my autobiography about self

How to Start an Autobiography about Yourself: Full Guide + Autobiography Examples

You’re probably thinking: I’m no Mahatma Gandhi or Steve Jobs—what could I possibly write in my memoir? I don’t even know how to start an autobiography, let alone write the whole thing.

But don’t worry: essay writing can be easy, and this autobiography example for students is here to show you that memoir writing can be easy and even exciting. Every person, whether famous or not, is unique and has a story worth sharing. All you need to do now is scroll down the page and enjoy this amazing sample autobiography, as well as some related practical hints.

👨‍🎓️ A Student Autobiography Example

📚 more autobiography examples for students.

• 💡 Autobiography Ideas

😕 How to Start an Autobiography

🔗 references.

An autobiography is the story of your own life . Even if you think you don’t have much to include in your memoir, you can still make it quite interesting.

Bill Gates claims that he always tries to find a lazy person to do a difficult job. Why? Because a lazy person will look for an easy way to do it! That’s why we found a lazy but smart student to write a short autobiography example, and now we’ll share the easiest ways to do it with you. Feel free to use it as an autobiography example outline .

Below is a student autobiography sample with subheadings. Remember: it doesn’t have to be exactly as shown in the examples. They’re rather to show you the right path to be moving towards. Also, if something in your writing needs fixing, don’t hesitate to use a phrase reworder .

My Childhood

Not sure how to make an autobiography introduction? Why not start from the very beginning? Writing about your early years is the easiest and most logical start for an autobiography.

I was born on a cold winter night, when even time seemed to stand still, in my native Bennington, Oklahoma. I do not remember much of my early childhood, but my mom said I was a very active, curious, and communicative child. I would ask dozens of questions each minute, even without waiting for the answers. I suppose this is why my parents offered me books and educational movies as early as my third birthday.

In the next part of your autobiography essay, describe yourself in a few words. It does not necessarily need to be too creative. You can take a short learning style quiz and put the information you’ll find out into your autobiography. It will be quite a unique addition. And don’t forget to make a smooth transition from the previous part!

Fortunately, my thirst for knowledge did not come to an end when I was at school. I was passionate about history and science. This passion helped me gain a profound knowledge of these areas, and I was admitted to the college of my dreams. Today, I am a student at a law school, and I feel very happy about it.

An old saying goes, “A life with a goal is a life that is whole.” Be positive and show everyone that your life is whole.

I am certain that my degree will become my ticket to a better tomorrow. I want to become a renowned lawyer in the field of employment legislation. I study hard and devote my free time to reading scholarly reviews and watching interviews with recognized specialists in the field.

My Ups and Downs

This part aims to show that you are capable of analyzing your experiences and learning valuable lessons.

Of course, I understand that life is not just a bed of roses, and challenges and hardships are an integral element of life. Since my parents could not help me cover my college expenses in full, paying off my student loan has become an important challenge for me. I combine a part-time job and full-time study to earn my living and my education. I feel triumphant at the beginning of every month when I receive my salary and plan how I will spend my money.

Autobiography Conclusion

In this part of your autobiographical essay, you want to establish the main lesson to take away from your story. In other words, what’s remarkable about your story?

I have come to believe that two main factors determine success. The first is a person’s determination and will to succeed. Are you ready to make sacrifices to achieve your goal, like working and studying at the same time? Are you prepared to recover after failure and proceed to your goal again? Without strong internal motivation, it is nearly impossible to become successful. Equally important is the support of people around you. Being determined to succeed does not mean alienating everyone and stepping on other people to achieve your goal. On the contrary, success is about recognizing your weaknesses and accepting support from people who genuinely want to help you. For instance, if it were not for my parents’ support of my educational endeavors, I might not be attending law school today.

Would you call this student an inspirational leader like Nelson Mandela or Martin Luther King, Jr. ? In all honesty, no. He may be an interesting and nice person, but he hasn’t left such a mark on history as some other people have—at least not yet.

But can you learn something from his story? Most definitely.

The autobiography example above is suitable for both college and high school students.

In case you still lack the inspiration to write your memoir, you can always come to our experts, who will help you structure and write your narrative. Alternatively, you can find some more interesting examples of an autobiography at Phoenix.edu and at Southwestern College website .

And in case you’re still wondering how to write an autobiography, just keep reading!

Short Autobiography Example

As a student, you might need to write a short biography for various reasons, such as when applying for a scholarship, internship, or job. If you’re looking for a short autobiography example, check out the sample below.

I am Aisha Patel, hailing from the city of Mumbai, India. Growing up in a culturally rich environment taught me to appreciate traditions, diversity, inclusion, and community. 

I have always been motivated by my parents, both accomplished physicians. I found myself drawn to the field of medicine at an early age. Since then, I devoted countless hours to volunteering, participating in healthcare camps, and working with NGOs to expand medical access in marginalized communities. I became determined to expand my horizons and receive a world-class medical education. Eventually, I set my sights on studying in the United States. 

I aspire to use the knowledge and skills I acquire to contribute to healthcare practices in India and globally. I plan to address pressing societal health challenges with empathy and expertise.

Autobiography of Myself as a Student

Writing an autobiography focusing on academic interests creates a platform for self-reflection. This activity can help you understand how your academic pursuits have shaped your identity and aspirations.

The following example will provide valuable insights into the content of a well-crafted autobiography:

My name is Sam Davis, and I am a dedicated student from Boston. My academic journey has been shaped by my passion for history. Since childhood, I have been deeply interested in people’s experiences throughout the centuries. This fascination is what inspired my academic pursuits. 

I have always been on top of my class in history courses. I enjoyed diving deep into the different eras and learning about various cultures and events. In addition to excellent grades, my commitment has been recognized through multiple honors and awards. In particular, I have been included on the Dean’s List and received accolades for my research papers. 

My primary academic interest is studying American history and evolution since the nation’s founding. I enjoy exploring the social and political forces that have shaped the United States. I am also keenly interested in ancient civilizations and the parallels between them and the contemporary world. 

Outside the classroom, I actively participate in historical reenactments and volunteer at local museums. Helping preserve and share our collective heritage is one of my primary goals. Such experiences allow me to bring history to life and engage with others who share my passion. 

I am eager to continue my scholarly pursuits and contribute to our understanding of the past. I believe we can learn many important and exciting lessons by making meaningful connections between history and the present.

💡 Autobiography Ideas for Students

Are you looking for inspiration to write your autobiography? Here are some thought-provoking autobiography essay topics that will help you reflect on your personal growth, academic journey, and unique experiences.

• Personal experience adopting a cat from Humane Society .
• My first travel to Dresden .
• Describe your personal leadership experience .
• Discuss your experience of resolving a problem in your neighborhood .
• How Italian culture influenced my life .
• How refraining from coffee for two weeks changed my everyday life.
• Tell how you implement the concept of life-wide learning in your life.
• Why I decided to take up wrestling and how it changed my life.
• Narrate your personal experience of a healthy lifestyle .
• My first memories of riding a bicycle .
• How the quarantine time helped me to focus and myself and grow.
• My health vision and strategy to improve health behavior.
• Discuss how a psychology course changed your vision of the world.
• How parenting style affected my childhood.
• Personal experience of working with self-initiated expatriates.
• My first day at college .
• Why I love poetry .
• Describe your experience in Shotokan Karate and your favorite technique.
• The role non-verbal communication plays in my everyday life.
• Lessons I learned from my first semester.
• My reminiscence of the tragedy on September 11th.
• Give details about a childhood experience that changed your life .
• My understanding of the concept home .
• Personal experience of mysophobia and the lessons I’ve learned.
• Represent your favorite meeting place .
• A defining event from my childhood.
• Describe your experience of relocation to another country.
• Why I started practicing art and dance movement therapy .
• The impact mindfulness practicing had on my life.
• My experience of winning the fight by losing it.
• Why people like having lunch at a restaurant : my experience.
• Describe the last conflict , its reasons, and how you resolved it.
• Tell about your dream car .
• Starting college as a major life event.
• Describe your dream home .
• My experience as a manager in an organization .
• Narrate how peculiarities of your culture influence your behavior.
• Tell about the significant event that influenced your life.
• Personal experience of challenging gender norms.
• Discuss your personal relationship with alcohol abuse .
• Represent your plans and career goals .
• Describe a high school experience that influenced your personality.
• How I managed to apply international marketing courses in daily life.
• Write about the teachers who made a difference in your life.
• Experience of working as a head nurse.
• My history of important habit development.
• Discuss the challenges in friendship you’ve experienced and how you managed to cope with them.
• Significance of music in my life.
• Describe what you are responsible for in your life.
• Give details about the most memorable holiday you had in your childhood.

What does every autobiography include? A theme. Essentially, the theme is the main “lesson” from the autobiography—the critical point that all of your life events come together to demonstrate.

How do you go about creating a theme?

You can do it by:

• Discussing a string of events or one event in particular (or even just one day in your life)
• Introducing a role model or an authority figure
• Talking about your childhood dreams and memories

To make the task easier for you, we’ve put together a list of prompts you can use to signal your theme to the reader.

Simply complete these phrases, develop the ideas, and add specific details to your student autobiography examples and ta-da! Your A-level autobiography is ready!

A Student’s Autobiography: Starting Phrases

Use one of these phrases as the first sentence of your autobiography:

• I was born in…
• I was an active (or quiet, knowledge-loving, shy, curious, etc.) child.
• My childhood dream was…
• My earliest memory is…
• I am grateful to my parents (or teachers, friends, etc.) because…
• My role model was…
• My lifetime dream is…
• The most memorable day of my life was…
• One phrase that I will never forget is…
• If only one of my dreams could come true, I would wish for…
• My main belief in life is…
• I am driven by my desire/passion/wish to…
• The main lesson that my parents taught me was…
• The childhood hobby that most shaped my personality is…
• One event that influenced who I am today is…
• My motto in life is…
• My favorite book/movie/author is…
• When I was growing up, I always dreamed of becoming a…
• One thing I wish I knew five (or ten, twenty, etc.) years ago is that…
• My favorite childhood picture is…

Feel free to use this example of an autobiography for students and follow the simple steps described above to complete an A-level memoir with ease.

✏️ Student Autobiography FAQ

Writing an essay for a scholarship, be sure to include relevant information about yourself. Prove that you are a perfect candidate. Customize your life story in a way that showcases your strengths and positive qualities. Any other application will require a similar approach.

It’s a source of background information about the author that he or she chooses to reveal. An autobiographical essay is to include key facts about the author in chronological order. These facts usually are name, birth date, education, occupation, etc.

For a good college application, make sure to put an emphasis on the positive sides of your personal history. They should be relevant for the admission commission. Focus on academic achievements, relevant certifications, courses, etc.

Some people believe that an autobiography is one of the easiest essays to write. The author definitely knows the subject thoroughly. When writing about yourself, start with an introduction : your name, birth date, education, current position.

• What Is an Autobiography? ThoughtCo
• Beginning the Academic Essay: Harvard College Writing Center
• What Are the Differences Between an Autobiographical Narrative & a Biography? Seattle PI
• 500 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing: The New York Times
• Autobiography: Merced College
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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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How To Start Autobiography About Yourself? (9 Easy Steps)

Last Updated on July 20, 2022 by Dr Sharon Baisil MD

Introduction

Do you want to write your autobiography but don’t know where to start? Well, this article is for you! In it, we’ll share ten tips on how to start writing your autobiography. From developing a plan to finding a publisher, these tips will help you get started on the project and make the process as smooth and easy as possible. So put down the book club novel and start writing your life story today!

What to Consider When Writing an Autobiography?

Writing your autobiography can be a daunting task, but with the help of the right approach and tools, the process can be a lot easier. To get started, make sure you have a clear goal in mind. This could be anything from writing a memoir that highlights your life story to share your wisdom with the world. Once you have a good idea of the direction you want to take, develop an outline. This will help you stay organized and focused while you write. It’s also important to determine the tone you want your autobiography to have. Is it serious or light-hearted? Finally, research different bio-writing software programs so that you can produce high-quality material. With the help of these programs, you’ll be able to write your autobiography professionally and concisely.

How to Write an Autobiography in 9 Easy Steps

Writing an autobiography can be a life-changing experience, and it can help you reflect on your journey and share your story with the world. With the right step-by-step guide , writing your autobiography can be a breeze. This blog post will outline the nine simple steps you need to write a successful autobiography. So, let’s get started!

Step #1 Start by Brainstorming.

Autobiographies are a wonderful way for people to reflect on their lives and share their stories with the world. Whether you want to write a memoir for personal reasons or give your readers a behind-the-scenes look at your life, the first step is always brainstorming. This process helps you identify the key points of your life story, the events that have shaped you, and the emotions you have experienced.

Once you know what your autobiography will be about, it’s time to develop some ideas. Write in short, concise sentences that are easy to follow and understand. Remember to keep a diary of your progress so that you can reflect on the journey and improve upon any aspects as needed. Writing an autobiography is a rewarding experience that will allow you to share your story with the world and connect with people from all over the globe.

Step #2 Plan Your Outline and Structure

The second step in writing an autobiography is to plan it out. You will want a strong foundation for your story, which starts with character development. You will be instructing the reader on how to feel. Some key moments and people that are significant in your life need to be introduced. These will expand upon, help connect your thoughts and feelings, bring emotion into the story, and keep things interesting for the audience!

You will also want to consider how you would like to structure your autobiography. There are many ways to do this, but typically, people choose chronological order or theme-based structure. Chronological order is when you go through the events of your life in the order that they happened. This can be helpful if you want to share your story chronologically and show how your life has progressed over time. A theme-based structure is when you organize your story around a certain theme or lessons learned. This could be anything from love to lose, family to career, or betrayal to redemption.

Once you have decided on the structure of your autobiography, it is time to start planning the outline. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure that your story includes important details. Begin by brainstorming a list of topics you would like to cover in your autobiography. Then, break these down into smaller, more manageable sections. For each section, identify the main points you would like to cover. These should be the key events or lessons you want to share with your audience.

As you are brainstorming and planning, keep in mind the overall tone of your autobiography. Do you want it to be serious or light-hearted? What kind of language do you want to use? What kind of emotions do you want to evoke in your readers? Answering these questions will help you determine the overall tone and approach you to want to take with your story.

Finally, once you have a general outline of the topics you would like to cover, it is time to start thinking about the specific details you want to include. This is where your diary entries from brainstorming will come in handy! Review your entries and start identifying the key moments, events, conversations, and emotions that you want to share. These details will add life to your story and make it more relatable for your readers.

Step #3 Collect your memories and thoughts

The third step in writing an autobiography is collecting your memories and thoughts. This can be done in several ways, but the easiest way is to start writing simply. Write about your childhood, family, friends, experiences, and anything else that you can think of. Write freely and without judgment – this is for your eyes only!

You can also use prompts to help you get started. For example, you could answer the following questions:

• What are some of your earliest memories?
• Who were the most influential people when you were growing up?
• What were some of the defining moments or experiences of your childhood?
• What are some of the things that you remember most about your family?

Answering these questions will help you start thinking about the specific details you want to include in your story.

Once you have written down all of your memories and thoughts, it is time to organize them into a cohesive narrative. This is where your outline from the previous step will come in handy. Use your outline to determine which memories and thoughts will go into each section of your autobiography.

Step #4 Choose the right style to write in

The writing style will often determine the structure and language used in your autobiography. A few best sources of resources for this include:

First-person narrative: This is the most common style for autobiographies, as it allows you to write directly about your own experiences.

Third-person narrative: This style can be used if you want to write about someone else’s life or if you want to distance yourself from the events of your story.

Episodic storytelling: This style is perfect for stories full of interesting anecdotes and memories.

You will also want to decide on the overall tone of your autobiography.

• Do you want it to be serious or light-hearted?
• What kind of language do you want to use?
• What kind of emotions do you want to evoke in your readers?

Answering these questions will help you determine the overall tone and approach you to want to take with your story.

Step #5 Organize the story of your life into chapters

If your autobiography is going to be long, you will need to organize it into chapters so that readers can easily follow your story.

Start by dividing your life into major sections, such as childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, etc. You can then further divide your experiences into smaller chapters within each of these sections. For example, if you are writing about your childhood, you might have chapters on your family, home, friends, etc.

Once you have divided your life into sections and chapters, you can start thinking about the specific details you want to include. This is where your outline from the previous step will come in handy. Use your outline to determine which memories and thoughts will go into each section of your autobiography.

Step #6 Create your first draft

Now that you have all of your memories and thoughts organized, you can start writing your first draft. This draft does not need to be perfect – in fact, it shouldn’t be! The goal of this draft is to get all of your thoughts and experiences down on paper.

Start by writing a general introduction to your story. This should include the basic facts about your life, such as your name, where you grew up, and your early years. Next, start writing about each topic you included in your outline. Write freely and without judgment – this is for your eyes only!

Step #7 Get feedback from friends and family

Once you have written the first draft of your autobiography, it is time to get feedback from your friends and family. Ask them to read your story and give their honest opinion. Do they think it is interesting? Does it flow well? Are there any parts that are confusing or could be improved?

Getting feedback from other people will help you see your story from a different perspective and give you some valuable insights into how to make your story even better.

Step #8 Edit and revise your autobiography

Once you have received feedback from your friends and family, it is time to edit and revise your autobiography. This is where you will start to fine-tune your story and turn it into something truly special.

Start by reading through your story and making any necessary changes. Then, ask someone else to read it and give you their feedback. Repeat this process until you are happy with the results.

Proofreading is also an important step in the editing process. Be sure to read through your story multiple times and look for any typos or grammatical errors.

Step #9 Publish your autobiography

Once you are happy with the final version of your autobiography, it is time to start thinking about how you want to publish it. If you are planning to self-publish, there are several different options that you can choose from.

If you are interested in getting your autobiography published by a traditional publishing house, you must submit a query letter to them. This short letter introduces your story and explains why you think it would be a good fit for their publishing company .

If you are not interested in self-publishing or traditional publishing, there are still several other options that you can choose from. For example, you could create an e-book or audiobook version of your autobiography, and you could also submit your story to magazines or websites that accept personal essays.

No matter how you choose to publish your autobiography, share it with your friends and family. They will be proud of your accomplishment and enjoy reading about your life.

Promoting your autobiography

Suppose you have published your autobiography; congratulations! This is a huge accomplishment that you should be very proud of.

Once your autobiography is published, you will need to promote it if you want people to read it. There are several different ways that you can do this.

One way to promote your autobiography is to create a website or blog where you can share information about your book. You can also use social media to spread the word about your book. Be sure to use hashtags and post links to your book’s sales page on Twitter and Facebook.

Another way to promote your autobiography is to give interviews about it. You can do this in person, on the radio or television, or online. This is a great way to generate interest in your book and reach a wider audience.

