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Writing a Family Biography (Part 2)- A Handy Template

• Posted by Lynn Palermo on February 1, 2010 at 12:40pm

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• Writing biographies

How to Collect and Record Memories

Writing family biographies in just 7 easy steps, let’s start with all your concerns about writing biographies:.

• “I don’t have time to do this.”
• “I’m not a writer.”
• “I’m not creative. My brain doesn’t work this way.”
• “I don’t know where to begin.”
• “No one wants to read my memories.”
• “Nobody cares about our family stories.”
• “This is going to be sooo hard.”

Sorry to be blunt, but these are pretty weak excuses … Collecting and recording your family stories and biographies does not require one bit of professional writing skills, creativity, publishing know-how, or any other special skills.

Anyone, and everyone, can and should do this!

The only requirement to record and preserve family stories and biographies is that you passionately care about your family..

Do you love them? Do you want to show them that love? Do you want future generations of your family to understand who they came from and what was important to the family?

That’s what we thought.

You’re doing this. Let’s get started !

7 easy steps to collect, record, and preserve your stories.

Here are the seven easy steps you’ll follow to collect, record, and preserve your family stories and biographies. Each step has free resources and tools to help keep you moving.

Step 1: Collect stories and memories

Step 2: collect photographs, step 3: collect other artifacts, step 4: write an outline.

Step 5: Arrange stories and images

Step 6: Pick a format

Step 7: Print and enjoy!

This can be one of the most time-consuming, but enjoyable steps of your family memories or biography project – collecting the stories! There are many ways to do this:

• Write down your own life memories
• Write down your favorite family stories
• Write down your memories about a specific family member
• Interview a family member about his/her life and memories
• Interview several family members about a loved one who has passed away
• Interview many family members about a beloved (and still living) family member

Collect as many memories and stories as you can. You’ll edit and prioritize later. Right now you just want to get them typed into your computer! When you’re writing your own memories, start with our 200+ interview questions to get you started. If you don’t have a computer or aren’t fond of typing, you can write your memories on paper and sweet talk a friend or family member into typing them.

Another option is speaking your memories into a recording device, like your smartphone or a small voice recorder. You can transcribe your notes or pay for a transcription service. It’s well worth the $1/minute fee many of them charge. Go to the Resources page for recommendations on voice recording apps and transcription services.

Nothing complements your heartfelt memories and beloved family stories like good photographs of the people and places in them. Unlike collecting memories and stories, too many photographs can quickly send you down a rabbit hole and stall your project.

Don’t go for quantity, go for quality photos. List the most prominent people mentioned in your memories and stories and look for a few relevant, high-quality photographs for each. It’s nice to have a mix of old and current photos. Now list some of the major events and places in your stories and memories. If you have sharp, high-quality photographs of these exact places or events, add them to your photo pile.

Once you have your photos, you’ll need to scan printed photos so you have digital versions of them. It’s likely any current photos will already be digital files. Head over to the Resources page for tips on how to scan photos.

There’s no need to dig deeper and search for related artifacts, but some people like to include them. What are artifacts? An artifact is a printed item that relates to the people, places, or events in your stories.

Common artifacts include:

• Newspaper articles
• Pictures, paintings, or other artwork
• Handwritten or typed letters, cards, notes, stories, inscriptions, etc.
• Event programs, ticket stubs, autographs
• Official documents, like licenses, diplomas, etc.
• Maps, brochures, travel guides, itineraries
• Anything else interesting you find!

Like photographs, hunting for artifacts can quickly eat up time and delay your project. If you find them and they’re relevant to your story, awesome! But don’t worry if you can’t find them, or don’t want to. These artifacts can always be collected in an envelope and kept with your memory book.

If you find artifacts that you want to use in your memory book, you will need to scan them and create digital files. Look at the Resources page for recommendations on how to scan artifacts.

You’ve now collected everything for your memory or biography book. Good job! The hardest part is now finished. The rest of your project will go more quickly. Read some inspirational biographies to get started. There’s one key tip to remember at this stage: don’t overthink it.

Keep your memory or biography project outline simple and straightforward. There are a couple of ways to write your memory or biography book outline:

• Chronologically – This can be an easy, no-nonsense way to organize your stories: put them in the order they occurred.
• Life stages – Instead of trying to determine what years each story occurred, just group them together by major life stages: childhood, adolescence, young adult, career, retirement, etc.
• Major events – Similar to life stages, this approach will group your memories and stories by significant life events, like birthdays, school years, weddings/anniversaries, births, deaths, vacations, career/jobs, military service, etc.
• Family members – Thinking about your readers (your family members) one of the nicest ways to organize your memories are by them! You could have a chapter for each family member, or group them by generation, like parents, siblings, spouse, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so forth.
• Random – For all you free spirits out there, this style is for you! This approach is less about organizing by topic, and more about creating many chapters of random, unrelated but interesting stories.

Step 5: Arrange your stories and images

Now it’s time to arrange your stories into one document. Your outline will be a good starting place, but you might decide there’s a better way to organize them. Don’t be afraid to change it and try different approaches. Your goal is simply to make it easy and enjoyable to read. There is no right or wrong way to do this.

When you’re finished, you’ll have a big document with a lot of text. Nobody, not even your loving family who is interested in these stories, wants to read page after page of text. It’s time to make your stories more reader-friendly.

Depending on how you organize your biography or memory book, there are different writer’s tricks you can add to really make your stories shine. Consider adding:

• Headlines and subheads: Write a headline and subhead for each section or story. This lets the reader quickly scan and understand what they’ll learn.
• Pull quotes: These are super interesting quotations you want to emphasize and draw attention to. For now, just highlight, underline or bold the quotes or sentences you might want to emphasize.
• Sidebars/information in a box: Sometimes you have an interesting tidbit about a place or event that doesn’t quite fit into your story. Turn these facts or historical research into a sidebar. Again, don’t worry about the design, just find and label paragraphs that would make good sidebars.
• More paragraphs: If you’re looking at your document and there is a wall of text with no paragraph breaks, you need to add some. Don’t worry about grammar rules – this is about making your text easier to read.
• Space between stories: Add more white space between stories or sections in your book.
• Lists: A great way to quickly educate and entertain a reader is by turning big blocks of text into a list. Look for paragraphs that could become a list of bullet points.

Now it’s time to match up photos and artifacts to your stories. No need to insert your digital images into your document. Instead, list the photo or artifact file names you want to use at the start of the corresponding story. This makes the design process much easier and faster.

