autobiography prologue examples

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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Posted on Mar 27, 2023

How to Write a Prologue Readers Won't Skip (with Examples)

A prologue can be the perfect introduction to a book's world, but they're not easy to pull off. A great prologue will set the scene and intrigue readers, without info-dumping or giving the game away. Many writers are intimidated at the prospect of writing one, but there are a few simple rules to follow that can keep your prologue on the right track.

Here are 5 rules for writing a prologue for a book:

1. Include a prologue for the right reasons

2. center your prologue on character action , 3. focus on what you want readers to take away, 4. keep your foreshadowing subtle, 5. avoid inundating readers with an info-dump.

For more detail on how to write a great prologue, plus examples of prologues done right — or wrong — to illustrate each point, read on.

Writers often insert a prologue into their book to prop up what they think is a flat or boring first chapter. But a prologue shouldn’t be a substitute for an interesting first chapter. If anything, following a high-stake prologue with a weak, pedestrian chapter one can leave readers feeling let down. 

However, there are other, great reasons to employ a prologue. These include:

• Showing a moment near the book’s climax to create tension in medias res
• Introducing a character or location not present in the first chapter to create suspense
• Establishing atmosphere or a central theme to pull your reader further into the story

We’ll go into these below, but let’s pause for a moment to consider what you can do if you feel your prologue doesn’t really serve a purpose. Scrapping it entirely and working on your opening scene instead is always an option.

Ask yourself what instinct led you to add a prologue, and learn from yourself: perhaps you were sensing that a main plot twist comes too late in the book, and you were missing out on a chance to engage your readers early on. Try to pin down what you wanted your prologue to do, and if you can’t, discuss your concerns with your developmental editor , who’ll be able to weigh in on whether your book really needs one or not.

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Example: Murder in the Crooked House by Soji Shimada

Murder in the Crooked House by Soji Shimada is a classic locked-room mystery, so the setting of the Crooked House (an extremely bizarre maze of a house) is key to the crime and the plot.

Its prologue introduces the concept of erratic, bonkers buildings in Europe, then transports readers to Japan, explaining that oddball buildings are rare there — but there is one house we ought to know about, the Crooked House. It then describes this house in some detail. It provides a sketch of the building, effectively laying down the rules for the mystery game about to unfold. Armed with a clear sense of the building’s layout, the reader is now ready to jump in and appreciate the puzzle-like structure of this novel.

Murder in the Crooked House  is a strong example of a prologue that is completely necessary to enjoy the following story. It has been included for the right  reasons; it provides essential context and worldbuilding and establishes the story's tone.

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If you’re certain that you want to include a prologue, and are doing so for the right reasons, then read on for more tips on writing them well. 

Even if your prologue needs to relay information about your book's world, it should always focus on character action. This will help you draw readers into the story, instead of making them wade through expository housekeeping . One way to do that is to ensure something happens in your prologue. 

While the obvious choice may be to center your prologue around a main character, many prologues focus on a peripheral figure. This allows the book to introduce a new perspective that might not be easily found in the main body of your story.

Perhaps your prologue’s narrator is a foil for your protagonist, providing context or highlighting their more unusual qualities. Maybe your prologue is written from your antagonist's POV, building conflict right from the outset. Or maybe this new character is not immediately recognizable to the reader: a mystery narrator (whose identity is later revealed) can be most intriguing. 

Whichever character you choose to frame your prologue, try and focus on them doing rather than thinking to create forward momentum.

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Example: A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin

The prologue to A Game of Thrones establishes the tone and world of the story, especially through its use of character action. It doesn't feature any of the series' main characters but, instead, a band of Night’s Watch rangers. As they track a group of wildlings beyond the north wall, they encounter the undead Others, men who have long been considered extinct. The group leader is killed (only to rise again and slay his comrade as an Other), while the third man flees.

This action-packed prologue works on multiple levels. The choice of point of view, following characters who will never feature again in any meaningful way, allows us a unique perspective on the story's world. It becomes immediately clear to the readers that the Others exist, which our main characters don’t yet know, in a classic example of suspenseful dramatic irony .

The heavy focus on action also establishes the tone of the novel. While the following chapters focus on courtly intrigue and politics, the prologue creates an expectation for violence, bloodshed, and magic, showing readers what they’re in for.

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Speaking of creating expectations, let’s take a closer look at how prologues can emphasize core themes or images.

Prologues are an opportunity to plant key themes or motifs. In our Game of Thrones example, the prologue sets the tone for what is to come and provides readers with a context for the body of the narrative. Focusing on key themes within the prologue also allows greater cohesion, marrying what could seem like an unrelated preamble with the rest of the story.  

Hinting at the story’s underlying theme can also heighten curiosity and anticipation for what’s to come. Readers naturally want to understand the greater meaning of what they’ve been shown — and they assume all will be revealed later in the book. What you choose to highlight in your prologue will have significance in the minds of your readers, so choose your focus carefully.

Not every theme has to appear in your prologue — it’s sometimes best to simply focus on a key image that you can condense into the brief format of a prologue. Anyway, don’t sweat the first draft — if you’re using a writing app like the Reedsy Book Editor , you can easily circle back to the beginning and amend your prologue’s focus later.

Example: What a Carve Up! by Jonathan Coe

Jonathan Coe’s What a Carve Up! uses its prologue to set up several thematic threads of the story. The book focuses on a biographer hired by the estranged eldest sister of an influential family to investigate them all. Each family member represents a tendril of Thatcher’s Britain, manipulating the worlds of journalism, art, politics, agriculture, and banking.

The prologue takes place at the family home in the 1940s and 60s, and details one mysterious death in the family (while hinting at another). It establishes the family’s treachery and murky underbelly, as well as the interpersonal conflict and suspicion that has ravaged the Winshaws for decades. It also introduces the mansion, which the family's next generation will be drawn back to in the grisly final act.

A violent ending may have come out of nowhere had the novel not had a prologue establishing the story’s overall tone, whereas the rest of the book has sections focusing on more grounded, real-world issues. 

💡Thinking of writing a whodunit? Check out our guide on writing creepy and satisfying mysteries .

By hinting at what has come before, prologues are also able to create tension about what’s still to come.

Remember to pique your readers’ interest, not send their eyes rolling to the back of their heads. Heavy-handed foreshadowing runs the risk of spoiling the twists and turns that are to come, so ensure that any hints you do give aren't enough to deflate your readers’ sense of anticipation.

Ideally, your clues for what’s to come should be relatively cryptic: suggestive enough to establish your tone and create intrigue while compelling readers to keep moving forward. You don't want the clues to be so clear or straightforward as to make the rest of the story redundant.  

Example: Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Christopher Paolini’s Eragon may have faced criticism for its occasionally purple prose , but no one can criticize its intelligent use of its prologue. In it, the reader is introduced to creatures they don’t recognize, Urgals and a Shade, as they ambush a group of three elves transporting a mysterious pouch containing a sapphire. Two elves are killed, while the third — a woman — magicks away the gemstone before collapsing. Frustrated, the Shade rides away, leaving her there. 

It’s a brief prologue that quickly does everything it needs to, establishing a world of magic and non-human creatures without losing time to explain who everyone is or what they’re doing there. What matters is the sapphire stone being saved from the clutches of these violent beings.

The reader knows this stone is no ordinary stone — it’s powerful, important, and sought-after by the bad guys of this world. Soon after, Eragon, the book’s protagonist, discovers this stone in Chapter 1.

He won’t know it, but the reader will immediately know he’s in danger. Nicely done, no?

Paolini accomplishes this efficiently and concisely without overwhelming readers with explanations. This, too, is a sign of a prologue wisely used.

There may be countless things about your world that you want to share with readers, but remember that this is their first taste of your book. You don’t want to overwhelm them with information. Many new (and experienced) writers) will feel the need to tell readers everything about the world of their book within the prologue, but this type of exposition usually leads to readers switching off, or, even worse, putting the book back on the shelf and buying something else. Instead, trust in your reader’s ability to wait for information and piece things together.

Go for a prologue that’s short and immersive — and as always, show, don’t tell ! To prevent yourself from overwriting, keep in mind that worldbuilding is a constant effort that the prologue can be a part of, not a substitute for.

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Example: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Jurassic Park is an unusual example in that the novel contains not one, but two prologues (albeit one is labeled an “introduction”). The contrast between these two prologues can be seen as a prologue done right, and a prologue gone wrong.

The first prologue, “The InGen Incident,” is heavy on exposition, reading like a short historical account of genetic engineering. While the chapter does hint at what is to come, an exploration of the ethical implications of bioengineering, it’s a pretty dry read.

The following prologue, more excitingly named “The Bite of the Raptor,” is a far more compelling starting point for the novel. It tells the story of a doctor treating a critically wounded construction worker whose injuries aren’t quite adding up.

While the official story is that he’s been hit by an earth mover, his clean wounds and intact bones suggest something else has happened, and before he dies, he mumbles the words “lo sa raptor.” As the doctor struggles to translate the dying man's words, the mystery of what is truly happening ramps up.

While the initial prologue is certainly relevant, it’s a little indulgent, giving us more information than we strictly need to begin the story that’s to come. The second prologue does a far better job of creating intrigue, kicking off the novel’s action effectively. Our advice? Readers can probably skip that first prologue altogether.

Whatever you do, make sure your prologue-related decisions are intentional and contribute something to your project. After all, every scene in a book should add something that would be missing if it was removed, and the same principle applies to prologues. Happy writing!

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How To Write an Autobiography 2024 (Tips, Templates, & Guide)

Your life story has value, merit, and significance. You want to share it with the world, but maybe you don’t know how .

Here’s how to write an autobiography:

Write an autobiography by creating a list of the most important moments, people, and places in your life. Gather photos, videos, letters, and notes about these experiences. Then, use an outline, templates, sentence starters, and questions to help you write your autobiography .

In this article, you are going to learn the fastest method for writing your autobiography.

We are going to cover everything you need to know with examples and a free, downloadable, done-for-you template.

What Is an Autobiography?

Table of Contents

Before you can write an autobiography, you must first know the definition.

An autobiography is the story of your life, written by you. It covers the full span of your life (at least, up until now), hitting on the most significant moments, people and events.

When you write your autobiography, you write an intimate account of your life.

What Should I Include In an Autobiography?

If you are scratching your head, baffled about what to include in your autobiography, you are not alone.

After all, a big part of how to write an autobiography is knowing what to put in and what to leave out of your life story. Do you focus on every detail?

Every person? Won’t your autobiography be too long?

A good way to think about how to write an autobiography is to use the Movie Trailer Method.

What do movie trailers include?

• High emotional moments
• The big events
• The most important characters

When you plan, organize, and write your autobiography, keep the Movie Trailer Method in mind. You can even watch a bunch of free movie trailers on YouTube for examples of how to write an autobiography using the Movie Trailer Method.

When wondering what to include in your autobiography, focus on what would make the cut for a movie trailer of your life:

• Most important people (like family, friends, mentors, coaches, etc.)
• Significant events (like your origin story, vacations, graduations, life turning points, life lessons)
• Emotional moments (When you were homeless, when you battled a life-threatening condition, or when you fell in love)
• Drama or suspense (Did you make it into Harvard? Did your first surgery go well? Did your baby survive?)

Autobiography Structure Secrets

Like any compelling story, a well-structured autobiography often follows a pattern that creates a logical flow and captures readers’ attention.

Traditionally, autobiographies begin with early memories, detailing the writer’s childhood, family background, and the events or people that shaped their formative years.

From here, the narrative typically progresses chronologically, covering major life events like schooling, friendships, challenges, achievements, career milestones, and personal relationships.

It’s essential to weave these events with introspective insights.

This allows readers to understand not just the what, but also the why behind the author’s choices and experiences.

Towards the end, an effective autobiography often includes reflections on lessons learned, changes in perspective over time, and the wisdom acquired along life’s journey.

Example of the Structure:

• Introduction: A gripping event or anecdote that gives readers a hint of what to expect. It could be a pivotal moment or challenge that defines the essence of the story.
• Childhood and Early Memories: Recounting family dynamics, birthplace, cultural background, and memorable incidents from early years.
• Adolescence and Discovering Identity: Experiences during teenage years, challenges faced, friendships formed, and personal evolutions.
• Pursuits and Passions: Describing education, early career choices, or any particular hobby or skill that played a significant role in the author’s life.
• Major Life Events and Challenges: Chronicles of marriage, parenthood, career shifts, or any significant setbacks and how they were overcome.
• Achievements and Milestones: Celebrating major accomplishments and recounting the journey to achieving them.
• Reflections and Wisdom: Sharing life lessons, changes in beliefs or values over time, and offering insights gained from lived experiences.
• Conclusion: Summarizing the journey, contemplating on the present state, and sharing hopes or aspirations for the future.

How To Write an Autobiography Quickly: Strategies & Templates

Want the quickest way to organize and write your autobiography in record time? You can literally write your autobiography in 7 days or less with this method.

The secret is to use done-for-you templates.

I have personally designed and collected a series of templates to take you from a blank page to a fully complete Autobiography. I call this the How to Write an Autobiography Blueprint.

And it’s completely free to download right from this article. 🙂

In the How to Write an Autobiography Blueprint, you get:

• The Autobiography Questions Template
• The Autobiography Brainstorm Templates
• The Autobiography Outline Template

Here is an image of it so that you know exactly what you get when you download it:

How To Write an Autobiography: Step-by-Step

When you sit down to write an autobiography, it’s helpful to have a step-by-step blueprint to follow.

