6 Things To Include in An Autobiography

6 Things to Include in an Autobiography
An autobiography should include all the most important details of your life story. This does not
mean it should contain every tiny sliver of minutiae; a self-aware autobiographer will take stock
of certain moments in their own life that may be interesting to themselves but not to an audience
of strangers.
Here are some key elements to consider including in your autobiography:
1. A description of your personal origin story: This can include your hometown, your
family history, some key family members and loved ones, and touchstone moments in
your education.
2. Significant experiences: Add accounts of each personal experience that shaped your
worldview and your approach to life in the present day.
3. Detailed recollections of episodes from your professional life: Often these are the
turning points that your autobiography will be known for—the moments that would
inspire someone to pick up your book in the first place. Be sure to give them extra care
and attention.
4. A personal story of failure: Follow it up with a good story of how you responded to that
failure.
5. A unique and compelling title: Steer clear of generic phrases like “my autobiography”
or “the story of me, my family, and famous people I know.”
6. A first person narrative voice: Third person writing is appropriate for traditional
biographies, but in the autobiography format, third person voice can read as
presumptuous.
How to Write an Autobiography in 8 Steps

Setting out to write the story of your life can be daunting, particularly during the first draft. Here
is a step-by-step guide to the art of writing your own autobiography:
1. Start by Brainstorming.
The writing process begins by compiling any and all life experiences that you suspect might be
compelling to a reader. As you sort through your own memories, be sure to cover all eras of your
life—from childhood to high school to your first job to the episodes in your life you are most
known for. Many of these episodes won’t make it into the final draft of your book, but for now,
keep the process broad and open.
2. Craft an Outline.
Begin to organize a narrative around the most compelling episodes from your brainstorm. If you
pace your life’s important events throughout your book, you’ll be able to grip your readers’
attention from beginning to end.
3. Do Your Research.
Once you have a first draft of your outline, engage in some research to help you recall contextual
information from the period you are writing about. Interview friends and family members to help
you remember all the details from the moments you choose to recall in your autobiography. No
one can remember the full history of their entire life—particularly their childhood—so prepare to
do some cultural research as well.
4. Write Your First Draft.
If you’ve come up with the key biographical moments around which you can anchor your life
story, then you are ready to attempt a first draft. This draft may be overly long and scattershot,
but professional writers know that even the tightest final drafts may be borne of a long winded
first draft.
5. Take a Break.
When your first draft is complete, take a few days off. You’ll want to read your work with the
freshest possible perspective; removing yourself from the process for a few days can aid this
endeavor.
6. Proofread.
After a brief layoff, begin proofreading. Yes, you should look for grammar mistakes, but more
importantly, you should identify weak moments in the narrative and come up with constructive
improvements. Think about what you’d look for if reading about another person’s life, and apply
it to your own autobiography.
7. Write Your Next Draft.
Write a second draft based on the notes you’ve given yourself. Then, when this second draft is
complete, show it to trusted friends and, if you have one, a professional editor. Their outside eyes
will give you a valuable perspective that you cannot possibly have on your own work.
8. Refine Your Writing.
Repeat step 7 as needed. New drafts should be followed by new reads from new people.
Throughout the process, you will refine your writing skills and your autobiographical know how.
Hopefully you will end up producing a final draft that is leaps and bounds beyond what you
produced in a first draft—but that still holds true to the most important elements of your life and
your personal truth.

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6 Things to Include in an Autobiography

Here are some key elements to consider including in your autobiography:

How to Write an Autobiography in 8 Steps

4. Write Your First Draft.

7. Write Your Next Draft.

8. Refine Your Writing.

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