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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Posted on Jun 30, 2023

How to Write a Biography: A 7-Step Guide [+Template]

From time to time, nonfiction authors become so captivated by a particular figure from either the present or the past, that they feel compelled to write an entire book about their life. Whether casting them as heroes or villains, there is an interesting quality in their humanity that compels these authors to revisit their life paths and write their story.

However, portraying someone’s life on paper in a comprehensive and engaging way requires solid preparation. If you’re looking to write a biography yourself, in this post we’ll share a step-by-step blueprint that you can follow. 

How to write a biography: 

1. Seek permission when possible 

2. research your subject thoroughly, 3. do interviews and visit locations, 4. organize your findings, 5. identify a central thesis, 6. write it using narrative elements, 7. get feedback and polish the text.

FREE RESOURCE

Biography Outline Template

Craft a satisfying story arc for your biography with our free template.

While you technically don’t need permission to write about public figures (or deceased ones), that doesn't guarantee their legal team won't pursue legal action against you. Author Kitty Kelley was sued by Frank Sinatra before she even started to write His Way , a biography that paints Ol Blue Eyes in a controversial light. (Kelley ended up winning the lawsuit, however).  

Whenever feasible, advise the subject’s representatives of your intentions. If all goes according to plan, you’ll get a green light to proceed, or potentially an offer to collaborate. It's a matter of common sense; if someone were to write a book about you, you would likely want to know about it well prior to publication. So, make a sincere effort to reach out to their PR staff to negotiate an agreement or at least a mutual understanding of the scope of your project. 

At the same time, make sure that you still retain editorial control over the project, and not end up writing a puff piece that treats its protagonist like a saint or hero. No biography can ever be entirely objective, but you should always strive for a portrayal that closely aligns with facts and reality.

If you can’t get an answer from your subject, or you’re asked not to proceed forward, you can still accept the potential repercussions and write an unauthorized biography . The “rebellious act” of publishing without consent indeed makes for great marketing, though it’ll likely bring more headaches with it too. 

✋ Please note that, like other nonfiction books, if you intend to release your biography with a publishing house , you can put together a book proposal to send to them before you even write the book. If they like it enough, they might pay you an advance to write it.  

Book Proposal Template

Craft a professional pitch for your nonfiction book with our handy template.

Once you’ve settled (or not) the permission part, it’s time to dive deep into your character’s story.  

Deep and thorough research skills are the cornerstone of every biographer worth their salt. To paint a vivid and accurate portrait of someone's life, you’ll have to gather qualitative information from a wide range of reliable sources. 

Start with the information already available, from books on your subject to archival documents, then collect new ones firsthand by interviewing people or traveling to locations. 

Browse the web and library archives

Put your researcher hat on and start consuming any piece on your subject you can find, from their Wikipedia page to news articles, interviews, TV and radio appearances, YouTube videos, podcasts, books, magazines, and any other media outlets they may have been featured in. 

Establish a system to orderly collect the information you find 一 even seemingly insignificant details can prove valuable during the writing process, so be sure to save them. 

Depending on their era, you may find most of the information readily available online, or you may need to search through university libraries for older references. 

For his landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow spent untold hours at Columbia University’s library , reading through the Hamilton family papers, visiting the New York Historical Society, as well as interviewing the archivist of the New York Stock Exchange, and so on. The research process took years, but it certainly paid off. Chernow discovered that Hamilton created the first five securities originally traded on Wall Street. This finding, among others, revealed his significant contributions to shaping the current American financial and political systems, a legacy previously often overshadowed by other founding fathers. Today Alexander Hamilton is one of the best-selling biographies of all time, and it has become a cultural phenomenon with its own dedicated musical. 

Besides reading documents about your subject, research can help you understand the world that your subject lived in. 

Try to understand their time and social environment

Many biographies show how their protagonists have had a profound impact on society through their philosophical, artistic, or scientific contributions. But at the same time, it’s worth it as a biographer to make an effort to understand how their societal and historical context influenced their life’s path and work.

An interesting example is Stephen Greenblatt’s Will in the World . Finding himself limited by a lack of verified detail surrounding William Shakespeare's personal life, Greenblatt, instead, employs literary interpretation and imaginative reenactments to transport readers back to the Elizabethan era. The result is a vivid (though speculative) depiction of the playwright's life, enriching our understanding of his world.

Many readers enjoy biographies that transport them to a time and place, so exploring a historical period through the lens of a character can be entertaining in its own right. The Diary of Samuel Pepys became a classic not because people were enthralled by his life as an administrator, but rather from his meticulous and vivid documentation of everyday existence during the Restoration period.

Once you’ve gotten your hands on as many secondary sources as you can find, you’ll want to go hunting for stories first-hand from people who are (or were) close to your subject.

With all the material you’ve been through, by now you should already have a pretty good picture of your protagonist. But you’ll surely have some curiosities and missing dots in their character arc to figure out, which you can only get by interviewing primary sources.

Interview friends and associates

This part is more relevant if your subject is contemporary, and you can actually meet up or call with relatives, friends, colleagues, business partners, neighbors, or any other person related to them. 

In writing the popular biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson interviewed more than one hundred people, including Jobs’s family, colleagues, former college mates, business rivals, and the man himself.

🔍 Read other biographies to get a sense of what makes a great one. Check out our list of the 30 best biographies of all time , or take our 30-second quiz below for tips on which one you should read next. 

Which biography should you read next?

Discover the perfect biography for you. Takes 30 seconds!