Check out our story template in the Resources section for an example of how to set up your document.

Step 6: Pick a format for your project

It’s time to decide how you want to finish this biography or memory book project. You’ve put a lot of work and effort into these memories and family stories, and they deserve a high-quality finish! There are so many do-it-yourself publishing companies that make it easy and affordable to design and print hardcover copies of your biography or memory book. See our top recommendations for book printers in the Resources section.

Here are a few options and the general cost of each:

• Basically free: Design the book yourself, print it at home, and preserve your hard work in a nice binder or folder.
• Inexpensive: Design the book yourself, print it at a local copy shop, and have them add a clear or vinyl front cover, coil bind, or other finishing options.
• Moderately expensive: Use an online printing service to design and print a soft- or hard-cover book.
• More expensive: Hire a company like Circa Legacy to edit, design, and print your biography or memory book for you.

Step 7: Print your project

Hip hip hooray!!!! You did it! You’ve created an amazing gift for yourself, you family, and future generations. You should be so proud of yourself! All that’s left is to print multiple copies of your beautiful biography or memory book and present it to your family members.

This is no regular gift. You poured your heart and soul into this. Don’t just shyly slide it over to them at the end of a family dinner. Put it in a box or nice envelope. Wrap it. Include a little note about why this was an important project for you and what you hope they will get out of it. And then, you can give it to them.

Have a friend or family member who wants to write an autobiography or memory book but doesn’t know where to start? Take a look at our Products page for fun and easy do-it-yourself story kits to help them get started.

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How to Write a Biography About a Family Member

Writing a biography about a family member can be a meaningful and rewarding experience. It allows you to delve into the past, uncovering the stories and experiences that have shaped your loved one’s life. While many people may think of biographies as being reserved for famous individuals, the truth is that everyone has a story worth telling. In this article, we will discuss how to write a biography about a family member, along with 9 interesting facts to include in your narrative.

1. Start with Research

Before you begin writing your family member’s biography, it’s important to conduct thorough research. Talk to other family members who may have valuable information or stories to share. Look through old letters, photographs, and documents to gather as much detail as possible about your loved one’s life. This research will provide you with a solid foundation for your biography and help you create a comprehensive and accurate portrayal of your family member.

2. Create a Timeline

Once you have gathered all the necessary information, create a timeline of your family member’s life. Start with their birth and childhood, then move on to their education, career, relationships, and any significant events or milestones. This timeline will serve as a roadmap for your biography and help you organize your thoughts and information in a logical sequence.

3. Focus on Key Themes

As you write your family member’s biography, focus on key themes that emerge from their life story. These themes could include resilience, perseverance, love, loss, or success. By highlighting these themes, you can create a more compelling and cohesive narrative that resonates with readers and captures the essence of your loved one’s life.

4. Include Personal Anecdotes

To add depth and personality to your family member’s biography, include personal anecdotes and stories that showcase their character and values. These anecdotes can provide insight into your loved one’s personality, sense of humor, or strengths and weaknesses. By sharing these intimate details, you can create a more engaging and authentic portrait of your family member.

5. Use Descriptive Language

When writing a biography about a family member, it’s important to use descriptive language that paints a vivid picture of their life and experiences. Describe the settings, events, and emotions in detail, using sensory language to bring your family member’s story to life. By engaging the reader’s senses, you can create a more immersive and memorable reading experience.

6. Seek Feedback

As you write your family member’s biography, seek feedback from trusted friends or family members. Ask for their input on the writing style, structure, and content of your biography, and be open to constructive criticism. By incorporating feedback from others, you can improve the quality and impact of your biography and ensure that it resonates with readers.

7. Highlight Achievements and Challenges

In your family member’s biography, be sure to highlight their achievements and challenges. Celebrate their successes, whether big or small, and acknowledge the obstacles they have overcome along the way. By showcasing both the highs and lows of your loved one’s life, you can create a more balanced and nuanced portrait that reflects their resilience and determination.

8. Add Historical Context

To provide a broader perspective on your family member’s life, consider adding historical context to your biography. Explore the cultural, social, and political events that shaped their world and influenced their decisions and experiences. By placing your family member’s story within a historical framework, you can deepen the reader’s understanding of their life and create a more layered and rich narrative.

9. Reflect on Their Legacy

As you conclude your family member’s biography, take the time to reflect on their legacy and impact on the world. Consider how your loved one’s actions, choices, and values have influenced those around them and shaped the course of their own life. By reflecting on their legacy, you can offer readers a sense of closure and leave them with a lasting impression of your family member’s life.

Now that we’ve discussed how to write a biography about a family member, let’s explore 9 interesting facts that you can include in your narrative:

1. Childhood Memories: Share anecdotes and stories from your family member’s childhood, highlighting their early interests, hobbies, and relationships.

2. Career Achievements: Describe your family member’s career path, including any significant accomplishments, promotions, or challenges they faced along the way.

3. Personal Relationships: Explore your family member’s relationships with friends, partners, and family members, and how these connections influenced their life.

4. Travel Experiences: Discuss any memorable travel experiences that your family member had, including destinations visited, adventures undertaken, and cultural encounters.

5. Hobbies and Interests: Highlight your family member’s hobbies and interests, such as sports, music, art, or gardening, and how these activities brought joy and fulfillment to their life.

6. Philanthropic Work: Share any philanthropic or charitable work that your family member engaged in, including volunteer efforts, donations, or community service.

7. Challenges Faced: Discuss any obstacles or challenges that your family member encountered, such as health issues, financial struggles, or personal setbacks, and how they overcame them.

8. Values and Beliefs: Explore your family member’s values, beliefs, and principles, and how these guiding principles shaped their decisions and actions throughout their life.

9. Legacy and Impact: Reflect on your family member’s legacy and the lasting impact they have had on others, whether through their work, relationships, or contributions to society.

By incorporating these 9 interesting facts into your family member’s biography, you can create a more dynamic and engaging narrative that captures the essence of their life and experiences.

Common Questions About Writing a Biography About a Family Member:

1. How do I decide which family member to write a biography about?

– Consider choosing a family member who has had a significant impact on your life or who has a compelling and unique story to tell.

2. How do I gather information and research for my family member’s biography?

– Talk to other family members, look through old letters and documents, and conduct interviews to gather information about your loved one’s life.