You can also hold events to promote your book. For example, you could host a book signing or reading. You could also give a talk about your book at a local library or community center.

Social media, email, book signings, interviews, and other events are great ways to promote your autobiography. By taking the time to promote your book, you will be able to reach a larger audience and sell more copies.

No matter how you choose to promote your autobiography, be sure to put in the effort if you want, people to read it.

Autobiography vs. Biography

The author is the essential distinction between biography and autobiography writing. The person whose life is chronicled in the book writes their autobiography. On the other hand, biographies may be written by anybody and about anybody.

The process of writing an autobiography is not an easy one.

Our life is a story of our own life. Even if we do not feel that much to write about, you can still make it quite interesting with the help of being an awesome, real-life example for it.

It requires you to remember many details and facts, which may sound boring. To help you with this task, we have prepared a list of useful tips that will make your writing process much easier.

Autobiography vs. Memoir

The nonfiction genre known as a memoir is closely connected to an autobiography, but they are not the same thing. An autobiography, in particular, is a first-person account of the author’s entire life. A memoir is more like a multi-period journey within an author’s life than a chronicle of the whole life story.

10 Tips on How to Start Autobiography About Yourself

The top 10 tips for writing an autobiography are sprinkled throughout this article exactly where you will need them.

So, let’s get started!

1 – Consider a theme

Themes are used to structure many autobiographies, and becoming is a great illustration. The book’s title contains the words “becoming” in each section. Each portion of the autobiography is linked to an elevated theme. Include stories from your past that shaped your present-day perspective and way of life.

The first draft is the draft that you created after all these things. This can be written almost like a diary, but it should be focused and concise. However, this draft should not look like an autobiography: too short or too long. The main thing in your first draft is to have fun!

2 – Skip the irrelevant parts

Every meal, automobile ride, and a terrifying trip to the supermarket isn’t necessary to describe unless you came across the Russian Mafia at the veggies or at the grocery store, which is perched.

Start editing your biography. The last thing you want to do is get a friend or family member with editing skills to look at your stuff because they’ll make fun of you (unless, of course, it’s good). Some suggestions on what editing does: It makes sure the piece flows smoothly; this could be done by cutting out sentences or using better transitions between ideas. A summary would also help since people often lose interest if there isn’t one and aren’t interested.

3 – Captivate, but don’t chronicle

Always keep in mind how to make each part, chapter, page, paragraph, and sentence more interesting. You want to tell the truth, but it’s up to you how you do it. Build anticipation, rivalry, and secrecy. Let the drama linger until it becomes unpleasant. Don’t try to fix things immediately or remove tension.

4 – Do you write it in the future tense?

When it comes to writing in the future tense, it’s a little tricky. The majority of autobiographies follow a step-by-step structure and recall events that have already happened. The reader is transported from one beginning to another, and even to the present, via this procedure.

You can be the reader of your autobiography. Just start writing about the events that happened to you, and tell them in the most simple way possible so that the reader will feel like reading it themself.

The story usually concludes there, but the end is frequently written in the present tense. If you want to bet or anticipate your goals, dreams, or fears for the future, basic principles of tense apply.

5 – Write in first-person narrative

Traditional biographies need third-person writing, but the third-person voice may sound arrogant in the autobiography style.

An autobiography is a first-person account of the author’s life, written by them alone. It may also be partly based on first-person experiences described in the third person by someone else who was present during them and told from this second-person perspective. The story can include events that happened to others and things that have been changed because their authors didn’t want anyone to know about them at all!

6 – Include dialogue snippets

Use quotation marks the same way you’d use them in a novel. Show short back-and-forth tennis matches between characters in which they discuss. Remember to leave out the mundane parts!

7 – Select a particular tone

Tina Fey’s Bossy Pants is one of the more humorous autobiographies. Some, such as Andre Agassi’s Open, are more serious. Select an overall tone and stick with it, as your tale (like most tales) will likely include a variety of feelings.

8 – Write a catchy title

Your title shouldn’t be dull, and your autobiographical writing shouldn’t be. Jane Doe: An Autobiography is one title to avoid. You aren’t forcing anyone to read it unless you’re famous. Jane Doe: The Tale of My Life is another dull book.

9 – Don’t do grammar mistakes!

The grammar errors in the essay make the reader believe that you do not write it. Even amateurs like us can spot grammar mistakes and bad usage, especially if we compare your autobiography with other autobiographical essays. Before writing an autobiography, see how much space there is for you on the paper.

Then keep thinking about where I will start writing and what direction I should take to captivate my readers right away without giving them time to get bored of the writing style.

10 – Write the story in scenes or vignettes

Each vignette has a beginning, middle, and end. It is a small story, and each vignette progresses as you click. Instead of describing the experience to the reader, each vignette should be described in rich sensory language that depicts the experience. Each vignette is multi-sensory, immediate, and personal.

Final Words

Autobiographies are a great way to connect with your readers on a more personal level and can be a great source of inspiration. Whether you’re just getting started or looking for some tips on how to start one, we’ve put together a list of top 10 tips that will help you get started! We also have a few FAQs to answer any remaining questions you may have. Do you have any advice on autobiography writing? Share it with us in the comments below!

FAQs on writing your Autobiography

How do i know if my autobiography is interesting enough to be published.

Answer: There is no one answer to this question, as the best way to find out is to write and submit your autobiography for review. The best places to submit your work include Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Once your autobiography is accepted, you will need to follow all the publisher’s guidelines. This includes submitting a finished manuscript, getting a copyedited and proofread copy, and making sure your book is formatted correctly. Once you have completed all of these steps, the next step is to promote your book. This can be done through social media, blog postings, and more. Make sure to set a schedule for promoting your book and stick to it! You also want to make sure to price your book affordably so that as many people can purchase it. Finally, be patient – promoting a book is not an overnight process.

Why is writing in the first person important in an autobiography?

Answer: A first-person book is a personal memoir, and it requires the first-person experience to tell its story. The author of first-person books must write from their own experience, which helps them bring readers into the world they inhabit and makes them feel as if they are experiencing things with that character or sometimes through them themselves — such as what it’s like for someone who has had an eating disorder to try on clothes at different sizes (as described in Anne-Marie Slaughter’s “The Beauty Myth”).

What is a good topic for an autobiography?

Answer: Many different topics could make great fodder for an autobiography, and the sky is the limit! If you have a compelling story, then an autobiography could be the perfect vehicle to tell it. Some of the most popular topics for autobiographies include life-changing events, overcoming adversity, and personal growth. Once you have decided on a topic, it is important to develop a plan. This includes planning out the content, developing a writing style that is easy to read and engaging, and scheduling time to write. Once you have completed your manuscript, it is important to edit it and ensure that all the details are correct. Remember, an autobiography reflects your life, so make sure that it is accurate and reflects your true personality. Finally, create a personal branding strategy and use social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to market your book.

Most Read Articles in 2023:

Hi, I am a doctor by profession, but I love writing and publishing ebooks. I have self-published 3 ebooks which have sold over 100,000 copies. I am featured in Healthline, Entrepreneur, and in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology blog.

Whether you’re a busy professional or an aspiring author with a day job, there’s no time like now to start publishing your ebook! If you are new to this world or if you are seeking help because your book isn’t selling as well as it should be – don’t worry! You can find here resources, tips, and tricks on what works best and what doesn’t work at all.

In this blog, I will help you to pick up the right tools and resources to make your ebook a best seller.

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Self-Portrait Mastery: Writing a Biography About Yourself

Learn to write an engaging autobiography about yourself. Unlock your story's power and captivate readers. Start crafting your narrative today!

Last updated on May 13th, 2024

When you click on affiliate links on QuillMuse.com and make a purchase, you won’t pay a penny more, but we’ll get a small commission—this helps us keep up with publishing valuable content on QuillMuse.  Read More .

Table of Contents

A personal biography, often shortened to just my self-biography, is a brief statement summarizing your skills and achievements. You can write a bio to differentiate yourself from other candidates, gain new clients, or connect with social media followers. 

Learning how to write a biography about yourself can help you build your brand and market yourself effectively. In this article, we are going to discuss biography with steps, tips, and strategies to help you write how to write a biography about yourself. 

Before writing, how to write a biography of yourself. First, we have to know what a personal biography is.

What is a personal biography?

A personal biography [1] is a brief introduction summarizing your experience, references, education, and personal or professional achievements. This can help you convey your brand and show others what makes you unique. You can use your profile as a marketing tool when applying for jobs, attracting potential clients, or encouraging people to follow you on social media.

A personal biography often conveys the purpose or goal of writing the biography, such as talking to a client or getting a job. In your biography, you can include details about your personal or professional achievements, such as awards you’ve won or positive feedback you’ve received from customers. 

You don’t have just to write an essay about you. You may choose to discuss your personal or professional background in your biography, such as your current position, years of experience in the industry, or your motivation for pursuing your career path. 

A personal biography typically mentions your education and other qualifications, such as internships, certifications, or professional development training.

What to include in a personal bio?

Here are some of the elements a personal bio might include:

• Name : [Your Name]
• Profession : [Your Job Title/Role]
• Experience : Briefly outline your relevant professional experience.
• Accomplishments : Highlight any notable achievements or milestones in your career.
• Skills : List key skills or areas of expertise relevant to your profession.
• Interests : Mention any hobbies or interests that showcase your personality outside of work.
• Unique Qualities : Highlight any unique traits or experiences that set you apart.
• Education : Include your educational background if relevant.
• Contact Information : Provide a way for people to contact you if they want to connect or collaborate.

Where To Show Personal Bio 

Many people use their biography when looking for a job to explain to the hiring manager why they are the ideal candidate for the job. You can also use your biography in other ways. Some places you can post your biography include:

Shine Online:

• Concise & Catchy: Twitter and Instagram bios thrive on brevity. Use keywords to grab attention and reflect your interests (e.g., “Foodie, Bookworm, Aspiring Cloud Architect”).
• Professional: LinkedIn allows for a more comprehensive bio. Craft a compelling summary that highlights your career journey, key skills, and achievements.
• Personal Website or Blog : If you have your own digital space, a dedicated “About Me” section is ideal. Here, you can delve deeper into your background, passions, and what makes you tick.
• Guest Posting Platforms : When contributing articles to other websites, some may have an author bio section. Craft a concise bio that piques the reader’s interest and potentially links back to your own website.

Offline Bio Beacons:

• Resumes & Cover Letters : In the professional realm, tailor your bio to resonate with the specific job or company. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that showcase your qualifications for the role.
• Networking Events : Prepare a succinct “elevator pitch” that summarizes your background and interests in a captivating way. This is your chance to make a lasting impression in a short interaction.
• Business Cards (Optional) : While not a necessity, some people include a bio or tagline on their business cards. This can be a creative way to spark conversation and leave a memorable impression.
• Portfolios or Presentations : If you’re in a creative field, consider incorporating a bio section into your portfolio or presentation. This can add a personal touch and help potential clients or collaborators connect with you on a deeper level.

Remember, the key is to tailor your bio to the specific platform or situation. Think about your target audience and the message you want to convey. By strategically placing your bio in these online and offline spaces, you can effectively introduce yourself to the world and leave a lasting impression.

How to Write a Biography About Yourself 

When you think you have to do something for your better career you must be alert about how to write a bio . Here’s an expanded take on how to craft a captivating biography about yourself in 6 steps:

1. Find Your Focus

Don’t just list facts, tell a story! Think about who will be reading it like a boss, classmate, or everyone. What’s the goal? Is it to show your skills for a job, your creative side, or everything about you?

This helps you decide what to write. For a job, focus on work experience, achievements, and skills that make you a good fit. For creative writing, mention what inspires you and the artists you like.

Think of important moments, big achievements, and things that make you unique. Then, write them down in a clear order, either by time (like your life story) or by topic (like focusing on skills).

2. Start Strong with a Hook

The first sentence is your chance to shine. Instead of a snoozer intro, write something that makes people curious. This could be a surprising fact about what you do, a quick story that hints at your personality, or even a question that sparks the reader’s imagination. 

Think about how you’d introduce yourself to someone you really admire. What would you say to make them want to chat more? Do that in your first sentence. It’ll turn your bio into a “must-read.” After all, you’re an interesting person, so show it off from the very beginning.

Imagine you’re starting a conversation with someone you want to impress – how would you introduce yourself in a way that compels them to listen? So, I think you know how to write an introduction .

3. Showcase Your Journey

This is the heart of your biography, where your experiences come alive. Don’t just list accomplishments; delve deeper and showcase the challenges overcome, turning points that shaped you, and the triumphs you’ve achieved. 

Instead of just stating you received a prestigious award, describe the project you tackled or the problem you solved that led to the recognition. Highlight the skills you honed along the way and how they contribute to your overall value.

Tell your story. Don’t just list your achievements. Show the interesting parts. What problems did you solve? What were the big moments? How did you learn and grow?

Pick things that impress the people you’re writing for. If it’s a job application, show skills that fit the job. If it’s for friends, tell fun stories. Use details to make your story come alive. Maybe you won an award. Instead of just saying that, tell them about the project you did.

4. Add Personality with Details and Voice

Spice it up! Don’t just tell people what you did, show them! Instead of saying “I won an award,” describe the cool project you worked on or the tricky problem you solved to earn it. Mention things you saw, heard, or even smelled that made the experience memorable. 

A funny story shows you’re quick-witted, and a story about overcoming a challenge shows you’re a problem-solver. Write like you’re chatting with a friend. Don’t worry about using big words or sounding fancy. Just write the way you normally talk. 

Are you known for your jokes? Let your sense of humor shine through. Are you super passionate about something? Let your enthusiasm jump off the page. The more you sound like yourself, the more interesting your story will be.

5. Keep it short 

The length of your biography can vary depending on the focus and goals. On your social media site, you can write a brief professional biography of two or three sentences. Other bios, such as a website bio, can be several paragraphs long. No matter where you plan to display your biography, keep it short to grab readers’ attention and encourage them to learn more about you or connect with you.

6. Refine and Polish Your Work

Once you have a solid draft, take a critical eye and become your own editor. Proofread meticulously for typos, grammatical errors , and any awkward phrasing. Ensure the flow of your writing is smooth and the information is presented clearly. 

Read your biography aloud to catch inconsistencies or areas that feel clunky. Having a trusted friend or colleague review it for clarity and impact can also be beneficial. Their fresh perspective might help you identify areas for improvement or ensure your message resonates with the intended audience. You don’t need to check for plagiarism .

7. Leave a Lasting Impression

The final sentence is your chance to create a memorable closing. This could be a powerful summary of your core values, a glimpse into your aspirations for the future, or a call to action that invites the reader to connect with you in some way. 

This could be a quick summary of what’s important to you, a hint about your future goals, or even an invitation for the reader to connect in some way. The ending should leave a lasting impression that reflects who you truly are. Maybe you could end with a question that sparks a conversation or a quote that sums up your way of thinking.

8. Regularly update your profile 

You are constantly learning new skills and achieving new goals in your career. Keeping these achievements to yourself will only limit your opportunities. 

Instead, you should take a few minutes to update your various profiles every time you go through a major life event. This way, your biography will always accurately reflect who you are and what you have to offer, allowing you to gain better exposure, gain the respect of your peers, and ultimately be recruited.

9. Match the word count to the platform 

While you analyze how to write a biography about yourself you should concern yourself with the word limit of the biography. The time it takes to write your biography is up to you unless you’re filling out the biography section of your profile and are only allowed a certain number of words. However, you should keep in mind your background and what your audience is looking for when deciding how much to write. 

For example, people reading a biography on a job site may be screening many candidates, so it’s best to keep the biography on these sites short, between 300 and 500 words. Otherwise, readers may be tempted to ignore them. 

For a biography on your website, a longer biography (between 1500 and 2000) is often better because you can include more details. Search engines also prefer longer bios, so they often rank higher in search results, making your bio more visible.

Tips for making your biography noticeable

1. hook from the start: .

Skip the boring intro! Start your bio with something awesome! Think of a cool sentence, a surprising detail, or a question that makes people think. Imagine meeting someone interesting at a party. What would you say to grab their attention and make them want to chat more? This first line is super important because it sets the tone for your whole bio and makes people want to read on.

2. SEO Savvy: 

If your bio is online, consider yourself a tiny search engine magnet! Strategically sprinkle in relevant keywords that people might use to find someone like you. Research keywords related to your profession, interests, or skills. For instance, an aspiring chef might include a “culinary student” or “food enthusiast” to attract potential employers or collaborators.

3. Paint a Picture with Words: 

Instead of a laundry list of skills or interests, use vivid language and action verbs to showcase your passions. Don’t just say you’re “creative” – describe yourself as “brainstorming innovative solutions” or “transforming blank canvases into vibrant masterpieces.” This paints a picture for the reader and allows them to connect with your energy and enthusiasm.

4. Infuse Personality with a Pinch of Spice: 

Let your unique voice and perspective shine through! A dash of humor (if the platform allows) can make your bio relatable and memorable. Are you known for your infectious laugh? Mention your “contagious enthusiasm for life’s adventures.” Do you have a quirky hobby or hidden talent? Share it! This personal touch allows people to connect with you on a deeper level.

5. Storytelling Power: 

Weave a short, impactful anecdote that reveals something interesting about you. This personalized touch is far more engaging than a simple list of facts. Did a volunteer experience spark a passion? Briefly describe it! Did an unexpected encounter change your perspective? Share a snippet!

6. Sharp and Focused: 

While you want to showcase your personality, remember bio real estate is precious! Strive for a concise and focused bio. Aim for a length suitable for the platform. Twitter thrives on brevity, so keep it short and sweet. LinkedIn allows for a more comprehensive summary but avoids rambling.

7. Intrigue with a Call to Action (Optional): 

Depending on the context, consider including a call to action (CTA) at the end. This could be an invitation to connect with you on another platform, learn more about your work on a website or portfolio, or even a prompt to start a conversation. A strong CTA leaves a lasting impression and encourages further interaction.

Examples of Biography

1. Bio for getting a job

I’m [Your Name], a highly motivated and results-oriented IT professional with [Number] years of experience in [Your area of expertise]. Throughout my career, I’ve thrived in fast-paced environments, and consistently exceeded expectations by troubleshooting complex technical issues and implementing innovative solutions.

My passion lies in [Specific area of IT you enjoy most]. In my previous role at [Previous company], I spearheaded the [Project name] initiative, which resulted in a [Quantifiable achievement related to the project]. I’m proficient in [List of relevant technical skills] and possess a strong understanding of [Industry knowledge related to your field].

Beyond technical expertise, I’m a strong communicator, adept at collaborating with cross-functional teams to bridge the gap between technical aspects and real-world business needs. I’m also a quick learner, always eager to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in the ever-evolving IT landscape.