When you conduct your interviews, make sure to record them with high quality audio you can revisit later. Then use tools like Otter.ai or Descript to transcribe them 一 it’ll save you countless hours. 

You can approach the interview with a specific set of questions, or follow your curiosity blindly, trying to uncover revealing stories and anecdotes about your subject. Whatever your method, author and biography editor Tom Bromley suggests that every interviewer arrives prepared, "Show that you’ve done your work. This will help to put the interviewee at ease, and get their best answers.” 

Bromley also places emphasis on the order in which you conduct interviews. “You may want to interview different members of the family or friends first, to get their perspective on something, and then go directly to the main interviewee. You'll be able to use that knowledge to ask sharper, more specific questions.” 

Finally, consider how much time you have with each interviewee. If you only have a 30-minute phone call with an important person, make it count by asking directly the most pressing questions you have. And, if you find a reliable source who is also particularly willing to help, conduct several interviews and ask them, if appropriate, to write a foreword as part of the book’s front matter .

Sometimes an important part of the process is packing your bags, getting on a plane, and personally visiting significant places in your character’s journey.

Visit significant places in their life

A place, whether that’s a city, a rural house, or a bodhi tree, can carry a particular energy that you can only truly experience by being there. In putting the pieces together about someone’s life, it may be useful to go visit where they grew up, or where other significant events of their lives happened. It will be easier to imagine what they experienced, and better tell their story. 

In researching The Lost City of Z , author David Grann embarked on a trek through the Amazon, retracing the steps of British explorer Percy Fawcett. This led Grann to develop new theories about the circumstances surrounding the explorer's disappearance.

Hopefully, you won’t have to deal with jaguars and anacondas to better understand your subject’s environment, but try to walk into their shoes as much as possible. 

Once you’ve researched your character enough, it’s time to put together all the puzzle pieces you collected so far. 

Take the bulk of notes, media, and other documents you’ve collected, and start to give them some order and structure. A simple way to do this is by creating a timeline. 

Create a chronological timeline

It helps to organize your notes chronologically 一 from childhood to the senior years, line up the most significant events of your subject’s life, including dates, places, names and other relevant bits. 

You should be able to divide their life into distinct periods, each with their unique events and significance. Based on that, you can start drafting an outline of the narrative you want to create.  

Draft a story outline 

Since a biography entails writing about a person’s entire life, it will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. You can pick where you want to end the story, depending on how consequential the last years of your subject were. But the nature of the work will give you a starting character arc to work with. 

To outline the story then, you could turn to the popular Three-Act Structure , which divides the narrative in three main parts. In a nutshell, you’ll want to make sure to have the following:

• Act 1. Setup : Introduce the protagonist's background and the turning points that set them on a path to achieve a goal. 
• Act 2. Confrontation : Describe the challenges they encounter, both internal and external, and how they rise to them. Then..
• Act 3. Resolution : Reach a climactic point in their story in which they succeed (or fail), showing how they (and the world around them) have changed as a result. 

Only one question remains before you begin writing: what will be the main focus of your biography?

Think about why you’re so drawn to your subject to dedicate years of your life to recounting their own. What aspect of their life do you want to highlight? Is it their evil nature, artistic genius, or visionary mindset? And what evidence have you got to back that up? Find a central thesis or focus to weave as the main thread throughout your narrative. 

Or find a unique angle

If you don’t have a particular theme to explore, finding a distinct angle on your subject’s story can also help you distinguish your work from other biographies or existing works on the same subject.

Plenty of biographies have been published about The Beatles 一 many of which have different focuses and approaches: 

• Philip Norman's Shout is sometimes regarded as leaning more towards a pro-Lennon and anti-McCartney stance, offering insights into the band's inner dynamics. 
• Ian McDonald's Revolution in the Head closely examines their music track by track, shifting the focus back to McCartney as a primary creative force. 
• Craig Brown's One Two Three Four aims to capture their story through anecdotes, fan letters, diary entries, and interviews. 
• Mark Lewisohn's monumental three-volume biography, Tune In , stands as a testament to over a decade of meticulous research, chronicling every intricate detail of the Beatles' journey.

Finally, consider that biographies are often more than recounting the life of a person. Similar to how Dickens’ Great Expectations is not solely about a boy named Pip (but an examination and critique of Britain’s fickle, unforgiving class system), a biography should strive to illuminate a broader truth — be it social, political, or human — beyond the immediate subject of the book. 

Once you’ve identified your main focus or angle, it’s time to write a great story. 

While biographies are often highly informative, they do not have to be dry and purely expository in nature . You can play with storytelling elements to make it an engaging read. 

You could do that by thoroughly detailing the setting of the story , depicting the people involved in the story as fully-fledged characters , or using rising action and building to a climax when describing a particularly significant milestone of the subject’s life. 

One common way to make a biography interesting to read is starting on a strong foot…

Hook the reader from the start

Just because you're honoring your character's whole life doesn't mean you have to begin when they said their first word. Starting from the middle or end of their life can be more captivating as it introduces conflicts and stakes that shaped their journey.

When he wrote about Christopher McCandless in Into the Wild , author Jon Krakauer didn’t open his subject’s childhood and abusive family environment. Instead, the book begins with McCandless hitchhiking his way into the wilderness, and subsequently being discovered dead in an abandoned bus. By starting in medias res , Krakauer hooks the reader’s interest, before tracing back the causes and motivations that led McCandless to die alone in that bus in the first place.