3. How should I structure my family member’s biography?

– Start with a timeline of their life, then focus on key themes, include personal anecdotes, and highlight achievements and challenges.

4. How do I make my family member’s biography engaging and compelling?

– Use descriptive language, seek feedback from others, add historical context, and reflect on your loved one’s legacy and impact.

5. How long should my family member’s biography be?

– The length of your family member’s biography will depend on the depth of research and detail you include, but aim for a length that is informative and engaging for readers.

6. How do I stay true to my family member’s story while still making it interesting for readers?

– Focus on capturing the essence of your family member’s life and experiences, while also incorporating engaging anecdotes, descriptive language, and historical context.

7. How do I handle sensitive or personal topics in my family member’s biography?

– Approach sensitive topics with sensitivity and tact, and consider discussing them with other family members before including them in your narrative.

8. How can I ensure that my family member’s biography is accurate and factually correct?

– Double-check all information and facts with multiple sources, and be sure to cite your sources and provide references for any information that is not common knowledge.

9. How do I choose which anecdotes and stories to include in my family member’s biography?

– Select anecdotes and stories that highlight key aspects of your family member’s personality, values, and experiences, and that contribute to a cohesive and engaging narrative.

10. How can I make my family member’s biography stand out from other biographies?

– Focus on creating a unique and personal narrative that captures the essence of your loved one’s life and experiences, and that resonates with readers on an emotional level.

11. How do I handle conflicting or contradictory information in my family member’s biography?

– Acknowledge any conflicting information or discrepancies, and strive to present a balanced and nuanced portrayal of your family member’s life and experiences.

12. How do I decide on a writing style and tone for my family member’s biography?

– Consider your family member’s personality and values, as well as your own writing style and voice, when determining the tone and style of your biography.

13. How can I make my family member’s biography relevant and meaningful to readers?

– Connect your family member’s story to broader themes and universal experiences, and highlight the lessons and insights that readers can take away from their life and experiences.

14. How do I handle feedback and criticism about my family member’s biography?

– Be open to constructive criticism and feedback from others, and use it as an opportunity to improve the quality and impact of your biography.

15. How do I ensure that my family member’s biography is respectful and sensitive to their memory?

– Approach your family member’s story with empathy and understanding, and strive to honor their memory and legacy in a respectful and dignified manner.

16. How can I make my family member’s biography a lasting tribute to their life and experiences?

– Consider publishing your family member’s biography in a book or online format, and sharing it with friends, family members, and others who may be interested in their story.

17. How do I know when my family member’s biography is complete?

– Trust your instincts and intuition, and consider seeking feedback from others to determine when your family member’s biography is ready for publication or sharing.

In summary, writing a biography about a family member is a meaningful and rewarding experience that allows you to preserve their legacy and share their story with others. By following these tips and including interesting facts and anecdotes in your narrative, you can create a compelling and engaging biography that honors your loved one’s life and experiences. Remember to stay true to their story, use descriptive language, and reflect on their impact and legacy to create a lasting tribute to their memory.

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Business , Education

24 Biography Templates and Examples (Word | PDF | Google Docs)

Biographies serve as a fascinating lens into the lives of individuals, ranging from influential family members and historical figures to renowned personalities. Whether you’re a student, an aspiring writer, or someone captivated by the art of telling a life story , grasping the essential elements of a biography is vital. Writing a biography goes beyond compiling facts; it involves crafting a narrative that educates and inspires your readers. This guide provides you with practical steps, style advice, and, importantly, biography templates to assist you in structuring your work effectively. With these resources, you can start to create biographies that not only inform but also captivate your audience. Are you ready to capture the essence of a life story in words? Let’s delve into the fundamentals of crafting a compelling and memorable biography.

Biography Templates & Examples

Aesthetic Biography Template

An Aesthetic Biography Template is a carefully designed layout that allows individuals to present their personal and professional information in an organized and visually appealing manner. The template provided in the previous response offers a structured format for users to showcase their educational background, work experience, skills, and personal interests. This format is particularly useful for creating a compelling narrative of one's life and achievements, making it ideal for applications, personal websites, or professional profiles. The inclusion of sample data guides users on how to effectively fill out each section, ensuring clarity and coherence in presenting their unique story.

Short Biography Template

A Short Biography template is a structured format for summarizing an individual's personal, educational, and professional background. It offers a concise yet informative way to present one's achievements, skills, and experiences. The template provided above is designed to capture a wide range of details, from basic personal information to career highlights and skills. It is versatile and can be tailored to suit different situations, whether for a professional profile, a speaker introduction, or a personal website. The inclusion of sample data in the brackets makes it user-friendly, allowing for easy customization. This template serves as a useful starting point for anyone looking to create a clear and engaging biography.

Professional Biography Template

A Professional Bio Template is a structured format designed to aid individuals in crafting a succinct and engaging biography that highlights their career achievements, skills, and personal qualities. This template helps users efficiently organize and present their professional story, ensuring that key elements like career milestones, skills, and personal interests are effectively communicated. This assists in creating a compelling bio that resonates with various audiences, such as potential employers or networking contacts, enhancing their professional presence and impact.

Personal Biography Template

A personal biography template is a structured outline designed to guide individuals in documenting their life stories, achievements, and experiences. It provides a framework to organize personal details in a coherent and engaging manner. This template, created in our prior response, can assist users by simplifying the process of writing their biography. It offers a clear structure, ensuring that key aspects of one's life are highlighted effectively. This can be particularly useful for creating professional bios, personal introductions, or for preserving personal history.

You can explore more free biography templates and examples in the collection at Highfile . This resource offers a diverse range of templates suitable for various needs, whether for professional, personal, or academic purposes.

What Is a Biography?

A biography is an in-depth narrative of someone’s life, written by another person. It encompasses more than just basic facts like birthplace and education. A biography delves into the subject’s personal experiences, significant life events, and the influences that shaped their character and achievements. It’s not just a timeline of events; a biography weaves these details into a compelling story, offering insights into the individual’s motivations and impacts. The aim is to present a well-rounded portrait that is both informative and engaging, allowing readers to understand and empathize with the subject’s journey. A biography, in essence, is a vivid window into another person’s life experience, capturing their unique contributions and the essence of their existence.

Fun Fact: Did you know that one of the earliest biographies ever recorded was about an ancient Egyptian official named Ptahhotep around 2400 BC? This ancient biography was not written in a book but carved on the walls of his tomb, depicting his life and achievements. This highlights how the art of biography writing has been significant throughout human history, evolving from ancient carvings to modern digital formats!