You already have the done-for-you templates that you can use to organize and write an autobiography faster than ever before. Now here’s a complete step-by-step guide on how to maximize your template.

• Brainstorm Ideas
• Order your sections (from medium to high interest)
• Order the ideas in each section (from medium to high interest)
• Write three questions to answer in each section
• Choose a starter sentence
• Complete a title template
• Write each section of your by completing the starter sentence and answering all three questions

Brainstorm Your Autobiography

The first step in writing your autobiography is to brainstorm.

Give yourself time and space to write down the most significant people, events, lessons, and experiences in your life. The templates in the How to Write an Autobiography Blueprint provide sections for you to write down your brainstormed ideas.

This will help you organize your ideas into what will become the major sections of your book.

These will be:

• Y our most significant events and experiences.
• The people who impacted you the most.
• The challenges you have overcome.
• Your achievements and successes.
• The lessons you have learned.

The “other” sections on the second page of the Brainstorm template is for creating your own sections or to give you more space for the sections I provided in case you run out of space.

As I brainstorm, I find asking myself specific questions really activates my imagination.

So I have compiled a list of compelling questions to help you get ideas down on paper or on your screen.

Order Your Sections (From Medium to High Interest)

The next step is to order your main sections.

The main sections are the five (or more) sections from your Brainstorm templates (Significant events, significant people, life lessons, challenges, successes, other, etc). This order will become the outline and chapters for your book.

How do you decide what comes first, second or third?

I recommend placing the sections in order of interest. Ask yourself, “What’s the most fascinating part of my life?”

If it’s a person, then write the name of that section (Significant People) on the last line in the How to Write an Autobiography Outline Template. If it’s an experience, place the name of that section (Significant Events) on the last line.

For example, if you met the Pope, you might want to end with that nugget from your life. If you spent three weeks lost at sea and survived on a desert island by spearfishing, that is your ending point.

Then complete the Outline by placing the remaining sections in order of interest. You can work your way backward from high interest to medium interest.

If you are wondering why I say “medium to high interest” instead of “low to high interest” it is because there should be no “low interest” parts of your autobiography.

But wait, what if you met the Pope AND spent three weeks lost at sea? How do you choose which one comes first or last?

First of all, I want to read this book! Second, when in doubt, default to chronological order. Whatever event happened first, start there.

Here is an example of how it might look:

Order The Ideas in Each Section (From Medium To High Interest)

Now, organize the ideas inside of each section. Again, order the ideas from medium to high interest).

Within your “Significant People” section, decide who you want to talk about first, second, third, etc. You can organize by chronological order (who you met first) but I recommend building to the most interesting or most significant person.

This creates a more compelling read.

Keep in mind that the most significant person might not be the most well-known, most famous, or most popular. The most significant person might be your family member, friend, partner, or child.

It comes down to who shaped your life the most.

So, if your “significant people list” includes your dad, a famous social media influencer, and Mike Tyson, your dad might come last because he had the biggest significance in your life.

Write Three Questions to Answer in Each Section

Ok, you’ve done the heavy lifting already. You have the major sections organized and outlined.

Next on your autobiography to-do list is to choose and write down three questions you are going to answer in each section. You can write your questions down in the provided “boxes” for each section on the template outline (or on another piece of paper.

This is easier than it might seem.

Simply choose one of the sample autobiography questions below or create your own:

• Why did I choose this person/event?
• What does this person/event mean to me?
• How did I meet this person?
• Where did it happen?
• When did it happen?
• Why did it happen?
• How did it happen?
• What is the most interesting part?
• How did I feel about this person or event?
• How do I feel now?
• Why does this person or event matters to me?
• How did this person or event change my life?
• What is the most challenging part?
• How did I fail?
• How did I succeed?
• What did I learn?

Questions are the perfect way to write quickly and clearly. I LOVE writing to questions. It’s how I write these blog posts and articles.

Choose a Starter Sentence

Sometimes the hardest part of any project is knowing how to start.

Even though we know we can always go back and edit our beginnings, so many of us become paralyzed with indecision at the starting gate.

That’s why I provided sample starter sentences in your How to Write an Autobiography Blueprint.

Here are the story starters:

• I began writing this book when…
• Of all the experiences in my life, this one was the most…
• I’ve been a…
• My name is…
• Growing up in…
• It wasn’t even a…
• It all started when…
• I first…
• I was born…

Keep in mind that you do not need to begin your book with one of these story starters. I provide them simply to get you going.

The key is to not get bogged down in this, or any, part of writing your autobiography. Get organized and then get writing.

Complete a Title Template

At the top of the How to Write an Autobiography Outline is a place for you to write your book title.

Some authors struggle forever with a title. And that’s ok. What’s not ok is getting stuck. What’s not ok is if coming up with your title prevents you from finishing your book.

So, I provided a few title templates to help juice your creativity.

Just like the story starters, you do not need to use these title templates, but you certainly can. All you need to do is fill in the title templates below and then write your favorite one (for now) at the top of your outline. Presto! You have your working title.

You can always go back and change it later.

How to Write an Autobiography Title templates:

• [Your Name]: [Phrase or Tag Line]
• The [Your Last Name] Files
• Born [Activity]: A [Career]’s Life
• The Perfect [Noun]: The Remarkable Life of [Your Name]

Examples using the Templates:

• Christopher Kokoski: Blog Until You Drop
• The Kokoski Files
• Born Writing: A Blogger’s Life
• The Perfect Freelancer: The Remarkable Life of Christopher Kokoski

Write Your Autobiography

You have your outline. You have your title, templates, and sentence starters. All that is left to do is write your autobiography.

However, you can use tools like Jasper AI and a few other cool tricks to craft the most riveting book possible.

This is the easy way to remarkable writing.

Check out this short video that goes over the basics of how to write an autobiography:

How To Write an Autobiography (All the Best Tips)

Now that you are poised and ready to dash out your first draft, keep the following pro tips in mind:

• Be vulnerable. The best autobiographies share flaws, faults, foibles, and faux pas. Let readers in on the real you.
• Skip the boring parts. There is no need to detail every meal, car ride, or a gripping trip to the grocery store. Unless you ran into the Russian Mafia near the vegetables or the grocery store is perched on the side of a mountain above the jungles of Brazil.
• Keep your autobiography character-driven . This is the story of YOU!
• Be kind to others (or don’t). When writing about others in your story, keep in mind that there may be fallout or backlash from your book.
• Consider a theme: Many autobiographies are organized by theme. A perfect example is Becoming . Each section of the book includes “becoming” in the title. Themes connect and elevate each part of the autobiography.
• Write your story in vignettes (or scenes). Each vignette is a mini-story with a beginning, middle, and end. Each vignette builds. Each vignette should be described in rich sensory language that shows the reader the experience instead of telling the reader about the experience. Each vignette is immersive, immediate, and intimate.
• Include snippets of dialogue. Use quotation marks just like in fiction. Show the dialogue in brief back-and-forth tennis matches of conversation. Remember to leave the boring parts out!
• Choose a consistent tone. Some autobiographies are funny like Bossy Pants by Tina Fey. Others are serious such as Open by Andre Agassi. Your story (like most stories) will likely include a mix of emotions but choose an overall tone and stick with it.
• Don’t chronicle, captivate . Always think about how to make each section, each chapter, each page, each paragraph, and each sentence more compelling. You want to tell the truth, but HOW you tell the truth is up to you. Create suspense, conflict, and mystery. Let drama linger until it becomes uncomfortable. Don’t solve problems quickly or take away tension right away.

How Do I Format an Autobiography?

Most autobiographies are written in the first person (using the pronouns I, me, we, and us).

Your autobiography is written about you so write as yourself instead of pretending to be writing about someone else.

Most autobiographies are also written in chronological order, from birth right up to your current age, with all the boring parts left out. That doesn’t mean you can’t play around with the timeline.

Sometimes it’s more interesting to start at a high moment, backtrack to the beginning and show how you got to that high moment.

Whatever format you choose, be intentional, and make the choice based on making the most compelling experience possible for your readers.

How Long Should an Autobiography Be?

There are no rules to how long an autobiography should be but a rough guideline is to aim for between 200 and 400 pages.

This will keep your book in line with what most readers expect for books in general, and will help get your book traditionally published or help with marketing your self-published book.

How To Write a Short Autobiography

You write a short autobiography the same way that you write a long autobiography.

You simply leave more out of the story.

You cut everything down to the bones. Or you choose a slice of your life as you do in a memoir. This often means limiting the people in your book, reducing the events and experiences, and shrinking your story to a few pivotal moments in your life.

How To Start an Autobiography

The truth is that you can start your autobiography in any number of ways.

Here are four common ways to begin an autobiography.

• Start at the beginning (of your life, career or relationship, etc.)
• Start at a high moment of drama or interest.
• Start at the end of the story and work backward
• Start with why you wrote the book.

Good Autobiography Titles

If you are still stuck on titling your autobiography, consider going to Amazon to browse published works. You can even just Google “autobiographies.”

When you read the titles of 10, 20, or 50 other autobiographies, you will start to see patterns or get ideas for your own titles. (HINT: the title templates in the Autobiography Blueprint were reverse-engineered from popular published books.

Also, check out the titles of the full autobiography examples below that I have included right here in this article.

Types of Autobiographies

There are several different kinds of autobiographies.

Each one requires a similar but slightly nuanced approach to write effectively. The lessons in this article will serve as a great starting point.

Autobiography Types:

• Autobiography for School
• Autobiography Novel
• Autobiography for a Job
• Short Autobiography
• Autobiography for Kids

Therefore, there is actually not just one way to write an autobiography.

Memoir vs. Autobiography: Are They The Same?

It’s common to feel confused about a memoir and an autobiography. I used to think they were the same thing.

But, nope, they’re not.

They are pretty similar, which is the reason for all the confusion. A memoir is the story of one part of your life. An autobiography is the story of your full life (up until now).

What Is the Difference Between an Autobiography and a Biography?

An autobiography is when you write about your own life. A biography, on the other hand, is when you write the story of someone else’s life.

So, if I write a book about the life of the President, that’s a biography.

If the President writes a story about his or her own life, that’s an autobiography.

What Not To Include In an Autobiography

Autobiographies are meant to be a snapshot of our lives that we can share with others, but there are some things that are best left out.

Here are three things you should avoid including in your autobiography:

1) Anything That Readers Will Skip

Your life may not be filled with non-stop excitement, but that doesn’t mean you need to include every mundane detail in your autobiography.

Stick to the highlights and leave out the low points.

2) Character Attacks on Others

It’s okay to discuss conflicts you’ve had with others, but don’t use your autobiography as a platform to attack someone’s character.

Keep it civil and focus on your own experiences and how they’ve affected you.

3) Skipping Highlights

Just because something embarrassing or painful happened to you doesn’t mean you should gloss over it in your autobiography.

These are the moments that shape us and make us who we are today, so don’t skip past them just because they’re uncomfortable.

By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your autobiography is interesting, honest, and engaging.

How To Write an Autobiography: Autobiography Examples

I have always found examples to be extremely instructive. Especially complete examples of finished products. In this case, books.

Below you will find examples of published autobiographies for adults and for kids. These examples will guide you, motivate you and inspire you to complete your own life story.

They are listed here as examples, not as endorsements, although I think they are all very good.

The point is that you don’t have to agree with anything written in the books to learn from them.

Autobiography Examples for Adults

• A Promised Land (Autobiography of Barack Obama)
• If You Ask Me: (And of Course You Won’t) (Betty White)
• It’s a Long Story: My Life (Willie Nelson)
• Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography (Rob Lowe)
• Becoming (Michelle Obama)

Autobiography Examples for Kids

• This Kid Can Fly: It’s About Ability (NOT Disability) (Aaron Philips)
• Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid (Mikaila Ulmer)

Tools to Write Your Autobiography

Here are some recommended tools to help you write your autobiography:

Final Thoughts: How To Write An Autobiography

Thank you for reading my article on How to Write an Autobiography.

Now that you know all of the secrets to write your book, you may want to get it published, market it, and continue to upskill yourself as an author.

In that case, read these posts next:

• Can Anyone Write A Book And Get It Published?
• The Best Writing Books For Beginners 2022 (My 10 Favorites)
• Why Do Writers Hate Adverbs? (The Final Answer)
• How To Write a Manifesto: 20 Ultimate Game-Changing Tips

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The Prologue to Bertrand Russell's Autobiography

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Home / Book Writing / What is a Prologue & How to Write One

What is a Prologue & How to Write One

Sometimes the beginning of a book can be confusing. Some books may have an introduction, a foreword, acknowledgments, and a prologue before you ever read line one of the main text.

In an effort to de-shroud some of the mystery about a book’s beginning, I’ll explore what a prologue is and how to write one. (Hint: It's different from a preface .)

Note: This is one of many posts on the subject of book parts, from the prologue to the author's bio.

• What a prologue is and its purpose
• How a prologue is different from a foreword, preface, or introduction
• How to write a prologue

Table of contents

• What is the Purpose of a Prologue?
• How is a Prologue Different from a Foreword, Preface, or Introduction?
• Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse, Book 1) by James S.A. Corey
• Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
• Every Star Wars Movie
• Tips for Writing a Prologue
• Info-Dumping
• First-Chapter Crutch
• Flexing the Prose Muscles

Why Should You Trust Me?