You can bend the timeline to improve the reader’s reading experience throughout the rest of the story too…

Play with flashback 

While biographies tend to follow a chronological narrative, you can use flashbacks to tell brief stories or anecdotes when appropriate. For example, if you were telling the story of footballer Lionel Messi, before the climax of winning the World Cup with Argentina, you could recall when he was just 13 years old, giving an interview to a local newspaper, expressing his lifelong dream of playing for the national team. 

Used sparsely and intentionally, flashbacks can add more context to the story and keep the narrative interesting. Just like including dialogue does…

Reimagine conversations

Recreating conversations that your subject had with people around them is another effective way to color the story. Dialogue helps the reader imagine the story like a movie, providing a deeper sensory experience. 

One thing is trying to articulate the root of Steve Jobs’ obsession with product design, another would be to quote his father , teaching him how to build a fence when he was young: “You've got to make the back of the fence just as good looking as the front of the fence. Even though nobody will see it, you will know. And that will show that you're dedicated to making something perfect.”

Unlike memoirs and autobiographies, in which the author tells the story from their personal viewpoint and enjoys greater freedom to recall conversations, biographies require a commitment to facts. So, when recreating dialogue, try to quote directly from reliable sources like personal diaries, emails, and text messages. You could also use your interview scripts as an alternative to dialogue. As Tom Bromley suggests, “If you talk with a good amount of people, you can try to tell the story from their perspective, interweaving different segments and quoting the interviewees directly.”

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These are just some of the story elements you can use to make your biography more compelling. Once you’ve finished your manuscript, it’s a good idea to ask for feedback. 

If you’re going to self-publish your biography, you’ll have to polish it to professional standards. After leaving your work to rest for a while, look at it with fresh eyes and self-edit your manuscript eliminating passive voice, filler words, and redundant adverbs. 

Then, have a professional editor give you a general assessment. They’ll look at the structure and shape of your manuscript and tell you which parts need to be expanded on or cut. As someone who edited and commissioned several biographies, Tom Bromley points out that a professional “will look at the sources used and assess whether they back up the points made, or if more are needed. They would also look for context, and whether or not more background information is needed for the reader to understand the story fully. And they might check your facts, too.”  

In addition to structural editing, you may want to have someone copy-edit and proofread your work.

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Importantly, make sure to include a bibliography with a list of all the interviews, documents, and sources used in the writing process. You’ll have to compile it according to a manual of style, but you can easily create one by using tools like EasyBib . Once the text is nicely polished and typeset in your writing software , you can prepare for the publication process.  

In conclusion, by mixing storytelling elements with diligent research, you’ll be able to breathe life into a powerful biography that immerses readers in another individual’s life experience. Whether that’ll spark inspiration or controversy, remember you could have an important role in shaping their legacy 一 and that’s something not to take lightly. 

Continue reading

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How to Write a Biography

Last Updated: April 13, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Stephanie Wong Ken, MFA . Stephanie Wong Ken is a writer based in Canada. Stephanie's writing has appeared in Joyland, Catapult, Pithead Chapel, Cosmonaut's Avenue, and other publications. She holds an MFA in Fiction and Creative Writing from Portland State University. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,860,153 times.

Writing a biography can be a fun challenge, where you are sharing the story of someone’s life with readers. You may need to write a biography for a class or decide to write one as a personal project. Once you have identified the subject of the biography, do your research so you know as much about them as possible. Then, dive into the writing of the biography and revising it until it is at its finest.

Researching Your Subject

• If the subject does not give you permission to write the biography, you may want to choose a different subject. If you decide to publish the biography without the subject’s permission, you may be susceptible to legal action by the subject.
• If the subject is no longer alive, you obviously do not need to ask permission to write about them.

• You may create research questions to help focus your research of the subject, such as, What do I find interesting about the subject? Why is this subject important to readers? What can I say that is new about the subject? What would I like to learn more about?

• For in person interviews, record them with a tape recorder or a voice recorder on your computer or phone.
• You may need to interview the subject and others several times to get the material you need.

• You may also want to visit areas where the subject made a major decision or breakthrough in their life. Being physically in the area can give you a sense of how the subject might have felt and help you write their experiences more effectively.

• When researching the time period ask yourself: What were the social norms of that time? What was going on economically and politically? How did the social and political climate affect the subject?

• You may also include historical events or moments that affected the subject on the timeline. For example, maybe there was a conflict or civil war that happened during the person’s life that affected their life.

Writing the Biography

• You may end up focusing on particular areas of the person’s life. If you do this, work through a particular period in the person’s life chronologically.

• For example, you may have a thesis statement about focusing on how the person impacted the civil rights movement in America in the 1970s. You can then make sure all your content relates back to this thesis.

• Flashbacks should feel as detailed and real as present day scenes. Use your research notes and interviews with the subject to get a good sense of their past for the flashbacks.
• For example, you may jump from the person’s death in the present to a flashback to their favorite childhood memory.

• For example, you may focus on the person’s accomplishments in the civil rights movement. You may write a whole section about their contributions and participation in major civil rights marches in their hometown.

• For example, you may notice that the person’s life is patterned with moments of adversity, where the person worked hard and fought against larger forces. You can then use the theme of overcoming adversity in the biography.

• For example, you may note how you see parallels in the person’s life during the civil rights movement with your own interests in social justice. You may also commend the person for their hard work and positive impact on society.

Polishing the Biography

• Revise the biography based on feedback from others. Do not be afraid to cut or edit down the biography to suit the needs of your readers.

• Having a biography riddled with spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors can turn off your readers and result in a poor grade if you are handing in the text for a class.