I’m confident that my [Specific skills] combined with my [Positive personality traits] make me a valuable asset to any team. I’m particularly interested in opportunities that allow me to leverage my skills in [Areas you want to focus on] to contribute to [Desired company goals].

2. Examples of a biography that focuses on career and journey

They say curiosity is the seed of all discovery. Well, for me, it felt more like an insatiable fire. Growing up in Warsaw, science wasn’t exactly a woman’s domain, but the pull I felt toward unraveling the mysteries of the universe was undeniable.

It wasn’t easy. Sacrifices had to be made to chase my dream. Paris, with its grand Sorbonne University, became my new home. There, amidst towering stacks of books and endless lab experiments, I met Pierre. He wasn’t just my love, but a brilliant mind who shared my passion for the unknown. Together, we delved into the world of radiation, a realm then shrouded in mystery.

Our discoveries were like unearthing hidden treasures. Polonium, a new element I named after my homeland, then the wonder of radium – each revelation fueled our scientific hunger. Then came the heartbreaking loss of Pierre. Devastated, I considered giving it all up. But his spirit, his unwavering belief in our work, propelled me forward.

Becoming the first woman to win a Nobel Prize felt surreal, an acknowledgment of the battles fought and the path paved. Yet, the greatest reward was the knowledge that our research held the potential to heal, to illuminate the darkest corners of medicine.

The irony isn’t lost on me. The very force I dedicated my life to understanding, radiation, ultimately took its toll. But even as my health declined, the fire of curiosity never truly dimmed. I hope that my journey, with all its struggles and triumphs, inspires others, especially young women, to chase their scientific dreams.

When applying for a job, one crucial factor that most individuals overlook is their “personal history.” Candidates’ dry and uninteresting personal histories don’t give them the credit they deserve because they don’t have enough time or aren’t aware of how important they are. 

To pass difficult technical interviews in different companies, in addition to thorough preparation, creating and presenting the best personal biography is extremely important. 

This article shows you how to write a biography about yourself and how to create the best personal biography to increase your chances of making a good impression and landing your dream job.

Why should I write a biography about myself?

Writing your biography can be a powerful way to reflect on your life journey, document your achievements, and share your story with others. It can also be a valuable tool for personal branding and professional development.

What should I include in my biography?

Your biography should include important milestones, significant life events, challenges you’ve overcome, passions, interests, and goals. You can also include anecdotes, quotes, and insights that reveal your personality and values.

How do I structure my biography?

There’s no one-size-fits-all structure for a biography, but a common approach is to start with an introduction that grabs the reader’s attention, followed by chronological or thematic sections that explore different aspects of your life, and a conclusion that ties everything together.

Should I include personal details in my biography?

It’s up to you how much personal information you want to include in your biography. While sharing some personal details can make your story more relatable and engaging, it’s essential to strike a balance and maintain your privacy.

How long should my biography be?

The length of your biography will depend on its purpose and where it will be published. For personal websites or social media profiles, a shorter bio of around 100-200 words may be sufficient. For more detailed accounts, aim for 500-1000 words or more.

How we've reviewed this article

Our content is thoroughly researched and fact-checked using reputable sources. While we aim for precision, we encourage independent verification for complete confidence.

1. Learn more about biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biography

We keep our articles up-to-date regularly to ensure accuracy and relevance as new information becomes available.

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• May 13th, 2024
• Oct 24th, 2023

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Shaping Your Legacy: How to Write a Compelling Autobiography

• The Speaker Lab
• March 12, 2024

Table of Contents

Ever thought about how your life story would read if it were a book? Writing an autobiography is like creating a map of your personal journey, each chapter representing milestones that shaped you. But where do you start and how can you ensure the tale holds interest?

This guide will help unravel those questions by delving into what makes an autobiography stand out, planning techniques to keep your narrative on track, writing tips for engaging storytelling, and even ethical considerations when revealing private aspects of your life.

We’ll also touch on refining drafts and navigating publishing options. By the end of this read, you’ll be equipped with all the insights you need to create a compelling autobiography!

Understanding the Essence of an Autobiography

An autobiography provides a comprehensive view of one’s life journey from birth to the present day. Imagine climbing into a time machine where every chapter represents different eras in your life. The goal of an autobiography is to allow readers to explore a factual, chronological telling of the author’s life.

Autobiographies aren’t merely catalogues of events, however; they need soulful introspection too. Think about why certain episodes mattered more than others and how those experiences influenced your perspectives or decisions later on.

You’ll also want to infuse emotional honesty, allowing yourself vulnerability when recalling both triumphant milestones and painful obstacles. Authenticity creates connections between authors and their audience, so let them see real human emotions behind every word written.

Distinguishing Features Of An Autobiography

The unique thing about autobiographies is they are first-person narratives . This allows readers to experience everything through your eyes, as if they’re living vicariously through you. From triumphs to trials, each page unravels another layer of who you are.

While memoirs are also first-person narratives of a person’s life, there are different from autobiographies. In a memoir, the author focuses on a particular time period or theme in their life. If you’d rather skip the details and dates needed for an autobiography and focus more on emotional truths, you might consider writing a memoir.

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Pre-Writing Stage: Planning Your Autobiography

The planning stage is a crucial part of writing your autobiography. It’s where you map out the significant events in your life, establish a timeline, and identify who will be reading your story.

Selecting Key Life Events

To start, you need to pinpoint key moments that have shaped you. While you will include plenty of factual details in your autobiography, you won’t include every single one. Rather, you’ll be spending the majority of your autobiography focusing on the transformative experiences that defined your life journey. After all, an autobiography is not just a catalogue of events; it’s also an exploration into what these experiences meant to you.

Establishing A Timeline

Next up is establishing a timeline for your narrative flow. Since you’re writing an autobiography, it’s important to first map out your story chronologically so that you can keep your events straight in your mind. MasterClass has several suggestions for key elements you might want to include in your timeline.

Identifying Your Audience

Finding out who’ll read your book helps shape its tone and style. Self-Publishing School says understanding whether it’s for close family members or broader public can guide how personal or universal themes should be presented.

While this process might feel overwhelming initially, take time with this stage. Good planning sets solid foundations for creating an engaging autobiography.

Writing Techniques for an Engaging Autobiography

If you’re on the journey to pen down your life story, let’s dive into some techniques that can help transform it from a simple narrative into a riveting read. An engaging autobiography is more than just facts and dates—it’s about weaving your experiences in such a way that they captivate readers.

Incorporating Dialogue

The first technique involves incorporating dialogue. Rather than telling your audience what happened, show them through conversations. It lets the reader experience events as if they were there with you. As renowned author Stephen King suggests , dialogue is crucial in defining a the character of a person (including yourself).

Using Vivid Descriptions

Vivid descriptions are another effective tool in creating an immersive reading experience. But remember: overdoing it might overwhelm or bore the reader, so find balance between being descriptive and concise.

Narrative Techniques

Different narrative techniques can also enhance storytelling in autobiographies. For instance, foreshadowing creates suspense; flashbacks provide deeper context; and stream of consciousness presents thoughts as they occur naturally—a powerful way to share personal reflections.

All these writing tools combined will give you a gripping account of your life journey—one where every turn of page reveals more layers of depth and dimensionality about who you are as both character and narrator.

Structuring Your Autobiography for Maximum Impact

Deciding on the right structure for your autobiography is essential to ensure your book captivates readers and keeps them engaged.

The first step towards structuring your autobiography effectively is deciding whether to organize it chronologically or thematically. A chronological approach takes readers on a journey through time, letting each event unfold as you experienced it. On the other hand, a thematic approach revolves around central themes that have defined your life—think resilience, ambition or transformation—and might jump back and forth in time.

Creating Chapters

An effective way to manage the vast amount of information in an autobiography is by dividing it into chapters. Each chapter should be structured around a specific time frame (if you’re opting for chronological order) or theme (if taking the thematic approach). The key here isn’t necessarily sticking rigidly to these categories but using them as guides to help shape and direct your narrative flow.

Crafting Compelling Beginnings and Endings

A strong beginning pulls people into your world while an impactful ending stays with them long after they’ve closed the book—a little like how memorable speeches often start with something surprising yet relatable and end leaving audiences pondering over what they’ve heard. So consider starting off with something unexpected that gives insight into who you are rather than birthplace/date details right away. For endings, look at wrapping up major themes from throughout the book instead of simply closing out on latest happenings in your life.

Remember, structuring an autobiography is as much about the art of storytelling as it is about chronicling facts. Use structure to draw readers in and take them on a journey through your life’s highs and lows—all the moments that made you who you are today.

Ethical Considerations When Writing an Autobiography

When penning your life story, it’s important to respect privacy and handle sensitive issues well. Because let’s face it, writing about others in our lives can be a slippery slope. We need to tread carefully.

Respecting Privacy: Telling Your Story Without Invading Others’

The first thing we have to consider is the right of privacy for those who cross paths with our narrative journey. While they might play crucial roles in our stories, remember that their experiences are their own too.

A good rule of thumb is to get explicit consent before mentioning anyone extensively or revealing sensitive information about them. In some cases where this isn’t possible, anonymizing details or using pseudonyms could help maintain privacy while keeping the essence of your story intact. Author Tracy Seeley sheds more light on how one should handle such situations responsibly.

Navigating Sensitive Topics With Care

Sensitive topics often make for compelling narratives but dealing with them requires tact and empathy. You’re walking a tightrope, balancing honesty and sensitivity, a fall from which can lead to hurt feelings or even legal troubles.

An excellent way around this dilemma would be by focusing on how these experiences affected you personally rather than detailing the event itself. Remember, your autobiography is an opportunity to share your life experiences, not just a platform for airing grievances or settling scores.

Maintaining Honesty: Your Authentic Self Is the Best Narrator

Above all else, stay truthful when writing your autobiography, both when you’re writing about sensitive topics and even when you’re not. While it can be tempting to bend the facts so that your audience sees you in a more positive light, maintaining honesty is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Editing and Revising Your Autobiography

Your initial draft is finished, but the job isn’t done yet. Editing and revising your autobiography can feel like a daunting task, but it’s essential for creating a polished final product.

The Importance of Self-Editing

You may feel that you have written your autobiography perfectly the first time, but there are always ways to make it better. The beauty of self-editing lies in refining your story to make sure it resonates with readers. You’re not just fixing typos or grammar mistakes; you’re looking at structure, flow, and consistency. Essentially you’re asking yourself: does this piece tell my life story in an engaging way?

Inviting Feedback from Others

No matter how meticulous we are as writers, our own work can sometimes evade us. Inviting feedback from others is invaluable during the revision process. They provide fresh eyes that can spot inconsistencies or confusing parts that may have slipped past us.

Hiring a Professional Editor

If you’re serious about publishing your autobiography and making an impact with your words, hiring a professional editor can be worth its weight in gold. An editor won’t just fix errors—they’ll help streamline sentences and enhance readability while respecting your unique voice.

Remember to approach editing and revising with patience—it’s part of the writing journey. Don’t rush through it; give each word careful consideration before moving onto publication options for your autobiography.

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Publishing Options for Your Autobiography

Once you’ve spent time and energy creating your autobiography, the following challenge is to make it available for others. But don’t fret! There are numerous options available for releasing your work.

Traditional Publishing Houses

A conventional path many authors take is partnering with a traditional publishing house . These industry giants have extensive resources and networks that can help boost the visibility of your book. The process may be competitive, but if accepted, they handle everything from design to distribution—letting you focus on what matters most: telling your story.

Self-Publishing Platforms

If you want more control over every aspect of publication or seek a faster route to market, self-publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), offer an accessible alternative. With this option, you manage all aspects including cover design and pricing ; however, it also means greater responsibility in promoting your book.

Bear in mind that both options have their own pros and cons, so consider them carefully before making any decisions.

Marketing Your Autobiography

Now that you’ve crafted your autobiography, it’s time to get the word out. You need a plan and strategy.

Leveraging Social Media

To start with, use your social platforms as launching pads for your book. Sites like Facebook , Twitter, and especially LinkedIn can help generate buzz about your work. And don’t underestimate the power of other platforms like Instagram and TikTok when trying to reach younger audiences. Whatever social platform you use, remember to engage with followers by responding to comments and questions about the book.

Organizing Book Signings

A physical event like a book signing not only provides readers with a personal connection but also generates local publicity. Consider partnering up with local independent stores or libraries, which are often open to hosting such events.

Securing Media Coverage

Contacting local newspapers, radio stations or even bloggers and podcasters in your field can provide much-needed visibility for your work. It might seem intimidating at first, but who better than you knows how important this story is?

FAQs on How to Write an Autobiography

How do i start an autobiography about myself.

To kick off your autobiography, jot down significant life events and pick a unique angle that frames your story differently.

What are the 7 steps in writing an autobiography?

The seven steps are: understanding what an autobiography is, planning it out, using engaging writing techniques, structuring it effectively, considering ethics, revising thoroughly, and exploring publishing options.

What are the 3 parts of an autobiography?

An autobiography generally has three parts: introduction (your background), body (major life events), and conclusion (reflections on your journey).

What is the format for writing an autobiography?

The usual format for autobiographies involves chronological or thematic structure with clear chapters marking distinct phases of life.

Writing an autobiography is a journey, a trek exploring the unique narrative of your life. Together, we’ve covered how to plan effectively, select key events, and set timelines.

Once you’re all set to write, you now have the techniques you need for engaging storytelling, including vivid descriptions and dialogues. You also learned about structuring your story for maximum impact and navigating sensitive topics while maintaining honesty.

Last but not least, you learned editing strategies, publishing options, and effective ways of promoting your book.

Now you know more than just how to write an autobiography. You know how to craft a legacy worth reading!

• Last Updated: March 22, 2024

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Mastering the Art of Self-Narration: A Guide on How to Write an Autobiography

• September 6, 2023

Table of Contents:

The power of self-narration, self-discovery:, self-expression:, preparing for self-narration, setting clear objectives:, identifying the target audience:, creating an engaging story, choosing a narrative style:, highlighting important life events:, balancing personal and professional aspects:, including anecdotes and personal insights:, using metaphors and analogies:, engaging the reader:, editing and proofreading, seeking external feedback, polishing your manuscript, publishing your autobiography, marketing and promoting your book, why would i need an autobiography writing service, what is a professional biography writing service, what are memoir writing services, essential elements and detailed insights.

Writing your autobiography is an incredible journey that allows you to reflect on your life, share your experiences, and inspire others. Whether you intend to publish it or create a personal keepsake, this guide will help you master the art of self-narration from inception to completion.

When you write a self-narration, you’re not just jotting down the facts of your life. It’s like taking a fascinating journey into your past, discovering who you are, and leaving behind something precious for your family and future generations. Let’s dig into detail.

Writing your life story can be like going on a treasure hunt. You dig deep into your memories and experiences and uncover hidden gems about yourself. You may learn about your strengths, weaknesses, dreams, and what shaped you into who you are today.

Your autobiography is your canvas, and words are your colors. It’s a way to paint a vivid picture of your life, thoughts, and feelings. You can express yourself and share your joys, sorrows, and everything. It’s like telling the world, “This is who I am, and this is what I’ve been through.”

Think of your autobiography as a gift to the future. It’s like passing down a precious family heirloom. When you write your story, you create a document that your children, grandchildren, and even their children can read. It allows them to understand where they came from, who their ancestors were, and the experiences that shaped their family’s history. It’s a way of leaving a piece of yourself behind for future generations.

Before you start writing about your life, take some time to think back on the important events that have made you who you are. Try to remember the moments that stood out and impacted you.

Decide why you want to write your life story. Do you want to learn more about yourself, share your knowledge and experiences with others, or connect with a specific group of people? Knowing your purpose will guide how you write your autobiography.

Think about who will be reading your story. Is it for your family, friends, or maybe a wider audience? Understanding your readers helps you write in a way that will interest and connect with them.

When you’re working on writing an interesting and captivating story, there are a few things you should think about:

Think about how you want to tell your story. There are different ways to do it. You can tell it in the order that things happened (chronological), focus on specific themes or topics (thematic), or reflect on your experiences (reflective). You should pick the style that fits your story the best.

You’ll want to figure out the big moments in your life that mattered. These could be turning points or milestones, like when something significant changed for you. You’ll want to give extra attention to these events in your autobiography.

Consider how you’ll mix your personal stories with your professional accomplishments. You want to balance your personal and work life in your narrative. This will help your readers get a full picture of who you are.

When you write your life story or autobiography, sharing personal stories and thoughts is a good idea. Anecdotes are short, interesting stories from your life, and personal insights are your thoughts and feelings. This makes your autobiography more interesting and relatable because people like to hear about your experiences and what you’ve learned.

You can use metaphors and analogies to make your story more exciting and memorable. Metaphors are comparisons that help you describe something by saying it’s like something else (e.g., “Her smile was as bright as the sun”). Analogies are similar and help people understand something by comparing it to something they already know (e.g., “Life is like a rollercoaster, with its ups and downs”). These tools make your writing more vivid and interesting.

To keep your readers interested, write in a way that feels like a conversation. Use active voice, which means the subject of the sentence is doing the action (e.g., “She painted the picture”), and ask rhetorical questions, which are questions that you don’t expect an answer to. This helps the reader feel involved and interested in your story.

Understand the critical role of revising and polishing your work to make it the best it can be: This means that after you’ve written your autobiography, you should go back and look at it again. Think of it like making a cake. Mix the ingredients (write your story), then bake it and add icing (revise and polish). This step is very important to make your writing the best.

This is about asking other people to read your autobiography and give you helpful suggestions. Ask a friend for their opinion when you want to know if your new outfit looks good. Getting feedback from others can help you make your story even better.

Think of this like cleaning and organizing your room. You go through your writing to make sure there are no mistakes (like spelling or grammar errors), and you arrange it nicely so it’s easy to read and understand. This makes your autobiography look more professional and well-structured.

You have two main options when it comes to getting your autobiography out into the world. Traditional publishing is like working with a big company that helps you publish your book, while self-publishing is like doing it all yourself. Each has its good and not-so-good sides.

Once your book is ready, you must let people know it exists. This is where marketing and promotion come in. It’s like telling everyone about a cool party you’re throwing. You can use social media, book readings, or ask bloggers and influencers for reviews. The goal is to reach the people who will enjoy your book.

Autobiography writing services are valuable for people who want to document their life stories but may not have the writing skills, time, or expertise to do it themselves. These services can help ensure your story is well-written and compelling.

A professional biography writing service specializes in creating compelling and concise biographies for individuals, often for professional purposes. These biographies can be used for personal branding, social media profiles, websites, or professional networking.

Memoir writing services like Book Writing Founders are specialized writing services that help individuals document their personal life stories and experiences in a memoir. These services assist with writing, editing, and structuring the memoir.