Essential Elements of a Biography Template

Crafting a professional biography involves creating a concise yet comprehensive summary of your career objectives, current position, and notable achievements. This type of bio is ideally suited for professional networking platforms like LinkedIn or AngelList, where a more detailed and career-focused narrative is expected compared to the brief bios often seen on other social media sites.

Key Components to Include in Your Professional Biography:

• Your Name : Clearly state your full name at the beginning.
• Personal Brand or Company Affiliation : Mention your business or the brand you represent.
• Professional Tagline or Current Role : Include your current job title or a tagline that encapsulates your professional essence.
• Career Aspirations : Briefly outline your career goals or what you aim to achieve professionally.
• Unique Personal Fact : Share an interesting personal detail that sets you apart.
• Top Achievements : Highlight two or three significant accomplishments relevant to your professional trajectory.

While primarily professional in tone, don’t hesitate to weave in personal elements like a favorite book or hobby. This adds a human touch, making your bio more relatable and engaging. Remember, a well-rounded biography balances professional accomplishments with personal insights, creating a holistic view of you as both a professional and an individual.

How to Write a Biography

Writing a compelling biography requires a structured approach. Follow these steps to create an engaging and informative biography:

• Choose a Subject : Select a person whose life story is interesting and impactful. Consider whether their contributions or experiences have the potential to inspire or connect with your audience.
• Obtain Permission : If your subject is alive, obtaining their consent is crucial, as it involves discussing personal details. For deceased or public figures, ensure all information is factual to avoid legal issues.
• Conduct Thorough Research : Gather information from primary sources like interviews, letters, and personal accounts for an authentic portrayal. Complement these with secondary sources like documentaries and articles for additional context.
• Formulate a Thesis : In the opening section, clearly state what the reader will learn from the biography. This thesis sets the stage for the narrative to unfold.
• Organize Chronologically : Structure the biography in a timeline format, presenting events in the order they occurred. This helps in maintaining a clear narrative flow.
• Incorporate Flashbacks : Skillfully use flashbacks to provide context or highlight significant past events, enriching the narrative without overloading it with background details.
• Inject Personal Insight : While sticking to factual information, don’t shy away from adding your own perspective on the subject’s achievements and their societal impact. This adds depth and personal touch to the biography.

A good biography balances factual accuracy with narrative flair, bringing the subject’s story to life in a way that resonates with the readers.

Tips on Writing a Biography

Crafting a biography requires a blend of accuracy, creativity, and attention to detail. Here are some essential tips to guide you in writing an effective biography:

• Write in Third Person : Use the third person perspective for a professional and objective tone.
• Inject Humor Appropriately : While maintaining professionalism, subtle humor can make the biography more engaging and relatable.
• Be Mindful of Length : Keep an eye on the word count. A biography should be comprehensive yet concise enough to hold the reader’s interest.
• Narrate a Story, Not Just Facts : Instead of listing events, weave them into a compelling narrative to make the biography more interesting and readable.
• Include Relevant Links : Provide links to your work, projects, or publications to offer readers additional context and evidence of your achievements.
• Provide Contact Information : Make it easy for readers to reach you by including up-to-date contact details.
• Edit Thoroughly : Ensure your biography is free of errors and well-polished. Comprehensive editing enhances readability and professionalism.
• Keep it Concise : Aim for brevity while ensuring all critical information is included. A succinct biography is often more impactful and memorable.

Important Note: Before diving into our FAQs, it’s crucial to remember that while a biography aims to be factual and accurate, it also requires a respectful approach, especially when dealing with sensitive aspects of a person’s life. As a biographer, your responsibility extends beyond mere storytelling; it involves ethical considerations, such as respecting privacy and presenting information in a manner that is fair and considerate to the subject and their family. Keep this in mind as you explore the frequently asked questions and embark on your journey of writing a biography.

For online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter, a three-sentence bio should be concise yet informative. It should briefly introduce you, focusing on key aspects: Your Name : Start with your full name. Your Current Role : Mention your profession or the role you’re known for. A Notable Achievement or Personal Touch : Include a significant accomplishment or a unique personal detail (like a hobby or goal). This format ensures your bio is succinct but covers essential details.

A personal biography is a brief narrative focusing on your professional life, used for job searches or on professional platforms like LinkedIn. It’s slightly more detailed than a social media bio and should include: Your Name Personal Brand or Company : If applicable. Professional Tagline or Current Role Two or Three Key Achievements : Choose the most relevant and impressive ones. While primarily professional, feel free to add a personal detail like a hobby or favorite book to give a glimpse of your personality.

In a work-related bio, focus on aspects directly relevant to your professional life. This might be more detailed, including your career journey, key skills, and notable projects or roles you’ve held. Personal anecdotes or interests can be included if they relate to your professional persona or add value to your professional story. Remember, the context dictates the bio’s content and tone. Tailor it to suit the platform and the audience you are addressing.

When choosing a subject, consider individuals whose life stories are not only interesting but also have the potential to inspire or educate others. Look for unique experiences, significant achievements, or challenges they’ve overcome. Public figures, historical personalities, or even unsung heroes in your community can make excellent subjects.

Begin with an engaging opening that captures the essence of your subject’s life. This could be a pivotal moment, a significant achievement, or an anecdote that reflects their character. Starting with something compelling draws readers in and sets the tone for the biography.

Effective research methods include conducting interviews with people who know the subject well, reviewing primary documents like letters or diaries, and consulting reputable secondary sources for historical context. Online archives, libraries, and specialized databases are also valuable resources.

To maintain objectivity, present facts without bias, and avoid letting personal opinions color the narrative. Acknowledge different perspectives on the subject’s life, especially in controversial or unclear aspects. Being fair and balanced is key to a trustworthy biography.

Yes, you can write a biography about a family member. However, it’s important to balance personal insights with objective storytelling. Ensure you have enough distance to present their story truthfully and respect their privacy and perspective.

Approach sensitive topics with care and respect. Verify the accuracy of such information and consider its relevance to the overall story. Be mindful of the impact this could have on the subject and their family, especially if they are still living.

The length of a biography depends on the depth of the subject’s life story and the intended audience. Some biographies are short, focusing on key events, while others are comprehensive, covering the subject’s life in detail. Tailor the length to suit the story’s complexity and readers’ expectations.