• If the biography is for a class, use MLA , APA , or Chicago Style citations based on the preferences of your instructor.

Biography Help

Community Q&A

• Be careful when publishing private or embarrassing information, especially if the person is not a celebrity. You may violate their "Right of Privacy" or equivalent. Thanks Helpful 31 Not Helpful 5
• Have the sources to back up your statements about the subject's life. Untruthful written statements can lead to litigation. If it is your opinion, be clear that it is such and not fact (although you can support your opinion with facts). Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 15

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• ↑ http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-biography.html
• ↑ https://au.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-bio
• ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-biography.html
• ↑ https://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/3-tips-for-writing-successful-flashbacks
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-bio/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://www.plagiarism.org/article/how-do-i-cite-sources

About This Article

Before you write a biography, gather as much information about the subject that you can from sources like newspaper articles, interviews, photos, existing biographies, and anything else you can find. Write the story of that person’s life, including as much supporting detail as you can, including information about the place and time where the person lived. Focus on major events and milestones in their life, including historical events, marriage, children, and events which would shape their path later in life. For tips from our reviewer on proofreading the biography and citing your sources, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Standout Professional Bio Examples (And Why You Need One)

• Compelling examples of bios in multiple contexts

The difference between a resume and a professional bio

Who needs a professional bio.

A professional bio is one of the most important pieces of writing you have in your toolkit.

What career and business opportunities will yours open up?

Effective examples of bios in multiple contexts

When crafting a professional bio, be intentional about the content you include and tailor it according to your objectives.

You want to adjust it accordingly based on where it appears and what type of organization and industry you work for.

The purpose of a professional bio is generally to:

• State who you are and what you do
• Provide examples of your work experience that bolster your credibility
• Tell your story

How you go about accomplishing these three goals, however, will vary.

We compiled a variety of professional biographies and explain why they are effective to give you an idea of how to structure yours.

Company Website

If you are a senior executive, you may have a professional bio on your company’s website: this is the most common request we receive.

John Hartman | Equifax

John Hartman put together a classic example of an executive bio for the Equifax website.

His writing is clear, concise, and follows the standard structure for an effective bio by providing:

• Name and current role at Equifax
• Previous experience at Equifax
• Early career history
• Education summary

If you’re looking for a conventional executive bio, you’ll want to follow this format.

It’s perfectly acceptable to use the bio you have on your company’s website for LinkedIn.

However, don’t forget that LinkedIn is still a social media platform, so it’s okay to infuse a bit more personality into it !

Jay Shetty | Personal Brand

Jay Shetty's profile headline and introduction quickly grab the reader's attention: “Meet the former monk who is making wisdom go viral.”

He further builds his credibility by explaining that he has 200 million views on social media, over one million followers, and was selected for Forbes 30 Under 30.

His bio also includes information about his education and career history while infusing elements of his story (we’ll forgive him for grammar errors and focus on content – because it is quite strong).

At the end, he also provides a preferred method of contact.

You should consider including your email address or a link to your LinkedIn profile as well – especially if your bio doubles as a marketing tool.

Need help crafting a compelling executive bio? Learn more  about our professional bio writing service!

Personal Website

We’re increasingly seeing freelancers and even professionals in the corporate sector building personal websites that serve as an online resume, so to speak.

If you are a freelancer or run your own business, think carefully about your copy and what kind of message you are sending to your readers.

• What kind of impression will they have of you and your business after reading your bio?
• Does your bio leave them inspired and wanting to talk to you further?
• What is the image you are trying to convey? Do you want to come off as polished and professional, engaging, fun, or simply vanilla? 

Melanie Everett | melanieeverettco.com

Melanie Everett runs an independent real estate firm in Chicago.

Coming from a journalism background, she has leveraged her writing skills to drive her real estate business. She currently ranks in the top 1% of real estate agents in Chicago.

Conference or Event Pamphlet

If you are speaking on a panel or delivering a keynote speech, you may have the opportunity to provide a bio to be featured in the event’s print materials.

For these types of communications, you’ll want your bio to be shorter than what you might include on a company page or LinkedIn summary.

These executive bios build credibility for you and your company while positioning you as an expert on the topic you will be speaking about.

Vera Manoukian | Hilton

Hilton’s Vera Manoukian provided this bio when she spoke on a panel titled “The Rebirth of Full-Service Hotels,” effectively demonstrating her leadership experience in the hospitality sector.

Nonprofit Bio

Executive bios for nonprofit organizations often employ a storytelling approach to introduce readers to the organization’s mission and impact.

Ben Justus | EGBOK Mission

In his bio, Ben explains why he started EGBOK, the work his organization does, and how it has grown.

When you contribute to an industry blog, you may have the opportunity to include additional information that showcases why you are an authority on the topic.

In this context, your bio can also serve as publicity for your company.

Arianna Huffington | THRIVE Global

Brian X. Chen | The New York Times

Other times, you may have very limited space to work with, making it especially important to consider how each word is adding value.

A resume and professional bio are both personal marketing documents, but they are used in different contexts.

Resumes are generally used to apply for a job. They are written in third person, follow a conventional structure, and are predominantly based on facts and achievements .

Professional bios , on the other hand, provide a more informal narrative that serves as a compelling elevator pitch.

Professionals of all experience levels can benefit from a bio.

As an executive, you should have a long and short version of a professional bio to use on:

• Corporate or personal websites
• Company marketing brochures
• Conference materials

If you are a student , you can use yours as a LinkedIn summary or on the webpage of a campus organization you are a part of. You never know who might come across it!

