his perspective and fueled his entrepreneurial spirit.
Life Events: He shares stories of launching his first business, the challenges faced, and the triumphs that followed, shaping his identity as an entrepreneur.
Challenges and Growth: James narrates personal setbacks, like business failures and moments of self-doubt, revealing how these experiences fostered resilience and personal growth.
Relationships: He discusses influential friendships and mentors who played pivotal roles in shaping his career and personal development.
James bares his emotions, describing the exhilaration of success and the humbling experiences of failure with authenticity.
Step 6:
First Draft: James writes freely, letting memories and experiences flow onto the pages.
Revise and Edit: He revisits his draft, refining the narrative for coherence, adding vivid details, and ensuring his voice shines through.
Step 7:
Conclusion: James wraps up by reflecting on the lessons learned, expressing gratitude for the journey, and discussing plans for the future.
Impact: He hopes his story will inspire others to pursue their passions, embrace diversity, and persist in the face of challenges.
Photographs or Memorabilia: James considers including images from his business ventures and travels to complement his storytelling.
Step 9:
James might seek feedback from peers or a professional editor to refine his narrative further.
Step 10:
He contemplates sharing his autobiography as a motivational tool for aspiring entrepreneurs or leaving it as a legacy for his family.
Reflection: Emma, a woman in her early 50s, looks back on a life filled with corporate success but felt a void in her creative spirit.
Themes: Her journey revolves around rediscovering her passion for art and creativity amid the demands of a corporate career.
Chapters: Emma organizes her autobiography into sections: Early Ambitions, Corporate Career, Creative Spark Ignited, Challenges Faced, and Artistic Renaissance.
Engaging Opening: Emma begins with a poignant memory of her childhood, reminiscing about her love for painting and how it slowly took a backseat in pursuit of a corporate career.
Authentic Voice: Writing with a blend of nostalgia and determination, she expresses her yearning to reconnect with her artistic side.
Family Background: Emma shares how her family supported her creative pursuits early in life and how those experiences shaped her aspirations.
Life Events: She narrates the story of climbing the corporate ladder, the sacrifices made, and the disconnect she felt from her artistic self.
Challenges and Growth: Emma discusses the challenges faced when trying to rekindle her artistic passion amidst a busy career and how these hurdles became stepping stones to personal growth.
Relationships: She reflects on how friends and mentors encouraged her to pursue her passion and offered support during her transition.
Emma candidly expresses her emotions, describing the fulfillment she found in her corporate success but also the emptiness from neglecting her artistic side.
First Draft: Emma pours her emotions onto the pages, capturing her journey from career-driven to creatively inspired.
Revise and Edit: She revisits her draft, refining the narrative to ensure it resonates with readers, capturing the emotional essence of her journey.
Conclusion: Emma concludes by reflecting on the newfound joy in her creative pursuits, expressing gratitude for the journey, and discussing the importance of balancing passion with career.
Impact: She aims to inspire others to seek and nurture their passions, even amidst demanding professional lives.
Step 8:
Artwork or Creative Works: Emma considers including samples of her artwork or creative projects to supplement her narrative.
Emma seeks feedback from fellow artists or a writing coach to ensure her narrative effectively conveys the emotional and transformative aspects of her journey.
Tips on how to Start an Autobiography
Starting an autobiography is an exciting but crucial step in setting the tone and capturing your readers’ attention. Here’s a detailed guide on starting an autobiography well.
1. Identify Your Focus
Reflection: Think about the most important thing in your life that you want to talk about. It could be a big event that happened, a moment that changed your life, something that made you feel something or a core belief that shapes your story.
Audience Consideration: Think about who you’re talking to and what would really grab their attention.
2. Choose an Engaging Opening
Anecdote: Think of a meaningful experience from your life that has a special connection to the story you’re trying to tell. It could be a funny moment, a heartbreaking event, a moment of triumph, or something else that you feel carries some emotional significance.
Vivid Description: Create an image for the reader that is so detailed that they can almost feel, smell, and taste the scene. Use words to create a vivid visual of the surroundings.
Emotional Connection: Connect with your readers on an emotional level. Share the emotions, ideas, or difficulties you felt in that moment.
Hence an engaging topic is a good answer for how to start an autobiography.
3. Find Your Voice and Tone :
Authenticity: Express yourself in your own unique style. Share your thoughts and feelings honestly. Make sure your story is heard and felt deeply.
Tone: Think about the atmosphere you’re trying to create. Whether it’s contemplative, funny, solemn, or a combination of those things, it all comes down to the vibe you’re aiming for. Still wondering how to write an autobiography? No worries, more information is coming up.
4. Set the Scene
Time and Place: Provide context by mentioning the time frame and setting. Describe the era, location, and any relevant circumstances that influenced the event or period you’re starting with.
Character Introduction: Introduce yourself or the central characters involved, establishing their role and significance in your story.
5. Capture the Essence
Theme Introduction: Offer a hint or foreshadowing of the overarching themes or lessons your autobiography will explore.
Purpose: Convey the purpose behind your decision to share this particular moment or phase from your life.
6. Draft and Redraft
Initial Draft: Don’t worry too much about perfection initially. Focus on getting your thoughts and feelings down on paper.
Revision: Review and revise your opening multiple times. Polish the language, refine the details, and ensure the emotional impact is conveyed effectively.
7. Seek Feedback
Trusted Input: Share your opening with trusted friends, family, or writing groups. Collect feedback to understand how your opening resonates with others.
8. Align with the Overall Autobiography
Consistency: Ensure that your opening sets the stage for the rest of your autobiography. It should provide a glimpse of what readers can expect in terms of style, themes, and narrative direction.
9. Embrace Experimentation
Variety: Experiment with different approaches if needed. You might start with a powerful quote, a rhetorical question, or even a thought-provoking statement.
10. Be Patient and Persistent
Revision Process: Writing a captivating opening might take several iterations. Be patient and persistent in refining it until it truly reflects the essence of your story.
Still confused?
Now that you know that writing an autobiography takes more than good writing skills. Plus, we have also studied some tips for writing an autobiography and have learned about the autobiography of students. So, it is clear that such writing requires you to put great details of the key events of your life among other things. Hopefully, this blog post was able to help you find an answer to how to write an autobiography. In case, you still have doubts about tackling this task, don’t hesitate to consult our academic writers.
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Introduction
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Table Of Contents
autobiography , the biography of oneself narrated by oneself. Autobiographical works can take many forms, from the intimate writings made during life that were not necessarily intended for publication (including letters, diaries , journals , memoirs , and reminiscences) to a formal book-length autobiography.
Formal autobiographies offer a special kind of biographical truth: a life, reshaped by recollection, with all of recollection’s conscious and unconscious omissions and distortions. The novelist Graham Greene said that, for this reason, an autobiography is only “a sort of life” and used the phrase as the title for his own autobiography (1971).
There are but few and scattered examples of autobiographical literature in antiquity and the Middle Ages. In the 2nd century bce the Chinese classical historian Sima Qian included a brief account of himself in the Shiji (“Historical Records”). It may be stretching a point to include, from the 1st century bce , the letters of Cicero (or, in the early Christian era, the letters of Saint Paul ), and Julius Caesar ’s Commentaries tell little about Caesar, though they present a masterly picture of the conquest of Gaul and the operations of the Roman military machine at its most efficient. But Saint Augustine ’s Confessions , written about 400 ce , stands out as unique: though Augustine put Christianity at the centre of his narrative and considered his description of his own life to be merely incidental, he produced a powerful personal account, stretching from youth to adulthood, of his religious conversion.
Confessions has much in common with what came to be known as autobiography in its modern, Western sense, which can be considered to have emerged in Europe during the Renaissance , in the 15th century. One of the first examples was produced in England by Margery Kempe , a religious mystic of Norfolk. In her old age Kempe dictated an account of her bustling, far-faring life, which, however concerned with religious experience, reveals her personality. One of the first full-scale formal autobiographies was written a generation later by a celebrated humanist publicist of the age, Enea Silvio Piccolomini, after he was elevated to the papacy, in 1458, as Pius II . In the first book of his autobiography—misleadingly named Commentarii , in evident imitation of Caesar—Pius II traces his career up to becoming pope; the succeeding 11 books (and a fragment of a 12th, which breaks off a few months before his death in 1464) present a panorama of the age.
The autobiography of the Italian physician and astrologer Gironimo Cardano and the adventures of the goldsmith and sculptor Benvenuto Cellini in Italy of the 16th century; the uninhibited autobiography of the English historian and diplomat Lord Herbert of Cherbury, in the early 17th; and Colley Cibber ’s Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber, Comedian in the early 18th—these are representative examples of biographical literature from the Renaissance to the Age of Enlightenment. The latter period itself produced three works that are especially notable for their very different reflections of the spirit of the times as well as of the personalities of their authors: the urbane autobiography of Edward Gibbon , the great historian; the plainspoken, vigorous success story of an American who possessed all talents, Benjamin Franklin ; and the introspection of a revolutionary Swiss-born political and social theorist, the Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau —the latter leading to two autobiographical explorations in poetry during the Romantic period in England, William Wordsworth ’s Prelude and Lord Byron ’s Childe Harold , cantos III and IV.
An autobiography may be placed into one of four very broad types: thematic, religious, intellectual , and fictionalized. The first grouping includes books with such diverse purposes as The Americanization of Edward Bok (1920) and Adolf Hitler ’s Mein Kampf (1925, 1927). Religious autobiography claims a number of great works, ranging from Augustine and Kempe to the autobiographical chapters of Thomas Carlyle ’s Sartor Resartus and John Henry Cardinal Newman ’s Apologia in the 19th century. That century and the early 20th saw the creation of several intellectual autobiographies, including the severely analytical Autobiography of the philosopher John Stuart Mill and The Education of Henry Adams . Finally, somewhat analogous to the novel as biography is the autobiography thinly disguised as, or transformed into, the novel. This group includes such works as Samuel Butler ’s The Way of All Flesh (1903), James Joyce ’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), George Santayana ’s The Last Puritan (1935), and the novels of Thomas Wolfe . Yet in all of these works can be detected elements of all four types; the most outstanding autobiographies often ride roughshod over these distinctions.