I've actually been writing and formatting books for a long time. Over 10 years so far, and counting.

But that's not the real reason, because there are plenty of authors who have lots of experience, but know next to nothing about the different parts of a book, or book formatting in general.

The real reason you should trust me is because I actually created my own formatting software that solved all my problems. I called it Atticus.

But this isn't meant to be a sales pitch. I just want to make sure it's clear that I know what I'm talking about. The amount of research that went into not only formatting my own books, but also creating a formatting software is huge.

I researched everything, which led me to learn all about every. single. part. of. a. book. And there were a lot more than I realized.

And of course, that includes Prologues.

So if all that makes sense, hopefully you'll come along with me as show you everything I've learned.

What is a Prologue?

A prologue comes before the first chapter of a novel. It is part of the narrative and serves to set up the main story, provides some vital information, and prepares the reader for what is to come.

“Prologue” comes from the Greek prologos, meaning, “before word.” In an ancient Greek drama, the prologue was the equivalent of the first act of a play.

Prologues are used in works of fiction for a variety of reasons. They allow the writer to give the reader some vital information regarding the conflict of the story, the main character or characters, or the overall tone and meaning of the story. A prologue can also provide background detail and important (but limited) exposition. The prologue is separate from the bulk of the story but still important. If the reader skips the prologue, they will be missing some key piece of information that will come into play later in the book. And since the prologue is separate, it allows the author a bit more freedom to get creative. For example, it’s common for a prologue to be written from the point of view of a minor or secondary character. This different perspective may never be used again in the book, but the events of the prologue will most certainly be referenced at some point.

A good prologue should:

• Provide some foreshadowing.
• Introduce a major character, even if only by name or in passing.
• Provide some vital information on a character's backstory.
• Set the tone/feel for the rest of the story.
• Provide information on the world, conflict, time period, or inciting incident.

Some literary critics and editors think that writing a prologue can be a crutch, holding up a story with a weak beginning.

Readers know that a prologue is simultaneously separate and part of the story, and so they’re willing to indulge the author a bit – as long as it pulls them in, serves the main purpose of the story, and everything makes sense by the time the novel is finished.

Video: How to Write a Prologue

For a nice summary of this article, along with a few of my own personal thoughts on the subject, be sure to check out this video on what a prologue is, and how to write one.

Want more videos like this? Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly videos!

A prologue is within the world of the overall story and it is part of the front matter of a book. It’s as fictional as the rest of the story and serves one or more of the purposes listed above. Prologues are tools used exclusively in works of fiction such as novels, plays, and films. A prologue is considered the opposite of an epilogue , which comes at the end of the novel. A Foreword is usually written about the book itself or the author of the book. Typically written by another author or a person of note familiar with the story, genre, or subject matter, a foreword can be found in both fiction and nonfiction books in the introductory section. A Preface is a place the author uses to acknowledge those who may have helped along the way and to give thanks to any influences they may have. Prefaces can be found in nonfiction and fiction books.

An Introduction is also written by the author but is designed to give the reader context about the book itself. Whereas the preface usually tells about the journey of creating the book, the introduction prepares the reader to understand the wider significance of the work. Introductions are usually found in nonfiction books.

Great Examples of Prologues

Here are some modern and classic examples of great prologues for you to check out!

The first novel of the superb space opera starts with a prologue from Julie Mao’s point of view . Although we never enter her POV again in the book, this prologue is important to understanding the rest of the story, including the world the author(s) have created and the central conflict. It's an effective prologue in that it pulls the reader in and sets up questions that are answered later in the novel.

Romeo and Juliet , William Shakespeare

Perhaps the most well-known prologue in any literary work is from Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. In fact, several of Shakespeare’s plays have prologues, which he used to set the scene for the audience. The prologue in Romeo and Juliet begins: “Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. . .” The sonnet goes on for several more lines, but even those first four lines give the audience vital information about the Capulets and the Montagues without mentioning the two houses by name. It also does some foreshadowing, preparing the audience for the tragedy to come.

Moving away from literature a bit now, you may remember the beginning of every Star Wars movie to date. The text scrolling over the backdrop of space before the opening scene is a great example of a prologue. The exposition in those prologues sets the stage for the movie to follow, sometimes condensing years of conflict into a couple of sentences. The background is only important because it tells the audience exactly what it needs to know to get right into the meat of the story.

How to Write a Prologue

Determining whether to write a prologue is probably the hardest part. To determine if you need to write a prologue, ask yourself these questions before sitting down to your favorite writing software :

• Is there information the reader must have before the actual story begins?
• Can you present that information in a compelling and brief manner?
• Is it information that you can’t provide the audience in the opening chapter?

If you answered yes to all of those questions, you probably need a prologue. But if you answered no to any one of them, you may want to re-think the use of this literary device.

Remember that a prologue has one overall job: To keep the reader turning the pages . The other jobs of the prologue, like conveying important information, foreshadowing, introducing a major character, and setting the tone of the novel all come secondary to keeping the reader reading. Having a hard time coming up with the first line for your prologue (or your first chapter)? Check out this first line generator to get you started.

If you decide you need a prologue to start your novel, keep these tips in mind as you write .

• Remember to “show, don’t tell.”
• Keep it as short as possible (as if you're writing a very short story).
• Make sure any questions presented in the prologue are answered in the main body of the novel.

Know you’re going to use a prologue before you ever begin writing? Make sure to put it in the outline of your book ! (If you outline, that is.)

Format Beautiful Professional Books

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How Not to Write a Prologue

Now, let’s take a look at some common prologue mistakes to avoid as a writer.

This tends to be more of a problem in sci-fi and fantasy novels where the reader needs a bit of background information concerning the world, technology, politics, magic, etc. The tendency is to dump a ton of info on the reader at the prologue, bogging them down with pages and pages of background details and exposition. Readers are smart and they’re willing to put the pieces together. If you can find a way to drip-feed them important details through the narrative , then do so. Give the reader some credit and let them uncover the world you’ve built as they read the novel.

Another big mistake is to use the prologue as a crutch for a slow first chapter. Remember that both the prologue and the first chapter need to be compelling, enticing the reader to keep turning the pages.

Since the “rules” for prologues are a little lax, some writers tend to get carried away. Instead of seeing the prologue as a tool to be used only when absolutely necessary, they see it as a place to wow the reader with their skill as a writer, thinking that it will hook the reader into the rest of the novel. While good prose is a plus when writing any kind of fiction, it shouldn’t be the only focus. Some readers may enjoy the nice prose, but most are looking for a compelling narrative and they’ll move on to the next novel if they think there isn’t one coming.

How to Ensure an eReader Doesn't Skip Your Prologue

You may have noticed that when you open an eBook on a Kindle or other device, that it usually doesn't start at the very beginning (i.e. the cover of your book).

Instead, Amazon and other retailers estimate where the book starts, and in some cases this can lead to a reader starting with chapter 1 and completely missing your prologue!

So, assuming your prologue has vital information you want to convey, you need a way for readers to start there, instead of on chapter 1.

Thankfully, Atticus is the only formatting program that lets you do this.

All you have to do is go to the Book Details and scroll down until you find the section labelled Start Page .

From there, you simply select where you would like readers to start when they open your book for the first time.

This inserts a special code into the eBook file that lets Amazon know exactly where to open the book for new readers. Simple as that!

Atticus is the currently the only formatting software that lets you customize the Start Page of your book , and not only that, but it also works on virtually every platform, and it's over $100 cheaper than the competition (which does not have this Start Page feature).

Do you need a prologue for your book?

If you’re still unsure whether you should write a prologue, pick up a couple of your favorite novels that begin with prologues and read them. Try to remember how you felt when you realized how the prologue was related to the storyline. That’s the feeling you’re trying to evoke in readers. Stick with the tips above and avoid the common prologue pitfalls. Chances are you’ve got a good instinct for whether you need a prologue or not. Trust that instinct, and get writing!

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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How to write an autobiography (and actually finish it)

If you’ve ever tried writing your autobiography, chances are you haven’t finished. This article gives you one simple strategy on how to write an autobiography, and actually finish it!

There are lots of reasons why this is the case, but it comes down to a few main things:

• You’ve set the bar high:  You want your autobiography to be something you’re proud of — something to share with your family. But something that makes you proud isn’t easy to create. It takes time. It’s hard work.
• You’ve lost steam:  Writing is typically a solo activity. Without colleagues or friends to keep you on track, it’s easy to lose motivation.
• You’ve followed the wrong advice:  Here’s a 10-second challenge. Google “How to write my autobiography” and see what pops up. Chances are, one of the top results is a WikiHow article with 1.84 million views. Its popularity would make you think the article is helpful — but try and apply this advice: “The trick to writing an autobiography is to treat it like any good story: it should have a protagonist (you), a central conflict, and a cast of fascinating characters to keep people engaged.” True? Maybe. Helpful or practical? Absolutely not.

The one question you need to ask yourself

The most important question that you need to ask yourself is this: WHY do you want to write your autobiography?

Do you want to:

A) Start a passion project that you don’t mind sinking years into with no end in sight? B) Write your life story for someone to actually read it, like your children or grandchildren?

Here’s what we predict. A handful of you are in group A. And If so, just keep writing, have fun and don’t worry about ever finishing it (because you probably won’t — and that’s OK). But if you’re in group B and actually want to finish and publish your life story for someone to read, then you need a strategy.

How to write an autobiography

In a nutshell: Answer questions about your life and write down your answers.

A bit of background, when my daughter was born my wife and I realised how little we knew about our parents and their family histories. We wanted their stories to be recorded so our daughter could one day read them and discover who they were beyond being her grandparents. So we went searching for a way to record their life stories that was fun and would lead to a beautiful book in the end. We wanted something affordable, easy to follow and perfect for a novice writer. We didn’t really find anything that worked.

Our solution? We designed an interview with 101 questions for our parents to answer. Every question was designed to be thought provoking and take no more than five minutes each to answer. We broke the questions up into different “life chapters” like childhood, work, love, family tree, children and more philosophical questions as well. The idea was that although the questions were simple enough to answer easily, they’d also be detailed enough to cover our parents’ lives. Plus, the question and answer format gave them an easy way to track progress as they got closer to finishing their book. It was easy, motivating and most importantly — they finished their books!

 The Q&A format is authentic and enjoyable to read for family and friends

We then printed the books and they were better than we ever imagined. We learned so much about our parents and the interview format made it so compelling to read. Answer this: would you prefer to hear someone narrate your great-grandfather’s entire life story from beginning to end or read an interview with him written in his own words? Which will make you feel like you’re having a conversation with him? Which will bring his story to life? The magic of an interview is it’s fascinating to read — as soon as you hear a question you need to know the answer.

Here are just some of the questions we liked best:

• If you could share a meal with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
• What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?
• What’s the most valuable thing your parents taught you?

My wife and I got so excited about how well our parents’ stories turned out that we launched A Life Untold to share this concept with the rest of the world. We tried really hard to get the price as low as possible so there’s virtually no barrier for anyone to ACTUALLY write and print their autobiography into a captivating and professionally designed hardcover book. In fact, we believe in it so much we’d like to challenge you NOT to finish once you’ve gotten started. I hope you give it a try!

Happy writing!

Turn your life story into a hardcover autobiography that your family will treasure forever. Find out more about our process.

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Record a loved one’s life story in a beautifully printed book. A truly meaningful gift for anyone special in your life.

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Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

A prologue sets the opening scene for a story, told in the voice and point of view of a character from the novel. The best prologues draw readers in, grab their attention, and set the stage for an engaging narrative. But how do you write an effective prologue for your book?

Table of Contents: • What is the purpose of prologues? • Captivate readers • Set the tone • Create a sense of mystery or foreshadowing • Does every book need a prologue? • A prologue is not a substitute for a bad opening chapter • How to write a prologue • Tailor it to your story • Introduce key characters • Edit and share with beta readers

What is the purpose of prologues?

Prologues serve multiple purposes in storytelling, with each one contributing to the overall impact of the main narrative.

Captivate readers

The main job of an effective prologue is to grab potential readers’ attention and make them eager to continue reading. A great prologue can begin with a compelling event, a mysterious occurrence, or an intriguing character. If you do this effectively, you can pique a reader’s curiosity before your story even starts.

Set the tone

Prologues should establish the tone and atmosphere of your story. They provide you with an opportunity to convey the overall mood of your novel, whether it’s suspenseful, dramatic, or whimsical. By setting the tone early on, prologues help potential readers align their expectations with your narrative style. 

Create a sense of mystery or foreshadowing

Prologues can create a sense of mystery or foreshadowing , hinting at events or themes that will unfold throughout the story. They can introduce conflict, enigmatic characters, or unexplained situations, leaving readers eager to uncover the answers as they progress through the main narrative.

Does every book need a prologue?

Not every book requires a prologue — in fact, there’s no requirement at all. The choice to include one depends on the genre, the specific story being told, and the author’s inclinations as to whether the storytelling would benefit from giving the reader information to set the stage for the tale to come.

Some genres — such as epic fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction — commonly employ prologues to provide background information or introduce significant events. Other genres, like contemporary romance or mystery, do not typically rely on prologues.