We hope these examples have given you inspiration and an understanding of what to include in your bio.

When writing yours, remember to keep the following in mind:

The best bios are written thoughtfully and intentionally, so it’s not something you want to leave to the last minute!

Need a compelling executive bio? You can order our professional bio writing service here !

About resume pilots.

Resume Pilots is an award-winning executive resume writing firm and a proud member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our previous clients include CEOs and senior executives at the world's leading companies.

As a professional services firm, we take your reputation seriously. We are committed to delivering writing excellence and superior service while operating with integrity and discretion. Recruitment firms we partner with also trust us to consistently deliver quality documents for their clients.

Our writers have studied in the Ivy League and other top-tier universities and have strong writing backgrounds coupled with industry experience.

Here's how we can help you:

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Getting to Know You: Developing Short Biographies to Build Community

• Resources & Preparation
• Instructional Plan
• Related Resources

Students in a class form a type of community, and members must get to know one another for that community to thrive. When students and teachers share their backgrounds and interests early in the year, they develop a base for understanding that will support effective teaching and learning throughout the months that follow. This lesson, which is designed for the first few weeks of school, helps build classroom community. Students begin with a discussion about community and what it means to be part of a community. They then prepare interview questions to ask a classmate about their lives. Students interview a fellow classmate to compile biographical data about him or her and use a Web tool called Bio-Cube to organize the material. In a culminating activity, students use their completed Bio-Cube to introduce their partner to the class.

Featured Resources

Bio-Cube : Have students use this interactive to compile biographical information about a classmate.

From Theory to Practice

• Comprehension is a social constructivist process. Learning is the continuous integration of knowledge and experience and promotes the active construction of personal meaning.
• Thematic approaches to teaching and learning are responsive to the interests, abilities, and needs of students and are respectful of their developing aptitudes and attitudes.
• We read biographies to gain insight into the lives of others, which in turn offers us insight into ourselves.

Important "new literacies" needed in the 21st century include the opportunity to collaborate with others, engage in critical inquiry, and enhance communication skills while learning to respect the varied perspectives of others.

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

• 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
• 5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
• 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.
• 7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
• 9. Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles.
• 11. Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.
• 12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Materials and Technology

• Computers with Internet access
• LCD projector (optional)
• Overhead projector and transparency
• Bio-Cube Assessment
• Interview Checklist
• Presentation Checklist
• Bio-Cube Planning Sheet

Preparation

Student objectives.

Students will

• Gain knowledge of the backgrounds and interests of their teacher and classmates through personal interviews and the creation of a Bio-Cube
• Develop communication skills by practicing a variety of speaking techniques such as making eye contact, asking and responding to questions while interviewing, and orally presenting biographical information to classmates
• Review and expand their knowledge of text structure and practice using technology in relevant ways by organizing and presenting information with an online organizer using an online biography development tool
• Practice working collaboratively to develop their Bio-Cubes

Introducing the Strategy/Activity

Modeling the Strategy/Activity

Note: If you do not have classroom computers, this session should take place in your school’s computer lab (see Preparation, Step 1). Guided Practice

Independent Practice

• Display the Bio-Cubes in your classroom. This can be especially nice for families to view at Open House or fall conferences.
• Share the Bio-Cubes they have created with students in other classes in the same grade level so that everyone gets to know one another.
• Create Bio-Cubes for themselves, family members, or other people they are interested in.
• Use the Bio-Cube as a graphic organizer to write a complete biography or autobiography.
• Read biographies and use the Bio-Cube to summarize the text and share information with others.

Student Assessment / Reflections

• Observe students during the whole-class discussions, interviews, and as they work to create and share the Bio-Cube . Look for interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, how students work collaboratively, and who might require more or less support in the future.
• Assess students using the Interview Checklist . Provide coaching and additional practice with interviewing for students who demonstrate difficulty on one or more of these criteria. You might even pair these students together and coach them while they conduct an additional interview.
• Use the Presentation Checklist to assess students’ presentations. Provide coaching and practice to students who need more support.
• Extend students’ reflections from Session 2 by keeping the chart about classroom community up and periodically returning to it during the year, reflecting on how successful you have been at establishing your classroom community. You might ask students to complete the same activity part of the way through the year to see how they are able to deepen their interview responses. Or you might have students complete a Bio-Cube for themselves and compare it to the one their peer created.
• Ask students to use the Bio-Cube Assessment to assess their work. Meet with each pair of students and discuss the assessment, providing feedback and completing the Teacher section of the rubric. Work with students to develop goals for improvement. Since this lesson is most likely occurring early in the year, this can be a good assessment of what students can do independently and in partnerships.
• Student Interactives

Bio Cube is a useful summarizing tool that helps students identify and list key elements about a person for a biography or autobiography.

The interactive Cube Creator helps students identify and summarize key elements. It can be used as a prewriting or postreading activity.

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How to Write a Biography of a Famous Person

Writing a biography of a famous person is a challenging yet rewarding task. It requires extensive research, careful attention to detail, and the ability to craft a compelling narrative that captures the essence of the person’s life and achievements. In this article, we will explore how to write a biography of a famous person, as well as provide you with 9 interesting facts about the process.

1. Choose your subject carefully: The first step in writing a biography of a famous person is to choose your subject carefully. Consider selecting someone who has had a significant impact on their field, whether it be in politics, entertainment, sports, or science. It’s important to choose someone who you find interesting and compelling, as you will be spending a significant amount of time researching and writing about them.