In wrapping up your journey of self-narration, it’s essential to recognize the profound power that writing your autobiography holds. This transformative experience allows you to put your life’s moments into words and offers the potential to impact you and your readers in meaningful ways.

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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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How we work, guide on how to write the best autobiography of myself.

Writing autobiography can be nerve-wracking that you can barely start a single letter on. But there are also some instances when the story just keeps on flowing that you won’t even know when to stop. With these two cases, just continue on writing your bio and review all the details you were about to get out from yourself after that. In order to be effective, learn first how to write an autobiography of myself by starting with the basic definition of an autobiography.

What Is an Autobiography?

An autobiography came from the Greek word autos, which means self, bios, which means life, and graphein , which means to write. In a simple explanation, autobiography is when you learn how to write a life story about yourself. It is a narrative of your story, written in your voice, and seen in your perspective. If we’re talking about a company you should know that stories about company success are becoming more and more important today. To learn more about it go to  corporate story biography writing .

There are some who believe that autobiographies are waste of time since they are a biased narrative of events and are heavily influenced by someone’s inaccurate memory. Autobiographies are usually incomplete since they only cover the important events of a person and those that the person remembers the most.

How Do You Start an Autobiography?

If you want to learn how to make an autobiography, start with the basics. Plan how you are able to approach the writing proper task. While it may be true that it seems like an easy essay that depicts a part of your life, writing a biography of yourself will demand more from you. In planning to write your autobiography, here are the things you have to remember and take into account:

• Define your purpose for writing your autobiography
• As you write your draft, always consider your audience
• Generate ideas for your autobiography and put it in writing
• Choose the important stories you want to be part of your autobiography
• Complete an outline for your draft

After considering these factors, the next step is writing a draft. Start by looking through the best autobiography openings you can find and figure out which you can use as a model. Make sure that you write in the first person since that’s what autobiographies are all about. Never switch back to second-person or third-person and be consistent in using the first person point of view throughout the entire content.

When you begin to write the story, never forget to describe the setting in a manner that the reader will be able to feel like actually being there. Don’t be too dramatic or ramble in your introduction. Just make sure that you are able to catch the reader’s attention with your first line.

Let the story flow out of you. Make sure that it does not run all over the place and that it is leading somewhere. Never skip over important facts in your story and conclude your story with a bang. After drafting, editing is the next task you have in store. Some tips in editing that you can consider include:

• Reading the piece over the over again
• Check if the dialogues are placed in appropriate locations
• Include vivid and descriptive details
• Make the storytelling interesting by going non-chronological
• Make sure to embed your personality in your writing

If you are having a hard time on how to start an autobiography, you can choose the help of the experts. Hire autobiography help to make it a lot easier on your part.

What Are the Main Differences Between Biography and Autobiography?

Biographies and autobiographies are usually interchanged. These terms confuse people but the difference between the two is actually simple. It is literally due to the point of view of the storyteller.

A biography is a narrative of a life story of a person told from the perfective of another person. On the other hand, an autobiography is a narrative of a person written by that same person.

Another difference is that most autobiographies are incomplete considering the person writing it is still alive and has lots more of stories to tell while biographies are usually completed and concluded.

Learning how to write a short autobiography is easy given the existence of the online world and its abundant content. You can also easily search sites and accounts of popular bio creator and learn from there.

What You Should Know about Writing Your Own Bio

There is a good chance that if you haven’t had to write a bio already, that you may have to in the future. A bio is required of many job applicants, it is used on many networking sites, freelancers have to have one for potential clients and if you have a website or blog connected to your business, you should probably have one. Bios provide a concise summary of who a person is and what they do, while at the same time, they allow a bit of personality to come through. There are basically two main functions your bio should perform: 1) establish your credentials and qualifications; 2) create enough interest so the reader will want to know more.

What to Consider When Writing a Bio about Yourself

When writing your bio, you need to make sure that you include the following in order:

• Professional or business experience as well as current employment
• Completed presentations or publications
• Professional memberships that you have
• Certifications, honors, and awards you have received
• Contact information so your reader will know where to get more information about you

Tips for Writing Your Own Bio

The following are some tips that can be useful when writing your own bio:

• Identify your audience.  To create an effective bio you need to determine who will be reading your bio and what impression you want them to have. The purpose of your bio will help identify the audience. For a job application the audience will be employers, for a speaking engagement the audience will be comprised of people interested in the topic you are speaking on.
• Use other peoples bios as a guide.  You may be thinking “I can’t write my bio by copying somebody else” and you would be correct. However, if you like how the bio structure, there is nothing wrong with presenting your own information using the same structure.
• Only include relevant information.  A typical bio is less than a page. You should only include information relevant to your purpose.
• Write first and revise later.  On your first draft don’t worry too much about length and include anything that might be good. You can go back and revise. Many people tend to freeze up when the try and revise as they write and end up with nothing.
• Have somebody else read your bio.  Somebody who can be objective and give an honest opinion preferably. It is hard to be objective when writing about yourself.

Our company offers bio writing and editing services if you have problems writing the bio. Just ask us to “write my bio for me” and we will handle the task for you.

Need Biography Help?

Writing your own bio means having to spend hours or days even to really get down to the nitty-gritty of your life’s history to get the information you need for your biography. If you want to spare yourself from spending endless hours working on your bio, you should consider hiring a professional writing company like us to handle this for you. Our bio writing service specializes in biographies and because of this, you can rest easy knowing that your own bio will be in good hands.

It doesn’t matter how fast you need it, how long or short you want it, once you send us the details of your order and paid for our fees, we’ll immediately assign a professional bio writer to you to work on your bio.

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How to Write an Autobiography (Fully Explained)

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on Published: November 20, 2021  - Last updated: July 31, 2023

Categories Writing , Storytelling

Sooner or later, many of us think we’d like to write an autobiography. Maybe we should even write our memoirs, but we’ll talk more about that in a minute.

The point is this: We’ve all these memories and associations, relationships, sometimes sharp, sometimes soft, but we have them in our mind, and we feel like we want to put them on paper.

We want to tell someone the story we experienced, and sometimes we don’t even understand why we want to tell that particular story, but we have a strong feeling that we want to do so. In this article, we’ll look at exactly how you can approach your autobiography writing.

Autobiography or Memoir

An autobiography is a whole thing – a life, usually told chronologically as a series of significant events. Sometimes with the help of a ghostwriter. You should only ever have to write one autobiography!

But to qualify for it, you must have either :

a) lived a life worth living

b) been infamous or famous

Maybe both!

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write a story about your life. Quite the contrary.

But the memoir form may be better suited for you.

Memoirs as a Slice of Life

A memoir is a much more artistic endeavor than an autobiography or biography. They’re less limited to dry facts and more concerned with the meaning of life – whether by examining a specific period or looking at a period of life through a thematic lens.

It’s about a story within one’s life, not the whole life story. A slice-of-life experience. An excellent memoir is much closer to creative nonfiction than an autobiography.

The great thing about memoirs is that you can use them for almost any purpose and make them whatever you want.

A memoir usually isn’t as long as an autobiography and is written from a different perspective.

Writing an autobiography is about your life from your perspective. That’s not always the case with memoirs. Here, the author focuses on

a) a particular period of life,

b) a particular kind of life, or

c) a particular event.

You can tell about a day in your life that was particularly memorable, which is another type of memoir.

You don’t have to tell the story chronologically, but if it helps put things in order, you can do that too.

Memoirs can also be more subjective than an autobiography. A memoir is usually the story of your life as you see it.

Themes in a Memoir or Autobiography

You can focus on crucial moments and look at a period or a topic you want to write about.

Topics can be anything from your relationship with your parents to overcoming fear. Family, religion, work, relationships, health, hobbies – whatever you prefer – are fair game for the memoirist’s pen.

Themes give meaning to life. That’s why they’re so important in an autobiography or memoir.

There are other forms you should keep in mind:

• In a biography , someone else writes about someone.
• An autobiographical essay is required of prospective college or college applicants, in which they focus on experiences and accomplishments that add weight to their application. It’s an opportunity for a student to demonstrate relevant qualifications and qualities for entry and the ability to construct a well-argued piece of writing that is looser in style than straight academic writing. You can think of it as a personal essay.

The Moving Parts

If you’re thinking about writing your autobiography, you should first be aware of the key elements that will ensure your autobiography stands out and engages readers.

Many factors play a role in this, and we’ll discuss them one by one.

Universal Message

At its core, autobiographical writing is a search for meaning and identity.

A good autobiography isn’t just about you and your experiences. Somewhere in your autobiography, there’s always a universal message that manifests itself in the story you tell.

In this sense, an autobiography isn’t simply a list of experiences you string together, although you can use a chronological structure. But that’s far from the whole story.

A great autobiography has all the elements of a fantastic novel or movie. In other words, it’s to engage the reader emotionally and keep them enthralled.

Otherwise, there’s no motivation to keep reading.

In filmmaking, a central theme is sometimes called a “controlling idea” – akin to a thesis statement, it’s the fulcrum around which the narrative revolves.

No one is interested in a string of events. The events must have meaning, and the music and rhythm of life should permeate your autobiography for it to jump off the page and truly engage the reader.

There’s nothing like a universal message told in the form of a story.

A Strong Story

An excellent autobiography is a story told with strength and nuance. That’s why it matters to be clear about the story you want to tell and the key events that the story embraces.

Granted, this story may not be apparent when writing your autobiography begins. The story may not be clear to you until late in the writing and editing.

You may not even understand the story you’re telling until you revise. That’s why it’s so important to be flexible in outlining, structuring, writing, and revising. In other words, in the overall organization of your autobiography, which we’ll discuss in more detail in this article.

We’ll look at specific methods to help you structure your autobiography and assemble the necessary pieces.

And we’ll show you how to combine those pieces to create an excellent autobiography.

But before we go any further, let’s look at key elements that make a good autobiography.

When discussing a particular moment in your life story, you should be concerned with the spirit of the times – the so-called Zeitgeist.

For example, if you’re talking about the 1960s, you want the flavor and feel of that time to be reflected on the page.

It can be allusions to the music of the time. It can be allusions to the cars or the way of shopping that existed back then. The things that were happening on the street.

They can have to do with the attitudes of the people around you that were important at the time and how they acted and thought.

This creates a picture in the reader’s eye of what was happening around you then. That essential things were happening to you, or you were doing important things.

There’s something mysterious about a good autobiography.

Not everything in life is unambiguous! Life is often very ambiguous, and readers appreciate honesty and humility. By its nature, personal experience is subjective.

Readers don’t want to read someone arrogant and know everything. The fact is that not everything in your own life is clear to yourself, let alone to others around you!

Therefore, it can be excellent to acknowledge this and either mention it directly in your writing or have moments in the story where you allow the mystery to exist because it does.

This sense of mystery lets the reader’s imagination run wild. It allows the reader to understand that life comprises a series of veils. In most cases, the reader will find himself relating parts of your story to his life story. He’ll feel addressed, and that’s what draws him in.

Life isn’t just about clear challenges and overcoming them. As compelling as such “hero stories” may be. There are profound mysteries in life that we all ponder occasionally and keep popping up.

That’s why I think this sense of mystery is very important.

Revelations and Story Beats

In addition to secrets, you should also have moments of revelation in your autobiography.

Moments when something suddenly becomes clear, or someone realizes something. Life lessons that change the trajectory of your life. Or the nature and meaning of a relationship become apparent, which drives you to a decision or action.

In that sense, the events in your autobiography are less about the external events and more about the internal events where you decide what to do at certain stages. Or you come to a judgment or conclusion about something that you’ll probably change later in your life.

The point is that these moments of change, the so-called swing points in your life – the “beats” in movie language – are very important because they mark turning points in the story of your life.

The Plot of Your Life

It’s constructive to think of your life as a movie plot. We’ll discuss this technique later in this article.

So your autobiography isn’t just a collection of the best and worst moments of your life, even if you desperately want the polarity of good and bad to make your story stand out.

Juxtaposition is a very important element. You want things to contrast because that helps build emotion. It helps build tension and drama in the story.

Tension is essential for reader engagement. You can think of it like a rubber band that you slowly twist. It gets tighter and tighter. The trick is to keep stretching it open, building it up more and more, and then relaxing it again. Tighten it up and then relax it again. Over and over again.

In other words, play with the tension in your life story, your autobiography.

Context Shifts

Another critical element in your autobiography is context shifts.

Sometimes these are changes of place. So you move, go to a different place, or arrive at a different place.

Sometimes they’re contextual shifts in terms of relationships with other people.

Sometimes it’s contextual shifts regarding your life purpose and how you define what’s important to you and what you want to accomplish.

But it’s helpful to be aware of these contextual shifts in your life and think about these seams as you write your autobiography.

Now let’s look at the key steps to writing your autobiography.

A Very Personal Journey

Run away if anyone tells you that there’s some standard template for writing an autobiography or memoir! Quick.

Writing and stories aren’t about squeezing experiences and memories into some template.

The author’s connection to the material is the most crucial thing in writing a good, meaningful work.

Writing is about how you see the world, understand your experiences, and want to share them with readers.

Writing is a personal journey that can be very different for everyone.

It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a memoir about how you worked your way up in your profession and discovered leadership and management skills or if you’re writing a memoir about your relationship with your mother.

Either is perfectly fine.

Tell the stories that burn inside you. Write about what it means to be alive, awake, aware, and a wonderful person. Make up a story that’s as personal as you see fit.

Memoirs help you do that. How you choose what to include and what not to include, what to focus on, and what to ignore is up to you.

A Thought for the Reader

Picture the scene. You have a few minutes in the bookstore, browsing the titles scattered on the table of featured books – or the digital equivalent online.

A cover catches your eye. Something intrigues you so much that you pick up the book.

What do you do?

You probably read the blurb on the back cover and then the first page or two. Often that’s enough to make you buy the book or quickly put it back on the pile.

Something in the blurb and the first few pages must appeal to you. Otherwise, you won’t get involved, and the book has left your universe forever!

So when thinking about, constructing, and writing your memoir or autobiography, be clear about your story’s appeal to other people, your future readers!

This doesn’t mean you should be cocky about your writing. On the contrary, an honest path through your story is almost always better. But it means you develop a sense of your reader’s attention!

Otherwise, you’re just writing for yourself. That’s fine, by the way – it can be an excellent way to soothe the soul.

But if you want other people to read your stuff, you need to think carefully about what in your story will grab attention and what is worth paying attention to in each scene!

The Two Treasure Chests

We all have two treasure chests regarding memories, stories, and, thus, memoir writing.

The first is the treasure chest of memories and reflections. These are in the treasure chest of your mind, and your job is to capture them on paper or the screen and eventually work them into a story.

The second treasure chest is physical and digital mementos. Photos, CDs, letters, diaries, old notebooks, clothes, souvenirs, and more. They serve as a tremendous stimulus for remembering and writing. Although you could collect them in one place before writing, that’s probably impractical. Therefore, a good solution is to have a photo mood board with everything you’ve accumulated over the years.

An easy way to do this is to use the built-in photo app on your computer. I use a Mac, so this is Photos for me. It’s easy to collect pictures in an album and resize them to see more or less of them as needed.

Then and Now Time

One of the questions people ask when writing a memoir is how to handle tenses.

I think it’s worth considering two different time frames: the “then time” and the “now time.” This means you put yourself in the moment of the remembered events but see them as you experienced them then. This way, you can vividly represent them and discover them in your text.

It’s not so much a matter of tense as it’s of perspective and setting.

The “now time” is the time of reflection: you look back on past events with the wisdom of hindsight.

As a rule, it’s a good idea to write the main narrative in the “then time” because otherwise, you risk your memoir becoming a boring flashback instead of a compelling journey for the reader.

Connect with Your Inner Child

One particular technique worth mentioning when writing about childhood experiences is the “connect with your inner child” meditation. I first learned about it at the beautiful Plum Village retreat in France.

A guided meditation takes you back to your childhood and creates a connection you can access. Incredibly powerful in life and writing.

Imagine seeing your younger self in a scene and later adding how your older, wiser self understood what you were experiencing, even if you didn’t know it then.

This technique of shifting perspective is highly effective in both memoirs and novels.

It’s worth trying the Plum Village app for IOS. It’s completely free and offers many great meditations.

Break Out of the Prison of Linear Narrative

Where should you start with your memoir?

And how do you start writing them?

Unless you’re dealing with a tight time frame and a compelling ongoing narrative, telling your story in a non-linear way will probably help a lot.

Remember, you’re selecting events, not trying to tell everything that happened.

Therefore, not only can you select periods – which don’t have to be worked through in strict order, especially if you’re writing out your memoir thematically – but you can powerfully use nonlinear writing for your entire process.

We don’t think linearly, so why write that way?

When I sit down to write, I focus on the task: the sentences, paragraphs, and pages in front of me. I don’t worry excessively about everything having to be perfect and fit at the time of writing. Everything is in its own time! During the editing and the second draft, I start moving the blocks around so they tell a story.

Using Scrivener to Structure Nonlinear Writing

The app that best helps this nonlinear writing process is Scrivener.

I’ve used it for many years, and how it handles index cards on its “corkboard” has saved me more time than I care to remember in finding structure in writing and filmmaking.

Another excellent app I can recommend is Aeon Timeline. The latest version, 3, has a narrative mode and several other perspectives that let you get a handle on chronology, eras, intersections of characters, and more.

The Truth in Autobiography

When you write your memoir, you write a piece of truth. Your truth. There’s no such thing as objective truth, certainly not in writing. Nor, for that matter, in filmmaking.

There’s only a subjective truth – the truth as you see it. The exciting thing is that your truth becomes someone else’s truth through a magical transformation process.

Your mother’s truth becomes your truth, your neighbor’s truth becomes your truth, and your lover’s truth becomes your truth.

That’s magic.

One of the reasons I recommend writing your memoir instead of an autobiography is that you can focus on a particular story, a particular moment in your life. If you do it right, you can present it in a way that speaks to others.

You write your memoir to express your truth in a way that communicates it clearly to your reader without misleading them.

This is because they’re based on facts and what happened (as best you can remember it). This is part of a primary, unwritten contract you make with future readers when writing your memoir or autobiography.

Find a Coherent Narrative

To tell your story clearly and understandably, you must find a coherent narrative that ties together the concepts you want to convey.

The narrative won’t be perfect; it’ll need to be revised because your story isn’t an objective fact; it’s your truth.

It’s the narrative that makes your story interesting to your readers. Readers like narratives!

Hopefully, you’ll write your story so that even if the reader doesn’t know what happened to you, they’ll know what you felt and thought.

As I mentioned earlier, it’s very liberating to understand that the shape and order of your narrative will emerge during the writing process – not something you’ve to decide before you even start putting words on the page.