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Home » Blog » How to Write an Autobiography in 31 Steps
How to Write an Autobiography in 31 Steps
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Table of contents.
If you’re thinking about writing an autobiography, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will be telling you all about how to write an autobiography – breaking it down and helping you along with the process.
Writing an autobiography is an opportunity to reflect on your life and share your experiences with others. The process can be enjoyable and rewarding, offering a chance to revisit key moments while helping you shape your story in a meaningful way. With the right approach, you can craft a narrative that resonates with readers and captures the essence of your journey.
1. What is an Autobiography?
So you want to know how to write an autobiography? First off, let’s start with what an autobiography is. Put simply, a biography is a book written about someone’s life. It includes all elements of their life, particularly featuring any significant events that took place.
The word ‘autobiography’ is made up of the two Greek words ‘autos’ and ‘bios’, meaning self and life. Put them together and you get a book that is a mix of who you are, and the life you have lived.
2. Memoir vs. Autobiography
Before you start any kind of writing process, it is important to know what kind of book it is you want to write. There is no way to know how to write an autobiography if you can’t distinguish the two. Memoirs and autobiographies are often plumped into the same genre because they are both about someone’s life.
But they are two genres of their own. So here’s the difference:
It’s pretty simple – if the book is about the person’s entire life – it’s an autobiography; if it’s about one or two events, themes, or memories within their life, it’s a memoir .
Knowing the difference will save you time and energy. It will also help you to shape and plan your book (if that’s your style).
You can always change your mind and switch genres, but at least you will know what you are doing and how both of them work. Whichever you choose will change a lot about your book – particularly the content you choose to include and the structure of the entire piece.
Memoir is the perfect platform to share your personal life experience, and you don’t have to share every other significant moment of your life. (A wise decision if only one really interesting thing has happened to you during your lifetime.)
Writing an autobiography is much different. While they both to do with the author’s life, biography is more to do with what happened throughout your life.
That means all significant events from birth ’till now.
If you set out to write a biography and it turns into a memoir, this is not a problem. The problem is when you don’t know what you’re doing at all. This leads to confusion in the writing process. And a lack of professionalism outside of it.
A great way to learn how to write an autobiography is to read. A lot. Reading other autobiographies will give you an idea of which direction to go in and how this genre is structured. It can also help you to develop your style and tone of voice, and to pinpoint which writing techniques you find most effective. All good tools to have in your writing toolbox.
Here are a few examples of autobiographies you might want to read:
My Autobiography, Charlie Chaplin (1964)
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Franklin
Long walk to freedom, Nelson Mandela
The story of my experiments with truth, Mahatma Gandhi
The story of my life, by Helen Keller
The autobiography of Malcolm X, Alex Haley, Malcolm X
An Autobiography, Agatha Christie (1965))
The confessions of St. Augustine, Augustine of Hippo
Scar tissue, Anthony Kiedis, Larry Sloman
Open: An Autobiography, Andre Agassi
Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi
Autobiography of a yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda
4. When to Write an Autobiography
Experience and youth. Photograph by Ivette Ivens. Source: abcnews.go.com
Cellini (1500-1571) wrote one of the finest autobiographies of the Renaissance. He stated:
“No matter what sort he is, everyone who has to his credit what are or really seem great achievements, if he cares for truth and goodness, ought to write the story of his own life in his own hand; but no one should venture on such a splendid undertaking before he is over forty.” Cellini
Knowing how to write an autobiography can have a lot to do with your life experiences. This fact brings into question the age of the reader.
Many biographies are written later on in life when experience has been gathered and there are many exciting moments to draw from. But this isn’t always the case.
If you are a younger writer and feel that your life has been sufficiently fantastic, or you feel a growing desire to get down all of the details of your childhood days, there is no rule that says you can’t. So don’t let others’ perceptions stop you.
Twenty-one-year-old Edouard Louis, for example, published a hugely successful fictional autobiography (aka an autofiction), The End of Eddy about his childhood and adolescence. So it is possible. Sorry Cellini.
That said, an older, more experienced writer may have an easier time writing an autobiography, simply because they have more material to draw from.
Like memoirs, autobiographies tend to center around a theme, even though you are including many life events. That is because people tend to also be themed, in a way. Want to know how to start an autobiography? Thinking about a theme can be a useful way in.
If you are a professional dancer, and that is the passion of your life, it makes sense that your book would also center around the theme of dancing and how you reached that success.
If you are ghostwriting for a celebrity, naturally they will be famous for something in particular.
The main theme, of course, is the person’s life. But that is not enough to sustain interest across time. So bear in mind a secondary theme that ties it all together.
If your theme or themes are relatable, then that will stand you in good stead. If you are not writing a glitzy celeb autobiography, then having a very relatable and original theme is more likely to find a readership than any other. Be careful not to choose and manufacture your theme, however. If you are meant to write an autobiography, you will likely already feel compelled to write about your life. So try not to put too much thought into it. Just keep it in mind, as it will keep you on track.
6. How to Pick a Theme
How to start an autobiography? One way is to pick a theme. And stick to it.
One way of picking a theme is to choose an aspect of your personality that you feel is awesome and make that your sole focus. Maybe you’re great at maths, for example. Perhaps you made it to the world championships in mathematics or something. That would be a story worth telling.
Another is to look at your philosophy in life and make that the focal point of your book. Showing your values throughout the book can inspire and uplift the reader as it can show a good example of a life well-lived. It also reveals quite clearly who you are as a person, without you having to explicitly spell it out.
A third would be to consider the things that are most important to you in your life and to make a reference to these as you work your way through each significant event mentioned in your book. (This works especially well if you are writing an autobiography for those who know you.)
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7. Exceptions
You might also want to know how to write an autobiography because you want to share your story with your family. This is an admirable reason to write a story. It means that your family will always have a special connection to you through a story, no matter what. It also means that generations to come will have that link to their own past and history.
From that sense, everybody should write one!
This kind of story can even be compiled as an oral history of your family’s history and lives, which makes for an extremely personal keepsake.
Autobiographies are sometimes written in short form, as essays for college assignments. This is a similar exercise to writing a full book but in a condensed format.
Another form of autobiography is as an autofiction. This book is based mostly upon autobiographical content but is also a work of fiction. This is an easy way of avoiding any concerns you might have about privacy. If you want to distance yourself a little and take more control over the content, then this may be the way to go.
You can also consider other formats, such as writing an autobiographical graphic novel, which has the essence of cool written all over it. If you are an artist or have a passion for strong visuals, this is something to consider.
8. How to Plan
“Look for the times when your life changed the most, and when you changed the most, those are the times of peak drama in your life.” Janice Erlbaum, The Autobiographer’s Handbook
An excellent practice when learning how to start an autobiography is to begin by writing out all of the significant events in your life. These could be anything; from graduating college to losing your virginity, to being born. Whatever you think is most important and noteworthy, write it down.
You can later play with the order of events if you like, to shake things up a little bit, but for now, just get anything and everything you can think of written down.
When considering how to write an autobiography, it seems to be the most natural of all genres to plan. This is because within its very construction there is a presumption of what it will be about: events in your life. In this sense, it is already set up for you. In some ways, this makes writing a lot easier. On the other hand, the risk that easy planning poses is boredom. For the reader or yourself. The challenge then becomes, how to make these life events interesting and stand out. But we’ll get to that a bit later on…
Nb If you are a pantser (someone who likes to write by the seat of your pants) then you might want to skip this step. In all likelihood you have something in mind to write about, so just start there.
9. Writing Schedule
A schedule helps you to get things done. You will know what works best for you after trying a few things out. You could try planning out how much you are going to write by the hour (i.e. I will write for an hour a day, every weekday) or by word count (I will write 500 words a day). Be realistic and don’t overwhelm yourself. If you are too overambitious, you may find you end up not writing at all.
Otherwise, you could aim to write a certain section of the book per week or month if that works better for you. Because autobiography is so clearly and easily arranged into story beats (was born, had first pimple, dyed hair red, etc.) organizing your writing by these events works for almost all writers, even if you are not a fan of planning.
Ask yourself the question, what’s the minimum I could manage on a regular basis? And be honest.
Everyone has their own writing style, including the way they schedule (or don’t schedule) their writing habits. So don’t ever let anyone tell you how you should be writing. It’s up to you.
10. How to Start an Autobiography
The blank page. Source: petersansom.wordpress.com
Well, now you have a list of important events in your life, starting to write should be pretty straightforward. If you don’t like planning, it’s even simpler, just pinpoint a significant moment in time and get to work! If you have a plan, all you need to do is start writing out a first draft of each event.
Next up we have a few tips and tricks to get you started.
11. Go Digging
While figuring out how to write an autobiography, you will want to have everything you are writing as fresh and vivid in your mind as possible. This clarity will translate onto the page and give your readers a strong impression of each moment.
To do this, you will want to dig out any old photos of you and whomever you might be writing about and begin filing things away for each chapter or section of the book.
You also might find it beneficial to interview anyone who remembers what happened. This can bring a new light on old events. Try using a recorder or dictaphone and typing up the best bits once you’re done.
12. Fill Up Your Senses
A good way to get into the moment before a writing session is to surround yourself with the materials relating to that particular event. Look at photos or listen to recordings from around that time, and jot down any thoughts you might have about them.
You may also want to listen to some music from the time. If you have any old clothes or keepsakes from the person, you will also want them to be around or near as you write. Listen to any interviews about the time or the characters before writing.
13. Write a letter
If you’re struggling to start writing, you can try writing a letter to yourself or to other members of the family from the time. This is a very personal way of connecting with the past. Remembering your connection to your characters will help your writing to flow more easily and mean you have material to draw from before you even start writing.