2. Conduct thorough research: Once you have chosen your subject, it’s time to start conducting research. This may involve reading books, articles, and interviews about the person, as well as watching documentaries and listening to speeches or podcasts. Make sure to take detailed notes and keep track of your sources, as you will need to reference them in your biography.

3. Outline the person’s life: Before you start writing, it’s helpful to create an outline of the person’s life. This can help you organize your thoughts and ensure that you cover all the important events and milestones in their life. Start with their early life and background, then move on to their career and achievements, and finally, discuss their impact and legacy.

4. Tell a compelling story: A biography is more than just a list of facts and events – it’s a narrative that tells the story of a person’s life. Try to weave together the key events and moments in the person’s life in a way that is engaging and compelling for the reader. Use descriptive language and vivid details to bring the person’s story to life.

5. Include interesting facts and anecdotes: One way to make your biography more engaging is to include interesting facts and anecdotes about the person. These can help to humanize the person and provide insights into their personality and character. Look for unique or little-known facts that can help to add depth and complexity to your portrait of the person.

6. Be objective and balanced: When writing a biography of a famous person, it’s important to be objective and balanced in your portrayal of them. Avoid falling into the trap of hero-worship or demonization, and strive to present a fair and accurate picture of the person, warts and all. Remember that every person is a complex and multi-dimensional individual, and try to capture this complexity in your writing.

7. Consider the person’s impact: In addition to detailing the person’s life and achievements, it’s important to consider their impact on the world around them. How did they change their field or influence the people around them? What is their lasting legacy? These are important questions to consider as you write your biography.

8. Edit and revise: Once you have completed your first draft, it’s time to edit and revise your work. Look for any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation, and make sure that your writing is clear and concise. Consider asking a friend or colleague to read your biography and provide feedback, as fresh eyes can often catch things that you may have missed.

9. Seek feedback: Finally, don’t be afraid to seek feedback from others on your biography. Show your work to friends, family, or colleagues and ask for their honest opinions. Constructive criticism can help you improve your writing and make your biography more engaging and compelling for readers.

Now that we have covered the basics of how to write a biography of a famous person, let’s delve into 9 interesting facts about the process:

1. Research is key: Writing a biography requires extensive research to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the person’s life and achievements.

2. Choose your sources carefully: Make sure to use reputable sources when conducting your research, such as books, articles, and interviews with people who knew the person.

3. Be prepared to spend a lot of time on your biography: Writing a biography is a time-consuming process that requires patience and dedication.

4. Don’t be afraid to get creative: While it’s important to stick to the facts when writing a biography, don’t be afraid to get creative with your writing style and approach.

5. Consider the person’s legacy: When writing a biography, it’s important to consider the person’s lasting legacy and impact on the world.

6. Be prepared for criticism: Writing a biography can be a challenging and sometimes controversial endeavor, so be prepared for criticism from readers and reviewers.

7. Stay organized: Keep detailed notes and records of your research to ensure that you have all the information you need to write your biography.

8. Get feedback: Show your work to others and ask for their feedback to help you improve your writing and make your biography more engaging.

9. Enjoy the process: Writing a biography can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, so try to enjoy the process and learn as much as you can about the person you are writing about.

Now that we have covered 9 interesting facts about how to write a biography of a famous person, let’s move on to 17 common questions that you may have about the process:

1. How do I choose a subject for my biography?

– When choosing a subject for your biography, consider selecting someone who has had a significant impact on their field and who you find interesting and compelling.

2. How do I conduct research for my biography?

– Research for your biography may involve reading books, articles, and interviews about the person, as well as watching documentaries and listening to speeches or podcasts.

3. How do I structure my biography?

– Create an outline of the person’s life, starting with their early years and background, then moving on to their career and achievements, and finally discussing their impact and legacy.

4. How do I make my biography engaging?

– Use descriptive language, vivid details, and interesting facts and anecdotes to make your biography more engaging and compelling for readers.

5. How do I remain objective when writing a biography?

– Strive to be objective and balanced in your portrayal of the person, avoiding hero-worship or demonization and presenting a fair and accurate picture of the person.

6. How do I edit and revise my biography?

– Look for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and make sure that your writing is clear and concise. Consider seeking feedback from others to help improve your work.

7. How do I deal with criticism of my biography?

– Be prepared for criticism from readers and reviewers, and use it as an opportunity to learn and improve your writing.

8. How do I capture the person’s personality in my biography?

– Use interesting facts, anecdotes, and insights to help capture the person’s personality and character in your writing.

9. How do I ensure that my biography is accurate?

– Use reputable sources and fact-check your work to ensure that your biography is accurate and well-researched.

10. How do I make my biography stand out from others?

– Use a unique writing style, interesting facts, and a compelling narrative to make your biography stand out and capture the reader’s attention.

11. How do I handle sensitive or controversial topics in my biography?

– Approach sensitive or controversial topics with sensitivity and objectivity, and strive to present a fair and balanced view of the person and their life.

12. How do I structure my research for my biography?

– Keep detailed notes and records of your research to ensure that you have all the information you need to write your biography.

13. How do I ensure that my biography is well-written?

– Use descriptive language, vivid details, and engaging storytelling techniques to make your biography well-written and engaging for readers.

14. How do I choose which events to include in my biography?

– Select events that are significant and relevant to the person’s life and achievements, and that help to tell a compelling story about them.

15. How do I make my biography relevant to today’s readers?

– Consider the person’s impact and legacy, and how their life and achievements continue to resonate with readers today.