Consider whether a prologue adds value to your story. If it enhances the reader’s understanding, creates intrigue, or adds depth to the narrative, then a prologue may be appropriate. If it amounts to unnecessary exposition that doesn’t contribute to the flow of the story, it’s best to omit it.

A prologue is not a substitute for a bad opening chapter

If you’re adding a prologue because you don’t think your opening chapter is strong enough, this is a mistake. Readers will lose interest if Chapter One isn’t captivating — prologue or not. Rather than patch up your opening with a prologue, focus on rewriting your opening chapter until it does the job you want it to do. If you’re still feeling like your first chapter isn’t getting the job done, it’s time to go back to your outline and take another look at the overall structure of your book.

How to write a prologue

Crafting a good prologue requires careful consideration and attention to detail. Here are some tips to guide you.

Tailor it to your story

The prologue should be specifically tailored to your story, providing relevant information that sets the stage for what’s to come. Consider the key elements, themes, or events that will be explored in the main narrative and incorporate them into the prologue in a way that captures a reader’s interest.

For my YA fantasy novel, The Dragon Squisher , I included a prologue that not only delivered necessary background information, but I made it as funny as I possibly could. This let readers know exactly what kind of book they were in for (not just a YA fantasy, but a YA comedy), and it allowed me to info-dump in a way that was as entertaining as I could make it. The feedback I’ve gotten tells me I did a good job with it.

Introduce key characters

Introduce important characters or events in the prologue, giving readers a glimpse of their significance in the story. However, you want to avoid overwhelming readers with excessive background details. Provide enough information to intrigue them, but save deeper character development for the main narrative. Originally, my prologue was twice as long, but I cut it in half and placed that section later in the story, after Chapter Five, so my readers were already invested in the story.

Edit and share with beta readers

After writing your prologue, revise and edit it thoroughly. Ensure it flows seamlessly with the rest of the story and effectively accomplishes its purpose. Consider sharing it with beta readers or critique partners to gather feedback and gain insights on how it impacts their reading experience. I’ve had great success hiring competent and affordable beta readers on Fiverr.com.

A great prologue can be a powerful tool to captivate readers’ interest, set the tone, and create anticipation for the main story. But take the time to carefully consider whether a good prologue is appropriate for your book and determine whether it will enhance or detract from your storytelling.

Once your manuscript is finished and you’re ready to publish, BookBaby is ready to help with all of your publishing needs. We offer book printing to book formatting , and our editing services are the best prologue to your self-publishing story. Find out more at www.bookbaby.com .

Related Posts How to Harness the Power of Foreshadowing How To Outline A Novel How To Solicit And Act On Feedback From Beta Readers Tips For Writing Interesting Chapter Titles What to Know About Writing a Book Table of Contents

I write the prologues (and epilogues) of my “Bucky and the Lukefahr Ladies” books in first person as being told by the elderly woman who supposedly writes the books. The books themselves are in 3rd person. In the prologues she sums up a little of what has happened in the previous books and sets the stage for the new story. My readers enjoy the epilogues where she often tells “the rest of the story,” and gives her opinion about some of the things that happened.

I’m not sure what the effects of my story will be on others, but it’s my story, what I’ve been through, how I overcome certain things in my life; mostly being honest about who I was and who I am today. I appreciate all the free information; I wished I found it earlier. It’s helping me organize my thoughts and then put them on paper. So far I have over 225 pages and over 59,960 words. Right now I am trying to clean it up before deciding my next step.

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What Is an Autobiography?

What to Consider Before You Start to Write

• Writing Research Papers
• Writing Essays
• English Grammar
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

Your life story, or autobiography , should contain the basic framework that any essay should have, with four basic elements. Begin with an introduction that includes a thesis statement , followed by a body containing at least several paragraphs , if not several chapters. To complete the autobiography, you'll need a strong conclusion , all the while crafting an interesting narrative with a theme.

Did You Know?

The word autobiography  literally means SELF (auto), LIFE (bio), WRITING (graph). Or, in other words, an autobiography is the story of someone's life written or otherwise told by that person.

When writing your autobiography, find out what makes your family or your experience unique and build a narrative around that. Doing some research and taking detailed notes can help you discover the essence of what your narrative should be and craft a story that others will want to read.

Research Your Background

Just like the biography of a famous person, your autobiography should include things like the time and place of your birth, an overview of your personality, your likes and dislikes, and the special events that shaped your life. Your first step is to gather background detail. Some things to consider:

• What is interesting about the region where you were born?
• How does your family history relate to the history of that region?
• Did your family come to that region for a reason?

It might be tempting to start your story with "I was born in Dayton, Ohio...," but that is not really where your story begins. It's better to start with an experience. You may wish to start with something like why you were born where you were and how your family's experience led to your birth. If your narrative centers more around a pivotal moment in your life, give the reader a glimpse into that moment. Think about how your favorite movie or novel begins, and look for inspiration from other stories when thinking about how to start your own.

Think About Your Childhood

You may not have had the most interesting childhood in the world, but everyone has had a few memorable experiences. Highlight the best parts when you can. If you live in a big city, for instance, you should realize that many people who grew up in the country have never ridden a subway, walked to school, ridden in a taxi, or walked to a store a few blocks away.

On the other hand, if you grew up in the country you should consider that many people who grew up in the suburbs or inner city have never eaten food straight from a garden, camped in their backyards, fed chickens on a working farm, watched their parents canning food, or been to a county fair or a small-town festival.

Something about your childhood will always seem unique to others. You just have to step outside your life for a moment and address the readers as if they knew nothing about your region and culture. Pick moments that will best illustrate the goal of your narrative, and symbolism within your life.

Consider Your Culture

Your culture is your overall way of life , including the customs that come from your family's values and beliefs. Culture includes the holidays you observe, the customs you practice, the foods you eat, the clothes you wear, the games you play, the special phrases you use, the language you speak, and the rituals you practice.

As you write your autobiography, think about the ways that your family celebrated or observed certain days, events, and months, and tell your audience about special moments. Consider these questions:

• What was the most special gift you ever received? What was the event or occasion surrounding that gift?
• Is there a certain food that you identify with a certain day of the year?
• Is there an outfit that you wear only during a special event?

Think honestly about your experiences, too. Don't just focus on the best parts of your memories; think about the details within those times. While Christmas morning may be a magical memory, you might also consider the scene around you. Include details like your mother making breakfast, your father spilling his coffee, someone upset over relatives coming into town, and other small details like that. Understanding the full experience of positives and negatives helps you paint a better picture for the reader and lead to a stronger and more interesting narrative. Learn to tie together all the interesting elements of your life story and craft them into an engaging essay.

Establish the Theme

Once you have taken a look at your own life from an outsider’s point of view, you will be able to select the most interesting elements from your notes to establish a theme. What was the most interesting thing you came up with in your research? Was it the history of your family and your region? Here is an example of how you can turn that into a theme:

"Today, the plains and low hills of southeastern Ohio make the perfect setting for large cracker box-shaped farmhouses surrounded by miles of corn rows. Many of the farming families in this region descended from the Irish settlers who came rolling in on covered wagons in the 1830s to find work building canals and railways. My ancestors were among those settlers."

A little bit of research can make your own personal story come to life as a part of history, and historical details can help a reader better understand your unique situation. In the body of your narrative, you can explain how your family’s favorite meals, holiday celebrations, and work habits relate to Ohio history.

One Day as a Theme

You also can take an ordinary day in your life and turn it into a theme. Think about the routines you followed as a child and as an adult. Even a mundane activity like household chores can be a source of inspiration.

For example, if you grew up on a farm, you know the difference between the smell of hay and wheat, and certainly that of pig manure and cow manure—because you had to shovel one or all of these at some point. City people probably don’t even know there is a difference. Describing the subtle differences of each and comparing the scents to other scents can help the reader imagine the situation more clearly.

If you grew up in the city, you how the personality of the city changes from day to night because you probably had to walk to most places. You know the electricity-charged atmosphere of the daylight hours when the streets bustle with people and the mystery of the night when the shops are closed and the streets are quiet.

Think about the smells and sounds you experienced as you went through an ordinary day and explain how that day relates to your life experience in your county or your city:

"Most people don’t think of spiders when they bite into a tomato, but I do. Growing up in southern Ohio, I spent many summer afternoons picking baskets of tomatoes that would be canned or frozen and preserved for cold winter’s dinners. I loved the results of my labors, but I’ll never forget the sight of the enormous, black and white, scary-looking spiders that lived in the plants and created zigzag designs on their webs. In fact, those spiders, with their artistic web creations, inspired my interest in bugs and shaped my career in science."

One Event as a Theme

Perhaps one event or one day of your life made such a big impact that it could be used as a theme. The end or beginning of the life of another can affect our thoughts and actions for a long time:

"I was 12 years old when my mother passed away. By the time I was 15, I had become an expert in dodging bill collectors, recycling hand-me-down jeans, and stretching a single meal’s worth of ground beef into two family dinners. Although I was a child when I lost my mother, I was never able to mourn or to let myself become too absorbed in thoughts of personal loss. The fortitude I developed at a young age was the driving force that would see me through many other challenges."

Writing the Essay

Whether you determine that your life story is best summed up by a single event, a single characteristic, or a single day, you can use that one element as a theme . You will define this theme in your  introductory paragraph .

Create an outline with several events or activities that relate back to your central theme and turn those into subtopics (body paragraphs) of your story. Finally, tie up all your experiences in a summary that restates and explains the overriding theme of your life. 

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What Is a Prologue? Meaning and Examples

Hannah Yang

You only get one chance to make a first impression.

Some books make their first impression in the first chapter. Others do so even earlier in the prologue.

So, what is a prologue, and how do you write an effective one?

This article will explain what a prologue is and give you a step-by-step process for writing a great prologue.

Prologue Definition

Prologue meaning, what’s the difference between a prologue and other introductions, how to write a prologue in 5 steps, prologue examples, conclusion on what is a prologue.

A prologue is an introductory passage at the beginning of a literary work that is separate from the main narrative.

Prologues exist in plays, novels, movies, and sometimes even poems.

You can think of a prologue as an introductory chapter before the actual story begins.

Not all fiction books have a prologue, but there are many different reasons authors choose to include prologues in their books.

Some novels include a prologue to give the reader important background information about events that take place before the main story begins.

For example, a fantasy novel might use a prologue to tell the reader historical context about the story’s world, so they can understand what’s happening when the story begins.

Other novels use a prologue to establish the tone of the book upfront and show readers what they can expect later in the story.

For example, in thriller books, authors might use an action-packed prologue to foreshadow the exciting events to come, especially if the first chapters are slow.

How Long Should a Prologue Be?

Most novel chapters are around 1,000–5,000 words long.

A good prologue can be the length of a standard novel chapter, but it’s usually better to write a short prologue than a long one.

That’s because the longer a prologue is, the longer it takes the reader to get to the main story. Delaying the start of the real story runs the risk of boring the reader or losing their attention.

If the protagonist doesn’t appear in the prologue, it’s even more important to keep the prologue short because you don’t want to get the reader too invested in a minor side character.

If they get excited about following that character, they might feel disappointed when the book switches to the main character instead.

There are many types of book introductions. Prologues, prefaces, and forewords all serve different purposes.

Here’s a quick overview of the difference between these introduction types.

What Is a Prologue vs a Preface?

A preface is an introductory essay written by the author of a nonfiction book.

It’s often the place where the author explains why they’re the right person to write this book. They might mention their education, their teaching experience, their reasons for choosing to write this book, or other similar credentials.

One easy way to tell the difference between a prologue and a preface is that prologues only exist in fiction, while prefaces only exist in nonfiction, particularly in academic writing.

What Is a Prologue vs a Foreword?

Like a preface, a foreword is also an introductory essay at the beginning of a book.

However, a foreword isn’t written by the author of the book. Instead, it’s written by a different expert in the same field to endorse the book and tell readers more about it.

Sometimes fiction books have forewords too, especially if it’s a classic novel that has impacted many people. For example, a new edition of a Jane Austen novel might come with a foreword from a modern author.

What Is a Prologue vs an Epilogue?

An epilogue isn’t an introduction at all—it’s actually the opposite of a prologue.

A prologue is a short chapter that appears at the beginning of a fiction book, while an epilogue is a short chapter that appears at the end.

Epilogues are often used to wrap up the story and create a sense of resolution. For example, it’s common (and even cliché) for romcom epilogues to show the two main characters getting married or engaged to create the feeling of a permanent happy ending.

So, now you know what a prologue is, it’s time to figure out how to write one of your own.

What are the exact steps you can take to write a successful prologue?

Step 1: Determine Why You Need a Prologue

It’s important to know why you need to write a prologue, so you can make sure it serves its purpose.

If you don’t have a good reason, it’s better not to write a prologue.

Here are some good reasons to include a prologue:

• There’s crucial information your reader needs to know in order to understand the main story, which can’t be easily incorporated into the rest of the novel.
• You want to give the reader a taste of what to expect from your novel, which can’t be delivered in the first few chapters.

Here are some bad reasons to include a prologue:

• You have a boring first chapter and want to make up for it by adding an exciting prologue. (The better solution to this problem is to write a stronger first chapter.)
• You have a lot of background details you want the reader to know. (The better solution to this problem is to work in that information as it becomes necessary throughout the main story.)
• You think you’re supposed to have a prologue for the type of book you’re writing. (This is just a common misconception—a prologue isn’t a requirement in any genre!)