14. Emotions
Writing about certain life events is likely to be emotional. Say you had a car crash when you were younger or had to deal with some maltreatment of some kind, this will impact your writing, and how you feel about it.
It can be a difficult balance. You need to care enough about your subject matter to write it. But you don’t want your emotions to take over to the point where the style and the content of your book suffers.
While feeling impassioned by your writing, it is also important to be able to step back and take a second look at your viewpoint. This may take several rewrites to get right.
If you are finding it difficult, then consider writing out as many different viewpoints of the event as you possibly can. This will open up how you see it and may even lead to an inspiring revelation for both you and your book.
15. New Insights
One of the benefits of learning how to write an autobiography is that, as you develop as a writer, new insights will likely occur.
So while emotions can run high, it is good to know that writing about anything difficult that has happened in your life can help you psychologically.
Dr. James Pennebaker, a professor at Austin Texas University discovered that students who wrote for just fifteen minutes a day over three days about difficult or emotional experiences had a better level of well-being. He found that going through the process was upsetting for them, but it was the new insights the students discovered through the process of writing, that led to their improved levels of psychological health.
16. Take Care
As with memoir, if you feel that it is too much to write any subject matter, always take a break and come back to it (or not). Your mental health and general well-being are always more important than a book.
17. Know Your Why
Make sure that you don’t add topics or incidents simply to vent about them. Instead, get all your feelings out about it during your first draft, and then start with a fresh perspective. If your writing is only about venting, it will not interest the reader. You may come across as petty or whiny.
Instead, you will want to make sure you can see the benefit of sharing your experiences with people. When you truly know how to write an autobiography, it should empower and enlighten people and help them connect to your story, rather than reading like an unfinished diary entry. It is perfectly acceptable for it to start out that way. But by the end of your writing process, you should be confident in the purpose of why you are writing your book, and what kind of impact it will have on its readers.
Knowing why you are writing will keep you on the right track, and help you like a compass in the storm, when you are lost.
18. Tone of Voice
An important aspect of telling your story will be your narrative style and tone of voice. This completely depends upon who you are writing for and the purpose of your book.
If you are writing for your grandchildren, for example, you may use more simplistic language. If you are writing for a broader audience, then you may use a more neutral tone. Writing for friends? You might want to use more familial or colloquial terms.
This also depends a lot on what kind of person you are, and you will want your attitude and personality to be reflected in your writing. This should happen naturally, but don’t be afraid to write as if you are talking or to use a recording device and write up your account of each chapter afterward.
Pro tip: Relax. You won’t find your tone of voice by constantly thinking about how you might come across. Just write as you think and your natural expression will do the rest.
19. First or Third Person?
You can experiment with viewpoints as you go along, but once you have chosen, you will want to stick with it. The third person gives us the feeling it has been written by someone else. So, if you are employing a ghostwriter or are working on a fictional work, then this is a good way to go.
First-person is the generally accepted viewpoint for most autobiographies, because it is your story, and you are the one writing it.
20. Conflict
As you recall the people in your life, adding in any conflicts, even if they are comical, will add to the richness of the book. Conflict drives drama, intrigue, and interest. And that’s what you want, if you want your book read, that is.
21. Story Arc
The hero’s journey. Source: wildgratitude.com
One of the most critical components of writing an autobiography is the story arc. Like most genres of story, autobiography is no exception and will need some sort of an all-encompassing story arc. This is one of the main challenges you may face while writing this kind of book.
It simply can’t be a long list of events and then an ending. They have to all meld together cohesively in order to have some sort of an impact on your reader.
A story arc gives writers a structure, in which our main character aims to do something, and then either manages (or doesn’t) to achieve it. There are normally many obstacles in the protagonist’s way, and they must overcome them. Simply put, our main character must get from A to B. And you will need to decide at some point, what your start and end points in the story will be.
This ties into your overall message in the book. The great thing about autobiography is that it basically tells your reader who you are as a person.
You can start by making a note of your core beliefs and who you feel you are as a person before you begin. But don’t be surprised if, as you write, you reveal a value you hold that you had never especially acknowledged. This is a true gift to the reader, to leave them with your wisdom or knowledge.
Your philosophy can play a big role in the book, as it has likely led you to make certain decisions and can be featured and interlaced with certain events when your process of decision-making was integral to the direction of your life.
22. Comedy and Funny Anecdotes
While you don’t want to overdo it on the comedy (unless it is a comedic autobiography, in which case, carry on!) a little comic relief can work wonders in this genre. It can lighten the mood and even make sad moments even more poignant. Funny stories specific to your family can add to the color of your characters, so they don’t fall flat .
23. Where to Begin?
Think about when you might want to start your story. The logical point to start is from birth, but as your writing evolves over time, you may change your mind. You may want to add some perspective about your life from before you were even born. Your heritage may also be a large influence on who you are as a person today.
Once you have written a full first draft, you can consider changing around the order. Editing in this way can make for a more dynamic and varied read. If placed in the right way, you can even add in a plot twist or add to the suspense of your book.
24. Consider Your Reader
Don’t rest on your laurels. This can especially be a risk if you are writing only for friends or family. Just because someone knows you, it doesn’t mean your story will automatically become interesting to them. It will likely make it more interesting than if you were a random passerby, true. But this is not something to take for granted.
This point can be ignored during the first draft, but as you begin to develop your story, it becomes an implicit part of the process.
If you are wanting your book to sell, this becomes even more important as the reader’s interest and word of mouth can mean the difference between a book being put down or another sale.
25. How to Make Events More Colorful
Once you have written the thing, you will want to make sure that it is an interesting read. Even if you are writing just for friends and family, they will want to be excited by your life. And surely, that is why you are writing this in the first place?!
So a few tips to make sure that each story beat pops with color is to:
1. Keep a notebook with you at all times for when you remember particular details about a person or place. Details will always give your story more originality and color.
2. Show don’t tell – this is always relevant to any kind of writing and autobiography is no exception. Try adding in things you saw, smelt, tasted, or touched within the scene. Avoid making a statement and describe what happened in the moment, instead.
3. Add metaphor or simile- when describing a character or a vivid memory, don’t just describe how it looked on the surface. Unless this is not at all your writing style, you can enjoy emphasizing how something made you feel through descriptions that include metaphor. (use ext link for how to use a metaphor) For example, ‘she was as fit as a fiddle’.
4. Avoid common descriptive words – words such as ‘nice’ and ‘good’ should be considered with great caution once you have reached the third draft of your book.
26. Consider Your Reader
An important part of knowing how to write an autobiography is having an awareness of the reader throughout the entire manuscript. This is not only a book for you. So don’t rest on your laurels.
This can especially be a risk if you are writing only for friends or family. Just because someone knows you, it doesn’t mean your story will automatically become interesting to them. It will likely make it more interesting than if you were a random passerby, true. But this is not something to take for granted.
Many new writers are tempted to leave in every detail of their lives. But longer doesn’t always equal better – often it means that you simply haven’t cut out the parts that aren’t needed. So make sure you have your ego in check – don’t make your book too long just for the sake of it. Just because it’s interesting to you, does not mean every reader will want to know about it – family and friends included.
The average autobiography is around 75,000 words long. Much shorter than 60,000 and you might want to find other sources to write about, and any longer than 100,000, you might want to cut it down a bit.
28. Consider Privacy/Confidentiality
Much like a memoir, an autobiography includes characters who are real people. This means that some might be negatively affected by your work. So make sure to talk to those involved and to have an attorney at hand, just in case.
If you are unsure about leaving in their real name, it is best to give their character a pseudonym.
29. Editing
Both editing your book and getting it proofread will make or break it.
That means that you will want to find a professional editor to work with, who knows what she or he is doing. Ideally, you will want to find someone who is experienced in editing autobiographies or memoirs. Check that you have similar values and that you are both clear on what you are going to be working on before you start.
30. Proofreading
Make sure that all your hard work shows. You can have a strong storyline and everything else in place, but if there’s a typo on the front cover, there is no way you will be taken seriously.
So, ask friends to check over your manuscript, or better yet, employ a few proofreaders to check it over for you. Don’t use the same editor to proofread, as they will find it more challenging to spot minute mistakes by the time they have reread the story more than once. A fresh pair of eyes will likely do a better job.
31. Autobiographies on the Shelf
The autobiographies in our bookshops today, you will notice, are mostly written by celebrities. This is because they often have interesting lives that we want to read about. They include incidents that we could never have access to otherwise, in our day-to-day lives.
And that’s what makes them so appealing.
Most people are not so interested in other’s lives unless they have done something extraordinary. So if you’re thinking of writing something purely to try and get it sold, then you might want to rethink the genre you are writing in. We’re not saying it doesn’t happen that unknown authors sell a lot of autobiographies. It does. It’s just a lot less likely.
But don’t be dismayed, this is only a problem if that is the only reason you are writing your book. If it is because you feel impassioned to do so, then that is all the reason you need.
If it is for your friends and family to read, then you need not worry about big sales or landing a large publisher. It is so easy to self-publish these days on a relatively small budget, that you are pretty much guaranteed to achieve your aim.
If you are looking for a book deal, then you might be hard-pushed, if you can’t say your life has an original element to it at all. If this is the case, consider writing a memoir , instead. There are many more memoirs written by ordinary people with extraordinary stories, than autobiographies. Because people love to hear about how ordinary people overcame the odds.
No matter what your reason, if you believe in your book enough to start writing the first page, then don’t let anyone stop you from writing the book inside of you.
So there you have it. Hopefully, you will now feel confident about how to write an autobiography and ready to start. All it takes, is putting pen to paper.