Final Thoughts

Crafting a biography requires a thoughtful blend of accuracy and creativity to captivate and engage your readers. By focusing on these essential elements and following the outlined steps, you can transform a simple life story into a compelling narrative that holds the reader’s interest from start to finish. Whether you’ve always wanted to write a biography or are just beginning to explore this genre, this guide provides a solid foundation to embark on your biographical writing journey. Remember, a well-written biography not only informs but also inspires, offering a deeper understanding of the subject’s life and legacy.

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How to Write a Biography: A Step-by-Step Guide

By Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

What is a biography, a step-by-step guide to writing a biography, tips for how to write a great biography, conclusion on how to write a biography.

Writing a biography can be a rewarding endeavor, but it can also feel a bit daunting if you’ve never written one before.

Whether you’re capturing the life story of a famous person, a family member, or even yourself, creating a compelling biography involves a mix of thorough research, narrative skill, and a personal touch.

So, how exactly do you write a successful biography? 

In this guide, we’ll break down the essentials to help you craft a biography that’s both informative and engaging, as well as our top tips for how to make it truly shine.

A biography is a detailed account of someone’s life.

A well-written biography needs to be objective and accurate. At the same time, it needs to depict more than just the basic facts like birth, education, work, relationships, and death—it should also portray the subject’s personal experience of those events.

So, in addition to being a good researcher, a good biographer also needs to be a good storyteller. You should provide insights into the subject’s personality, motivations, and impact on the world around them.

What’s the Difference Between a Biography, a Memoir, and an Autobiography?

Understanding the distinctions between different genres of life writing is crucial for both writers and readers. Here’s a quick breakdown of the key differences between a biography and other related genres.

Biography: a detailed account of a person’s life, usually written in the third-person POV and supported by extensive research 

Autobiography: a self-written account of the author’s own life, usually written in the first person POV and following a chronological order 

Memoir: a collection of memories that an individual writes about moments or events that took place in their life, usually in the first person POV and in an introspective and personal way

Narrative nonfiction: a book that tells true stories using the techniques of fiction writing, such as character development, narrative arc, and detailed settings

Best Biography Examples to Study

The best way to learn how to write well is to read other successful books within the genre you’re writing. 

Here are five great biographies to add to your reading list. For a longer list, check out our article on the 20 best biographies to read . 

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand: the incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympian and World War II hero.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson: a comprehensive and engaging account of the Apple co-founder’s life.

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow: the biography that inspired the hit musical, providing a deep dive into Hamilton ’ s life and legacy.

Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford: a nuanced story that uncovers the family connection between the three Millay sisters and their mother.

Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston: the story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last-known survivors of the Atlantic slave trade.

As with writing any book, writing a biography is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s easier to think of it as a series of smaller steps than as one big challenge to tackle. 

Let’s break down the process step by step.

1. Choose Your Subject

Decide who you want to write about. It could be a well-known celebrity, a historical figure, or someone close to you.

In addition to figuring out who you’re writing about, this is also the step where you figure out why you want to write about them. Why is this a story worth telling, and what makes you interested in it? 

Maybe the subject of your biography overcame major hardships in life to achieve success, and that story will inspire others facing similar struggles. Or maybe they made a really unique contribution to the world that not enough people know about, and you want to shine a bigger spotlight on that impact.

Knowing why you’re telling this story will help you make the right decisions about how to research, outline, draft, and edit your biography.

2. Identify Your Target Audience

Understanding your target audience is a crucial step in writing a good biography. You should tailor your biography to the interests and knowledge level of your audience.

A biography for a general audience will differ from one written for experts in a particular field. For example, two biographies about Emily Dickinson would be vastly different if one is written for young children and the other is written for adult poets. 

3. Conduct Research

Dive deep into your research. Use a variety of sources to get a well-rounded view of your subject’s life. Take detailed notes and organize your findings.

Gather as much information as you can about your subject. This includes primary sources like interviews, letters, and diaries, as well as secondary sources such as books, articles, and documentaries.

Here are some primary sources to look for: 

Letters and diaries: These provide intimate insights into the subject’s thoughts, feelings, and daily life, and can often be found in family archives, libraries, and historical societies.

Birth, marriage, and death certificates: These documents can provide crucial dates and familial relationships.

Census data: Census records can provide demographic information and track changes over time.

Property records: These can reveal where the subject lived and owned property.

Employment and school records: These records offer formalized insights into the subject’s education and career.

Military records: If applicable, military records can provide information on service, ranks, and honors.

Photos and videos: Look for photographs and videos in public libraries, historical societies, online databases like the Library of Congress, and family photo albums.

Historical newspapers: Access archives of local and national newspapers for articles, interviews, and obituaries related to the subject.

Digital archives: Use online resources like ProQuest, Chronicling America, and newspaper databases available through public libraries.

You can also look for secondary sources, which provide more context and perspective, such as:

Existing biographies: Search for existing biographies and books about the subject or their era. How does your project stand out from the crowd? 

Academic articles and papers: Access journals through university libraries, which often have extensive collections of scholarly articles.

Documentaries and biographical films: You can often find these on streaming services or public television archives.

Websites and blogs: Look for reputable websites and blogs dedicated to the subject or related fields.

Social media platforms: The things people say on social media can offer insights into public perception about your subject.

Finally, you can also conduct your own interviews. Talk to the subject if they’re still alive, as well as their friends, family, and colleagues. You can ask them for personal anecdotes to add more color to your book, or more information to fill in any gaps in your knowledge. 

4. Ask Engaging Questions

Great biographers start from a place of curiosity. Before you start writing, you should know the answers to the following questions: 

What makes your subject’s story worth telling?

What was your subject’s childhood like? 

What were your subject’s early interests and hobbies?

What level of education did your subject achieve and where did they study?

What was your subject’s personality like?

What were their beliefs and values? 

How did your subject’s personality and beliefs change over time?

What were the major turning points in your subject’s life? 

How was your subject affected by the major political, cultural, and societal events that occurred throughout their life?  

What did their career path look like?

What were their major accomplishments? 

What were their major failures? 

How did they contribute to their field, their country, or their community?

Were they involved in any major controversies or scandals?

Who were the most important people in the subject’s life, such as friends, partners, or mentors?

If the subject is no longer living, how did they pass away?

What lasting impact did the subject leave behind? 