Step 2: Lead with a Hook

The prologue, just like any great first chapter, should grab the reader’s attention as quickly as possible. Your goal is to convince the reader to keep reading, like reeling in a fish on a hook.

One way to hook readers in is by describing something unusual or mysterious. Prioritize strong visual imagery at the beginning of your prologue.

The hook might be as dramatic as the image of a dead body in a public library. You can hook the reader with these questions: How did the person die? Who will discover them? Why is their body in the library?

Or, the hook might be as mundane as the image of a woman impatiently waiting for a late bus. You can hook the reader in with these questions: Where is the woman going? What is she late for? Will she make it on time?

Make sure you introduce new hooks each time you resolve an existing one, so the reader always has more questions to keep them reading.

Step 3: Balance Action and Information

Whatever you decided in Step 1, it’s important to make sure you accomplish that purpose. However, it’s just as important to strike the right balance between action and information.

Let’s say your goal is to give the reader a piece of information they need in order to understand the main story. Don’t just dump all the information into a dense chunk of text and call it a prologue.

After all, the writing advice “show, don’t tell” applies even to prologues. It’s important to show us what’s happening, instead of just telling us about the characters, the plot, or the world.

One trick is to make sure your prologue includes a character pursuing a goal and encountering an obstacle that prevents them from achieving that goal. This allows you to generate conflict between the character and the obstacle, which creates action.

Step 4: Drop Hints for What’s to Come

A great prologue successfully foreshadows events, characters, or themes that will appear in the main story.

Readers find it satisfying when a detail from the prologue feeds into the main plot later on. This will make the story feel more connected, and it will also reward the reader for paying attention early on.

Step 5: Avoid Extraneous Details

It’s important to keep the prologue short and sweet.

Give the reader all the important details they need to know, but don’t include any extraneous information that isn’t absolutely crucial for the reader’s understanding of the story.

Let’s look at some classic examples of successful prologues.

Example 1: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Jurassic Park is a science fiction book about a theme park where dinosaurs break free and attack the humans inside.

This book has two prologues, and each one is effective in a different way

The first prologue is a simple, straightforward passage that summarizes the technology available on Earth by the time this book takes place—namely, the technology that lets scientists recreate dinosaurs.

Even though it’s a bit dry, this first prologue is useful because it gives the reader the background information they need to understand how Jurassic Park can exist.

The second prologue is a short, exciting scene in which a minor character gets attacked by a mysterious monster.

This second prologue is useful because the readers of Jurassic Park are expecting exciting scenes with dinosaurs, but the actual dinosaurs don’t show up many chapters into the story, after the main characters arrive at Jurassic Park.

That’s why this second prologue is so effective. It gives the readers a taste of the excitement they’re looking for, which sets the tone for what will happen after the main characters reach the park.

Example 2: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians is a romcom about—you guessed it—crazy rich Asians.

The prologue takes place years before the story begins when the male romantic lead, Nick Young, is still a child. He and his family try to check into a luxury hotel in London, only to be turned away because of their race.

Angry at the way they’re being treated, one of his aunts makes a phone call and buys the entire hotel, making herself the new boss of the managers who tried to turn them away.

The prologue establishes how crazy rich Nick’s family is. We get a firsthand look at the sheer amount of wealth and power they have access to.

When the main story starts, the protagonist, Rachel Chu, is dating Nick. However, she has no idea how wealthy Nick’s family really is.

We as the readers are only privy to that information because of the prologue, which makes the first chapters of the book more exciting because we’re already anticipating what might happen when Rachel finds out the truth.

Example 3: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet is among the most famous of Shakespeare’s plays. It might even be the most well-known play in the entire Western canon.

The prologue of Romeo and Juliet consists of a sonnet that introduces the audience to the setting of the play.

Here are the opening lines of the prologue:

Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

These four opening lines introduce the conflict between Romeo’s family and Juliet’s family. The audience understands right away that Romeo and Juliet are star-crossed lovers who can never be together.

Unlike most modern authors, Shakespeare uses the prologue to tell the audience everything that’s going to happen in the play.

The prologue tells us explicitly about the tragic demise of Romeo and Juliet, saying that the death of these two young lovers will finally heal the rift between their two families.

There you have it—our complete guide for what a prologue is and how to write a good one.

Here’s a quick recap:

• A prologue is an introductory chapter before the actual story begins.
• Prologues are written by the author and exist only in fiction, while prefaces are usually found in nonfiction, and forewords are written by someone other than the author.
• You should only include a prologue in your novel if you know exactly why you need one.

Happy writing!

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

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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Autobiography Writing Guide

Autobiography Examples

Last updated on: Nov 20, 2023

Autobiography Examples – Detailed Outline and Samples

By: Barbara P.

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Mar 22, 2023

We all have stories to tell. And, for some of us, the only way we feel like we can get our story out there is by writing it down. Some people may believe that an autobiography is something only famous people write about themselves but that is not true. 

In fact, anyone who has a story worth telling can write an autobiography. 

If you are assigned to write an autobiography in your high school or college and you are confused about where to start, don’t panic. 

You are at the right place.

Explore this detailed guide to understand the concept of writing an autobiography. It will also provide you with some great autobiography examples for a better understanding.

On this Page

What is an Autobiography?

An autobiography is a kind of the self-written story of a person's life. This type of narration has various aims and objectives that depend on the kind of writing that you decide to go with.

Moreover, it has different types. A writer can choose any of them on the basis of what he wants to include in his story.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OUTLINE (PDF)

AUTOBIOGRAPHY TEMPLATE (PDF)

Struggling to understand the basics of autobiography? Check out this how to write an autobiography to understand the key prerequisite of autobiographies. 

Autobiography Types

Below-mentioned is the four main types of autobiography. These include:

1. Traditional Autobiography –  It is a complete story that covers all life experiences including birth, childhood, and adulthood. You can write it for personal use. However, if you feel that your life can be inspiring for others, you can also write it for the wider public.

2. Memoir –  It focuses on describing a specific event, relationship, time period, or place that has an effect on your personality and life. For example, it may include your hometown or an important relationship.

3. Personal Essay –  It is the idea of sharing your life story with the audience in a way that they feel as if they were a part of it. Similarly, it also describes two aspects including the event and how it affected the beliefs.

4. Confessional –  Some people find comfort in writing about their mistakes and sins. Thus, they write this type of autobiography so that people will learn from their mistakes and avoid them.

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Examples are an essential way to learn something in less time. Therefore, we have stated some examples for you to write your autobiographies. These will also help to learn about a proper autobiography template and structure.

Have a look at these autobiography examples to get a better understanding.

Cultural Autobiography Examples

CULTURAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY (PDF)

Educational Autobiography Examples for Students 

EDUCATIONAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY (PDF)

Autobiography Examples For Class 6

Autobiography Examples For Grade 7

Autobiography Examples For College Students

Autobiography Examples About Yourself

Autobiography Examples Ks2

Famous Personality Autobiography

The autobiography of benjamin franklin is one example of a famous personality autobiography. Similarly, these famous autobiography examples will provide you with everything to get started with your famous personality autobiography.

FAMOUS PERSONALITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY (PDF)

Funny Autobiography

FUNNY AUTOBIOGRAPHY (PDF)

High School Autobiography

HIGH SCHOOL AUTOBIOGRAPHY (PDF)

Literary Autobiography Example

Literary Autobiography

Personal Autobiography

PERSONAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY (PDF)

Professional Autobiography

PROFESSIONAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY (PDF)

Struggling to understand the difference between memoir and autobiography? Check this guide with memoir vs autobiography examples to differentiate between the two terms.

Scientific Autobiography

SCIENTIFIC AUTOBIOGRAPHY (PDF)

Short Autobiography Examples for Students

SHORT AUTOBIOGRAPHY (PDF)

Autobiography Examples Books

Autobiography example books provide a detailed insight into the life of an individual. Through these real-life stories, readers get to know more about a person's experiences and how they overcame challenges. 

Book Autobiography Sample

Spiritual Autobiography Examples

Spiritual autobiographies are a great way to reflect on one's spiritual journey and the lessons learned along the way. Here is an example to help you out.

Spiritual Autobiography Sample

The Dos and Don'ts of an Autobiography

A successful autobiography indicates the author’s ability to present a worthwhile story. There are a wide variety of things that you can talk about while writing your personal narratives.

However, the following are some dos and don'ts of writing an autobiography that will help in refining your writing skills.

Some dos of writing an autobiography are:

• Understanding the Intended Audience

There is a huge difference when you are writing an autobiography for your friends or a group of strangers. Because it requires extensive details about life events and experiences. Thus, make sure to include facts that you consider significant.

• Developing A Core Concept

It is essential to identify the central theme of your autobiography. Moreover, a well-structured outline is also a proper way of associating one event with another. It will also set the interest of the readers by keeping the story consistent from the beginning to the end.

• Do Tell the Truth

Do not portray yourself as the hero or villain of the story. Instead, tell the truth and acknowledge your mistakes by exposing your strengths and weaknesses.

• Revising and Editing

Read aloud what you have written and do some editing. Check if your ideas flow logically and look out for interrupting thoughts.

• Do Seek Feedback

Ask your friends and family to read your work and provide you with feedback. Understand the difference between fair criticism and forced judgment.

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Don’ts of Writing an Autobiography

Below mentioned are some don'ts of writing an autobiography.

• Do Not Mention Unnecessary Details

Include relevant details and struggles when narrating your life story. Avoid adding unnecessary details. Instead, share the information that is directly related to your story.

• Stop Worrying About Others

Your story may contain some details that can have a negative effect on others. Do not worry about them and rearrange all the details.

Moreover, remember that you are not here to please everyone. Thus, avoid writing for a broader audience and make your story too generic and specific for the readers.

• Discuss Why Your Story Is Inspiring

If your main goal is to inspire people with your story, show them how you felt instead of telling them directly. Allow the audience to come to the conclusion through your writing style.

• Avoid Copying Someone's Story

It is a big mistake to copy someone's work to make your story compelling. Find the hook and unique points that are marketable. Also, think of all these details before you begin writing.

Autobiographies aim to educate and inform others in some ways. This blog has provided all the essential details to write an autobiography. You can generate even more samples of autobiography through our FREE AI-based paper writer . 

If you are still looking up “ who can write my essay? ”, relying on a professional expert is a good option. Make sure you select a reliable and top-ranked writing service, 5StarEssays.com . We guarantee you high-quality write essay services with zero percent plagiarism.

Give us a chance and place your order now by contacting our professional writers through the live chat option.

Literature, Marketing

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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• How to Write an Autobiography - A Complete Guide

• Know the Different Types of Autobiography Here

• Autobiography Format for Students - A Detailed Guide

• Autobiography vs. Memoir: Definitions & Writing Tips

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• Literary Terms
• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Write a Prologue

I. What is a Prologue?

Some works of literature start with a prologue (pronounced PRO-log), a short introductory section that gives background information or sets the stage for the story to come. The prologue is usually pretty short, maybe a few pages (five minutes or so in a film). But it may be the most important section of the story, and if readers skip it they may be lost for the entire story.

Not every opening scene is a prologue – prologues must specifically they explain or set the stage for what happens next. Many films and novels just start with the events of the story and don’t have any prologue at all.

II. Examples of Prologue

Los Angeles, 2029: The machines rose from the ashes of the nuclear fire. Their war to exterminate mankind had raged for decades, but the final battle would not be fought in the future. It would be fought here, in our present. Tonight… (Terminator)

The movie Terminator opens with a short but exciting prologue that shows the world of the future. This prologue prepares the audience for the entire movie, explaining the war between humans and machines and its basis on time travel. The later Terminator movies expand on this with their own prologues about Los Angeles in 2029.

What’s past is prologue. (William Shakespeare, The Tempest)

This has become a pretty common expression meaning “the past sets the stage ” or “the past introduces the themes ” for the present. Just like the prologue of a film, the past helps us understand what’s going on in the present, and if you look carefully, the past will give you a lot of clues as to what will happen in the future.

III. The Advantages and Disadvantages of a Prologue

There’s a lot that depends on the prologue! It sets the tone and prepares the audience for the entire story, so if it’s not well-written it can really damage the entire story. For this reason, many writers choose to skip the prologue altogether. (Though this, of course, has its own drawbacks!) Basically, the pros and cons of writing a prologue are:

• Makes story less confusing
• May be exciting
• Requires exposition later in the story (see How to Write a Prologue)
• Slows down the story
• Causes awkward transition from prologue to main story
• May cause information overload

If you do decide to write a prologue, keep these pros and cons in mind and try to write a prologue that avoids the cons and emphasizes the pros.

IV. Examples of Prologue  in Literature

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Two households, both alike in dignity (In fair Verona, where we lay our scene), From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet )

These are the opening lines to the prologue of Romeo and Juliet . Notice how much information Shakespeare gives us in just these lines: we find out that there’s a feud between two households, that the play is set in Verona, and that things are about to come to a head in the form of some “new mutiny.” We even get a sense of ominous events on the horizon as the “unclean hands” suggest foul play, perhaps even murder…

The book Stranger in a Strange Land has a prologue set much earlier than the main story. The book is about human beings living on Mars, with a main character who was born there and raised by aliens. But the prologue looks all the way back to the first rocket ship that ever traveled from Earth to Mars, setting the stage for all the events that happen there.