Conclusion
Writing an autobiography is a profound way to share your life story, capturing the essence of your personal experiences, family history, and life lessons for future generations. By detailing major life events and highlighting the roles played by various family members, you weave a narrative that showcases the intricate tapestry of a person’s life story. Following a structured approach, such as the 31 steps outlined in this guide, ensures that your autobiography is not only comprehensive but also engaging, making it a good story that resonates with readers. This reflective process allows you to chronicle your life journey in a way that honors your past, informs the present, and inspires those who will come after you.
The following are some frequently asked questions about writing an autobiography:
How to write an autobiography step by step?
To write an autobiography step by step, start by outlining major life events and gathering materials like photos and mementos. Choose a central theme and create an outline to structure your story. Begin with a strong opening and write in a conversational tone, incorporating vivid details and key events to highlight life lessons. Include family history to enrich the narrative and reflect on your life journey. Edit and revise for clarity, seek feedback, and finalize your manuscript for publishing.
What is the format to write an autobiography?
The format of writing an autobiography involves starting with an engaging introduction that provides background information, followed by chronological chapters detailing major life events and experiences. Each chapter should focus on a specific period or theme, incorporating vivid descriptions and personal reflections. The conclusion should reflect on your overall journey and its impact on your present and future.
How do I start an autobiography about myself?
To start an autobiography about yourself, begin with a compelling anecdote or significant memory that captures your personality and sets the stage for your story. Provide brief background information and explain why you’re writing your autobiography.
How to write an autobiography for class 7?
To write an autobiography for class 7, jot down important events in your life, pick a theme, and write clearly using simple language. Add emotions and maybe some pictures for interest. Edit for clarity.
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Example sentences for autobiography
Autobiography in a sentence.
Here below you will find several sentences that illustrate how to use the word autobiography in a sentence.
In his autobiography , he wrote:.
In her autobiography , she wrote:.
His autobiography appeared in 1882.
In his autobiography , Brandt wrote:.
In her autobiography , Goldman wrote:.
He later wrote in his autobiography:.
In his autobiography , Du Bois wrote:.
Brown wrote his autobiography in 1851.
In his 1883 autobiography , Gilbert wrote:.
Robson denies this claim in his autobiography .
He intends this autobiography to be his final book.
He later called his autobiography An Eye for a Bird.
Hansen co-authored his autobiography , Forever Young.
In his autobiography , Barbera said of his efforts ...
Major-General Christopher Vokes in his autobiography .
In her autobiography , she wrote, "It was a unique feeling that I had for [Tracy].
In his autobiography Mein Leben Wagner recalled once playing the part of an angel.
Wagner also began to dictate his autobiography , Mein Leben, at the King's request.
He wrote in his autobiography : "I had never opened before and was a little dubious.
Harriet Jacobs wrote her autobiography while being employed as his children's nurse.
This is also the case for African-American autobiography , which has its roots in the slave narrative.
Leno published an autobiography , Dan Leno: Hys Booke, in 1899, possibly assisted by a ghostwriter, T.
O'Reilly said in his autobiography Tiger that the move played no vital part in his cricket education.
This is also the case for African American autobiography , which has its roots in the slave narrative.
At the end of the 1953 tour, he published Eyes on the Ashes, and his autobiography , It Isn't Cricket.
Angelou (1928–2014) is best known for her first autobiography , I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969).
In his 1978 autobiography , Watson said that he had stabbed Tate and that Atkins had never touched her.
Singin' and Swingin' opens shortly after Angelou's previous autobiography , Gather Together in My Name.
In his 1974 autobiography , Pierrepoint changed his view on capital punishment, and wrote that hanging:.
Dannatt has written an autobiography , titled Leading from the Front, published by Bantam Press in 2010.
Unfortunately, Sherwood's autobiography provides scant details of the last forty-odd years of her life.
He later wrote in his autobiography : "All he did was sit tight and take advantage of the work I put in.
Critics have classified Maus as memoir, biography, history, fiction, autobiography , or a mix of genres.
During the course of his research Ottaviani found the then-unpublished autobiography of Charles Knight.
Shortly afterwards he worked with ghostwriter Terry Daum on an autobiography , Terry-Thomas Tells Tales.
As Hill explains in her autobiography , "I was awed, but not just by the know-how and hard work she'd put into her ascent.
Maus proved difficult to classify to a genre, and has been called biography, fiction, autobiography , history, and memoir.
Dylan concurred in his autobiography Chronicles: "I had been in a motorcycle accident and I'd been hurt, but I recovered.
In his 2013 autobiography , Jackson stated that there was, and that Martin and some white Yankees would tell racist jokes.
In his autobiography , Gretzky describes how at practices his father would drill him on the fundamentals of smart hockey:.
When asked whether or not he would write an autobiography in 1896, Crane responded that he "dare not say that I am honest.
The book focuses mostly on his life since the 1987 publication of his first autobiography , Metamorphosis: Stages in a Life.
Rimsky-Korsakov's autobiography and his books on harmony and orchestration have been translated into English and published.
It marked the first time a well-known African-American woman writer had expanded her life story into a third autobiography .
In his autobiography , Al-Husseini states he later found he was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison in his absence.
Apart from her autobiography , Bondfield contributed to a collection of essays entitled What Life Has Taught Me, in which 25 public figures pondered on the lessons of life.
According to her autobiography , her success there led to conflicts with the other actors which in turn led her to leave the engagement after six months for health reasons.
In his autobiography , Rodgers complained that only the brass section can be heard during an overture because there are never enough strings in a musical's small orchestra.
In his autobiography , Darwin said he had "gained much by my delay in publishing from about 1839, when the theory was clearly conceived, to 1859; and I lost nothing by it".
Berle's autobiography notes that in Detroit, "an investigation took place when the water levels took a drastic drop in the reservoirs on Tuesday nights between 9 and 9:05.
Autobiography's is a variation of autobiography, below you can find example sentences for autobiography's .
All of Angelou's autobiographies conform to the autobiography's standard structure: they are written by a single author, they are chronological, and they contain elements of character, technique, and theme.
Autobiography—but is a variation of autobiography, below you can find example sentences for autobiography—but .
In 1933, Goldman received permission to lecture in the United States under the condition that she speak only about drama and her autobiography—but not current political events.
General information about "autobiography" example sentences.
The example sentences for the word autobiography that we present on this web site, stems from different official sources. For example one of our sources are articles on Wikipedia that are classified as at least Good articles . But we also use news articles, books and other generic texts to gather example sentences of how the word "autobiography" can be used in a sentence. To the right of every sentence you will find a link out arrow that sends you to the source of the sentence, where you can access the full text and context for the presented example sentence. This can be useful because some words can sometimes be difficult to understand with only a sentence for context, whereas the full article or text can help you gain insight on how to use the word "autobiography".
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Blog • Perfecting your Craft
Posted on Jun 05, 2024
How to Write an Autobiography: The Story of Your Life
About the author.
Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.
About Savannah Cordova
Savannah is a senior editor with Reedsy and a published writer whose work has appeared on Slate, Kirkus, and BookTrib. Her short fiction has appeared in the Owl Canyon Press anthology, "No Bars and a Dead Battery".
Anyone who’s lived a long, interesting life (as many of us have in one way or another!) may dream of someday turning their life into a book. However, the practicalities of how to write an autobiography can be daunting — especially to those who don’t have much writing experience.
If you feel ready to write your autobiography but aren’t sure where to start, this guide will take you from opening lines to (hopefully) publishing your autobiography for all the world to read.
1. Understand what an autobiography entails
When asked to picture an autobiography, you might think of a celebrity tell-all or political memoir. This isn’t inaccurate ; a memoir would definitely fall under the autobiography umbrella. But to be really precise, there are a few key differences between memoirs and autobiographies:
Memoirs tend to be more thematic and focus on a central narrative (similar to a novel), whereas an autobiography is highly factual and reads more like “classic” nonfiction.
Memoirs focus on a specific period or theme in a person’s life, while autobiographies aim to give a complete, chronological picture.
Lastly, many memoirs are written while the writer is still young. An autobiography, though, should be written later in one’s life — at a point where one’s life story can be told comprehensively.
An autobiography is also different from a biography in that it is always narrated by the subject. Note that we’ve said “narrated” instead of “written” because, indeed, many autobiographies are created with the help of ghostwriters!
Ghostwritten autobiographies aren’t just for celebrities, either. People from all walks of life work with ghostwriters to record their stories or simply guide them through the process.
If that sounds like you, have a look through our vetted ghostwriters on the Reedsy marketplace . You might just find your dream collaborator!
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Should you write a memoir or an autobiography?
In other words, if you’re still young (be honest here!), and/or if the book you want to write is more a series of vignettes revolving around a central theme, you may have a memoir on your hands. If that’s the case, check out our guide to how to write a memoir for more tailored advice.
But if you’ve already lived a long, interesting life — one that you feel prepared to share chronologically and completely — then an autobiography is the medium for you.
2. Outline your life's main “beats”
You might think you don’t need to be too picky about what to include in your autobiography since it’s supposed to be a “complete” account — and you’d be mostly right! That said, even in a fairly exhaustive autobiography, it’s still useful to identify the key “beats” before you begin.
What should you include in an autobiography?
While each person’s autobiography will be unique to them, readers expect certain “beats” to be covered. To get the ball rolling, here’s a list of classic autobiographical beats to hit:
🐣 Your birth and family background – possibly including how your parents met, where they were living at the time of your birth, whether you have any siblings, etc.
📚 Your early days at school – including the friends you made (whether long-lasting or not), your academic achievements (and failures), and any critical moments related to your future goals/actions.
🧑🏽💻 Your first job – this is often enlightening for readers, particularly if it had some bearing on your later career; whether because you realized that you loved the work or, more likely, that you didn’t want to work your first job forever.
👩❤️💋👩 Your first relationship – similar to your first job, this is often a major stepping stone into adulthood and understanding your priorities.
Moving house;
Having children;
Getting promoted;
Receiving an award;
Traveling somewhere new;
Or discovering anything significant about yourself.