A Structural Approach to Autobiography and Memoir

You don’t have to pressure yourself to figure out the structure of your narrative from the start. You don’t have to summarize ideas, memories, or themes in predefined chapters.

Chapters are the surest way into the writer’s prison.

As the wonderful writer Terry Pratchett put it:

Life doesn’t happen in chapters at least, not regular ones. Nor do movies. Homer didn’t write in chapters. I can see what their purpose is in children’s books (“I’ll read to the end of the chapter, and then you must go to sleep”) but I’m blessed if I know what function they serve in books for adults. Sir Terry Pratchett

Writing programs like Scrivener allow you to collect and spit the fragments out, knowing you can later group them into a form. That’s tremendously liberating. It’s how I’ve made films, how I write long texts, and how I write articles – including this article.

I’ve no idea how this article will turn out. But it’ll appear; you can bet on that. And I know it’ll be good because it comes from the heart. And it’s immediate. Not overthought.

When you write your memoir, you can do the same thing.

I start with many different ideas and notes, photos, and videos I’ve taken. I make sure I can find them easily. If I’ve everything in one place, it’s easier for me to get it out.

You’ve to let your mind become a sieve, a filter, a funnel into which you pour your experiences so they come out transformed.

You’ll have to go through everything several times. You’ll have to go through your story several times.

First, you write down everything you remember, everything you think is essential, and everything that feels like it belongs to your story.

Second, you shape this mass of material into something coherent.

Third, you edit the material.

Dreams and Meditations

Dreams and meditations are essential in all forms of writing, even in memoirs. The trick is to capture the fragment on paper or screen as quickly as possible before it flies away.

Let me give you an example:

I remember first hearing Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band .

I was walking down the hallway at school when I was about nine years old. Suddenly I heard this incredible sound from a record player (yes, I’m that old) turned up full blast in an adjoining room. There was no one in the room, just the music. Coming from a conservative family where pop music just wasn’t played at home, I think this was the first time I got a taste of a larger culture. Out there.

I was amazed.

Use Dictation to Write Your Memoir

Sometimes when I write, I think of a scene, close my eyes, and start dictating. It’s all the more convenient when I know that one of the many transcription apps will do the hard work for me afterward.

Recently, I recalled that my brother and I were up against the local giant nettle patch when I was about twelve years old. To us, they weren’t nettles – they were an army. Hours later, we were called up for tea – and I suffered from hay fever for years afterward !

This memory also reminded me of another day when, together with local boys, we found a barn with huge black garbage cans in it. The game was to hide in the garbage cans while others threw stones and tried to hit us. Inevitably, a rock hit me right between the eyes. I’d have lost an eye if it had been just an inch further away.

Rather than lose these memories to the chaff of the day, I immediately documented them with a voice recording on my iPhone. Safe in the knowledge that I could quickly transcribe and include them in my memoir later.

Allow yourself to dream, to remember, to record, to document. Don’t be guided by the thought that these recordings must have a particular form before they must.

One way to think about your memoir is to think of it as a series of vignettes – short, impressionistic scenes that focus on a moment or give a particular insight into a character, idea, or environment.

The word’s origin is worth knowing: it comes from Old French and means “little vine.” If you think about it, it’s a very nice analogy for what excellent memoir writing can do: a series of independent yet interconnected vines that together form a whole.

I don’t see a linear path when I think about my life this way. Things have happened randomly; I’ve been in one place and then another. Or in the same place in different periods.

I don’t see my life as a coherent, meaningful narrative. It’s more like a series of vignettes between which I can see connections, but not a continuous line.

Your vignette can be part fantasy, part dream; you can change the period, time of day, weather, season, lighting, or anything else you want.

If you include dialog, make sure it’s believable; if you include your (or other) participants’ thoughts, make sure they ring true.

If you’re worried about authenticity, pick a moment you can remember clearly.

For example,

As a child, I’m sitting on the floor in the kitchen of my house. I’m nine years old. The kitchen is very bright. I’m eating a sugared roll – one of my favorite foods. I’m thinking about my friend’s birthday party tomorrow, which I’m really looking forward to. I’m also thinking about getting my housework done today. It’s light in the kitchen.

The truth, of course, is that I’m thinking about all of this at the same time.

Later, I listen to the sound of rain falling on the roof of the conservatory. It’s a sound I’ve long loved. I watch the different shades of light coming in through the window. The light casts shadows. The light is bright. I think about the things I need to do today. I’ve some homework to do. I need to do the dishes. I need to clean up.

What might hold together seemingly random moments like the above is the growing quality of reflection and the pressure that life puts on the mind.

Use Prompts

When writing memoirs and autobiographies, many prompts can be handy.

We’ve already discussed the two treasure chests above.

But many beneficial questions can get your mind going and make deep memory connections.

Here are just a few examples:

• What was my most treasured toy? Why was it important to me?
• What do I remember about the kitchen growing up? What smells can I still remember today? What could I glimpse out the window?
• What did I do that I regretted? What can’t I tell another soul about?
• Driving with the family in the car. What’s happening right now? Where are we going?
• When was the first time I was furious? What had happened?
• When did I feel most betrayed in my life?
• When did I fall in love for the first time? Out of love?

As you can imagine, there are many, many more.

The point isn’t to go on an endless memory hunt but to lift the veil of the unconscious to find the topic necessary for your memoir. And more often than not, a more resounding theme emerges. A deeper meaning to your life story that you want to put on paper.

That, after all, is the real art of memoir: distilling a lifetime’s experiences into a coherent, readable, and meaningful whole.

The prompts don’t have to be about the past – they can be about the present.

They can be about your life today – your current life and your relationship to it and the people around you. Then you can discover how profound forces and influences have shaped your reality.

Your Motivations

Ultimately, you’re the only person who knows your motivations for writing your memoir. There’s no need for you to explain to the public!

What do you hope to gain by writing your memoir?

A sense of closure? A sense of accomplishment? Redemption?

A chance to share the themes of your life story with others so they can learn from your journey?

An opportunity to see your story told so you can look back and reflect on the meaning of your life and the direction your life might take in the future.

Whatever the reason, the result should be more significant than a simple retelling of your life.

Perhaps it’s about creating a legacy, leaving something that will stay with you beyond your time, years, and life into the future.

When you write your memoir, you’re also writing your legacy. Or at least part of it.

That’s why it’s worth pausing for a moment.

Beware of the natural human instinct to right the wrongs done to us in the past. Seeking revenge will lead you down a dark path. Once it’s published, it’s published. And it’s hard to crawl back.

My advice would be to make your memoir a positive impulse.

We all make mistakes; why not reflect on them with awareness, acceptance, and understanding?

Awareness will lead us to change our pattern of behavior, acceptance will lead us to forgiveness, and understanding will show us how to forgive others.

Remember, forgive the person, but not the crime.

Writing your memoir can be a part of the healing process if you let it.

Scenes That Resonate

Actors know there are “scene objectives” in scenes – things the character wants and is trying to achieve.

This isn’t always true, but it’s often the case that the character either achieves their goal or doesn’t. There will be a clear resolution to the scene.

You can also look at your memoir in this way.

The goal of a particular scene is to get the character from one point in the story to the next in a way that makes sense to the reader.

How do you do that? Through the concept of scenes that “get there.” In a way, it’s similar to a joke that “lands” with its punchline.

These “landings” are ways to get from one scene to the next.

They’re places of transition where action and reflection mix, and you can move from one scene to the next. This is where you place the dissonance leading to your character’s next destination.

Remember that these transitions will become more apparent and more evident as you write and move into revision. You don’t have to have a set structure for your memoir. However, you need a series of vivid scenes, fast or slow sections, that deepen your narrative.

The Movie of Your Life

There’s a classic and well-understood dramatic arc that underlies almost all movies. I’m not suggesting that you apply it to how you write your autobiography or memoir, but it can benefit you as you reflect on the ebb and flow of your life.

We go through a series of “walls” in our lives. Ones that we break through after we find our way or ones that we somehow get around.

Overcoming the significant obstacles of life usually requires inner change and realization. When we overcome life’s walls, we learn an important lesson that we take into the next phase.

I found it very helpful to plot these walls on a timeline of my life. On the X-axis was my age, and on the Y-axis was the amount of hardship endured. That corresponds to the level of drama. This was a precious exercise because it helped me step back from the story of my life and look at it from the outside.

The way a reader might.

It helped me recognize the moments that involved real struggle, emotion, and conflict. In this way, it served as a map for my memoir.

So I took the significant events in my life – death, illness, divorce, early trouble spots, etc. – and drew them on the line where they took place, what age I was, and what was happening in my life at the time.

An interesting thing happened.

I thought I’d written about significant events before but never went into enough detail to immerse the reader in the pain, emotion, and drama.

Also, I hadn’t allowed myself to take ownership and responsibility for these events.

Subconsciously, I’d distanced myself from my own life. This isn’t to say that it was all my fault. But I was guilty of being too easy on myself.

As you can probably guess, this was an essential moment in my writing process.

What’re your walls? When did you overcome them? How did you overcome them?

Maybe you’ve decided you’re going to overcome them. Or maybe you’re still waiting to overcome them.

In any case, these moments of significant change are essential to the success of your autobiography.

Commit to Yourself

Writing memoirs or autobiographies is difficult. Even if no one but you may ever get to see them!

It requires deep inner work – a journey into the soul.

And it requires a serious commitment to writing continuously over a long period.

The former means accessing your unconscious, as I described earlier in this article.

The latter is a challenge that all writers face. The simple yet not-so-simple task of sitting down in your chair and writing every day. Your writing journey.

So before you start, make some commitments to yourself.

• Commit to writing every day.
• Commit to writing as many words as you estimate you’ll need to finish your book.
• Commit not to cheat on your word count.
• Do your best because you know your best is good enough.
• Show up to your desk and your soul.

This is the hallmark of a professional writer. Which you may not be. But why not adopt the mindset and practices of one?

One thing: don’t rush.

A memoir or autobiography shouldn’t be written under time pressure. Give your writing time to breathe and your reflections time to go deep. You’re laying the groundwork for something great.

One of the hardest things to write about is your relationship with your parents.

I lost both of my parents, one of them recently. Even as time passes, it’s hard to look deep (as a writer must) in a way that inevitably evokes pain and grief in me.

But that pain must be endured if you’re to have access to what’s probably one of the most important influences on your psyche, whether you want to admit it or not.

As a writer, artist, and human being, you must deal with them honestly. And do so with as much compassion as possible.

In other words, you must go through the same process of soul-searching and profound inner discovery as you’d with any other complicated subject.

You must apply your understanding of life and its meaning to the subject. And you must write from a position of humility and compassion.

Brainstorming for Your Autobiography

I always think of “brainstorming” more as “thought development” – a quieter and more meditative approach to writing.

You call up ideas and play with them. Try them out. To see what develops. These ideas transform as you write, re-read, and sleep on them.

Then when you come back to your writing, you’ve new things to work with. Ideas that have been developing in the background.

This is a good way to gather ideas for your memoir. It’s a way to write without writing.

• In one sentence, invent a sentence that says something about your life.
• In a paragraph, invent a paragraph that says something about your life.
• In a scene, invent a scene that says something about your life.
• Write a memory that says something about your life.

Then ask yourself: What do you’ve to say?

• What’s the most important thing you’ve to say?
• What’s the most dramatic thing you’ve to say?
• What’s the most impactful moment you can convey?

I use mind mapping extensively to “develop thoughts” – the best apps I’ve found for this are iThoughts and TheBrain. The beauty of TheBrain is that it allows for contextual thinking around a subtopic – something difficult to achieve with traditional radial mind maps.

You can also use free online tools like XMind, Coggle, or paper and a pen.

You’ll find that this way of thinking brings ideas to life in ways you mightn’t be able to if you only thought linearly.

Why not just write an essay about your life, drawing from the stream of consciousness? And then see what sticks.

Related: How to Focus on Writing an Essay

Write a Letter to Yourself

Another way to write your autobiography or memoir is to imagine you’re writing a letter to yourself.

A great letter is to tell yourself the story you want to write about yourself.

Or you can take on the role of mentor to yourself:

The “you,” in this case, is your current self.

• Write a letter to your former self.
• What advice would you give to your former self?
• What guidance would you give?
• What would you do differently?
• How would your former self respond?
• How would your current self respond?
• How would your future self react?
• How would your friends and family react?
• How would your children react?

How to Outline Your Autobiography or Memoir

The most important thing you need to know about outlining as a writer is that it’s not a process that happens before you settle down to write, and it’s written down in a kind of gospel.

Quite the opposite.

The “how” (the outline) and the “what” (the writing) are intricately intertwined and bounce off each other.

Outlining Is a Dynamic Process

If you have a good idea of what you want to write about, you can put that idea into an outline.

There are many different ways to do this. Most involve writing a few key words, phrases, sentences, or even just a few key phrases that describe the main content of your book.

A book is usually a collection of chapters (but be sure to read my comments about the chapters above).

You can outline a chapter by writing a few key words, phrases, sentences, or even just a few key sentences to describe the main content of your chapter.

You can also outline a scene. Again, you write a few key words, phrases, sentences, or even just a few key phrases to describe the main content of your scene.

An outline aims to give you a “basic structure” to work with.

The more details you’ve, the better.

How to Approach Research in Your Autobiography or Memoir

Aside from the treasure troves described above, which are more for stimulation or inspiration than research, you’ll need to track down specific facts and connections at some point in your writing.

You can do most of this research on the Internet.

There are now so many excellent online resources for writers. These include accessible radio archives, video archives, music archives, image archives, document archives, government archives, etc.

The list is endless.

Of course, you can also use your local library.

If you’re using a Mac, DevonAgent, and DevonThink can help you organize your searches and cross-referencing. DevonAgent prevents you from having to open hundreds of browser tabs, and DevonThink uses a very clever “fuzzy logic” search to find relevant things in your document collection. Although academics love both apps, they’re invaluable to me as a writer.

Another great option for research and clippings is Roam Research (or its free competitor Obsidian). Think of them as digital scrapbooks where you can drop everything useful and find valuable and relevant parts later.

Or go with a paper notebook.

Most importantly, document your research, and don’t throw anything away.

Remember that you’ll be researching at all stages of the writing process, including during editing and fact-checking. Therefore, it can be constructive to work with multiple monitors so that you can do the research queries on one while you continue writing on the other.

It’s often helpful to write a chapter or scene first and do your research later. This helps you focus your research on what you need and not disappear down a rabbit hole from which little productive writing comes out!

It’s also important to realize that researching and writing your book are closely related. They’re all part of the same journey.

When you write, you generate new ideas and write down the book that will become the finished memoir or autobiography.

This is an interactive process.

The structure of your finished book will also influence how you write it and, therefore, how you research it.

Remember that oral research also plays an important role: If people, family members, eyewitnesses, etc., are still alive and willing, their memories and perspectives can be beneficial.

Writing First Drafts

The most important thing to say about first drafts is that you do them!

That means you sit down and start writing. Even if you don’t feel like it. When you start writing, your resistance is quickly overcome, and you get into a good state of mind.

The second thing I say about first drafts is that you shouldn’t edit them as you write. That’s why I recommend not thinking too much about chapters in the first draft stage – there will be plenty of opportunities later to organize your text and divide it into chapters.

Everything that hinders your writing your first draft must be gently pushed aside. That’s why sometimes it’s better to research after you’ve written a scene.

The third thing to say about first drafts is that they should be about anything and everything.

As a writer, you need to get out of your way and not be too critical with your word choice, sentence structure, or anything else.

This is because you can only find your voice if you write your way to it. That means you’re writing many things that aren’t the finished book.

The more you write, the more you learn about yourself and your writing voice.

You may not understand the subject of your memoir or autobiography until your first draft is finished. That’s perfectly fine. It’s desirable.

Remember that your first draft should probably be just for you. Beware of letting critics in too early, even if they’re constructive.

If someone else reads your writing or sees your first drafts, that person or those people will likely impact the creative writing process, which you don’t want at this stage.

So, if you have a writing group or writing partner, wait until you’ve completed at least two first drafts before sharing the text.

Related: Why Creative Process Matters

The Path From First to Second Draft

First, put some distance between you and your first draft. If you don’t give yourself a break, you’ll have difficulty identifying the “plot holes” where you need to get your narrative going.

It’s about giving shape to the story – a story that you may not understand until after your first draft.

Your second draft isn’t about tinkering with or polishing your first draft. It’s about completely rewriting the story and moving the pieces around in the overall structure to make it work.

This is where I find Scrivener very useful. Especially the index card mode in Corkboard. It allows me to move writing blocks around, sometimes almost intuitively (since cold logic rarely works well in creative endeavors), to find the flow of a piece.

When you move the blocks, having a clear timeline is helpful – either on paper or (my choice) in a program like Aeon Timeline. This timeline helps you anchor the chronological flow of events, so you’re freer to make thematic connections knowing that you can always insert a reference to where we’re in space and time.

There’s going to be some missing. That’s fine. Write it.

Do you notice anything unclear in your narrative? Clarify it. Explain it so that someone reading the story for the first time will understand.

Sometimes it’s a matter of contextualization: a “framing scene” before the action scene. It’s incredible how sometimes putting a later scene at the beginning of the work can help make everything clear and functional.

Wield a Scalpel

The last advice I want to give you is to approach your second draft with a scalpel in hand. Cut it down, and remove any fat you discover.

Creative work often (not always) benefits from being shorter. A more compact narrative moves essential points in the story closer together and effectively tightens the connective tissue between scenes.

Cut out scenes you don’t need, scenes that are too long, and scenes that are in the background and don’t move the story forward. The goal is to create a lean, mean storytelling machine that continuously moves the story forward.

This also means cutting limp sentences, unnecessary adjectives, and anything else that makes your text wordier than it needs to be.

Examples of Great Autobiographical Writing

Maya Angelou – a series of seven autobiographies, including the work that brought her international acclaim I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Vladimir Nabokov – covering his life until he arrived in America in 1940, Speak Memory is known for how it blends fiction with fact.

Helen Keller – written with the aid of a braille typewriter The Story of My Life was dedicated to Alexander Graham Bell, a lifelong friend and avid supporter of deaf and blind research.

Mark Twain – keen to tell stories to other human beings, rather than pen a dry account of his life, Twain arranged that most of his Autobiography remain unpublished for 100 years after he died in 1910. No doubt the amount of vitriol and sharp observation, even of friends in the work, was a significant factor in this decision! Interestingly, most of his autobiography was dictated to a secretary rather than written directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an autobiography.

An autobiography is a self-written account of an individual’s life, often detailing personal experiences, emotions, and reflections.

What should be included in an autobiography?

An autobiography should include significant events, relationships, challenges, achievements, and personal growth experiences. It should also offer insights into the author’s personality, values, and motivations.