V. Examples of Prologue  in Pop Culture

The following is an interactive 360 video of the Star Wars prologues (from episode I to VI)

Once upon a time in a far away land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish and unkind. But then one winter’s night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman’s ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress. The prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart.

The prologue in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast tells the story of how the prince was cursed and transformed into a beast. This prologue helps the audience understand what happens throughout the story – without it, we wouldn’t know the Beast’s story or why he was so desperate to earn Belle’s love.

Once upon a time In a far-off kingdom There lay a small village At the edge of the woods

The opening scene of Into the Woods is a prologue. This prologue helps the audience quickly understand the issues the characters are facing.

VI. Related Terms

A prologue tells you what happened before the main story; an epilogue tells you what happened after . Sometimes, for example, a movie will end by showing various characters on screen and telling you what happened to them: this character is in prison, this character got married and is living in Montana, etc. Epilogues put a cap on the story and give readers a sense of closure.

Prologues are often used for exposition – that is, they explain by giving readers some background information about what’s happening in the story. A prologue sets the stage and lets readers know how things got the way they are. However, exposition doesn’t have to be in the prologue. More often, this information is explained later on as the story progresses. For example, imagine you’re writing a story about World War II: you could include a prologue explaining the historical context, or you could write a scene in which two characters discuss what’s been happening in the world, so that the reader gets the same information, just less directly.

Preface/Foreword

Although they both occur at the beginning of a literary work, a prologue is different from a preface (also called a “foreword”). A prologue is written by the author and forms part of the story; a foreword or preface may be written by the author or someone else , and it’s more of a commentary on the story rather than a part of it.

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4 Examples of Engaging Prologues

• 6-minute read
• 29th September 2022

If you’re a fiction author , you might consider adding a prologue to your next novel. Prologues can be a great way to introduce your audience to your story’s characters, setting, or other important information. Since this is the reader’s first glimpse into your book, it’s especially important that it’s engaging.

In this post, we’ll explore different types of prologues before sharing some examples of the kinds that work.

Types of Prologues

A prologue is an introductory section that sets up the story to follow. Prologues can be anywhere from a few sentences to even a few chapters long, and they’re always placed at the start of a novel.

The four most common types of prologues are:

• Flashback: A prologue that explores an event that happened in the past, prior to the main story. This is usually something the protagonist experienced, and its influence or repercussions can be explored throughout the rest of the novel. A flashback prologue can help flesh out your characters and make them feel more real.
• Flashforward: While a flashback prologue takes place in the past, a flashforward prologue takes place in the future. It’s set after events that happen later or at the end of the story. The purpose of a flashforward prologue is to intrigue the reader and make them want to find out how this future will come about.
• Exposition: Most commonly used in historical fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi, this is a prologue that establishes the rules and background of the setting where the story takes place. If your story relies heavily on worldbuilding , you might want to try writing this type of prologue.
• Alternative perspective: This is a prologue told from a different perspective than that of the protagonist. It can occur before, during, or after the main events of the story, and it’s often used in crime and horror fiction. Alternative perspective prologues can provide the reader with information that the protagonist is unaware of, or they can introduce your story’s antagonist.

Next, let’s see how these types of prologues can work on the page by taking a look at some examples.

1. Flashback: Affinity

Sarah Waters’ Affinity is a historical novel set in the 1870s. It follows the story of Margaret Prior, an upper-class woman visiting a women’s prison following a personal tragedy, and Selina Dawes, a spirit medium imprisoned for the murder of Mrs. Brink, her patron.

The prologue is told in the form of a letter from Selina, written on the night of Mrs. Brink’s death. Selina recounts the events of the evening, beginning when a young lady named Madeline Silver comes to witness her psychic talents. The interaction goes wrong, however, and Madeline faints. Mrs. Brink, startled by the commotion, runs into the room, and she’s so horrified by what she sees that she dies soon after.

Throughout the letter, Selina refers to a man named Peter Quick. She claims it was he who startled Madeline and caused her to faint. Later, we learn that Peter Quick is a ghost that Madeline supposedly channels.

As the prologue is written in the first person, we get a close insight into her thoughts, feelings and responses. This establishes several things about Selina’s character and backstory, which lead to many well-planned plot twists later in the novel.

2: Flashforward: The Book Thief

Markus Zusak’s novel The Book Thief is set in Germany during WWII and narrated by the personification of Death. In the prologue, titled ‘A Mountain Range of Rubble’, Death begins by talking about the three times he encounters the protagonist, a girl named Liesel:

• First, when he comes for a body on a train
• Second, when he comes for a crashed pilot
• Third, when he visits the wreckage of a bombed town

The first encounter is a flashback, but the third and second refer to major events that happen later in the novel. No specific details are provided, so we’re left feeling curious about the circumstances under which Death meets Liesel, and why he has a connection to her.

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3. Exposition: The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien’s first installment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy contains a great example of an exposition-style prologue.

This prologue is helpful for those who haven’t read the prequel ( The Hobbit ) because it goes into plenty of detail about what exactly hobbits are, where they live, and how they behave. It also summarizes the plot of The Hobbit and introduces Bilbo Baggins and his nephew, Frodo Baggins, the novel’s protagonist.

One of the things that makes this prologue work so well is that, through the information provided about hobbits, we get glimpses at how the wider world of The Lord of the Rings works. We’re informed that it’s called Middle-earth, that there are many other races living in it (such as men, elves, and dwarves), and that, most importantly, there is a certain magic ring that’s about to reveal its secrets.

The prologue to the Fellowship of the Ring , then, achieves several things by:

• Introducing the main characters
• Explaining how their society and culture works
• Exploring the wider world and history of the story
• Setting up the conflict that will be faced

If you’re writing an exposition prologue, it doesn’t have to be as long or as in depth as Tolkien’s. Remember, though, the information you give should be relevant to the story you’re about to tell.

4. Alternative Perspective: Jurassic Park

Michael Crichton’s dinosaur thriller Jurassic Park sets the scene with a prologue told from the perspective of Bobby Carter, a first aid worker on an island near Costa Rica.

While working at a remote hospital near a small village, Bobby encounters a seriously injured man. She’s told that he was involved in a construction accident, but when Bobby inspects his wounds, she realizes they must have been made by some kind of animal. She takes photographs of the wounds, but her camera is later stolen.

Eventually, the man succumbs to his injuries. As he dies, he says something that Bobby believes to be the phrase ‘ lo sa raptor ’. Her coworker believes the man was talking about a spirit known as a Hupia . Bobby looks up the word ‘raptor’, only to come across the definition ‘bird of prey’. Of course, for anyone familiar with Jurassic Park , it’s clear that the man was trying to say ‘velociraptor’!

This prologue establishes a sense of intrigue – what killed the man, and why does it seem like his death is being covered up? And as the prologue is told from a minor character’s perspective, the protagonists are unaware of the danger they’re about to encounter, thus ramping up the excitement.

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Prologue (Autobiography)

Dr. Paul T. P. Wong’s autobiography,  A Lifelong Search for Meaning: Lessons on Virtue, Grit, and Faith , is published in weekly installments.  Stay updated here .

Any well-lived life is worth telling and retelling because it can help others who feel overwhelmed and defeated by life. However, it is never easy to write a memoir. The writing of my life story has been almost 15 years in the making!

I was finally able to overcome my years of resistance to completing my memoir when I came to the difficult decision that some of the people who had caused me great harm needed to be named, the reason being so that they or people like them could not continue to inflict pain on innocent people with impunity. An even more compelling reason was that my story of overcoming would encourage others to move forward with courage, grit, and faith rather than wallowing in self-pity as victims.

My story would not be worth telling if I simply whitewashed all the ugly things that have happened to me and made up a sweet story. Alternatively, it would also not be worth writing if it was nothing more than vomiting all the bitterness in my life. It is worth telling only because I have the courage to speak the truth about the difficult uphill struggle of overcoming and the precious grace of finding healing in Christ.

Another challenge was finding the right voice to tell my story. Ideally, an authentic voice is honest without being unkind, emotional without being bitter, and earnest without being stringent. Such a delicate balance is possible only when one has developed the right attitude, a noble intention, a compassionate heart, and a gracious voice. I don’t know how successful I have been in putting forth this autobiography, but at least this was my objective.

It is possible to recount past traumas without any bitterness when one realizes that suffering is a blessing in disguise. Suffering often leads us to God and transforms us into saints. At a deeper level, suffering is the common element in all good things, as illustrated by my life story. From a spiritual vantage point, I believe that “in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

My Life is an Impossible Dream

I have come a long way from my dark days as a depressed, unemployed high school graduate. I could have gone much further, had I not encountered the interruptions and obstacles of my life.

Nevertheless, I would not trade my life with anyone else’s. It has been a real privilege to be given an obscure but tough role to play in the human drama; I am glad that I am still able to make a unique contribution in my limited role.

I have learned that life is not about winning but about making the best of your life for a higher purpose in spite of all the limiting factors. My life is the story of the defiant human spirit and divine grace working together to achieve the impossible dream of bettering humanity with little or even no resources.

I’ve been given so many impossible assignments to show that, with God, nothing is impossible. My complaints turned into praises, once I learned the important lesson that my life is not just about me, but about being an instrument of peace in God’s hand.

Ultimately, it is not our circumstances, but our values and choices that determine our destiny. The saddest thing in life is when people invest all their talents, energy, and time, only to squander their opportunities for some misguided egotistic purposes that eventually lead to their destruction. The most beautiful thing in life is when people surrender to God whatever little talent they may possess, and God makes it multiply hundredfold.

I owe it to my family and friends, indeed, to all my fellow human beings, to share the life lessons I have learnt fighting in the trenches of the battlefields and blazing a new trail deep in the dark jungles.

My Lifelong Quest for Meaning

How did I get to where I am today, all the way from the bottom of a dark pit over 60 years ago?  I can boast that I have failed more often than most people, and I have gone through more sufferings than most people (see Epilogue ). Yet, I am still standing tall.

What are the secrets of my survival and success in a harsh and turbulent world? What accounts for my remarkable transformation from a very sensitive and melancholic boy to an influential public figure on the world stage?

My answer may be surprisingly simple and yet complicated—the pursuit of meaning!

There is no other motivation more powerful and more transformative. All my life, day in and day out, sunshine or storm, paid or unpaid, healthy or sick, and even now in my old age, I have struggled in my quest for meaning, with little reward or recognition. What has sustained me is the deep conviction that I can bring meaning and thus happiness to the suffering masses.

The greatest discovery I have made is the transformative power of meaning; it can both transform negative emotions to mature happiness (Wong, 2017) and liberate us from self-preoccupation to self-transcendence (Wong, 2016).

The 12 principles of meaning are:

• You are responsible for your life
• You need to know yourself
• You need to be socially integrated
• You need to have faith or belief
• You need to have the courage to be true to yourself and do the right thing
• You need to do something creative and significant with your life
• You need to develop true grit to pursue your calling or life dream
• You need the wisdom and ability to adapt to changing circumstances
• You need to take the bad with the good as two sides of the same coin
• You need to be appreciative and grateful
• You need a moral compass to navigate perilous waters
• You need to author a good story to live by

The above principles have been discovered from both psychological research and the crucibles of suffering. Just as the above principles have been in operation throughout my life, they can also be applied to other people’s lives if they are open to the infinite possibilities of meaning and spirituality.

The most enduring book on meaning in life is not one which tells people the simple ABC steps based on positive psychology research, but one that teaches people the time-tested spiritual principles of how to live a meaningful life in a turbulent and chaotic world.

Viktor Frankl’s (1985) Man’s Search for Meaning is such a book. It remains an all-time bestseller because it meets people where they are and challenges them to have the courage and faith to say “Yes” to life, no matter what. Frankl challenges people to assume personal responsibility as an ethical and instrumental agent in a world full of suffering and injustice (Wong, 2015). Through his personal triumph in a Nazi concentration camp, Frankl demonstrated that understanding the meaning of suffering is the key to living a meaningful life.

The world is still full of suffering, even in the unlikely places of home and church. I hope that I have also demonstrated with my life story that the human capacity for meaning-seeking and meaning-making is the key to human flourishing, whatever one’s private hell may be.

I want to dedicate my autobiography to all those who have suffered traumas and grave injustice, who are struggling with addiction and other mental health issues, or who are in the throes of an existential crisis, desperate for an answer. May my life story inspire and empower all those who feel that the world has conspired against them and that life has passed them by.

• Frankl, V. E. (1985). Man’s search for meaning (Revised & updated ed.). New York, NY: Washington Square Press.
• Wong, P. T. P. (2015, December).  The meaning hypothesis of living a good life: Virtue, happiness, and meaning.  Paper presented at the research working group meeting for Virtue, Happiness, and the Meaning of Life Project, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.   (Funded by the John Templeton Foundation)
• Wong, P. T. P. (2016).  Self-transcendence: A paradoxical way to become your best .  International Journal of Existential Psychology and Psychotherapy, 6 (1). Retrieved from  http://journal.existentialpsychology.org/index.php/ExPsy/article/view/178/141
• Wong, P. T. P. (2017, May 16). Courage, faith, meaning, and mature happiness in dangerous times.  Positive Living Newsletter. http://www.drpaulwong.com/inpm-presidents-report-may-2017/
• Spring is Here Again
• My First Hospital Night
• Agency, hope, and wellbeing
• President’s Column: Is existential wellbeing the key to positive mental health?
• President’s Column: You can hope again

How To Write An Autobiography

Autobiography Examples

Top Autobiography Examples & Samples For Your Help

Published on: Sep 10, 2021

Last updated on: Feb 12, 2024

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An  autobiography  is a story of a person's life written down or told. They are interesting to read, but they can be even more interesting to write.