💼 Your retirement – if applicable, this will likely be one of the last beats you cover; it might include why you decided to retire, how you are spending your time nowadays, and any plans for the future.
Remember that each beat you include should contribute to a holistic portrait of your life — whether it’s something that shaped your character or lends context to another parallel moment later on.
But not everything will be relevant. There’s no need to include random things that have no bearing on any other event or important element of your life; that said, the lucky thing about memory is that you likely won’t recall most of those things anyway!
Need some help outlining your autobiography? Check out our Biography Outline Template below — while not entirely chronological, it’s a great starting point for any aspiring autobiographical author.
FREE RESOURCE
Biography Outline Template
Craft a satisfying story arc for your biography with our free template.
3. Try to write in chronological order
Having come up with a solid outline, you should now feel (somewhat) prepared to start writing your autobiography… and, ideally, to start writing it in chronological order.
While many books can be drafted non-chronologically, an autobiography is not one of them. This is because each new chapter quite literally builds on the last; this is different even from a memoir, which often skips around in time and leaves out details. The best way to ensure you’re not missing anything is to write your autobiography as chronologically as possible!
How to start an autobiography
On the note of starting your autobiography, it’s pretty straightforward: begin either with your birth or slightly before, e.g., with your parents. Unlike a memoir, which can start in medias res ( in the middle of the action ), an autobiography should start ab ovo , or “from the egg.”
This is one of the biggest benefits of writing chronologically: you always know where to start, and indeed, what should come next. Here are two strong autobiography openings to give a sense of how yours might sound:
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb
When I was born, people in our village commiserated with my mother and nobody congratulated my father. I arrived at dawn as the last star blinked out… I was a girl in a land where rifles are fired in celebration of a son, while daughters are hidden away behind a curtain, their role in life simply to prepare food and give birth to children.
Iacocca: An Autobiography by Lee Iacocca and William Novak:
Nicola Iacocca, my father, arrived in this country in 1902 at the age of twelve — poor, alone, and scared. He used to say the only thing he was sure of when he got here was that the world was round. And that was only because another Italian boy named Christopher Columbus had preceded him by 410 years, almost to the day.
Though each opening takes a different tack — Yousafzai’s autobiography begins with her actual birth, while Iacocca’s begins even earlier, with his father’s arrival in America — both serve as effective starts to their respective books and set the tone for what’s to come.
4. Include plenty of detail
In case we haven’t drilled down on this enough, let’s reiterate once more: an autobiography should be a complete overview of your life from beginning to end. That means that as you get into properly writing it, you should include as much detail as you can remember.
Taking one of our previous suggested beats — “your first job” — as an example, here are a few questions you might ask yourself to recount your memories in more detail:
How did you get your first job?
What made you want to work there?
What was the environment/atmosphere like — physically and emotionally?
What was your greatest accomplishment at this job? Your greatest failure?
What did you learn from working there? How did it affect your later career?
As you can probably tell from these questions, the natural corollary to the advice of “be detailed!” is to also be honest . Don’t shy away from your failures or regrets — an autobiography without mistakes is not an autobiography, but rather a puff piece.
Examples of strong biographical detail
For those wondering how to inject detail into their writing, here are two examples from great autobiographies that do exactly that. Each takes a different approach to engage readers — perhaps you can pick up some descriptive techniques to suit your own life story.
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
There was no natural light in my cell; a single bulb burned overhead twenty-four hours a day. I did not have a wristwatch and I often thought it was the middle of the night when it was only late afternoon. I had nothing to read, nothing to write on or with, no one to talk to [...] After a time in solitary, I relished the company even of the insects in my cell, and found myself on the verge of initiating conversations with a cockroach.
This passage’s evocative details — the single lightbulb, Mandela’s loss of his internal clock — convey the crushing loneliness of solitary confinement, yet also add levity with the bit about cockroaches.
This give-and-take style may be useful if you, too, are writing an autobiography which includes difficult or traumatic elements. Don’t shy away from the hard parts, but don’t let solemnity overpower your personality and voice!
Becoming by Michelle Obama
When you’re little, a piano can look like it has a thousand keys. You’re staring at an expanse of black and white that stretches farther than two small arms can reach. [...] The keys on Robbie’s piano had a subtle unevenness of color and shape, places where bits of ivory had broken off over time, leaving them looking like a set of bad teeth.
This passage uses sensory details and an intimate tone to draw readers in, describing not just how the piano looks, but how it feels to play. All this makes for a very compelling narrative style — almost like that of a novel. If you want your autobiography to flow this way, try reading more nonfiction in this style (indeed, many memoirs read quite similarly).
📚 Looking for more examples of brilliant biographical writing? Check out this list of The 30 Best Biographies of All Time to inspire you.
5. Do research to fill in the gaps
No matter how carefully you rack your brains, you won’t be able to recall every detail of your life. That’s where research comes in! Here are a couple of things you can do to learn more about yourself and your past.
Interview friends and family
While you’ve likely retained the core of each important life memory, some details will still elude you. For these, you might call on friends, family members, and anyone else who was in your life at the time — interviewing them should help flesh things out in your autobiography.
You might try a few different interview strategies, depending on what you’re hoping to achieve:
Ask specific questions based on what you can’t remember/don’t know (e.g. “Whose wedding was that again?” or “Why did Dad quit that job in Pasadena?”);
Ask your subject to recount everything they can about an event (e.g. “Tell me how you remember our high school graduation”); or
Ask them if they have any key memories of you which they would like to talk about.
The first interview style will be the quickest, but the latter two might yield more interesting results. If you’re prioritizing thoroughness, we’d highly recommend calling up a few old friends or close family members, sitting down, and recording your interview for a few hours.
Do “traditional" research if needed
Having written as much as you can, and interviewed other people to add their stories, you might still find yourself missing information. If applicable, this is where you could turn to “traditional” research — that is, looking up relevant records and documentation, or even taking a field trip or two to previous neighborhoods.
It’s up to you how far to go with this; just don’t go mad, and try to avoid any rabbit holes that tempt you to write an entirely new book. (Then again, that could always be your next project! Check out our post on how to write a nonfiction book to learn more.)
6. Give your draft a discerning edit
You’ve finally finished a detailed draft — congratulations! Even if you don’t do anything else with your autobiography, your friends and family will be wildly impressed, and your descendants will have a fascinatingly thorough record of your life.
But if you want to publish your autobiography — or even if you suspect it hasn’t turned out quite as expected — you’ll now need to enter the editing stage. There are a few different types of editing to consider for your autobiography, including:
Structural editing to heighten the impact of your key beats;
Line editing to improve the syntax, flow, and clarity of your sentences; and
Fact-checking and proofreading to ensure your book doesn’t contain any errors.
Again, it’s up to you how extensively you want to edit your autobiography. If you’re doing it yourself, we’d suggest going top-to-bottom — first structural editing, then line editing, then proofreading — to avoid unnecessary work. ( Check out this post on how to self-edit your book for key tips!)
And if this all feels overwhelming, you can always work with a professional editor to get your autobiography in tip-top shape . Autobiography and memoir specialists can help turn your work into an Iacocca-worthy masterpiece.
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7. Format and publish your autobiography
Now comes the really fun part, if you so choose it — formatting and publishing your autobiography for everyone to read!
Biography fans out there will know that auto/biographies often contain a selection of personal photos within the text. If you’re envisioning this, it will require specialty formatting; you’ll either need to intersperse photos throughout the text or format your book with a “photo section” in the middle (the more common option).
You can do this with free book formatting tools like Reedsy Studio . Or if you’re not confident in your formatting abilities, consider hiring a professional typesetter to help !
As for publishing, many autobiographers choose to self-publish their books to get them out as quickly as possible, and to have more control over the process. However, if you’re interested in selling your autobiography to a publisher — a reasonable option if you are a businessperson, and especially if you already have a decent following — we’d suggest this post on how to write a non-fiction query letter to get you started.
Whatever path you take, whether you decide to publish it or not, writing the story of your life is an incredibly enlightening endeavor. If you're interested in novels instead, check out this advice from NYT bestselling author Caroline Leavitt ! We hope this guide has helped you on your journey; indeed, as autobiographical writing teaches us, the journey really is the greatest reward.
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How to write an autobiography (and actually finish it)
If you’ve ever tried writing your autobiography, chances are you haven’t finished. This article gives you one simple strategy on how to write an autobiography, and actually finish it!
There are lots of reasons why this is the case, but it comes down to a few main things:
You’ve set the bar high: You want your autobiography to be something you’re proud of — something to share with your family. But something that makes you proud isn’t easy to create. It takes time. It’s hard work.
You’ve lost steam: Writing is typically a solo activity. Without colleagues or friends to keep you on track, it’s easy to lose motivation.
You’ve followed the wrong advice: Here’s a 10-second challenge. Google “How to write my autobiography” and see what pops up. Chances are, one of the top results is a WikiHow article with 1.84 million views. Its popularity would make you think the article is helpful — but try and apply this advice: “The trick to writing an autobiography is to treat it like any good story: it should have a protagonist (you), a central conflict, and a cast of fascinating characters to keep people engaged.” True? Maybe. Helpful or practical? Absolutely not.
The one question you need to ask yourself
The most important question that you need to ask yourself is this: WHY do you want to write your autobiography?
Do you want to:
A) Start a passion project that you don’t mind sinking years into with no end in sight? B) Write your life story for someone to actually read it, like your children or grandchildren?
Here’s what we predict. A handful of you are in group A. And If so, just keep writing, have fun and don’t worry about ever finishing it (because you probably won’t — and that’s OK). But if you’re in group B and actually want to finish and publish your life story for someone to read, then you need a strategy.
How to write an autobiography
In a nutshell: Answer questions about your life and write down your answers.