16. How do I structure my biography to keep readers engaged?

– Use a clear and logical structure, with engaging storytelling techniques and interesting facts and anecdotes to keep readers engaged throughout your biography.

17. How do I conclude my biography?

– Summarize the person’s life and achievements, their impact and legacy, and leave readers with a lasting impression of the person and their contribution to the world.

In conclusion, writing a biography of a famous person is a challenging yet rewarding task that requires careful research, attention to detail, and a compelling narrative. By following the tips outlined in this article, as well as considering the interesting facts and common questions provided, you can create a biography that captures the essence of the person’s life and achievements in a compelling and engaging way. Remember to stay objective and balanced in your portrayal of the person, seek feedback from others, and enjoy the process of writing and learning about the person you are writing about. Happy writing!

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How Can I Publish My Biography?

You don't have to know someone famous to write a biography worth reading – anyone can publish their story. If you've ever considered creating a biography of a noteworthy person in your life or community, there are many ways to do it and a self-publishing company can help.  

A biography is a third-person account of someone's life story. To create this type of book, you'll need to identify the purpose of this project, figure out who your target audience will be, map out your book, and connect with a publisher.  

At Book1One, we'll provide insights into the early stages of the book creation process and explain why small-batch printing is valuable. 

Discover Your Book's Purpose

The importance of oral histories cannot be overstated. In the past, they've been used to pass down knowledge and experiences or preserve vital information. Even though your biography is on paper, it's just as important. It's a story told from your subject's perspective through a lifetime of memories. This person's journey can be used as a historical resource for future generations in their family or one that members of your community can learn from and enjoy.   

A good place to start is to figure out why you and your subject want to publish a biography. This can help you shape the narrative and figure out exactly what events from their life you would like to cover. People publish biographies for many reasons:  

• It can help others: If you think someone else could benefit from a lived experience in the future, this is a great reason to collect their stories. This book could be filled with life lessons, a unique worldview, and nuggets of wisdom that the readers may find useful.   
• It's cathartic: Many people feel that writing is excellent therapy. Recording a story filled with personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions can be an exercise in self-discovery that feels like a true accomplishment in the end.  
• It establishes a legacy: A biography can serve as a treasured keepsake for future generations. Years from now, people will be able to read about the person, learn about the time in which they lived, and see how their place in history was represented.  
• It serves a larger purpose: Do you have an inspirational tale to tell? Many people write their biography as a way to connect with others who have similar experiences and encourage them to keep pushing forward.  

One of the best things about a biography is that it can be told any way you want to accomplish your goal, and self-publishing means full creative control is in your hands.   

Identify Your Audience

Next, it's time to identify your target audience. Writing with a specific group in mind makes it easier to figure out which stories to tell and how to hone the book's voice. You can work with the subject to pinpoint an audience or figure this one out on your own if they're deceased. Ask yourself:  

• Is this publication just for the person's close family and friends?  
• Will it be available at a local library where the family grew up and made an impact ?
• Are copies going to be sold on the shelves of bookstores for anyone to read?

Everyone lives a life worth sharing, but which parts are of the greatest interest? If this biography will primarily be used to pass down a legacy through generations, the person may want more photos, family accounts, and personal details. If this book will be available for anyone to read, explore which events and lessons may appeal to a wider audience.  

Plan Out Your Book

Creating a biography involves planning and research. The storyline is usually structured in chronological order, so you can typically start by creating a timeline. Make a list of some of the most important events that will be covered in the book and their dates, such as:  

• Relationships 
• Major life milestones 
• Personal/professional accomplishments

Next, review other biographical examples and figure out what supplemental information you'll need. This may include:  

• Historical photographs of places or treasured items related to the story  
• Images of the subject at different points in their life, as well as friends and relatives   
• Records from national archives  
• Hand-written letters  
• Newspaper clippings  
• Recorded interviews

Similar to genealogy book printing , the amount of work put into every biography is different. As the author, the research you'll need to do depends largely on the storyline and whether your subject or other people of note are still living. While not everything you've used during the research phase will be included in the actual book, they will help you shape the storyline in a personal, informative way for the reader.   

This stage can also help you find the best ways to interject your own insights into why specific moments were noteworthy, how they were affected by the time period, and what impact they had.  

Locate a Publishing Company

Once your manuscript is complete, it's time to find a publisher. If your goal is to self-publish your biography, this couldn’t be easier with the tools and platforms available online today. Book publishers like Book1One with small-batch printing services can be an asset to many authors, as it minimizes financial risks.  

This route is especially cost-effective for authors who are only creating the biography for family. But if you are crafting a book that will be marketed to a wider audience, on-demand printing makes it easier to balance costs and distribution. You have the freedom to print only the number of books you currently need – putting the pressure to sell large stacks in storage by the wayside.   

Writing a biography is a way to preserve the past, give a voice to a person in the present, and share their story with future generations. To publish your biography, you'll need to identify the project's goal, identify your target audience, create an outline for the book, and locate a publishing company.  

When you're ready to embark on your storytelling adventure, Book1One can help. We offer a host of useful links and resources for people looking to self-publish their work.  

Instant Quote

Biography Online

People who made a positive contribution

A list of people who have made a positive contribution to the world. These inspiring men and women have made a positive contribution in different fields – including religion, science, literature, politics, human rights and art.

Mikhail Gorbachev  (1931– ) Gorbachev was willing to move the Soviet Union from state Communism to democracy and respect for human rights. Gorbachev enabled the Berlin Wall to come down giving freedom to Eastern Europe.