How should I begin my autobiography?

Begin your autobiography with an engaging introduction that captures the reader’s attention. You can start with a memorable moment, an important event, or a unique aspect of your life.

What is the appropriate writing style for an autobiography?

A: The writing style for an autobiography should be honest, engaging, and descriptive. It should capture your voice and personality, connecting readers with your experiences and emotions.

How do I organize my autobiography?

Organize your autobiography in chronological order or around specific themes. You can divide it into chapters, focusing on different stages of your life or significant aspects of your personality.

How do I maintain reader interest throughout my autobiography?

To maintain reader interest, use vivid descriptions, create engaging anecdotes, and vary the pace and tone of your writing. Share unique perspectives and include moments of self-reflection to keep the reader engaged.

How do I approach sensitive or controversial topics in my autobiography?

Approach sensitive or controversial topics with honesty and sensitivity. Be aware of the potential impact on others, and consider using discretion or pseudonyms to protect privacy.

What should I focus on when writing about my childhood?

Focus on significant moments, relationships, and experiences that shaped your personality, values, and beliefs. Describe the environment, culture, and people that influenced your early years.

How do I conclude my autobiography?

Conclude your autobiography by summarizing your experiences, reflecting on the lessons learned, and sharing your hopes for the future. Consider leaving the reader with a final thought or message that encapsulates the essence of your life story.

What should I consider before publishing my autobiography?

Before publishing your autobiography, edit and revise the manuscript, fact-check for accuracy, and seek feedback from trusted readers. Consider legal and ethical implications, and explore various publishing options, including traditional publishers, self-publishing, or digital platforms.

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Home / Book Writing / How to Write an Autobiography and Publish it in 7 Easy Steps

How to Write an Autobiography and Publish it in 7 Easy Steps

Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be a famous figure to write an autobiography. In fact, if you want to write a novel or some other nonfiction book but just don't know where to start, an autobiography could be an ideal project to tackle. 

There are many different kinds of autobiographies from which to choose, so you don't have to keep a narrow focus or use a cookie-cutter mold for your book or autobiography essay. Read on as we tackle how to write an autobiography. 

• Different kinds of autobiographies.
• Steps to help you write your autobiography.
• Tips to strengthen your storytelling skills while writing.

Table of contents

• Autobiography vs Memoir
• The Benefits of Writing an Autobiography
• Before You Write, Read
• Step 1: Decide on a Type and Scope
• Step 2: Research and Outline
• Step 3: Craft Your Story to Entertain
• Step 4: Write Your First Draft
• Step 5: Pause—Then Edit and Rewrite
• Step 6: Get a Professional Editor
• Step 7: Publish!
• How to Write an Autobiography: Conclusion

The Many Types of Autobiographies

An autobiography in its broadest terms is a book about a person's entire life (or at least the interesting parts), written by that person . If you wanted to write a book about someone else's life, you'd be writing a biography . 

But within the autobiography genre, there are many other subgenres to choose from. These include:

• Intellectual
• Religious/Spiritual

An intellectual autobiography focuses on the author's life in terms of intellectual evolution and fulfillment. Often (but not always) written by people who have had a lot of schooling, the intellectual autobiography aims to analyze how certain experiences affected the author's life in terms of education, intelligence, and thought patterns. 

A religious or spiritual autobiography is one concerning the author's spiritual enlightenment. If you've found God (in any form) or have gravitated to a more spiritual life as you've aged, then this could be a good genre for you.  

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Thematic autobiographies are those that look upon a person's life story through the lens of a certain theme. This could be love, loss, perseverance, family, or even something like mental health, addiction, or mental illness. If you've noticed a theme in your life that has influenced your choices repeatedly, a thematic autobiography could be a good choice for you. 

A fictional autobiography is one that uses events from the author's real life while changing certain other elements freely. There are no hard-and-fast rules about what can and can't be real—or what percentage of each you must include. It could be that you use mostly real events but embellish them, change characters around, or make up certain exchanges. The most important part is that you don't claim it's a true autobiography when it's really a fictional one.  

It can be easy to confuse an autobiography and a memoir—which is in fact a type of autobiographical writing . The big difference is that autobiographies cover the author's whole life. Memoirs, on the other hand, focus on certain aspects of the author's life, usually in service of a theme.  

If you want to focus on your career or your childhood instead of covering your whole life, then a memoir could be a better fit for you. If so, you can check out our memoir writing prompts article . 

There are a ton of benefits to writing an autobiography. There's an old adage that goes “write what you know.” And there's no better genre to do just that! By diving into your personal story and examining life lessons and experiences, you don't have to worry about getting writer's block. You know the plot and the characters, which can help you get into a rhythm. 

This can not only give you confidence as a writer, but it can also make you a better writer as you go. A good autobiography is a lot like a novel in a lot of ways, so you use the same skills you would in a novel by painting a picture for your reader. 

But the benefits don't end with developing as a writer. It can also help you deal with traumatic events and process significant moments in your life. The goal, after all, isn't to dwell on any perceived wrongs or get back at anyone. The goal is to make sense of your personal experience by turning it into a story that readers will enjoy. 

Now that we've covered that introductory ground, let's get into how to write an autobiography, step by step. 

I would be remiss if I didn't say that you must first familiarize yourself with autobiography examples before you can write one. As such, here are some famous autobiographies to read so you can see how it's done. 

• Autobiography of Mark Twain by Mark Twain
• The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
• I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X
• Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
• Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie
• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin
• Becoming by Michelle Obama
• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

The Complete Guide to Autobiography Writing

Writing an autobiography can be a rewarding endeavor, but it’s not easy. Even though it’s about your own life, it still requires research, time, effort, and some writing skill to get done. The steps below take you through the writing process, from choosing your focus to choosing your publishing avenue. 

While an autobiography covers the author's whole life, that doesn't mean that every single detail needs to go in. Even if you could remember what you had for breakfast on April 7th when you were ten years old, there would be no reason to include it unless some significant event happened at that time. 

So the first step in the writing process is deciding what type of autobiography it will be . This, in turn, will help you decide on the scope. If it will be an intellectual autobiography, you may want to spend time focusing on your early schooling and how that impacted your ability to learn or your love of knowledge. 

On the other hand, if you're writing an autobiography themed on marriage or romantic love, you probably won't have a lot of ground to cover during your childhood years. 

Pro Tip: Write a short personal statement about why you want to write an autobiography. There's no wrong answer, but putting your “why” into words can help you keep focused through the process. 

Once you have your scope in mind, you can start doing research and outlining in broad strokes the exact events you want to cover. This is when your idea starts to take shape in your mind and on the page. 

Researching will mean delving into your family history, busting out the yearbooks, and opening up the (physical or digital) photo albums. It will mean talking to parents, friends, siblings, and other family members. To get things right, it's important not to rely just on your fallible memory. Get multiple perspectives and sources on any important event you plan to cover.  

This is also a great time to get permission to use people's names in your book. Everyone you include in the story by name should give their permission. While this isn’t legally required, it’s a courtesy. However, it’s unlikely you will be sued for anything you say in a book unless it is blatantly slanderous.

Research is a time-consuming step in the process. But it's essential for forming your autobiography in your mind. You may even learn things about your family that you never knew before!

Just write everything down (or record it) so you can reference what people have said later. Using all your research, start crafting an autobiography outline in a Word document or on paper. 

Pro Tip: If you're not sure you have enough to say to fill a book, you can write an autobiographical essay first. If you still feel like you have a lot to say after writing an essay of a few thousand words, then you may have a book's worth inside your head!

Since you don't have to include every single detail in your memoir, you get to prioritize certain things over others. And while most autobiographies move in chronological order, it doesn't preclude you from using a hook to engage your readers. 

Perhaps you want to open your autobiography with a single event that changed your life . If this means jumping forward in time in your autobiography introduction to hook the reader before jumping back to your childhood, then that's perfectly fine. 

The point is, your autobiography needs to entertain the reader. And to do this, you can craft it like a novel. The one thing your book shouldn't be is full of dry, academic writing.

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You're the protagonist of the autobiography. And being a human, you're flawed. Make this clear to the reader while also giving them a reason to like you and root for you early in the book. Unless you're writing a fictional autobiography, this needs to be a true anecdote. But it shouldn't be hard to find. 

Think about all the other people in your story as characters . Each family member is there as a supporting role to you, the protagonist. Like you, they need to be interesting, if not always likable. It also helps to include conflict early on. Most people experience plenty of conflict in their lives, so this isn't usually hard.

When you think about your autobiography in this way, you can then refine your outline – or write a whole new one—with this in mind.

And once you're confident that you have the structure you want, it's time to start writing!

Since you're writing about your own experiences, you'll probably want to stick to the first person point of view . This is the most common autobiography format—even for those written with the help of a ghostwriter. For many authors, this comes naturally because it's how we tell stories to each other. 

That said, writing “I” over and over again can get a little old. This is normal. Just take it as an opportunity to vary your sentences instead of starting every one of them with “I.”

The writing process is different for every author, but it's important that you commit to a certain word goal per day or week . Make this goal attainable and stick to it. If you go weeks or months without getting words down, you'll just have to work harder to get back into the rhythm of autobiography writing. 

That said, give yourself room to make mistakes during the first draft. When you accept that your first draft won’t be perfect and only focus on getting the words down, things get a lot easier. You can always go back and edit later. But you won’t have anything to edit if you don't write!

When you're done with your first draft, let it sit for a couple of weeks or a month. This will allow you to get some distance from the words, which can help you look at them with a critical eye when it comes time to work on your subsequent drafts. 

Some authors even do this after each consecutive draft. But many find that it's most beneficial after the first one. 

Whether you wait a week or a month or more is up to you. But you can certainly find a sweet spot that works best for your writing schedule. 

Recording your life story is no easy task. And you will, by definition, be close to it. So this distance is imperative to achieve a dispassionate look at it. From there, you can make changes and re-work it until you think it's ready for another pair of eyes. 

Once you've made your autobiography as good as you can make it, it's time to seek help. While you can certainly give a copy of the book to some friends and family to see what they think, keep in mind they're likely biased. Chances are they're also not professional editors, either. 

This is why it's always a good idea to hire an editor —preferably one who's familiar with autobiographies. Of course, there are many different kinds of editors. And taking a critical look at your book in step 5 is important for choosing the right kind. 

If you think there are some structural issues with the book, you may want to hire a developmental editor. If you want someone to find typos and grammar issues, then a line editor may be best. 

For more information, check out our article on different kinds of editing . 

No matter what kind you go with, getting the feedback of an unbiased professional can do wonders for your autobiography . 

Even if you're not looking to make millions with your autobiography, publishing can still be a lot of fun. While it's hard to get a book deal for an autobiography unless you're already a celebrity, self-publishing is always an option. 

With a formatted manuscript and a professional cover, you can have your book up on Amazon and other online retailers in short order. You can even order author copies of your paperback to give to friends and family. 

To learn more about this process, check out our self-publishing hub .  

Whether you want to sell your autobiography to a wide audience or simply have it around for future generations of your family to read, writing about your life experience is a worthwhile endeavor. It can help you become a better writer while reflecting on your life and the lessons learned. 

To cover your life story in a compelling manner means leaving some things out and focusing more on others. Pivotal moments in your life should be the “plot points” of your autobiography. Striving to meet some goal should create a through-line for the reader. And the setbacks on your way to that goal can create the conflict needed to keep things interesting. 

Of course, all this should be true—unless you're writing a fictional autobiography!

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 Engaging Personal & Professional Bios (with Examples)

Last Updated: August 24, 2023 Fact Checked

Writing Personal and Professional Bios

Writing student bios, making your bio stand out, sample bios.

This article was co-authored by Melody Godfred, JD and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau . Melody Godfred is a Career Coach, Entrepreneur, and Founder of Write In Color, a full-service resume and career development company that specializes in developing compelling personal narratives and brands. With over ten years of experience, Melody has worked with clients at entertainment and media companies including Apple, Disney, Fox, Netflix, Riot Games, Viacom, and Warner Bros, among others. The Muse invited Melody and Write In Color to serve as one of its 30 trusted career counselors (out of 3,000) to provide one-on-one coaching and resume services to the platform's more than four million active users. Melody earned a JD from Loyola Marymount University and BS from the University of Southern California. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 5,727,547 times.

Personal bios are a great way to show people who you are and what you do. Whether writing a bio about yourself for a personal or professional website, a college application, or a social media account, bios are an important part of connecting with your audience or customer base. It’s important to take your time and be thoughtful as you write to ensure you get the right message across! Read on for a complete guide to writing a personal (or professional) bio about yourself, along with writing tips to make it as engaging as possible.

Things You Should Know

• Start with your first and last name in a quick introductory sentence. Then, explain your job, greatest achievements, and professional mission statement.
• Expand on personal details, including where you’re from, your educational background, and a quick summary of passions that aren’t related to your job.
• Mention any projects you’re working on and end the bio with your contact information. Write in the third-person perspective unless it’s for social media.

• The difference between personal and professional bios is all in the tone you use. Both cover your job and skills, but the bio you write for a personal website might sound less formal than the one you write for a job application.
• As you write your bio, adjust your tone to make your bio appropriately formal, funny, professional, or personal.
• If you can’t figure out what to write, check out bios from other people in your field and get a sense of their writing strategy. You can use their bios as models and write yours based on their overall structure.

• For example, begin a third-person bio with a sentence like, "Joann Smith is a graphic designer in Boston," and a first-person bio with "I am a graphic designer in Boston."

• For example, a simple yet solid introduction sentence could be, “Dan Keller is a columnist for the Boulder Times.”
• Avoid writing a nickname in your bio. Even if your bio isn’t strictly for professional use, it’s best to treat it like a formal introduction to other people.
• Be sure to mention your company or brand within your introduction. You might work for a company or own your own business with a personal brand.

• For example, “Dan Keller is a columnist for the Boulder Times. He specializes in writing public interest stories on the latest technology.
• Both personal and professional bios typically include job information; personal bios simply present that information a little more informally.
• If you’re writing about your job informally, you might write something like, “Joann Smith is a passionate knitter who also happens to own and run her paper supply company.”

• “Dan Keller is a columnist for the Boulder Times. His 2011 series "All that and More" earned him Boulder’s prestigious “Up-and-Comer” award for innovation.”
• Don’t make up accomplishments if you don’t have anything notable to add and only include achievements that relate to the career information or skills discussed in the bio.
• Avoid buzzwords like "innovative," "experienced," "creative," and so on, which are often so overused that they don’t mean anything to people. Show readers what you can do through specific details, not catchy phrases.

• For example, “Dan is committed to helping people understand and embrace the true power of technology.”

• For example: “When he isn’t glued to a computer screen, Dan spends time working in the garden, learning French, and trying very hard not to be the worst pool player in the Rockies.”
• The details you share can vary by bio. For a strictly personal bio, include details like hobbies, personal beliefs, and mottos.
• For a bio that falls between "professional" and "personal," try sharing details that give a sense of who you are but won’t alienate others.
• Avoid self-deprecating comments and details that are too intimate or potentially embarrassing for you or your audience.

• For example: “Dan is currently working on a memoir.”
• Keep this part of your bio short and sweet! A sentence is two is all you need.

• If you publish this bio online, format your email address carefully to avoid spam. Many people write email addresses online like: “Greg (at) fizzlemail (dot) com.”
• This clearly tells readers how to spell out your email without making it easy for spammers and bots to copy and use your information.

• Ask your friends and family (especially anyone who is a strong writer) to proofread your bio and give you feedback. A fresh pair of eyes can catch mistakes that you may miss!
• Online editing software like Grammarly can grade your piece in terms of readability and suggest minor improvements.
• Every once in a while, go back and update your bio. By putting in a little work frequently to keep it up to date, you'll save yourself a lot of work when you need to use it again.

• Chronological. Start at the story's beginning and end at the end. It’s simple and works well if you’ve had an interesting life that has taken you from points A to B to C in unusual or impressive ways.
• Circular. Start at an important moment (D), then backtrack to the beginning (A), and explain all the events leading up to that moment (B, C), eventually bringing the reader full circle. This is good for building suspense!
• Zoomed In. Focus on one critical event (C) to symbolically tell a larger story. Use a few small surrounding details (A, B, D) to orient the reader, but give that one moment enough emphasis to stand on its own.

• Avoid statements like, "UCSF has one of the top-ranked research-based med schools in the world, which would provide me with the foundation necessary to achieve my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor."
• Instead, write something like, “Watching a trauma surgeon save my brother’s life is a moment I’ll never forget. Since then, I’ve known undoubtedly that I would dedicate my life to medicine. My brother was lucky that his surgeon studied at one of the best programs in the country. By doing the same, I hope to one day mean to another family what Dr. Heller does to mine."

• Avoid statements like, "Having had a rather minimalistic upbringing, I find that I continue to assiduously value hard work and frugality above all else."
• Instead, try something like, "Growing up very poor taught me that hard work and thrift are sometimes the only things a person can afford."
• Well-written ideas make you seem far more intelligent than big words do. Focus on expressing yourself clearly, and don’t worry about the syllable count!

• Avoid statements like, "I learned a lot from my experience as a camp counselor."
• Instead, try something like, "I came out of my time as a camp counselor with a better understanding of empathy than before. Now, when my younger sister acts up, I know how to help her without sounding bossy or controlling."

• Different types of bio have different word count expectations. For instance, the average brief personal bio is around 250 words. For a resume or job search, it’s okay to have a personal bio of around 300 to 500 words.
• For longer personal bios (ones you might post on an “about me” page for a professional website, for example), aim for around 1,000 to 2,000 words. Include all the details you can, but keep them concise.
• Some social media sites, such as Twitter, restrict your bio to a certain number of words or characters. Ensure that you make the most of that space.

• For example, Tom Hank’s personal bio on Twitter reads, “I'm that actor in some of the movies you liked and some you didn't. Sometimes I'm in pretty good shape, other times I'm not. Hey, you gotta live, you know?”

• Passive: "The window was broken by the zombie."
• Active: "The zombie broke the window."
• The difference between these sentences is stark: in the first, you have no idea whether the window just happened to be broken. The second is obvious: the zombie broke the window, and you need to hit the road.

• Avoid statements like, "Reading The Great Gatsby was a pivotal moment in my life that made me totally rethink my preconceptions about what it means to live in modern America. Thanks to that assignment, I want to pursue American Studies."
• Instead, try something like, "My family’s ties to this country aren’t glamorous. We didn’t arrive on the Mayflower or have our surname butchered at Ellis Island. We settled in four states across the Midwest, where we’ve lived happily for over 100 years. The magic of that simple act isn’t lost on me, which is why I’ve chosen to major in American Studies."