A bit of background, when my daughter was born my wife and I realised how little we knew about our parents and their family histories. We wanted their stories to be recorded so our daughter could one day read them and discover who they were beyond being her grandparents. So we went searching for a way to record their life stories that was fun and would lead to a beautiful book in the end. We wanted something affordable, easy to follow and perfect for a novice writer. We didn’t really find anything that worked.
Our solution? We designed an interview with 101 questions for our parents to answer. Every question was designed to be thought provoking and take no more than five minutes each to answer. We broke the questions up into different “life chapters” like childhood, work, love, family tree, children and more philosophical questions as well. The idea was that although the questions were simple enough to answer easily, they’d also be detailed enough to cover our parents’ lives. Plus, the question and answer format gave them an easy way to track progress as they got closer to finishing their book. It was easy, motivating and most importantly — they finished their books!
The Q&A format is authentic and enjoyable to read for family and friends
We then printed the books and they were better than we ever imagined. We learned so much about our parents and the interview format made it so compelling to read. Answer this: would you prefer to hear someone narrate your great-grandfather’s entire life story from beginning to end or read an interview with him written in his own words? Which will make you feel like you’re having a conversation with him? Which will bring his story to life? The magic of an interview is it’s fascinating to read — as soon as you hear a question you need to know the answer.
Here are just some of the questions we liked best:
If you could share a meal with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?
What’s the most valuable thing your parents taught you?
My wife and I got so excited about how well our parents’ stories turned out that we launched A Life Untold to share this concept with the rest of the world. We tried really hard to get the price as low as possible so there’s virtually no barrier for anyone to ACTUALLY write and print their autobiography into a captivating and professionally designed hardcover book. In fact, we believe in it so much we’d like to challenge you NOT to finish once you’ve gotten started. I hope you give it a try!
Happy writing!
Turn your life story into a hardcover autobiography that your family will treasure forever. Find out more about our process.
2 simple steps, a lifetime of stories..
Record a loved one’s life story in a beautifully printed book. A truly meaningful gift for anyone special in your life.
How to Write an Autobiography: Make Yourself a Literary Hero
What is an autobiography.
An autobiography is a form of narration written by a writer about his or her own life. An autobiographical writing serves different purposes, and its main goal depends on the type of writing. There are four major types of autobiographical writing.
1. Autobiography
The autobiography is the longest and the fullest story about yourself. You can write it for your personal use in order to structure and perpetuate your memories. If you are sure that your life will be an interesting theme to read about, you may create an autobiography for the wider public. An autobiography covers the period from the day of your birth until today. If you think that your life journey will be a good example for others, include the information on how you have achieved your goals and success and how you got your autobiography published.
If you are not sure that your whole life path is worth attention, then a memoir is your best choice. It is focused on one particular event, relationship, place, or period of your life that has influenced your personality a lot. Don’t be afraid to express your personal feelings and ideas in your memoir, as it shouldn’t be simply a brief list of facts, but the reflection of your inner world.
3. Autobiographical essay for college
The aim of such an essay is obvious: you need it to convince admissions officers to accept you into college. As a rule, there is a word limit specified in the instruction for applicants. Don’t confuse an autobiographical essay with your CV or resume! They have totally different structure and formatting. In addition, the essay is aimed at portraying you as a personality, not as a professional.
4. Personal essay
This is an extremely emotional and intimate type of writing. You share a personal experience with your readers in a detailed manner. Your audience should have an opportunity to see the event or person that you’ve written about through your eyes and understand your feelings. Any personal essay has two main aspects: the description of a particular situation and how it has influenced your worldview and life. Generally, the personal essay is the shortest form of autobiographical writing, along with the essay for college.
In our guide on how to write an autobiography about yourself, we will talk more about a personal or autobiographical essay. However, we will not miss a chance to share a few awesome tips about other types of autobiographical writing. Plus, you’re always free to use our instructions for any type of autobiography, as they can be helpful for any piece of writing.
Autobiography Structure: How to End an Autobiography
The structure of your autobiographical writing depends on the type you’ve chosen to create. In our guide on how to write an autobiography about yourself, we’ll focus on the basic principles of structuring the autobiographical essay.
Introduction
You may wonder how to start an autobiography introduction. The answer is simple: the same way you start other essays’ introductions. The main purpose of the introductory paragraph is to grab the reader’s attention and present the idea and theme of your writing. Don’t make the first paragraph too long: between one and three sentences are enough to compose a regular introduction. Try to provide readers with a general portrait of yourself, so they will know more about the main “hero.” Mention your age, significant personal qualities, and principles of worldview. You can also add some details about your appearance in order to make your story more vivid.
The main body includes the biggest amount of information. It is 80-90% of the whole text. There are no strict requirements, but you should not forget to use a logical sequence and correct wording. You can use the classic five-paragraph structure for your autobiographical essay if your ideas fit it. Anyway, you have to divide your writing into separated paragraphs to increase the readability of your essay. You should also create a logical connection between paragraphs. In this manner, readers will easily follow your thoughts.
Now, it’s time to think on how to conclude an autobiography. Your conclusion has to be strong and impressive. Mention what lessons you’ve learned and what changes in your life you’ve witnessed thanks to the described episode of your life. Even if this event has had negative consequences, you shouldn’t hide anything. Bad experiences are also useful for personal development. As Theodore Roosevelt once said: “The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.”
We’ve provided you with general information on how to start and how to end an autobiography. Let’s move on to the detailed guide about essay writing steps.
N.B. For your convenience you can use Canva templates to quickly and nicely organize your autobiography structure.
How to Write an Autobiography Step by Step
If you need a simple and brief instruction on how to write an autobiography about yourself, you’ve already found it! The next time you get such an assignment in your English class, don’t worry – just check out this step-by-step guideline.
1. Read a well-known autobiography.
You are not the first person who wants to write about his or her life. Many famous writers, artists, politicians, and businessmen create autobiographies to share their wisdom and experience with a wide audience. Find the autobiography that belongs to the author whose personality inspires you and read it in order to get a basic understanding of autobiographical writing.
2. Think over your life.
Remember every significant event, unusual experience, or important person in your life. That might take a considerable amount of time, as we think that your life has been interesting enough, and you have many worthy moments. If you want to write about your childhood, you’d better apply to the “experts” – your parents. Perhaps you did something outstanding and awesome when you were a child.
3. Make a list.
This is the most satisfying part of writing an autobiography if you like making lists. On the other hand, it can be quite boring for those who hate lists. Everything depends on your personal tastes. We highly recommend you to divide all memories into categories. You will be able to structure your thoughts in a more logical manner.
4. Pick one point from your list.
Remember that you should not write your full autobiography. You have to choose one event, one place, or one person you’d like to write about. This can be quite challenging, especially if you are an adult who has an active social life. Try to be objective and choose a theme that will be interesting for readers, not only for you.
5. Brainstorm ideas.
When you have a particular topic, it is the right moment to think over a few amazing ideas for your autobiography. Here is a list of questions that will help you to focus on certain aspects:
What was the best (or the worst) thing about an event or person you want to tell about?
What details are worth readers’ attention?
What mood do you want to share?
What feelings do you want to awaken?
What has changed after this event or meeting?
What lessons have you learned?
Why was this moment important for you?
What general idea can be related to this particular case?
Why have you decided to choose this event to share with your readers?
Why have you decided to write your autobiography now, at this moment of your life?
6. Provide an outline (above).
Planning is a crucial part of any writing process. If you need a detailed instruction on how to write an autobiography outline, you should read the section about autobiography structure above if you haven’t yet. There, we explained what you should include in each part of your essay. You can make your outline in the form of a list, scheme, table, or pyramid.
7. Create a draft.
Make your first draft as perfect as possible. There is no reason to correct mistakes later if you can avoid them in the first place. On the other hand, this is just your first attempt, so don’t be too demanding. Good ideas will come sooner or later. Take your time and enjoy the process of writing!
8. Proofread your writing.
You should check your autobiographical essay for mistakes in spelling, grammar, verb tense, style, punctuation, word forms, etc. No matter how emotional or exciting your writing is, your readers will stop reading as soon as they notice the first grammatical mistake. An illiterate author cannot win the trust of the audience, so you should take this step very seriously.
9. Get feedback.
Before you present your writing to the public, ask your parents, siblings, or friends to give you feedback. Maybe, they’ll notice a few mistakes that you missed or give you advice on how to improve the content. A fresh perspective never hurts.
10. Write the final copy.
After you proofread your essay and get feedback, you’ll be able to create the final draft of your writing. Take into account all recommendations that you have received from your proofreaders, and bring your essay to perfection!
Your work is accomplished! We are sure that you will succeed on the first try if you use the list of helpful tips for autobiography writing provided by our experienced writers. We’ve gathered tips that will turn your writing into a real masterpiece.
How to Write a Good Autobiography: Helpful Tips
Catch attention from the very beginning.
Your readers won’t be interested in reading the whole text of your autobiography if you don’t provide a good impression in the introduction. Convince your audience that your story is unique, original, and is worth their time. If you are going to write about an episode from your childhood, use a feeling of nostalgia to create a tight connection between readers and your own memories. Remember that all people are the same to some extent. We live through similar experiences every day, so you should use these similarities to make your writing attractive for the general public.
Don’t expand your resume.
This tip is extremely useful when it comes to writing an autobiographical essay for college. Admission officers know everything about your grades and academic achievements. In your essay, they’ll look for information of another kind. You have to present your personality and to prove that you deserve to become a part of the college community.
Add sensory details.
If you want your readers to feel the atmosphere of your writing, vivid details should be an indispensable part of your essay. Let your audience see, smell, touch, and feel the world of your story. Create a full picture of your personal universe and let your readers be your guests!
Make your characters feel alive.
If you are not the only character in your story, introduce your characters to your audience. Describe them at least in a few words and add some dialogues to give them personal voices. If your characters represent real people, ask for permission or use fake names.
Create a connection with a general idea.