Citation:  Pettinger, Tejvan . “ People who made a positive contribution” , Oxford, UK. www.biographyonline.net , 4th February 2015. Last updated 8 March 2018.

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How to Become a Community Leader

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Community members can improve their livelihood in meaningful ways through community development. (Syme & Ritterman, 2009). Community leadership helps develop and nurture grassroots innovations that improve the quality of life of the community members through active engagement toward common goals (Martiskainen, 2017). Evidence shows that community leaders effectively support, foster, and enable community development (Kirk & Shutte, 2004). The following questions are key to uncover the need of a community and lead changes.

• Are you interested in your community improving?
• What should improve in your community?
• In what way can you contribute to these changes or improvements in your community?
• Is there someone already leading these changes?

What does community leadership mean?

Community leadership is different from the traditional understanding of leadership because community leaders are representatives who ask, persuade, and influence followers (Sullivan, 2007). Community leadership is less hierarchical (Onyx and Leonard, 2011) and often based on volunteer action (Zanbar and Itzhaky, 2013), involving the creation of social capital (Riley, 2012) and improving community members' lives.

Community leaders are usually informal, local, non-elected, and non-exclusive leaders (Bénit-Gbaffou and Katsaura, 2014).  Usually, more than one leader in the community takes voluntary responsibility toward common goals or leading changes. Community leaders must be part of the community in which their leadership operates. Community leadership can exist in various sectors, including health, education, security, and community member emotional support.

How can you start a community care network?

The AARP organization developed a guidebook to help community members to initiate a local care network. The essential seven initial steps are summarized below:

• Learn about your community and its needs. Meet and talk with your neighbors every chance you have to learn about their current situations.  You might collect ideas to improve your community. Also, ask whether people would like to meet and discuss developing caring community teams. A survey might be a helpful option to collect ideas and opinions.
• Find collaborative team leaders. Recognize the main things people want and decide on a few teams to cover those things. Organize those who want to help into those teams and identify someone who can be the team leader.
• Engage team leaders and the whole community . Once you have identified teams, hold a get-together to discuss how the teams might implement some easy ideas generated from the survey results. Please encourage them to find an effective communication method to keep connected and keep the community informed.
• Offer help and invite your neighbors to join various projects. Be sure to tell them whom to contact if they need a hand. Even if specific needs are not apparent, you can start planning a community project like establishing a safety or emergency protocol.
• Start helping. Organize a team to cover specific community needs; if the project exceeds the capacity of your teams, ask additional community members to lend a hand. Usually, people are willing to help for special causes. Be sure to make all those requests in a way that is comfortable for the person you are helping.
• Build on what you started. Reflect with your teams and community about how you reached the goal or fulfilled the need. Ask for honest and constructive feedback. Keep your community constantly connected through social meetings and events.
• Inspire others to create more caring communities. You can also be a mentor to others on their leadership pathways.

Becoming a community leader.

Few people are born leaders. Usually, individuals learn how to lead over time. Some of the ways a person can learn to lead are by:

• Immersion into practice
• Observing other leaders
• Having a mentor
• Reading, taking leadership classes, or training.

Common Qualities Displayed by Good Community Leaders.

The role of a community leader is not to fix all the community's problems but rather to work together with the community members. Community leaders mobilize and guide others, facilitate the problem-solving and decision-making processes, and innovate to benefit the community itself.

The following qualities are the most common qualities displayed by successful community leaders. These qualities were summarized from the community toolbox (2021):

Integrity: To trust you, people need to know that you act according to what you say and are reliable.  If people trust you, they will likely follow and collaborate with you on your initiatives and projects.

Courage: Leadership constantly involves challenges, where taking risks and showing others the appropriate path is crucial. Challenge yourself to speak the truth - even when it is not popular.

Commitment: Commit to a task when you sign up for it, no matter how hard it could be. If you need to, find help to complete it or find strategies to make it more doable. Your commitment can be a positive model for your community members.

Care about others: People will follow and respect you when you care and raise your concerns about community members and local issues. The greater your ability to care about others, the more confidence and collaboration you will receive from community members.

Creativity and flexibility: Be prepared for change, develop alternative plans and new solutions.

Bénit‐Gbaffou, C., & Katsaura, O. (2014). Community Leadership and the Construction of Political Legitimacy: Unpacking Bourdieu's 'Political Capital' in Post‐Apartheid Johannesburg.  International Journal of Urban and Regional Research ,  38 (5), 1807-1832.

Kirk, P., & Shutte, A. M. (2004). Community leadership development.  Community Development Journal ,  39 (3), 234-251.

Martiskainen, M. (2017). The role of community leadership in the development of grassroots innovations.  Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions ,  22 , 78-89.

Onyx, J., & Leonard, R. J. (2011). Complex systems leadership in emergent community projects.  Community Development Journal ,  46 (4), 493-510.

Syme, S. L., & Ritterman, M. L. (2009). The importance of community development for health and well-being.  Community Development Investment Review ,  5 (3), 1-13.

Sullivan, H. (2007). 'Interpreting' community 'leadership' in English local government.  Policy & Politics ,  35 (1), 141-161.

Zanbar, L., & Itzhaky, H. (2013). Community activists' competence: The contributing factors.  Journal of Community Psychology ,  41 (2), 249-263.

AARP- How to Build A Caring Community Network (PDF)

The community toolbox - Section 1. Learning How to Be a Community Leader

Guide for Conducting Community Leader Interviews (PDF)

• Adult leadership
• Volunteerism
• Volunteer management

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