• For example, if you’re writing an Instagram bio, include a link to your personal website too—especially if there’s a longer and more detailed bio for readers to check out there.
• Include a brief call-to-action, too! For example, if you have contact info, you might write “Contact me using the following” before you add the links.

• On your website, longer bios (between 1,500 and 2,000 words) will have the best online optimization. If your bio needs to be shorter, be sure to at least use third-person POV, since your name is another keyword.
• For example, your website’s “About” page could easily support a 1,500+ word bio. However, from there, you’d need to edit that bio down to a few sentences (a short paragraph) for your LinkedIn profile.

Community Q&A

• Throughout the process, think back to the purpose and audience you identified in Step 1. This will help guide your writing. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you're writing online, include hyperlinks to things you mention, such as projects you worked on or a personal blog you keep. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/8-steps-writing-bio-pro-chris-brogan-fact/
• ↑ http://michaelbmaine.com/home/2012/12/13/how-to-write-a-personal-bio
• ↑ https://www.pullmanfoundation.org/professional-bio-writing-101/
• ↑ https://www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2011/01/28/how-to-write-a-personal-bio
• ↑ https://thewritepractice.com/how-to-write-a-bio/
• ↑ https://weareindy.com/blog/freelance-bio-examples-how-to-write-an-eye-catching-bio
• ↑ https://searchengineland.com/guide/what-is-seo

About This Article

When you write a personal bio, write in the third person so it sounds more objective and professional. Start with a sentence that includes your name and what you do for a living. Then, mention your most important accomplishments that are relevant to your field of work. Briefly mention a couple of your hobbies or interests to make your bio more relatable. End with a sentence on any big projects you’re currently working on. Try to keep your bio around 250-500 words. For help writing a personal bio for college applications or social media, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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27 of the Best Professional Bio Examples I've Ever Seen [+ Templates]

Published: December 20, 2023

As a writer, I have to let readers and potential clients know my expertise, my skills, and why they should work with me or be interested in what I say. So, a professional bio is a must in my industry.

Though I'm definitely familiar with professional bios, I can admit they can be challenging. What do I include? What do readers need to know?

As daunting as writing a professional bio can be, professional bios are crucial when applying for jobs, seeking new clients, or networking. A professional bio also gives the world a brief snapshot of you and your professional ideals.

If you‘re at a loss for how to write a professional bio that packs a punch, I’ve got you covered. In this journey, tools like HubSpot’s user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder can be instrumental in showcasing your professional bio online with ease and style.

I will walk you through how to write a professional bio that you can proudly publish, provide professional bio templates, and show you the best professional bio examples you can get inspiration from.

What is a professional bio?

Professional bio templates, how to write a professional bio, best professional bio examples, how to write a short bio.

80+ Professional Bio Templates & Examples

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A professional bio or biography is a short overview of your experience. Professional bios usually include details about education, employment, achievements, and relevant skills.

Purpose of Professional Bios

A bio tells an audience about who you are, what you've done, and what you can do. It can help potential employers, fans, or customers understand your personality and what you stand for.

Writing a bio without a clear starting point is challenging — believe me, I've tried. To ease the process, here are some templates I put together to get you started.

I‘ve found it’s best to keep your professional bio honest and to the point. Too long of a bio, and you risk losing your audience's attention. After all, audiences will only read a web page for less than a minute before clicking elsewhere.

And honesty is key because most consumers and clients won‘t invest in someone or something if it doesn’t seem trustworthy. In fact, 67% of consumers say they must trust a brand before investing in its products or services.

"Plus," she adds, "I'm always happy to talk about my cats at any given moment. You never know when a fellow cat mom could be reading."

Values and Work Approach

Your values can sometimes show your work ethic more effectively than your career path. It can also help you endear yourself to employers and colleagues who want to work with people with similar values.

So don‘t be shy: Share how you incorporate your values into your work. Whether it’s a commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, or ethical decision-making, explain what drives you and be enthusiastic about it.

Your Personality

Remember: Your bio should always include a taste of your personality! Your sense of humor, creativity, or collaborative nature could all give readers a sense of who you are. This helps readers connect with you on a more personal level.

Remember to tailor your bio for different platforms and audiences. Also, keep it concise and impactful while highlighting the most relevant information in each context.

First-Person Bio vs. Third-Person Bio

While first-person bios are common, third-person bios can be more effective in formal situations.

Your decision to write your professional bio in the first or third person depends on your desire to leave a more personable or assertive impression.

Both approaches work, provided you tailor them to your goals and audience. What’s important is to be clear and tell your story in a way that connects with your reader.

How to Write a First-Person Bio

Writing in the first person can be a great way to connect with your audience when building a personal brand. When you write a first-person bio, use "I" or "me" to make yourself relatable and approachable.

Here's one way I’d write a first-person bio:

"I'm a freelance writer specializing in small business content. I've worked with companies in a variety of industries like home care to fine leather goods."

Speaking in the first person here connects you with a client or brand based on your experience and opinions. Put another way, writing a first-person bio is like telling your story to your audience.

Here are a few tips to make your first-person bio great:

Don’t start every sentence with "I."

Showing instead of telling is a great approach.

Let’s say you’re a writer who wants to create a short professional bio. Instead of saying, "I love to write," you can say, "Writer. Bad but enthusiastic dancer."

This portrays your writing skill, shows your personality outside of writing as a dancer, and includes a little sense of humor, which is essential for a writer.

Remember, you know yourself better than anyone.

Adding a back story to your bio helps create context for the roles and successes you write about. Think of it like a case study about who you were, what you are now, and the process that got you to your current position.

Focus on valuable details.

Quick facts about you can showcase your identity and values. For example, if you're writing a bio for LinkedIn, think about how to tie your hobby into what you do.

Let's say Animal Crossing is your hobby. Does it align with your career aspirations? It can be a great addition to your bio if you want to pursue a video game career.

However, if your interests lie elsewhere, including a more relevant hobby is better.

How to Write a Third-Person Bio

Third-person bios sound more authoritative and objective. So, if you’re job searching in a formal industry, applying for grants, or trying to get published, you may want to stick to the third person.

For instance, when you write a third-person bio, you may start with:

"Jasmine Montgomery is a Senior Hiring Manager at L’Oreal based in New York. She recruits across several business units to connect with the brightest talent from around the globe."

By only using your name and pronouns to speak about yourself here, you are letting your title and skill set speak for themselves.

These bios create distance between the subject of the bio (you) and the reader through a third person. This person could be anyone, but they usually speak in a tone emphasizing their expertise.

This makes third-person bios feel aloof or overly formal sometimes.

Ideally, your third-person bio should sound friendly but polished, like a message from a close colleague at work. Here are a few tips on how to write a great third-person bio.

Write from the perspective of someone you know and trust.

It can be challenging to write about yourself, so try to see yourself from the perspective of your favorite person at work or a mentor you trust. This can help you write from a position of authority without feeling self-conscious.

Show the reader why they should trust your opinion.

A professional bio often reflects a specific industry or niche. With this in mind, your text should include relevant details that professionals in your industry know. Avoid jargon whenever you can.

Remember, you're telling a story.

If you want a third-person bio, but you're used to writing in first-person, it may help to write it the most comfortable way for you.

Your professional bio is an essential piece of writing, so edit it carefully. Edit your writing from both points of view and see which works best for your target audience.

Here's how to write a professional bio, step by step.

• Create an 'About' page for your website or profile.
• Begin writing your bio with your first and last name.
• Mention any associated brand name you might use.
• State your current position and what you do.
• Include at least one professional accomplishment.
• Describe your values and how they inform your career.
• Briefly tell your readers who you are outside of work.
• Use humor or a personal story to add flavor to your professional bio.

If you’re anything like me, you probably don't think about your professional bio until you’re asked to "send one over via email."

You have one afternoon to come up with it, so you scramble together a bio that ends up reading like this:

"Rodney Erickson is a content marketing professional at HubSpot, a CRM platform that helps companies attract visitors, convert leads, and close customers.

Previously, Rodney worked as a marketing manager for a tech software startup. He graduated with honors from Columbia University with a dual degree in Business Administration and Creative Writing."

To be fair, in certain contexts, your professional bio needs to be more formal, like Mr. Erickson's up there. But there are also cases where writing a personable and conversational bio is good.

Whether you choose the formal or casual route, use the following steps to create a perfect bio.

1. Create an 'About' page for your website or profile.

You need an online space to keep your professional bio. Here are a few to consider (some of these you might already have in place):

• Facebook Business page .
• Industry blog byline .
• Instagram account .
• Personal website .
• LinkedIn profile .
• Industry website .
• Personal blog .

As you'll see in the professional bio examples below, the length and tone of your bio will differ depending on the platforms you use.

Instagram, for example, allows only 150 characters of bio space, whereas you can write as much as you want on your website or Facebook Business page.

2. Begin writing your bio with your first and last name.

If your readers remember nothing else about your bio, they should remember your name. Therefore, it's a good idea for your first and last name to be the first two words of your professional bio.

Even if your name is printed above this bio (hint: it should), this is a rare moment where it's okay to be redundant.

For example, if I were writing my bio, I might start it like this:

Lindsay Kolowich

Lindsay Kolowich is a Senior Marketing Manager at HubSpot.

3. Mention any associated brand name you might use.

Will your professional bio represent you or a business you work for? Ensure you mention the brand you associate with in your bio. If you're a freelancer, you may have a personal business name or pseudonym you advertise to your clients.

Here are a few examples:

• Lindsay Kolowich Marketing.
• SEO Lindsay.
• Kolowich Consulting.
• Content by Kolowich (what do you think ... too cheesy?).

Maybe you founded your own company and want its name to be separate from your real name. Keep it simple like this: "Lindsay Kolowich is the founder and CEO of Kolowich Consulting."

4. State your current position and what you do.

Whether you're the author of a novel or a mid-level specialist, use the following few lines of your bio to describe what you do in that position. Refrain from assuming your audience knows what your job title entails.

Make your primary responsibilities known so readers can know you and understand what you offer to your industry.

5. Include at least one professional accomplishment.

Just as a business touts its client successes through case studies, your professional bio should let your audience know what you've achieved.

What have you done for yourself — as well as for others — that makes you a valuable player in your industry?

6. Describe your values and how they inform your career.

Why do you do what you do? What might make your contribution to the market different from your colleagues? What are the values that make your business a worthwhile investment to others?

Create a professional bio that answers these questions.

7. Briefly tell your readers who you are outside of work.

Transition from describing your values in work to defining who you are outside of work. This may include:

• Your family.
• Your hometown.
• Sports you play.
• Hobbies and interests.
• Favorite music and travel destinations.
• Side hustles you're working on.

People like connecting with other people. The more transparent you are about who you are personally, the more likable you'll be to people reading about you.

8. Use humor or a personal story to add flavor to your professional bio.

End your professional bio on a good or, more specifically, a funny note. By leaving your audience with something quirky or unique, you can ensure they'll leave your website with a pleasant impression of you.

Following the steps above when writing your bio is important, but take your time with one section. People consume lots of information daily. So ensure your bio hooks 'em in the first line, and you won’t lose them.

(P.S. Want to boost your professional brand? Take one of HubSpot Academy's free certification courses . In just one weekend, you can add a line to your resume and bio that over 60,000 marketers covet.)

Why Good Bios Are Important for a Professional

You may think, "How many people read professional bios, anyway?"

The answer: A lot. Though there's no way to tell who is reading it, you want it catchy. Your professional bio will delight the right people coming across it on multiple platforms.

Professional bios can live on your LinkedIn profile , company website, guest posts, speaker profiles, Twitter bio , Instagram bio , and many other places.

And most importantly, it‘s the tool you can leverage most when you’re networking.

Bottom line? People will read your professional bio. Whether they remember it or it makes them care about you is a matter of how well you present yourself to your intended audience.

So, what does a top-notch professional bio look like? Let‘s review a few sample bios for professionals like you and me. Then, we’ll cover bio examples from some of the best people in the industry.

Short Sample Bios

Your bio doesn't have to be complicated. Here are five samples to glean inspiration from.

Example 1: Friendly Sample Bio

"Hey! My name is Ryan, and I'm a marketing specialist passionate about digital advertising. I have five years of experience managing various online campaigns and improving brand visibility for clients across multiple verticals. I love analyzing consumer behavior and leveraging data-driven strategies to maximize ROI. Outside work, I enjoy traveling, taking funny photos, and exploring new hiking trails."

Example 2: Mid-Career Sample Bio

"Jennifer Patel is a versatile graphic designer known for her creative approach and attention to detail. With a background in visual arts and eight years of experience, Jennifer has worked on diverse projects ranging from logo designs to website layouts. Her ability to understand and translate client needs into visually striking designs sets her apart. Jennifer finds inspiration in nature, music, and pop culture."

Example 3: Sales Sample Bio

"I'm a seasoned sales executive with a track record of exceeding targets and building strong client relationships. With a background in B2B sales, I've built a natural ability to understand customer needs and consistently exceed quota every month. I pride myself in my communication skills and strategic approaches, which have helped me thrive in highly competitive markets such as SaaS sales. Outside work, I enjoy playing basketball and volunteering at local charities."

Example 4: HR Sample Bio

"I am a dedicated human resources professional with a passion for fostering a positive workplace culture and facilitating employee development. With eight years of experience in talent acquisition and HR operations, I've played a key role in building high-performing teams. I'm known for my strong interpersonal skills and ability to create inclusive and supportive work environments. In my free time, I enjoy practicing yoga and exploring new culinary experiences."

Example 5: Software Engineer Sample Bio

"David Chang is a senior software engineer specializing in backend development. With a strong background in computer science and six years of experience, David has successfully built scalable and efficient solutions for complex technical challenges. He is well-versed in various programming languages and frameworks like C++, Java, and Ruby on Rails. In his spare time, David enjoys reading science fiction novels and playing the guitar."

Below, we've curated some of the best professional bio examples we've ever seen on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and the various places you might describe yourself.

Check 'em out and use them as inspiration when crafting your own.

• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Author
• Chima Mmeje: SEO Content Writer
• DJ Nexus: DJ
• Lena Axelsson: Marriage & Family Therapist
• Mark Levy: Branding Firm Founder
• Audra Simpson: Political Anthropologist
• Marie Mikhail: Professional Recruiter
• Wonbo Woo: Executive Producer
• Chris Burkard: Freelance Photographer
• Lisa Quine: Creative Consultant
• Nancy Twine: Hair Care Founder
• Trinity Mouzon: Wellness Brand Founder
• Alberto Perez: Co-Founder of Zumba Fitness
• Ann Handley: Writer and Marketer

1. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie : Author

Bio platform: personal website.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie begins her professional bio with an invitation to her roots.

In a few paragraphs, she describes when and where she was born, her family, her education, her honorary degrees, and the depth of her work, which has been translated into 30 languages and several publications.

She can keep readers engaged by leading with a powerful hook that aligns with her target audience’s marketing needs.

• There’s clarity about who Chima serves.
• The hook is bold, catchy, and compels anyone to read further.
• Including client results makes clients visualize what they can expect.

3. DJ Nexus : DJ

Bio platform: facebook.

This New England-based DJ has single-handedly captured the Likes of over 2,000 people in and beyond Boston, MA. And even if you don‘t listen to the type of music he produces, it’s hard not to read his compelling Facebook bio.

For instance, consider his tagline, under "About" — " Quiet during the day. QUITE LOUD at night! " DJ Nexus tells you when he works awesomely. I got goosebumps just imagining a dance club where he might play music.

The second is the "long version," which is even more interesting than the first. Why? It reads like a story — a compelling one, at that. In fact, it gets hilarious in some parts.

The second sentence of the bio reads: "He was frightened of public school, loved playing baseball and football, ran home to watch ape films on the 4:30 Movie, listened to The Jam and The Buzzcocks, and read magic trick books."

Here's another excerpt from the middle:

It's a well-put value proposition that sets her apart from the rest of the HR industry.

Marie concludes her bio with a smooth mix of professional skills, like her Spanish fluency, and personal interests, such as podcasting and Star Wars (she mentions the latter with just the right amount of humor).

• Straight off the bat, Marie uses a story to share her experiences of how she began as a recruiter.
• It provides a subtle pitch for readers to check out her podcast.
• The bio exudes Maries approachable, fun, and playful personality.

8. Wonbo Woo : Executive Producer

Wonbo Woo is the executive producer of WIRED's video content and has several impressive credits to his name. What does this mean for his professional bio? He has to prioritize.

With this in mind, Wonbo opens his bio with the most eye-catching details first (if the image below is hard to read, click it to see the full copy ).

I wouldn‘t necessarily be inclined to follow Chris if his bio had simply read, "I post beautiful images." But images that inspire me to travel? Now that’s something I can get behind.

Last, he ends on a humble, sweet note: "He is happiest with his wife Breanne raising their two sons." So inject personal information into your bio — it makes you seem approachable.

• It highlights Chris’s achievement without bragging.
• The last sentence portrays Chris as a responsible man who loves his family.
• The well-written bio speaks to nature lovers who like the outdoors, surfing, and more. This gives them reasons to follow Chris.

10. Lisa Quine : Creative Consultant

Bio platform: portfolio website.

Creative professionals who specialize in visual art may find it challenging to balance the writing of their bio and displaying of their portfolio. Not Lisa Quine. Lisa has an exceptional balance of her professional bio and creative work.

Throughout her bio, you'll notice the number of murals she's completed and a brief timeline of her career. This helps her paint the picture of who she is as a professional.

The rest of her bio similarly focuses on Twine's strengths as someone who’s able to take hair care "back to basics."

Mouzon effectively grips the reader's attention with this introduction and then dives into some of her impressive accomplishments — including a brand now sold at Urban Outfitters and Target.

The language used throughout Mouzon's bio is authentic, real, and honest.

For instance, in the second paragraph, she admits:

"While building a brand may have looked effortless from the outside, starting a business at age 23 with no resources or funding quickly forced me to realize that early-stage entrepreneurship was anything but transparent."

As an avid Zumba fan, I was excited to include this one. Perez styles his LinkedIn bio as a short story, starting with his background as a hard-working teen who held three jobs by age 14.

His bio tells the fun and fascinating origin story of Zumba, in which Perez, an aerobics teacher in Florida at the time, forgot his music for class and used a Latin music cassette tape instead ... "And it was an instant hit!"

His bio continues:

"Shortly after he was connected to Alberto Periman and Alberto Aghion, and Zumba was officially created ... What started as a dream now has 15 million people in more than 200,000 locations in 186 countries who take Zumba classes every week."

There's something in there for everyone.

• The last section of the bio shows Ann’s warm personality — "Ann lives in Boston, where she is Mom to creatures two- and four-legged."
• Written in the third person, this bio has lots of proof (like followers), which shows Ann is a terrific marketing leader.