The episode of your life described in an autobiographical essay should exemplify a certain general idea. All of us like good stories, but readers should see a deeper meaning behind your narration.
Choose one verb tense.
This is a crucial aspect for any kind of storytelling. Decide what verb tense you will use before you start writing, and stay consistent throughout the text. You can use both past tense or present tense to write about past events. However, don’t change the manner of writing in the middle of your essay! Use first-person narration.
This is your autobiographical essay, and you write about your own life. Use the words “I,” “my,” and “me” without hesitation. An autobiography differs from academic writing, where you will avoid personification. When you write a personal essay, readers should hear your personal voice, as it is your primordial purpose!
How to Write an Autobiography: Example Analyzed
Below, you’ll find an example of an autobiography provided by one of our experienced writers. You are welcome to use it as a template for your own autobiography. Although you can borrow some ideas about proper structure of an autobiography and writing style, you can’t copy our sample without citing it properly. Please, don’t commit plagiarism! We believe that you are able to create an autobiography that will be no worse than our autobiography example for high school students.
Click the images to see their full size.
Mistakes to Avoid While Autobiography Writing
Don’t make it too long
Many people cannot resist the temptation to tell as much as they can, but a longer piece of writing doesn’t always equal a better piece of writing. For whatever reason you are writing the autobiography, think of the person who is going to read it. Imagine you were an admission officer or the judge in the scholarship committee, and you have to choose from hundreds, if not thousands, of autobiographies. At some point you will hate people who prefer to write long admission essays and autobiographies. There’s also a good way to check whether your writing is interesting or not. Give it to one of your most impatient friends, who prefers short articles to books and long stories, and ask for their opinion.
Don’t make it trivial
“I was born in 19XX year, I entered school N…” Would you read that if you had a choice? Most likely not, especially if you already have read a dozen biographies which star with the same phrase. Yes, an autobiography is a formal piece of writing. But here, it rather means that you are not allowed to use slang and colloquial language, instead of following a specific pattern of writing.
Don’t turn it into your personal diary
Yes, you have to be precisely honest and quite revealing and candid to write a successful autobiography. And obviously, you need to describe some hardships of your life to show how you coped with that or how it influenced you. However, we strongly advise you to describe the thing that you feel rather calm about when writing. For example, you are writing about other students picking and making fun of you at high school. If you still feel like wanting to kill them all, it would be better to avoid this topic or mention it slightly. Why so? Because your feelings will leak into the writing and make your reader feel subconsciously uncomfortable.
How to Choose Autobiography Topics
We hope that you now have a general idea on how to write an autobiography about yourself, because now it’s time to choose a topic. But shouldn’t you and your life be the topic of an autobiography? Well, in general, yes. There are, however, also a lot of tiny nuances.
Make it focused. The purpose of any autobiography, excluding the one written for your personal diary, is to promote you and advertise your awesome personality. Find out what is appreciated the most in the institution you are applying to and focus on these traits in your character.
Choose one or two aspects of your personality. We believe that you are an amazing person and even a book wouldn’t be enough to tell your story, but in an autobiography, it’s better to tell a short and meaningful story than try to describe everything that has ever happened in your life.
Drawbacks. Think of an autobiography a great outfit: you need everything to match. For example, if you were saying that you are persistent and purposeful, pick a matching drawback and show how you overcame it due to your good character traits.
Find out what is in trend. Yes, this may sound a little bit weird, but try to keep up with massive worldwide trends. Is it popular now to be creative and daring? Show how creative and daring you are.
Many people who have something to tell, have an experience, or have the knowledge and vision “as it should be.” What if you decided to write your own book and it’s not a novel about love and adventures? To become a good writer or to write an interesting book is not an easy task. Unfortunately, this won’t totally depend on hard work, diligence and regular training: you can sit with a laptop, paper, pen or voice recorder at least eight hours every day – and still, you will get something dull and colorless that nobody wants to read. Not always does the desire to write a book match the capabilities and talent. But making effort and progress is still necessary. Anyone who wants to write their first book, should read and write, try different styles and genres, and listen to the world around. The main thing is to throw into trash away all “must” and “deserving / not deserving of attention,” ideas which aspiring authors often suffer from. Here are an autobiography topics list and autobiography examples which can help you.
If you have thoughts about writing an autobiography, you should start your way reading autobiographies of different people all over the world and get inspired. In our humble opinion, the following list consists of autobiographies that are worth reading.
Books for Inspiration for Autobiography Writing
“Childhood, Boyhood, Youth” by Leo Tolstoy (1852-1857)
“A Moveable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway (1964)
“My Autobiography” by Charlie Chaplin (1964)
“Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia” by Elizabeth Gilbert (2006)
“A Street Cat Named Bob” by James Bowen (2010)
“Gretzky: From the Backyard Rink to the Stanley Cup” by Walter Gretzky (1985)
“My Game” by Booby Orr (1974)
“I Can Jump Puddles” by Alan Marshall (1955)
“My Family and Other Animals” by Gerald Durrell (1956)
“De Profundis” by Oscar Wild (1897)
“An Autobiography” by Agatha Christie (1965)
“The Summing Up” by W. Somerset Maugham (1938)
“Three Singles to Adventure (Three Tickets to Adventure)” by Gerald Durrell (1954)
“Walden; or, Life in the Woods” by Henry D. Thoreau (1854)
“The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge” by Carlos Castaneda (1968)
“Orlando: A Biography” by Virginia Wolf (1928)
“The Hero” by Rhonda Byrne (2006)
“The Beatles (the Authorized Biography)” by Hunter Davies (1968)
“My Life in France” by Julia Child (2006)
“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values” by Robert M. Pirsig (1974)
“The Tender Bar” by J.R. Moehringer (2005)
“Ham On Rye” by Charles Bukovwski (1982
“Girl, Interrupted” by Susanna Kaysen (1993)
“The Long Hard Road Out of Hell” by Marilyn Manson (1998)
“Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy” by Frances Mayes (1996)
“Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut (1969)
“The Man Without Qualities” by Robert Musil (1930-1943)
When you are done with reading and have reached an inspiring mood, you can try to write. Then comes the question on how to organize time wisely and your text, in order to present it in the best way possible. Such questions you may face while writing and after the first draft is finished. We have worked hard and found for you some sources that will be helpful while writing an autobiography.
Sources to Use in Autobiography
Useful information about autobiography writing, tips and steps. “How to Write an Autobiography and Make the Best-seller List.” Published February 16, 2014, in https://blog.udemy.com/
Lots of information about writing an autobiography, a list of topics for inspiration and advice on how to choose more appropriate. http://www.scanyourentirelife.com/how-write-a-autobiography-vs-memoir-difference-life-story-secret-tips/
You can buy a workbook “Memorygrabber” that will help you to write your own life story without problems, as it asks all important questions that you or your relative can answer. http://www.familyhistoryproducts.com/memorygrabber-cb.html?hop=tomgilbert
It’s not only a how-to manual, but also an inspiring book for newbie writers. “Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You” by Ray Bradbury (1987)
Read about the experiences of the famous writer and take into account his advice for aspiring writers. “On Writing” by Stephen King (2000)
Here you can find important information for any kind of creative work and avoid problems that it may cause. “The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle” by Steven Pressfield (2002)
Detailed tips that will help you turn facts into fiction by Helena Halme. http://selfpublishingadvice.org/writing-how-to-turn-your-life-into-a-novel/
If you have already written your autobiography and want to publish it and sell it, read this article with practical advice.
Read the tips from Stanley Fish on how to write sentences and organize writing in a right way. He presents the language as cultural organism and gives a manual to the art of language. “How to Write a Sentence: And How to Read One” by Stanley Fish.
This book may be called a treasure in your home library, as it’s a collection of wisdom from famous writers. “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life” by Anne Lamott.
Discover the peculiarities of grammar while writing a book and the importance of style in your writing. “The Elements of Style. Illustrated.” by Maira Kalman.
Helpful YouTube Videos for Writing an Autobiography
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9rdvJhkzXE – Try this exercise from this video to start out your autobiography writing. https://youtu.be/t5TUZajlM6g – Brook Adams shares tips on writing an autobiography for beginners. https://youtu.be/bQn7FREub4Y – Jerry B. Jenkins, a bestseller author, talks about the key points to consider while writing an autobiography.
Putting It All Together
The success of a good autobiography and any book – comes from the ability of the author to show readers the story from the “outside”, and make the reader feel in your place, “in your shoes.” Everyone does not care about your difficult childhood, or your parents’ divorce, or the fact that in school you were a fat and ugly kid with glasses. But if the difficulties experienced by you will be displayed so that the reader learns some lessons for himself – this would qualify as a good book.
How you can see that, writing an autobiography is not a piece of cake. You should plan your time, read and get inspired from books, and search for information about writing styles and grammar. Don’t forget to figure out your final destination and why you need to write an autobiography. All of thus titanic-sized work will end with a great treasure – your own autobiography. Hopefully, our information will help you on this interesting but hard path. So, pick a pen or open your laptop and start your masterpiece. We wish you lots of inspiration and easy writing!
We hope that our guide on how to write autobiography, example, and tips has clarified all nuances of the writing process for you. Being a character of your own narration may seem confusing at first sight. However, thinking about your past may help you to deal with your current problems and look at your future from a different angle.
We are always ready to help you with any kind of writing! Don’t hesitate to check out other guides and improve your writing skills with PayforWriting – pay for an essay to get qualified help!
Maybe you have a better idea on how to write a good autobiography about yourself ? Share your insights at the comment section below.
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Fiction review
Non-fiction review, creative review, business letters, academic letters, personal letters, essay writing, business writing, creative writing, research papers, writing tips.
1. Kurakin was one of the best-educated Russians of his day, and his autobiography, carried down to 1709, is an historical document of the first importance. 2. 1. Jehangir tells us in his autobiography that before his father Akbar built the present fort, the town was defended by a citadel of great antiquity.