5. Create an Outline

An outline helps you structure your biography. You can write an extensive outline that includes every scene you need to write, or you can keep it simple and just make a list of high-level bullet points—whatever works best for your writing process. 

The best structure to use will depend on the shape of the story you’re trying to tell. Think about what your subject’s life looked like and what core messages you’re trying to leave the reader with.

If you want to keep things simple, you can simply go in chronological order. Tell the story from the birth of your subject to the death of your subject, or to the present day if this person is still living. 

You can also use a more thematically organized structure, similar to what you would find on a Wikipedia page. You could break your book down into sections such as major life events, personal relationships, core accomplishments, challenges, and legacy.

Or, if you want to be more creative, you can use a nonlinear story structure, jumping between recent events and older flashbacks based on which events feel thematically tied together. 

6. Write Your First Draft 

Now that you have an outline, it’s time to sit down and write your first draft.

Your opening chapters should hook the reader and give a preview of what’s to come. Highlight a compelling aspect of the subject’s life to draw readers in.

In your middle chapters, cover all the key events you need to include about your subject’s life and weave in themes and anecdotes that reveal their personality and impact.

In your final chapters, wrap up your biography by summarizing the subject’s legacy and reflecting on their overall significance. This provides closure and leaves the reader with a lasting impression.

Remember that it’s okay if your first draft isn’t perfect. Your goal is simply to get words down on the page so you have something to edit. 

7. Make Developmental Revisions

Now that you’re done with your first draft, it’s time to make big-picture revisions.

Review your biography for coherence and organization. Does the overall structure make sense? Are there any arcs or themes that aren’t given enough attention? Are there scenes or chapters that don’t need to be included? 

8. Make Line Edits

Once you’ve completed your developmental edits, it’s time to make smaller line edits. This is your time to edit for grammar, punctuation, and style.

Make sure you keep a consistent voice throughout the book. Some biographies feel more conversational and humorous, while others are serious and sophisticated. 

To get through your editing faster, you can run your manuscript through ProWritingAid , which will automatically catch errors, point out stylistic inconsistencies, and help you rephrase confusing sentences. 

Don’t be afraid to ask others for feedback. No good book is written in a vacuum, and you can ask critique partners and beta readers to help you improve your work.

What makes a great biography stand out from the rest? Here are our best tips for how to take your manuscript to the next level.

Tip 1: Focus on Key Themes

Identify the central themes or patterns in the subject’s life—the ones that will really make readers keep thinking about your book. These could be related to the subject’s struggles, achievements, relationships, or values.

Tip 2: Balance Facts and Narrative

A good biography should read like a story, not a list of facts.

Use narrative techniques like imagery, character development, and dialogue to create a compelling and coherent story.

Tip 3: Add Your Own Perspective

Biographies need to be objective, but that doesn’t mean the author has to be entirely invisible. Including your own perspective can make the biography relatable and engaging. 

Letting your voice shine can help illustrate the subject ’ s character and bring their story to life. It will also help make your biography stand out from the crowd. 

Tip 4: Create a Timeline

Organize the key events of the subject’s life in chronological order. This will help you see the bigger picture and ensure you cover all important aspects.

Tip 5: Be Considerate

Because biographies are about real people, you should be mindful of who will be impacted by the story you’re telling, especially if your subject is still alive or still has living family members.

If the subject is still alive, ask them for permission to tell their story before you start writing. This also helps ensure that you don’t get sued. 

Writing a biography is a journey of discovery, not just about the subject, but also about the craft of storytelling.

By combining thorough research, a clear structure, and engaging narrative techniques, you can create a biography that not only informs but also inspires and captivates your readers. 

Don’t forget to run your manuscript through ProWritingAid so you can make sure your prose is as polished as possible. 

Now, pick your subject, gather your resources, and start writing—there’s a fascinating story waiting to be told.

Good luck, and happy writing!

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Hannah Yang

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

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How to Write a Must-Read Memoir for Your Family

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When Michael Jones was a child, he lived in an isolated region in northern Maine, far away from his extended family. He remembers looking up at the dark, swirling skies one afternoon as a 6-year-old and thinking, “It’s going to be a lonely life.” His story is a universal one: America is a migratory nation. Families are geographically separated, and our kitchen table stories are getting lost in all the turmoil of change.

A quick scan of the internet will find very little in terms of maintaining inter-generational connections beyond social media. The few resources on the subject suggest just the usual platitudes: Spend more time together. Do things together. Create new memories together. But for most Americans, this is not the reality. Social visits are formal and stilted, and may happen once or twice in a year.

So what can we do? How can we reopen the floodgates of wisdom that pass between generations ? Dr. Cheryl Svensson, director of the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies , has spent more than 20 years working with older adults who want to write their life story. During that time, she’s noticed an increase in interest in life stories or memoir writing.

“More and more older people understand that unless they write their story, it will be lost,” she says. “Or as one man said, ‘I’ll just be a name scribbled on the back of a faded photograph.’

“We are social, story-telling humans. Through our stories, our intergenerational connections can be kept strong, even with great-great-grandchildren we may never meet. Writing your life story is a gift you leave for the future.”

The best book you’ll ever read is the one you write—your life story—and it can be as easy as writing a love letter. —Richard Campbell

One proven way to help connect generations is by sharing your life story with your children and grandchildren. Most of us are not professional writers. So we quickly become discouraged when starting to write our stories. We worry about dialogue, grammar and style. Ultimately, we don’t want to be judged.

But let’s take a moment and reframe this into something far more positive. The best book you’ll ever read is the one you write—your life story—and it can be as easy as writing a love letter. Here’s how to write your memoir.

Face your Fears

“But I don’t have much of a story,” you might say to yourself. This is a common refrain. But imagine yourself in a room full of people, each of whom has written a life story and entered it into a giant computer. Then, voila, the machine creates one single life story that represents everyone in that room.

What would that story be about? It would show one—just one—emerging theme: courage. We are all survivors, and to survive, we have courage. And where there is courage, there are stories. Lots of them.

Another typical fear: “I’m not a writer.” Well, here’s the good news. If you have ever composed a love letter or written an email, you can tell your story. You are a writer.

But what about your writing style? We’ve all heard how famous authors have their own unique tone. You say loud and clear: “That’s not me.” But that love letter? It was the authentic you pouring it out from your heart.