An autobiography is different from a biography. A biography is someone else's story about a person's life. But, an autobiography is the person's own story about their life.

This may make autobiographies more interesting to read than biographies. Also, they give the thoughts and feelings of the person rather than someone else's interpretation.

There are many different stories in the world. Uniquely telling your story is not easy. You need to describe what is happening to make the reader feel like they are right there with you.

In this blog, you will learn about some amazing examples of autobiographies. So, start reading now.

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Autobiography Examples For Students

An autobiography is the story of someone's life written by them. They might write about their hardships or success. Here are some examples of autobiographies that might inspire you to write your own.

Short Autobiography Examples

This is a good example of a creative and interesting autobiography to read. It will teach you how to write your own great autobiography.

Autobiography Examples For Class 6

Autobiography essays are not easy to write. They are different from other essays because they tell the story of a person's life experiences. Every person has a lot of interesting experiences, so it can be hard to choose which ones to write about.

For your help, we compiled an example that you can use for your help and make your writing process easy.

Autobiography Examples For Grade 7

Only you know yourself best. Writing an autobiography is a great way to share your life with others. Everyone has a story to tell, and writing an autobiography is one way to leave your mark on history.

Here is an example that gives you a better idea of sharing your life story with others.

Autobiography Examples For College Students

An autobiography is a text that tells your life story. It can be in the form of a  memoir , which is more informal or more formal. Autobiographies can be written for different reasons:

• To introduce yourself to the world.
• To get into a program at school, for a job, volunteering, etc.

You can find more ideas for an autobiography from this example.

Note: As a college student, you might encounter confusion distinguishing between an autobiography and a statement of purpose . While both involve personal narratives, autobiographies provide a comprehensive life story, while statements of purpose focus on specific goals and qualifications for academic or professional opportunities. Understanding their distinct purposes and structures can help streamline your application processes effectively.

Autobiography Examples For High School Students

An autobiography is a self-written biography that someone writes about themselves. They might write about all of their life or just some parts. They do this to share their experiences, put them in a larger cultural or historical context, and entertain the reader.

Take a look at the below example and create a well-written one without any mistakes.

Spiritual Autobiography Examples

A spiritual autobiography is your life story. In it, you write about how God has been present in your life. This includes your journey in and out of organized religion and everything spiritual.

Writing your spiritual autobiography is a chance for you to identify specific experiences with God. You will then reflect on how those experiences have impacted you.

Below is an example for your ease.

Autobiography Examples in Literature

An autobiography is a book written by somebody about their own life. It tells the story of the author’s life, accomplishments, things they have done, etc.

The following is an example that can help you better understand how to write an autobiography.

Cultural Autobiography Examples

A cultural autobiography is more than just telling your life story. Your cultural identity reveals your beliefs and ideas about culture. It also shows how culture affects different cultural groups that make up who you are.

You may want to write a cultural autobiography better to understand yourself and your culture's role in your life. It is important to be aware of your own cultural identity in a multicultural world and be open to other cultures.

An example of a perfect cultural autobiography is below for your help.

Educational Autobiography Examples

The educational autobiography is a way to tell your life story. This type of autobiography includes what you did in school and how it affected other parts of your life.

Take a look at this example to see how to write a good educational autobiography.

Social Class Autobiography Examples

In most sociology classes, students are assigned to write a socio-autobiography. This assignment helps them understand that the subject is relevant to their daily lives. Your interactions with society have a big impact on who you become as a person.

Writing your social class autobiography is a great way to show people how you fit into society. The following example will show what kind of social autobiography looks like.

Autobiography Examples For Kids

Children are often encouraged to write an autobiography, but few people recognize the importance of this task. Everyone has something special from their childhood that they should remember and reflect on. Writing about your life is a good way to do this.

There are many different ways to write an autobiography. If you are writing about yourself, it is best to start by writing about your early life and work experience.

You can also mention your school experiences. After that, you can write about other topics that may be of interest to readers, like your hobbies or interests.

Here is an example that will help in starting an autobiography.

We all have the opportunity to write our own story, but it doesn't always come easy. If writing about yourself seems difficult, then follow the examples mentioned above.

However, if you want a professional writer to write it for you, just say ' write an essay for me ' and consult a professional at CollegeEssay.org .

We have expert writers who will help you write an autobiography, personal narrative, college essay, and any academic assignment.

AI essay writing tools are also readily available to provide you with additional assistance and support.

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As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

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Prologue Definition

Prologue comes from the Greek term prologos , which means “before word,” is an opening of a story that establishes the setting , and gives background details.

Generally speaking, the main function of a prologue tells some earlier story, and connects it to the main story. Similarly, it serves as a means to introduce characters of a story, and sheds light on their roles. In its modern sense, a prologue acts as a separate entity, and is not considered part of the current story that a writer ventures to tell.

Examples of Prologue in Literature

Example #1: prologue on the greek stage.

The prologos in Greek dramas incorporated the above-mentioned features, but it had a wider importance than the modern interpretations of the prologue. Greek prologos was more like a preface – an introduction to a literary work provided by a dramatist, to tell how the idea of the story developed. Therefore, in Greek dramas, prologue was a complete episode, or the first act, which was succeeded by the remaining acts of a play .

The invention of prologue is attributed to Euripides. He prefixed a prologue to his plays as an explanatory first act in order to make the upcoming events in a play comprehensible for his audience . Other dramatists followed in his footsteps, and prologue became a part of the traditional formula for writing plays. Almost all Greek prologues told about events that happened much earlier in time than the events depicted in the play.

Example #2: Prologue on the Latin Stage

Plautus, a Latin playwright, has written examples of prologues in his plays that were more elaborate than Greek prologues. His prologues were admired for their romantic quality, and were usually performed by characters that did not make an appearance in the play.

A prologue to Plautus’ play Rudens is a perfect manifestation of his genius in writing prologue. Later, French playwright Moliere revived prologue on the Latin stage by prefixing it to his play Amphitryon. Furthermore , we notice French playwright John Racine introducing his choral tragedy Esther , with a prologue with the character Piety as its speaker .

Example #3: Prologue on the Elizabethan Stage

The early English dramatists were influenced by the traditions of prologues in Greek and Latin plays. Even the early forms of drama , mystery , and morality plays always began with a Homily , which was a religious commentary on the biblical story that was to be performed in those plays. Elizabethan dramatists took inspiration from the Greek and Latin tradition of prologue, holding it as a compulsory ingredient of their plays.

In 1562, Thomas Norton, and Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset wrote Gorboduc , which is believed to be the first English play. He prepared a pantomime that acted as a prologue for his play. Later, he wrote Induction , which was a prologue to his Miscellany  of short romantic epics .

A prologue to Elizabethan plays usually served to quieten and settle down an audience before the commencement of a play. It then introduced the themes of the play and other particulars to the audience, making them mentally prepared for the events they were to witness in the performance. Also, it was considered necessary to beg their leniency for any error that might occur in the writing of the play, or in the performances of actors on stage.

Usually, the character who uttered the prologue was dressed in black, in order to differentiate him from the rest of the actors who wore colorful costumes during their performances. For instance, read the following lines from the prologue in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet :

“Two households, both alike in dignity (In fair Verona, where we lay our scene), From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife. The fearful passage of their death-marked love And the continuance of their parents’ rage, Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove, Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage— The which, if you with patient ears attend , What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.”

The Chorus in the extract not only introduces the theme , but also asks the audience to be attentive “with patient ears attend.”

Example #4: Non-Dramatic Prologue

In English literature, a prologue was employed in non-dramatic fiction as well as fiction. One of the earliest prologue examples is Geoffrey Chaucer ’s A Prologue to Canterbury Tales , which was built on the conventional pattern. He used it to introduce all of his characters, or “pilgrims,” in dramatic details before each of them told their story on their way to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Beckett .

Function of Prologue

As previously mentioned, the primary function of a prologue is to let the readers or audience be aware of the earlier part of the story, and enable them to relate it to the main story. This literary device is also a means to present characters and establish their roles.

Related posts:

• In Memoriam Prologue
• Romeo And Juliet, Act I Prologue

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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of prologue.

A prologue is a separate introductory section that comes before the main body of a poem, novel, or play, and gives some sense as to what’s to come. There are many different ways in which the prologue may do this, such as presenting the main characters and setting in a straightforward way, explaining some background event or events, or give a sense of the theme or atmosphere of the upcoming work.

The definition of prologue is opposite to that of the epilogue, a separate section of the text that provides a conclusion and answers questions. The word prologue comes from the Greek word πρόλογος ( prólogos ), which is a compound of pro , “before” and lógos , “word.”

Difference Between Prologue, Preface, and Foreword

The sections of the prologue, preface, and foreword all come before the main body of the text, but have slightly different functions. A foreword is written by someone other than the author in order to introduce the reading audience to the text, often from a scholarly perspective. If a book had all three of the three sections, this one would come first. The preface would then come next, which is an introduction from the author that explains how the text came into being, and to whom the author would like to give gratitude.

The prologue differs from these two other forms of introduction because it is written in the same voice as the rest of the text; indeed, it is a literary addition to the text. The prologue usually occurs in a different time, and sometimes a different place, than the rest of the text, but it does contain some sense of background plot.

Common Examples of Prologue

Sometimes we provide a short prologue before launching into a story. For example:

• “I was hanging out with Sandy and Jim the other night. You know Sandy, the one who once ran a major New York magazine but declared bankruptcy after publishing scandalous photos of Leonardo DiCaprio? So anyway…”
• “I visited my aunt’s cabin last weekend. It’s the same cabin that Billy the Kid once spent a winter, and it doesn’t look or feel like much has changed there since then.”
• “I’m worried about going camping next month. Did I ever tell you about the time I went camping in the mountains of Romania and thought I saw a vampire pass by my tent?”

We also use the term “prologue” to refer to real events. For example, we might talk abut the economic crisis in Germany that was a prologue to WWII.

Significance of Prologue in Literature

Prologue examples were prevalent in Ancient Greek theater, often explaining an episode which directly led into the main events of the play about to come. The prologue in these cases provided important, pertinent information that playgoers would need to understand and contextualize the main events of the drama. Plays in the Middle Ages and in Elizabethan England drew on this tradition of prologues, and often included a short introduction presented by a character or chorus. We can find examples of prologues in many different novels, plays, and poems to this day. However, some writers caution away beginning novelists from including prologues because they do not often grip the reader as much as beginning in media res , i.e., in the middle of the action.

Examples of Prologue in Literature

Here begins the Book of the Tales of Canterbury When April with his showers sweet with fruit The drought of March has pierced unto the root And bathed each vein with liquor that has power To generate therein and sire the flower; When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath, Quickened again, in every holt and heath, The tender shoots and buds, and the young sun Into the Ram one half his course has run, And many little birds make melody That sleep through all the night with open eye (So Nature pricks them on to ramp and rage)- Then do folk long to go on pilgrimage, And palmers to go seeking out strange strands, To distant shrines well known in sundry lands.

( The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer)

Geoffrey Chaucer included a very long “general prologue” to his famous work The Canterbury Tales . In this prologue Chaucer introduces us to the theme of people going on pilgrimage, and introduces the various people he will be going on pilgrimage with. These people end up occupying different chapters in the rest of the text.

PROLOGUE Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents’ strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love, And the continuance of their parents’ rage, Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

( Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)

Perhaps the most famous of all literary prologues, William Shakespeare wrote a lovely sonnet to introduce the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet . This prologue, a poem in itself, sets the scene in a very straightforward manner telling the audience the setting, protagonists, theme, and even what will happen at the end.

As a case history, “Lolita” will become, no doubt, a classic in psychiatric circles. As a work of art, it transcends its expiatory aspects; and still more important to us than scientific significance and literary worth, is the ethical impact the book should have on the serious reader; for in this poignant personal study there lurks a general lesson; the wayward child, the egotistic mother, the panting maniac—these are not only vivid characters in a unique story: they warn us of dangerous trends; they point out potent evils. “Lolita” should make all of us—parents, social workers, educators—apply ourselves with still greater vigilance and vision to the task of bringing up a better generation in a safer world. John Ray, Jr., Ph.D. Widworth, Mass

( Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov)

Vladimir Nabokov loved to play with conventions in his very unconventional works of literature. He creates a fake foreword for his novel Lolita by an imaginary scholar named John Ray, Jr. In this prologue, Nabokov pretends that someone else has encountered the text and is now introducing it to the reader. In so doing, Nabokov provides a clever way of introducing his text and also the theme of the untrustworthy narrator.

Parties to that settlement, including the distinguished scientific board of advisers, signed a nondisclosure agreement, and none will speak about what happened-but many of the principal figures in the “InGen incident” are not signatories, and were willing to discuss the remarkable events leading up to those final two days in August 1989 on a remote island off the west coast of Costa Rica.

( Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton)

Michael Crichton uses two prologue examples in his best-selling novel Jurassic Park . First comes a prologue, excerpted above, which seems very straightforward in style that presents the technological advances of the time period. This prologue reads almost like a news clipping, and yet sets up Crichton’s own authorial view on the possible dangers of scientific innovation. The second prologue is more literary in nature, describing a short scene in which someone has been bitten by a dinosaur, not knowing what this creature is.

Test Your Knowledge of Prologue

1. Which of the following statements is the correct prologue definition? A. An introductory section written by a different author in order to give some scholarly background. B. A separate beginning section written in the same voice and by the same author as the rest of the work. C. A final conclusive section that provides some closure. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #1″] Answer: B is the correct answer.[/spoiler]

2. Why was an example of prologue often found at the beginning of a Greek play? A. The playgoers already knew the story and needed only to be refreshed on what had happened. B. The prologue was basically useless and just took up time. C. The prologue provided pertinent information what led up to the story in question. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #2″] Answer: C is the correct answer.[/spoiler]

3. Which of the following would constitute a prologue to a novel by James Joyce? A. A separate section written by Joyce that introduces the characters and tone of the rest of the novel. B. An explanation of the influences and time period that Joyce was writing in by the contemporary Irish writer Edna O’Brien. C. A introductory section by Joyce that explains his authorial intent and thanks those who helped him in writing the novel. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″] Answer: A is the correct answer. B would be an example of foreword, and C an example of preface.[/spoiler]

Autobiography Questions & Prompts for Students

Writing about one’s own life can be inspiring and terrifying at the same time. No matter why you must prepare an autobiography, it allows you to get to know yourself better and become more open.

A student autobiography is one of the most commonly met types of autobiographical writing. You might need to write one when applying to a college or university. In an essay about yourself, you must catch your readers’ attention, leaving an impression of an outstanding learner and person. You’re in the right place if you are stuck preparing a student autobiography. This article will guide you through the writing process, offering autobiography questions for students together with valuable prompts.

• 70 Autobiography Questions
• 5 Exciting Prompts

70 Autobiography Questions for Students

The first thing you should remember when writing an autobiography is that all types of clichés can kill your paper. The standard scheme “was born – went to school – went to college” won’t impress anyone. However, the following autobiography quiz, which contains the most common questions, can be an effective start for brainstorming the subject.

• When and where were you born?
• Who are your family members?
• What are the most impressive of your childhood memories?
• Were there any family traditions that influenced you?
• Who were your best childhood friends?
• What was the most exciting experience of your early childhood?
• Were there any challenging experiences?
• How did your first day of school go?
• What school subject did you like most, and why?
• Can you recall a memorable teacher who influenced you?
• What was your favorite book as a child?
• Did you have a hobby as a child?
• Are there any childhood interests or hobbies that still excite you?
• Did art or music play a role in your life?
• What were your dearest childhood dreams?
• How did your dreams change when you’ve grown older?
• Do you remember a moment in your childhood when you were very proud of yourself?
• What were your most memorable trips?
• What was your most adventurous experience?
• What’s the most exotic dish you’ve tried?
• How has travel shaped your personality?
• Were there any difficult moments in life you had to overcome?
• How did you find the strength and courage to overcome them?
• What was the most spectacular failure in your life?
• What valuable lessons did you learn from your failures?
• How did your values change over the years?
• Which of your experiences influenced your personal growth most?
• Do you have any famous people you admire?
• Is there anyone among your loved ones who is a role model for you?
• Do you remember falling in love for the first time?
• Have you experienced any heartbreaks?
• How do you define love?
• Are love and relationships important in your life?
• Have you faced any relationship challenges?
• What have you learned from the relationship hardships you had?
• Have you already chosen a career path?
• Would you like to develop in one career direction all your life or change professions?
• What are your professional aspirations and goals?
• Do you have any work experience and achievements?
• How would you describe yourself?
• Do you feel that your identity has changed throughout your life?
• Is your cultural identity important to you?
• What does it mean to be true to yourself?
• Are there any milestones in your life, like awards or personal achievements?
• How did you celebrate these achievements?
• Are there any achievements that changed your aspirations and perspective?
• Do you have any experience of volunteering?
• Has your experience of giving back to your community changed your life?
• How do you imagine your life in 10, 20, 30 years?
• Is there any contribution you would like to make?
• How would you like your loved ones to remember you?
• Do you have a life motto?
• Do you have a favorite movie character?
• Who is your least favorite movie character, and why?
• How do you define success?
• What is happiness for you?
• Do you have any healthy habits or practices?
• Have you ever faced any health challenges?
• Have these challenges influenced your personality?
• Is the environment important to you?
• How do you address environmental issues that bother you?
• Do you have any experiences related to environmental activism?
• What makes you happy?
• What was the happiest moment of your life?
• Is there something you regret about?
• What did you learn from the moments you regret about?
• Were there any turning points that led your life in a new direction?
• How did you feel during these moments?
• Is it essential for you to live a meaningful life?
• How would you define the meaning of life?

5 Exciting Student Autobiography Prompts

The questions discussed above focus on the most common ingredients, which can become good building blocks for your autobiography. However, you should add some spice to your life story to prevent your readers from falling asleep.

To do this, here are 5 exclusive prompts to find topics for an autobiography that will breathe life into your memoir, making it uniquely interesting. If you’re still in a lack of ideas after reading them, check the collection of free essays on any topic imaginable.

Here are the prompts:

• Has the world changed during your life, and how do you feel about these changes? Reflect on the transformations you’ve witnessed, such as the technological advancements , the emergence of the Internet, and social networking platforms. How have these changes impacted your life, your habits, and your worldview? Share your thoughts on the topic.
• What is your contribution to the future of this planet, and how did you choose it? Consider the various ways to make a positive impact on the environment. You can focus on simple actions that everyone can perform, like reducing the use of plastic bags. Explain what motivated you to make these decisions.
• What would you tell your dear ones if you knew that you had only one day more to live on earth? What heartfelt messages would you share with your family, friends, neighbors, and all the people in the world? Use this scenario to dig deep into your values and beliefs.
• What occupation would you choose if you did not have to earn your living? Explore your passions, interests, and dreams. Imagine the ideal career path or artistic pursuit that truly resonates with your inner self.
• If you could exclaim, “ Stay moment, you are so fair! ”, would you do it? Did this special moment pass away, or do you believe it is yet to come in your future? Explain what makes these moments special and how they have shaped your life or continue to influence your journey.

Thank you for reading this article! If you wish to polish separate sections of your assignment, you are welcome to use the writing tools we’ve developed:

• Thesis statement maker
• Summary tool
• Paragraph & word changer
• Autobiography Definition, Examples, and Writing Guide
• 5 Ways to Write an Autobiography
• How to Write a Memoir
• The naked truth: how to write a memoir | Books

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A Celebration of Great Opening Lines in World Literature

Launched: January 1, 2022

This website is dedicated to the memory of John O. Huston (1945-2022)

An opening line should invite the reader to begin the story. It should say: Listen. Come in here. You want to know more about this.

Welcome to GreatOpeningLines.com , history’s first website devoted exclusively to the celebration of great opening lines in world literature. Even though the site is still in its infancy (it was officially “launched” on Jan. 1, 2022), it is already the world's largest online database of literary history’s greatest opening words, with 1986 current entries.

If you’re a writer or aspiring writer, an avid reader, an English teacher or creative writing instructor, a reference librarian, an editor, or simply a First Words junkie, think of this as your "Go-To" site on the subject. In addition to learning more than you now know about your current personal favorites, this site will introduce you to thousands of future favorites you might never have known about in any other way.

Be careful, though, as you begin to peruse the twenty-five “genres” below. Robert McCrum, the legendary British editor of four separate Nobel Prize laureates has warned that this "brilliant and fascinating literary site...will soon become every freelance writer's guilty pleasure."

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Jane Austen

Short Stories

"Early one June morning in 1872 I murdered my father—an act which made a deep impression on me at the time." Ambrose Bierce

Non-Fiction

"The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women." Betty Friedan

Memoirs & Autobiographies

"I didn’t realize I was black until third grade." Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Biographies

"The black eyepatch dominated Moshe Dayan’s appearance, like some dark, spidery animal wrapped around his face." Robert Slater

Essays, Articles, & Columns

"These are the times that try men's souls." Thomas Paine

Children's Literature

"All children, except one, grow up." J. M. Barrie

Young Adult (YA) Fiction

"I'd never given much thought to how I would die — though I'd had reason enough in the last few months — but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this." Stephenie Meyer

Science-Fiction

"It was a dazzling four-sun afternoon." Isaac Asimov

Speculative Fiction

"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect." Franz Kafka

Wit, Humor, Parody, & Satire

"Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." C. Northcote Parkinson

War/Combat & Espionage/Spies

"A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which, to look ahead." Graham Greene

Cowboy/Western Tales

"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." Louis L'Amour

Crime/Detective & Suspense/Thrillers

"When the guy with asthma finally came in from the fire escape, Parker rabbit-punched him and took his gun away." Richard Stark

History & Historical Fiction

"Jazz came to America three hundred years ago in chains." Paul Whiteman

Politics & Government

"A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests." Barbara Tuchman

Philosophy & Religion

"Man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains." Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Words/Language & Writers/Books

"Writers will happen in the best of families. No one is quite sure why." Rita Mae Brown

Medicine & Health

"You know more than you think you do." Dr. Benjamin Spock

Sports, Fitness, & Recreation

"I was born to be a point guard, but not a very good one." Pat Conroy

Psychology & Self-Help

"How do you make contact with the mind of another person?" Mortimer J. Adler

Sex, Love, Marriage, & Family

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." Neil Postman

Travel, Food & Drink

"An oyster leads a dreadful but exciting life." M.K.F. Fisher

Science & Technology

"It is not easy to cut through a human head with a hacksaw." Michael Crichton

Race, Gender, & Ethnicity

"I have rape-colored skin." Caroline Randall Williams

Accolades & Acknowledgments

About this site.

Welcome to history’s first website devoted exclusively to the celebration of great opening lines in world literature. My goal is to make this the world's largest online database of Great Opening Lines in both Fiction and Non-Fiction. If you’re a writer or aspiring writer, an avid reader, an English teacher or creative writing instructor, a reference librarian, an editor, or simply a First Words junkie, think of this as your "Go-To" site on the subject. In addition to learning more than you now know about your current personal favorites, this site will introduce you to thousands of future favorites you might never know about in any other way.

Dr. Mardy Grothe

Become a supporter.

My goal is to make this a completely ad-free site, but this will be possible only with sufficient financial support.

To produce a world-class website, I’d appreciate any help you can provide. Become a Site Sponsor with a one-time donation at one of four sponsorship levels, indicated below.

Make checks payable to: GreatOpeningLines.com 170 Champions Ridge Southern Pines, NC 28387

Or use the electronic payment options below:

Bronze Sponsor

Silver sponsor, gold sponsor, platinum sponsor.

How the freshly selected regional centres will bolster the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan

At the fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 4) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Parties selected 18 regional organizations spanning the globe in a multilateral push to bolster the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, also known as the Biodiversity Plan , through science, technology and innovation:

• Africa: The Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC), the Ecological Monitoring Center (CSE), the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).
• Americas: The Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute, the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD).
• Asia: ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB); IUCN Asia Regional Office; IUCN Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA); Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences (NIES); Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC).
• Europe: European Commission - Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC); IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation; IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO); Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences (RBINS).
• Oceania: The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

Here are five facts about the selection of these centres and the way they will bring the Parties to the CBD closer to halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 :

1. Nested in existing institutions for efficiency and rapid deployment

The selected centres are hosted by existing institutions that have responded to the CBD Secretariat’s call for expression of interest. The applications received translate a global commitment to implementing the Biodiversity Plan. This global network of centres forms part of the technical and scientific cooperation mechanism under the CBD. They will contribute to filling gaps in international cooperation and catering to the needs of countries in the regions that they cover.

2. One-stop-shop for scientific, technical and technological support

The mandate of the centres is to catalyse technical and scientific cooperation among the Parties to the Convention in the geographical regions they cover. The support they offer may include the sharing of scientific knowledge, data, expertise, resources, technologies, including indigenous and traditional technologies, and technical know-how with relevance to the national implementation of the 23 targets of the Biodiversity Plan. Other forms of capacity building and development may also be provided.

3. Complementarity with existing initiatives

The expected contributions of the centres will constitute a surge of capacity, complementing small-scale initiatives for technical and scientific cooperation among its Parties through programmes such as the Bio-Bridge Initiative . The newly selected centres will expand, scale-up and accelerate efforts in support of the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan.

4. Delivering field support tailored to regional specificities

Countries around the world face well recognized challenges in aligning with universally agreed targets while considering biophysical specificities and national circumstances. The regional centres will provide regionally appropriate solutions.

5. Building on and amplifying existing cooperation

Many examples around the world demonstrate the benefits of transboundary cooperation. In South Africa, the “Black Mambas” Anti-Poaching Unit has benefited from Dutch expertise in fitting rhinoceros with subcutaneous sensors and horn transmitters to track their movements across the Greater Kruger National Park.

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, non-governmental organization Corales de Paz (Colombia) shared their “Caribbean Reef Check” methodology and “Reef Repair Diver “programs with Ecuador-based CONMAR. Participants in CONMAR-organized training camps could thus benefit from expertise in coral reef monitoring and coral gardening.

The newly selected centres will seek to expand this constellation of bright spots of cooperation for nature and for people.