Examples of 'Autobiography' in a Sentence
Bob Odenkirk had written about it in his autobiography and talked about it on a show as the funniest sketch that never aired. — Jenelle Riley, Variety, 19 Dec. 2023. Liz was very intrigued by this part of my autobiography where my mother goes to college with me. — Madison Feller, ELLE, 8 Apr. 2023.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY in a sentence
Examples of AUTOBIOGRAPHY in a sentence, how to use it. 98 examples: Critics often applaud rock autobiographies that go at least partially ' against…
AUTOBIOGRAPHY in a Sentence Examples: 21 Ways to Use Autobiography
Identify the Subject: First, identify the person whose life story is being presented. This person should also be the author of the autobiography. Introduce the Autobiography: Begin your sentence with a clear introduction that the text is an autobiography. For example, "In his autobiography," or "Her autobiography details.".
How to use autobiography in a sentence
Sentence Examples. As you would expect from a historian of Molony's distinction, his autobiography is written chastely, elegantly, self-critically and charitably. While going through such varied sources, it is a great joy when one finds an autobiography or a biography or an unpublished piece of writing. This autobiography will appeal most to ...
Autobiography: In a Sentence
the story of an individual's life written by that individual. Examples of Autobiography in a sentence. To learn about the deceased celebrity, you should read the autobiography he wrote about his life. It was interesting to listen to the actress share a memory she had included in her autobiography. During the interview, the singer took a few ...
Example sentences with AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Examples of 'autobiography' in a sentence. Examples from Collins dictionaries. ... I expect his forthcoming autobiography will have the same effect. Times, Sunday Times (2008) I am delighted to talk about my character and life in my new autobiography. The Sun (2014)
Autobiography in a sentence (esp. good sentence like quote, proverb...)
134+3 sentence examples: 1. In her autobiography she occasionally refers to her unhappy schooldays. 2. She has just written her autobiography. 3. The novel is a thinly disguised autobiography. 4. They published an extract from his autobiography. 5.
Autobiography: Definition and Examples
Example 2. An autobiography by a young Olympian is "Grace, Gold and Glory: My Leap of Faith" by Gabrielle (Gabby) Douglas. She had a writer, Michelle Burford, help her in writing her autobiography. This is common for those who have a story to tell but may not have the words to express it well. Gabby was the darling of the 2012 Olympics ...
The Word "Autobiography" in Example Sentences
English Sentences Focusing on Words and Their Word Families The Word "Autobiography" in Example Sentences Page 1. 1892618 The book is a sort of autobiographical novel. Guybrush88 286542 His autobiography was released today and was sold out by noon. CK 302485 He devoted the last years of his life to writing his autobiography . CK 264505 In his ...
Autobiography Definition & Meaning
The meaning of AUTOBIOGRAPHY is the biography of a person narrated by that person : a usually written account of a person's life in their own words. How to use autobiography in a sentence.
Definition and Examples of Autobiography
The term fictional autobiography (or pseudoautobiography) refers to novels that employ first-person narrators who recount the events of their lives as if they actually happened. Well-known examples include David Copperfield (1850) by Charles Dickens and Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye (1951). Some critics believe that all autobiographies are ...
What Is an Autobiography? (And How to Write Yours)
The word autobiography literally means SELF (auto), LIFE (bio), WRITING (graph). Or, in other words, an autobiography is the story of someone's life written or otherwise told by that person. When writing your autobiography, find out what makes your family or your experience unique and build a narrative around that.
15 Autobiography Examples to Inspire Your Own
15 Autobiography Examples to Inspire Your Own
How To Write an Autobiography 2024 (Tips, Templates, & Guide)
Order your sections (from medium to high interest) Order the ideas in each section (from medium to high interest) Write three questions to answer in each section. Choose a starter sentence. Complete a title template. Write each section of your by completing the starter sentence and answering all three questions.
Use words to create a vivid visual of the surroundings. Emotional Connection: Connect with your readers on an emotional level. Share the emotions, ideas, or difficulties you felt in that moment. Hence an engaging topic is a good answer for how to start an autobiography. 3.
Here below you will find several sentences that illustrate how to use the word autobiography in a sentence. In his autobiography, he wrote:. In her autobiography, she wrote:. In her autobiography, Goldman wrote:. He later wrote in his autobiography:. In his autobiography, Du Bois wrote:. In his 1883 autobiography, Gilbert wrote:.
How to Write an Autobiography: The Story of Your Life
4. Include plenty of detail. In case we haven't drilled down on this enough, let's reiterate once more: an autobiography should be a complete overview of your life from beginning to end. That means that as you get into properly writing it, you should include as much detail as you can remember.
How to write an autobiography (and actually finish it)
We designed an interview with 101 questions for our parents to answer. Every question was designed to be thought provoking and take no more than five minutes each to answer. We broke the questions up into different "life chapters" like childhood, work, love, family tree, children and more philosophical questions as well.
How to Write an Autobiography: Structure, Tips, and Example Analyzed
However, don't change the manner of writing in the middle of your essay! Use first-person narration. This is your autobiographical essay, and you write about your own life. Use the words "I," "my," and "me" without hesitation. An autobiography differs from academic writing, where you will avoid personification.
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1. Kurakin was one of the best-educated Russians of his day, and his autobiography, carried down to 1709, is an historical document of the first importance. 2. 1. Jehangir tells us in his autobiography that before his father Akbar built the present fort, the town was defended by a citadel of great antiquity.
Bob Odenkirk had written about it in his autobiography and talked about it on a show as the funniest sketch that never aired. — Jenelle Riley, Variety, 19 Dec. 2023. Liz was very intrigued by this part of my autobiography where my mother goes to college with me. — Madison Feller, ELLE, 8 Apr. 2023.
Examples of AUTOBIOGRAPHY in a sentence, how to use it. 98 examples: Critics often applaud rock autobiographies that go at least partially ' against…
Identify the Subject: First, identify the person whose life story is being presented. This person should also be the author of the autobiography. Introduce the Autobiography: Begin your sentence with a clear introduction that the text is an autobiography. For example, "In his autobiography," or "Her autobiography details.".
Sentence Examples. As you would expect from a historian of Molony's distinction, his autobiography is written chastely, elegantly, self-critically and charitably. While going through such varied sources, it is a great joy when one finds an autobiography or a biography or an unpublished piece of writing. This autobiography will appeal most to ...
the story of an individual's life written by that individual. Examples of Autobiography in a sentence. To learn about the deceased celebrity, you should read the autobiography he wrote about his life. It was interesting to listen to the actress share a memory she had included in her autobiography. During the interview, the singer took a few ...
Examples of 'autobiography' in a sentence. Examples from Collins dictionaries. ... I expect his forthcoming autobiography will have the same effect. Times, Sunday Times (2008) I am delighted to talk about my character and life in my new autobiography. The Sun (2014)
134+3 sentence examples: 1. In her autobiography she occasionally refers to her unhappy schooldays. 2. She has just written her autobiography. 3. The novel is a thinly disguised autobiography. 4. They published an extract from his autobiography. 5.
Example 2. An autobiography by a young Olympian is "Grace, Gold and Glory: My Leap of Faith" by Gabrielle (Gabby) Douglas. She had a writer, Michelle Burford, help her in writing her autobiography. This is common for those who have a story to tell but may not have the words to express it well. Gabby was the darling of the 2012 Olympics ...
English Sentences Focusing on Words and Their Word Families The Word "Autobiography" in Example Sentences Page 1. 1892618 The book is a sort of autobiographical novel. Guybrush88 286542 His autobiography was released today and was sold out by noon. CK 302485 He devoted the last years of his life to writing his autobiography . CK 264505 In his ...
The meaning of AUTOBIOGRAPHY is the biography of a person narrated by that person : a usually written account of a person's life in their own words. How to use autobiography in a sentence.
The term fictional autobiography (or pseudoautobiography) refers to novels that employ first-person narrators who recount the events of their lives as if they actually happened. Well-known examples include David Copperfield (1850) by Charles Dickens and Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye (1951). Some critics believe that all autobiographies are ...
The word autobiography literally means SELF (auto), LIFE (bio), WRITING (graph). Or, in other words, an autobiography is the story of someone's life written or otherwise told by that person. When writing your autobiography, find out what makes your family or your experience unique and build a narrative around that.
15 Autobiography Examples to Inspire Your Own
Order your sections (from medium to high interest) Order the ideas in each section (from medium to high interest) Write three questions to answer in each section. Choose a starter sentence. Complete a title template. Write each section of your by completing the starter sentence and answering all three questions.
40 Autobiography Examples ( Autobiographical ...
Use words to create a vivid visual of the surroundings. Emotional Connection: Connect with your readers on an emotional level. Share the emotions, ideas, or difficulties you felt in that moment. Hence an engaging topic is a good answer for how to start an autobiography. 3.
Autobiography | Definition, History, Types, Examples, & Facts
How to Write an Autobiography in 31 Steps
Here below you will find several sentences that illustrate how to use the word autobiography in a sentence. In his autobiography, he wrote:. In her autobiography, she wrote:. In her autobiography, Goldman wrote:. He later wrote in his autobiography:. In his autobiography, Du Bois wrote:. In his 1883 autobiography, Gilbert wrote:.
4. Include plenty of detail. In case we haven't drilled down on this enough, let's reiterate once more: an autobiography should be a complete overview of your life from beginning to end. That means that as you get into properly writing it, you should include as much detail as you can remember.
We designed an interview with 101 questions for our parents to answer. Every question was designed to be thought provoking and take no more than five minutes each to answer. We broke the questions up into different "life chapters" like childhood, work, love, family tree, children and more philosophical questions as well.
However, don't change the manner of writing in the middle of your essay! Use first-person narration. This is your autobiographical essay, and you write about your own life. Use the words "I," "my," and "me" without hesitation. An autobiography differs from academic writing, where you will avoid personification.