The real question now is “How can I connect with multiple generations?” The answer: Write as you speak. Ignore the critic on your shoulder, and just write as you would talk. Let the dialogue flow like a good conversation. Forget grammar. Forget spelling. Just get your thoughts down. You can edit later. Now imagine your unique voice reaching across from one generation to the next, far more powerfully than social media could.

Perhaps the most challenging part of writing a compelling life story is getting started. The most obvious way is to begin at birth and move chronologically through your life experiences. But this doesn’t work. Pick up any recent memoir and look at the first few pages. Rarely do they start at birth. Instead they are usually in medias res , a Latin term meaning “into the middle of things.”

Structure Your Story Around Themes

Instead, let’s take a look at one writing process that can make your life-story project enjoyable and manageable: a guided autobiography .

A guided autobiography takes a do-it-yourself approach to structuring your life story, featuring short vignettes. Each two- to three-page story focuses on specific topics that include family, work, self-image, spirituality and life goals. In a guided autobiography, theme—not time—drives your life story.

You can select from dozens of basic themes based on your personal life experience. For example, some people will find a story in the “personal values” theme, while others may find something more relevant in “life after retirement.”

So where do you start? Identify a key branching point in your past . We all have hundreds of these moments that change us in a significant way. Some are obvious (parents’ divorce, a serious disease), while others are more subtle but equally important (a random day in school when you realized you had a passion for a favorite subject).

Choose one such event to get your creative juices flowing. Compose a short (two- to three-page) story about that event, and write as if you were speaking. You’ve probably already retold this story many times before—the only difference is that now you’re doing so in writing.

Repeat this same process for as many life themes as you wish. Add some photos , and the result will be a completed personal life story, suitable for family and friends.

To get you started, I’ve outlined 10 core themes that you can center your life story around. For each, write a brief paragraph on an experience from your past. When you’re finished, you’ll have a structural overview of your life story that you can flesh out later.

1. Forks in the Road

As we briefly discussed earlier, these are the key turning points in our lives. We all have several: high school graduation, a first job, a first serious romantic relationship, or the birth of a child. Major or (seemingly) minor, these events will always be important to us. Which of your own forks in the road experiences stand out? Choose one that happened when you were a child or adolescent.

2. Family and Self

We all have family: the people you grew up with, nurtured you, cared for you. They could have been your parents or other guardians, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles or even neighbors. For some people, a family of friends is most important. When you think back to your original family—in whatever form it existed—what comes to mind? When were they there for you? What did those relationships mean to you?

3. The Meaning of Wealth

Our financial status is often a lifelong challenge towards equilibrium. We seek balance between our lifestyles and bank accounts. What does money mean to you? Security? Power? Freedom? Has this always been your thinking, or has it changed through the years? What did you learn from times in which you didn’t have enough money? How did you scrape by?

4. My Life’s Work

Our work helps define who we are. It can give us purpose, showcase our talents or simply put food on the table. Our life’s work can involve one job or several, and you may have loved or hated the work you did. How does your work impact your family life, identity or overall worldview?

5. Self-Image and Well-Being

We navigate the world through the filter of our health—both emotional and physical. Throughout life, health is never neutral: It works either for us or against us. How has your health impacted you over the years? Has it influenced your decisions? How has it challenged you?

6. The Male-Female Equation

Gender plays a part in nearly every aspect of our lives. Most of us see ourselves as primarily one sex, though the boundaries can become blurry over time. What male-female relationship expectations did you learn as a child? Did they remain the same or change over the years? How do you define yourself through gender identity, especially as you get older?

7. The End of Life

Everything ends. As mentioned before, it takes courage to live—we are all survivors. Looking into your future, what are your thoughts about death and dying? Does life come to a stopping point, or do you believe there to be something that lives beyond? What rituals do you expect will happen upon your death? What do you perceive as a good death?

8. From Secular to Spiritual

A culture’s history is often a reflection of its beliefs. From animism to Zoroastrianism, we live our lives according to local and regional traditions—even if we’re part of larger religious traditions or movements. Many of us have drifted away from such beliefs or accepted new ones since childhood. Your faith journey likely can’t be captured by name or date, but how has it impacted your life? Have you ever had a spiritual crisis, or questioned your faith?

9. My Life Goals

It’s never too late to create new goals. These can be short-, medium- or long-range— everything counts. Even uncompleted goals can provide meaning, as the greatest learning comes through the journey. Have you undertaken major life goals? How has this process played out? What goals have you had to abandon or modify, and what new goals might you want to create?

10. My Message

This is your life’s icing on the cake. It is an opportunity to pass along your legacy to your children, grandchildren or community. What were your most valuable life lessons? What will your legacy be to those who matter to you?

Put It All Together

These 10 themes represent a significant portion of your life story, but they’re just the starting point. Once you have shared some stories related to these themes, something interesting happens. A single emerging theme comes to light. For some people, it may be triumphing over early life challenges. For others, it may reflect a life of faith.

Then, from this single emerging theme will come the title of your story. For example, if you have lived a life of helping others as a caretaker, one title could be My Life: For Others . And once you have a title and some direction, fleshing out the rest of your life story will be easy.

We can’t bring back the old days and old ways, but we can forge new inroads. Writing our stories is one proven way. —Richard Campbell

Family lore, passed down through generations, has become more challenging to obtain and preserve in recent decades. But with the Baby Boomer movement towards capturing memories, guided autobiography and memoir writing in general have become saving graces of that once-upon-a-time activity called person-to-person interaction. They are reasonable facsimiles that can soften the edge of social media saturation.

Your life story is a powerful gift to children and grandchildren. It will never replace walking a country road with Grandpa or listening to Grandma’s wisdom first-hand, but it is a gift that keeps giving.

We can’t bring back the old days and old ways, but we can forge new inroads. Writing our stories is one proven way.

Richard Campbell is co-author of Writing Your Legacy: The Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Life Story and teaches life-story-writing sessions.

A version of this article appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of Family Tree Magazine . Last updated: November 2024

FamilyTreeMagazine.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for site to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to affiliated websites.

Richard Campbell

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Memoir: How to Write About Family

Writing a memoir is one of the best gifts you can give to your family, especially future generations. Think about it: How much do you really know about your grandmother? What about her grandmother— Do you even know the name of your grandmother's grandmother? If we're lucky, we'll know the basic outline of our ancestry but very few of us know the rich stories that make up the lives of our family members.

If you've ever been curious about your family's past, think of the future generations who also will be interested in their lives and yours, too. Knowing the paths of our ancestors helps us better navigate our own.

Writing a memoir isn't just a gift for posterity. It's also a gift for you presently. In the process of chronicling your family history or your own personal triumphs, you can discover recurring themes and universal truths that can guide the rest of your life.

But how do you do it? Where do you begin writing a memoir about your family? How do you make the mostly uneventful lives of your family members interesting? How do you catalog random events into one book? How do you tell the truth and not get sued?

In this guide, we'll answer all of those questions and more. Let's get started.

Here’s a list of 10 legal tips to remember when writing a memoir. Subscribe to receive this extra resource.

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When you're deciding who or what to chronicle in your memoir, remember this little fact: A memoir is not an entire autobiography. It captures one moment of your life. It may cover the span of several weeks, months, or years, but the totality of your life is so much bigger than what you can record in a single memoir.

Find a specific theme that you'd like to tackle in your memoir, such as the benefit of hard work or the trials and triumphs of parenthood.

Then find a moral to your memoir (that's right— morals aren't just for fables). Your memoir should also reflect a life lesson or universal truth that you or your family member discovered over the course of the events.

When trying to figure out where to begin with a family memoir, focus on a lesson that you've learned from your family. Who taught you that lesson? How did he or she learn that lesson? What's the story there? After exploring their story, then show how you applied that same lesson in your own life.

One of the hardest parts of telling your own story is being vulnerable. If you're accustomed to writing fiction, you know it's pretty easy to deposit different elements of your personality or your own history into the fictionalized story. Change a few details here and there, and no one will know that the protagonist in your sci-fi romance novel is based on you.

But in a memoir, everyone knows that your story is your story. It can be excruciating to look at yourself in black and white without flinching. There will be moments where you'll have to stop yourself from pushing the delete button. You'll definitely cringe. You'll want to justify your actions or soften the blow. But that doesn't make for honest storytelling, which is the only type of story your memoir reader wants to explore.

It can also be difficult to tell the truth when you're including the acts and deeds of others that you know, especially close family members. You may wish to shield them from criticism.

But don’t. Be honest with the most important (non-identifying) details and you’ll have a superior story.

How to Make the Boring Exciting

When I relay certain events about my life to others, I often get this response: Your life is so exciting. I could never write a story about my own life— it's so boring.

Here's the truth: My life is boring, too. Approximately 99 percent of my life is spent doing the same thing day in and day out. I don't write about that 99 percent, I focus on the 1 percent, and you should, too.

No one's life is exciting 100 percent of the time, but every one of us has a compelling story to tell. I've never met one person that I couldn't find an interesting story about, and you're not going to stump me.

With a memoir, you don't have to catalog every single day, week, or even year. You can skip over the boring parts to get to create a story that makes sense for your theme and moral.

Remember to Write Whole Characters

When we're looking at family members, we have a tendency to only see one part of them. You may know Rosalee as your grandma but you don't know her as the young woman who had an affair on her husband and ended up pregnant with another man's baby. If you limit your characterization to wise Grandma Rosalee, you won't have an accurate portrayal of young, naive Rosalee.

If you're going to tell an honest story, you must see and write Rosalee as a whole person— with faults— and not in the limited capacity of grandma.

What Happens if Your Family Threatens to Sue?

Are you afraid to write a memoir that involves family members because it may expose you to future litigation?

This idea stops a lot of would-be memoirists from sharing poignant stories.

If you've ever been threatened by a hotheaded family member who claims that you're defaming their character, remember that truth is always the best defense to defamation. If it's true, it's not defamation (which is hurting someone's reputation with a false statement of fact).

This is why it's so important to be completely honest in your memoirs, especially if you're bringing in the acts and deeds of others into your story.

You may also have to defend yourself against claims that you've invaded the privacy of your family members. If you're sharing sensitive information about family members that they don't want to become public, you can't use truth as a defense. In this case, and to avoid triggering certain family members altogether, it's best to explore one of the following options:

• You can write under an assumed name or pseudonym. This is the go-to option for those of us who want to tell our personal truths with exposing actual people in the process.
• Alter key details. Turn a brother into a cousin. Move from Poughkeepsie to Aurora. Transform a brunette into blonde. You can make changes to your memoir and throw sleuths off of the scent. But remember that switching out certain details can negatively affect your story and dilute your theme. Keep the changes superficial so as not to expose the secrets of your family members.
• Talk to a lawyer. They know more about the law than you or I do (unless you're actually a lawyer). It makes sense to consult with a lawyer before publishing a book with real names that can expose your family members to real embarrassment or potential legal issues.

Remember to treat your family members as you would like to be treated. Put yourself in their place. Give them the same dignity and respect that you want for yourself.

Hold on to Your Perspective

Others in your family will not remember events in the same way that you do. This can create tension. Be prepared.

You should tell the truth as you see it. Write the first draft without allowing self-doubt to have a voice. After your first draft is out of the way, start to edit with this caveat: You're writing from your perspective— not the perspective of your other family members. You don't have to alter your memories or storytelling to accommodate your mother's, brother's, aunt's, grandpa's feelings.

In fact, many authors don't ever share their memoirs with their family for obvious reasons. You're not obligated to do so and you may feel better if you don't. Just make sure that you're okay with what you've written and that it lines up to the truth as you see it.

Avoid Asking Your Family to Read Your Work

If you do share your memoir with your family, don't ask them to help you edit it.

Generally speaking, family members make poor editors. When you ask a family member to critique your work, it usually goes one of two ways:

1) They tell you what they think you want to hear because they don't want to hurt your feelings and they want to be supportive.

2) They have a negative emotional response and may tell you that your memoir is horrible simply because they're too close to the events in your story.

In the case of a memoir, it's almost impossible to get an objective reaction from your family members. If your perspective doesn't line up with their perspective, they'll think you're telling the story wrong and they'll judge you and your writing unfairly as a result.

You can't afford to have that happen.

Instead, get a professional editor to look over your work via a manuscript critique. This kind of critique focuses on the story as a whole, including plot structure, narrative voice, characterization, and pacing. This type of objective critique will help you clarify the theme and tell the best story possible. It can also safeguard against creating flat characters that don't honestly represent your family members.

Learn more about our manuscript critique services here.

Additional Resources

Before you go, check out these related posts on writing memoirs:

• Writing a Memoir? Avoid These 7 Mistakes
• How to Write a Memoir That People Care About

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