If you're posting a bio on a social media account or sending a quick blurb to a client, you want to keep it short and sweet while showcasing your accomplishments.

To get started, use these best practices for writing your short professional bio:

• Introduce yourself.
• State what you do.
• Add key skills or areas of expertise.
• Include a personal mission statement
• Celebrate your wins.
• Provide your contact information.
• Show them your personality.

1. Introduce yourself.

Your introduction is your first impression, so always begin by telling people who you are. You may start with a greeting like, "Hello, my name is" or "Hi! Let me first introduce myself …" when sending your bio as a message.

If you’re writing a bio for an online platform, stating your name at the beginning works as well.

Leading with your name — even as a question — is important for recognition and building relationships.

2. State what you do.

Give people an idea of what you do daily and where you work. Your job title is how the people put you into context and consider whether your profession relates to their industry.

So detail your most relevant work in your short bios, like CEO, professor, and author.

Take a cue from Angela Duckworth , who specifies what she does in her LinkedIn bio:

3. Add key skills or areas of expertise.

If you send a bio to a client or potential employer, highlight your most valuable skills. For instance, if your expertise is in social media marketing and content creation, like Ivanka Dekoning , list these skills.

• A joke. "Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. At least that’s what I learned when I created…"
• Mention a hobby. "I’ll be honest: for me, tennis is life — Go Nadal!"
• A fun fact. "Every year, I watch 100 new films! I’m a cinephile and love every movie genre."
• A few emojis related to your interests. "🎶🤖🎾🎬🎭"

Whichever way you choose to get personal, give people a glimpse into who you are as an individual.

When writing a short bio, it can be tempting to pack in as much relevant information about yourself as possible — but this isn’t the most effective approach.

Instead, focus on including the details that you and your audience care about most and leave out the fluff.

Let's dive into a few examples of short professional bios.

Short Professional Bio Examples

• Tristen Taylor: Marketing Manager
• Lianna Patch: Copywriter
• Precious Oboidhe: Content Strategist and Writer
• Rebecca Bollwitt: Writer
• Megan Gilmore: Cookbook Author
• Bea Dixon: Feminine Care Founder
• Tammy Hembrow: Instagram Influencer
• Dr. Cody: Chiropractor
• Larry Kim: Founder
• Dharmesh Shah: Founder and CTO
• Lily Ugbaja: Content Strategist
• Ian Anderson Gray: Marketer
• Van Jones: Political Commentator, Author, and Lawyer

1. Tristen Taylor: Marketing Manager

Bio platform: blog byline.

Tristen Taylor is a Marketing Manager here at HubSpot. She's written content for HubSpot's Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service blogs; her blog author bio is one of my favorites.

What I love most about Tristen's bio is that it’s a great example of how to deliver information about yourself that is relevant to your work while also sharing fun details that audiences will find relatable.

Her bio reads:

"Building from her experience with GoCo.io and Southwest Airlines, Tristen's work has been recognized by Marketing Brew and BLACK@INBOUND. She lives in Washington, DC, attending anime conventions and painting in her free time."

Gilmore further includes a CTA link within her Instagram bio that leads followers to free, ready-to-use recipes. You might think, " Why would she do that since it discourages people from buying her book?"

But that couldn't be further from the truth.

By giving her followers the chance to try out her recipes, she's slowly turning leads into customers. After I tried a few of her Instagram recipes and loved them, I bought her book, knowing I'd like more of what she offered.

• The bio is short and direct.
• The CTA link includes an invitation for people to join her newsletter. Meaning, she can build her email list.

6. Bea Dixon : Feminine Care Founder

Bea Dixon, Founder and CEO of The Honey Pot Company, efficiently uses the space on her Instagram profile to highlight who she is as a well-rounded human — not just a businesswoman.

For instance, while she highlights her girl boss attitude with a tiara emoji, she equally calls attention to her fashion interests (Free People), her pets, Boss and Sadie, and her love for ramen noodles.

What more do you need to know?

Ian doesn't take his bio too seriously but uses every character to highlight everything about him.

He includes his skills as a marketer and podcast host, who he is outside work as a dad, and what he can help you do. His smiles also give the bio a sense of humor and realness.

Don't forget to share this post!

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50 Eye-Catching Autobiography Titles (+ How to Write Your Own)

POSTED ON Oct 12, 2023

Written by Shannon Clark

You’ve written your life story. 

You’ve laid your heart bare before the world

So, what’s the best title for your one-of-a-kind masterpiece?

“____________: An Autobiography”?

Seriously, unless you’re a household name, using “autobiography” as part of your title might not work in your favor, but not to worry. You don’t have to be famous to write an autobiography , but you do need a title that will grab a buyer's attention, so they know your book is worth a second look.

Don't like it?

The purpose of this article is to break down what makes a standout autobiography title and the process for creating your own. 

Need autobiography titles? Let's dive in!

The secret sauce for writing an amazing book title.

The process of creating an autobiography book title that gets noticed starts with a marketer's mindset.

Yes, it all boils down to strategic book positioning in the marketplace. Creativity is a big part of it, but that’s a small part of the bigger picture. After all, if your book doesn't get in front of the people who would be most likely to read it, you can't change lives with the content inside!

Unlike fiction books or other types of nonfiction books (e.g. business books or textbooks) where there’s a specific category or genre expectation, autobiographies play by their own set of rules—the more creative the better. 

How to think like a marketer when creating your title

If you are self-publishing your book, then you’re probably already aware that marketing is a key component of your book’s success, but what is marketing exactly? 

The American Marketing Association defines marketing as

Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. 

When marketing your book, knowing how to write a good book title matters, because, along with your cover, it’s the first thing a potential buyer sees (reads) before making a buying decision. A casual search for “autobiography” on Amazon pulled up over 700,000 results. This doesn’t mean that every book belongs in the category, but it’s still a lot of books.

You might be asking how you get your book to rise to the top of search results.

Start with a great title. 

Here are some best practices:

• Make your title relevant – You can never go wrong with a title that reflects the theme of your book . This will clue buyers into what to expect. You can also go with a significant statement or quote drawn directly from your story. Clever titles also work, but try to stay away from the cheesy ones that confuse buyers.
• Appeal to your ideal audience’s needs – Every book is not for everyone. Target a specific reader type when creating your title. For example, meteorologist and television personality Ginger Zee titled her book Natural Disasters. This title works well for her because her book’s content is about the unpredictable “storms” of life she has faced and she also covers storms in her reporting. 
• Stay away from clickbait – Or anything that leads readers to believe your book is about one thing but it’s something else. This only frustrates readers and could potentially lead to bad reviews. 
• Use a primary keyword in your title if it fits – First Gen by Alejandra Campoverdi and Cooked by Jeff Henderson include keyword(s) that are relevant to buyer searches. 
• Invite the reader into your story – This can be done by asking a question like the autobiography title What Are You Doing Here? by Baroness Floella Benjamin. Or, create an image in their mind like The Ugly Cry by Danielle Henderson or The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish. 

Hint: Keep it short. According to Amazon, “Customers are more likely to skim past long titles (over 60 characters). There are exceptions to the rules. You’ll see some in the list that follows.

Don’t forget about writing a subtitle for your book . They are optional but a great way to add a splash of flavor. 

50 eye-catching autobiography titles that inspire

After an exhaustive search in the autobiography categories of the top online book retailers, I selected 50 incredible autobiography titles as a starting point for creating an amazing title for your autobiography. Note: Memoir titles listed under the autobiography category are included in the list.

Autobiography titles about celebrities

• What Are You Doing Here? – Baronness Floella Benjamin
• Tis Herself – Maureen O’Hara
• F inding Me by Viola Davis
• Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots By Reba McEntire
• Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories by Kelly Ripa
• Thicker than Water by Kerry Washington
• We Were Dreamers by Simu Liu
• Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today by Valerie Bertinelli
• Just as I am by Cicely Tyson
• A Promised Land by Barack Obama
• Making It So by Patrick Stewart
• Inside Out by Demi Moore
• In Pieces by Sally Field
• The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
• Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder by William Shatner
• Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini
• Look Out for the Little Guy! By Scott Lang
• I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart, Neil Strauss
• No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality by Michael J. Fox
• Scenes from My Life by Michael K. Williams
• The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe
• I Came as a Shadow – John Thompson

Autobiography titles about authors

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings  by Maya Angelou
• Lit by Mary Karr

Autobiography titles about family

• The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
• Mott Street by Ava Chin
• The Girl in the Middle by Anais Granofsky
• All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung
• The Ugly Cry by Danielle Henderson

Autobiography titles about immigration, culture, and race

• Good Morning, Hope: A True Story of Refugee Twin Sisters and Their Triumph over War, Poverty, and Heartbreak by Argita Zalli, and Detina Zalli 
• Negroland by Margo Jefferson
• First Gen by Alejandra Campoverdi
• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui
• Heart of Fire: An Immigrant Daughter’s Story – Mazie K. Hirono
• The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clementine Wamariya, Elizabeth Weil

Autobiography titles about beating the odds

• Cooked by Jeff Henderson
• The Pale-Faced Lie by David Crow
• Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Mann, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust by Michael Hingson and Susy Flory
• When the Tears Dry by Meredith Hawkins
• Reaching for the Moon by Katherine Johnson
• 80 Percent Luck, 20 Percent Skill: My Life as a WWII Navy Ferry Pilot by Ralph T. Alshouse

Autobiography titles about faith

• Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward After Loss and Heartache by Granger Smith
• The Barn by David Hill
• All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore

Autobiography titles about journalists, reporters, and media

• Natural Disaster: I Cover Them. I am One by Ginger Zee
• Going There by Katie Couric
• Rough Draft by Kati Tur
• The Long Loneliness by Dorothy Day

Use a free tool to generate your own autobiography title

You obviously can't use these published autobiography titles for your own book – but you can use our free book title generator to come up with suggestions that you could use.

It's really easy to use, and instantly gives you an unlimited amount of working titles – or even final titles – to use for your book!

1. Select nonfiction for the book’s genre in the drop-down menu

2. Fill in the details

For the next question, if you have a book description, type “yes” and add your description in the text box.

If you don’t have a description yet, answer “no” and fill out the questions. Eventually, you will need to write a book description , but this is often something our authors do after they complete their manuscript .

3. Click “generate”

That's it! Get ready for some unique autobiography book title suggestions. Remember, if you don't like the one that you see, you can continue to generate as many as you'd like.

Final thoughts

Your autobiography title can be the difference between someone scrolling past your book on Amazon or stopping to read a sample. Whatever title you choose, remember that it’s just as much about you as your reader. Make them want to read your story by giving them something unique that piques their interest. 

You can also look for inspiration in other genres. For example, some memoir book titles could also lend well to an autobiography – like What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo. Intriguing, isn't it? Don't limit yourself!

Are you ready to take the next steps with your autobiography? We have a professional publishing team ready to guide you through the book development process. 

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"THE NEWSPAPER YOU CAN TRUST SINCE 1964"

How ‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X’ Changed the Life of This Incarcerated man

May 17, 2024

Victor Thomas holds a copy of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” one of his favorite books. (Photo provided by Victor Thomas)

By Devin Blake

This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on fifteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Visit milwaukeenns.org .

Malcolm X once wrote that, “People don’t realize how a man’s whole life can be changed by one book.”

For Victor Thomas, who is about halfway through a 40-year prison sentence, one book that has had an effect on him is the one in which this quote appears, “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.”

The book was published nearly 60 years ago, but its racial and political ideas have current-day applications for Thomas and, he argues, all Americans.

“Even those who are not justice-impacted, they might, after reading this book, come away with a different outlook,” Thomas said.

As Malcolm X’s 99th birthday draws near on May 19, there is continued interest in his life and legacy.

Then and now

While Thomas draws such far-ranging lessons from the book, he was initially struck by the personal parallels between X’s life and his own while growing up in Milwaukee’s 53206 ZIP code, notorious for high rates of incarceration and poverty.

“Just like Malcolm, I was born into and came up in poverty, had a parent murdered while still a child, was removed from my parents’ custody for some years,” Thomas said.

Also like X, Thomas said he had ”many untapped intellectual abilities and other gifts as a child,” the encouragement of which could have “led to a very different path in life.”

But, like X, Thomas dropped out of school.

Thomas ran away from home as a teenager and then “got off into the life of crime,” he said.

Eventually in 2007, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

By the time X was 20, he also was serving a lengthy sentence.

A journey of self-education

But X’s story did not end with prison, of course.

Neither has Thomas’.

“I ended up in prison rigorously pursuing a journey of self-education and transformation,” Thomas said.

Others in Thomas’ life see the change, too.

“The Victor that I know today is completely different,” said Kamonti McFarlane, Thomas’ cousin. “I think he had a lot of time to think about how life has unfolded for him.”

Forgiving the man who murdered his mom and letting go of the anger were essential parts of the change, said McFarlane.

“My unresolved grief was very much unknown to me, and it was no one but me who was finally able to draw that correlation,” Thomas said. “When I did, I reached out to Cedric Robinson, the person who murdered my mother, and I expressed my forgiveness towards him.”

Thomas eventually wrote a letter supporting Robinson in his pursuit of parole “because he also deserved a second chance at life,” he said.

Jodi Melamed, a professor in the department of English at Marquette University, said that creating room for this kind of change is an enduring legacy of X’s autobiography.

The book “shows us that prisons can be schoolhouses of the oppressed, where people learn practices of personal and collective liberation,” she said.

From inside to outside

It is the connection between the personal and the collective that Thomas describes as a particularly eye-opening aspect of X’s writing.

The book “has helped me to understand how my experiences were not unique to myself, how other people who had encountered the same experiences were able to transcend,” he said.

He tells fellow incarcerated individuals about the book routinely.

“A lot of them are very pessimistic and have very low expectations for themselves,” Thomas said. “So with regards to them, I tell them that this book is an example of being able to be rehabilitated, transform your life and exceed all expectations that was placed on you.”

He also recommends the book to prison staff but for different reasons.

“A lot of staff members are jaded by their jobs,” Thomas said. “I also would like for them to be able to read the book so that they can understand how a person can go from one end of the spectrum to the other.”

From prison to purpose

Thomas works as a certified peer specialist for other incarcerated individuals.

He supports those with substance use disorders, mental health disorders as well as those who have trauma and conflict issues.

“Every day, I’m passionate about this, like my supervisors don’t even set the bar as high as I set for myself, in order to truly make a difference in people’s lives,” Thomas said.

This devotion to strengthening others, echoes a quote from X’s autobiography, a quote that could have easily come out of Thomas’ mouth:

“Don’t be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.”

Devin Blake is the criminal justice reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. His position is funded by the Public Welfare Foundation, which plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

Journalists

Politicians, classifieds.

Some Late-Breaking Adjustments to My New Autobiography

Which is entirely true, by the way.

“I’m not going to talk about my specific meetings with world leaders. I’m just not going to do that. This anecdote shouldn’t have been in the book and as soon as it was brought to my attention, I made sure that that was adjusted.” — South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, in response to questions about a meeting she claimed to have had with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un

It has been brought to my attention that my memoir The Truth: My Life, How It Really Happened, and What It Means for America —for which I conducted more than 500 hours of interviews with myself—contains an anecdote in which the late Samuel Beckett mails me his Nobel Prize for Literature medal and insists, in a long and heartfelt letter, that I deserve it more than he does. This anecdote has been adjusted.

It has been brought to my attention that my memoir Just the Facts: Everything I Ever Did and the Order I Did It In —for which I embedded with myself on a series of dangerous solo military missions—contains an anecdote in which, after a boozy lunch with King Charles III, I invent the iPod. This anecdote has been adjusted.

It has been brought to my attention that my memoir You Better Believe It: All My Realest Adventures —for which I accompanied myself on many trips to palaces, embassies, medieval mountain hideaways, global HQs, elite conferences, celebrity meditation retreats, and secret underwater laboratories—contains an anecdote in which I win Season 14 of Survivor but turn down a subsequent offer (from Jeff Probst himself) to host the show. This anecdote has been adjusted.

It has been brought to my attention that my memoir The Honesty Gospel —for which I observed myself over seven sessions of ketamine therapy, supervised by myself—contains an anecdote in which I am visited by the archangel Gabriel. No adjustment has been made to this anecdote.

It has been brought to my attention that my memoir No BS: Straight Talk From the Mouth of Reality —for which I spent several months on the set of a documentary about me, directed by me, and starring (as me) both Steve Martin and Eva Longoria—contains an anecdote in which I ask the late J. Robert Oppenheimer, “Listen, Bob, are you sure you want to split the atom?” This anecdote has been adjusted.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

How ‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X’ changed the life of this incarcerated man

May 13, 2024 by Devin Blake 1 Comment

Malcolm X once wrote that, “People don’t realize how a man’s whole life can be changed by one book.”

For Victor Thomas, who is about halfway through a 40-year prison sentence, one book that has had an effect on him is the one in which this quote appears, “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.”

The book was published nearly 60 years ago, but its racial and political ideas have current-day applications for Thomas and, he argues, all Americans. 

“Even those who are not justice-impacted, they might, after reading this book, come away with a different outlook,” Thomas said.

Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!

As Malcolm X’s 99th birthday draws near on May 19, there is continued interest in his life and legacy.

Then and now

While Thomas draws such far-ranging lessons from the book, he was initially struck by the personal parallels between X’s life and his own while growing up in Milwaukee’s 53206 ZIP code , notorious for high rates of incarceration and poverty. 

“Just like Malcolm, I was born into and came up in poverty, had a parent murdered while still a child, was removed from my parents’ custody for some years,” Thomas said.

Also like X, Thomas said he had ”many untapped intellectual abilities and other gifts as a child,” the encouragement of which could have “led to a very different path in life.” 

But, like X, Thomas dropped out of school. 

Thomas ran away from home as a teenager and then “got off into the life of crime,” he said.

Eventually in 2007, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison.  

By the time X was 20, he also was serving a lengthy sentence. 

A journey of self-education

But X’s story did not end with prison, of course. 

Neither has Thomas’.

“I ended up in prison rigorously pursuing a journey of self-education and transformation,” Thomas said.

Others in Thomas’ life see the change, too.

“The Victor that I know today is completely different,” said Kamonti McFarlane, Thomas’ cousin. “I think he had a lot of time to think about how life has unfolded for him.”

Forgiving the man who murdered his mom and letting go of the anger were essential parts of the change, said McFarlane.

“My unresolved grief was very much unknown to me, and it was no one but me who was finally able to draw that correlation,” Thomas said. “When I did, I reached out to Cedric Robinson, the person who murdered my mother, and I expressed my forgiveness towards him.” 

Thomas eventually wrote a letter supporting Robinson in his pursuit of parole “because he also deserved a second chance at life,” he said. 

Jodi Melamed, a professor in the department of English at Marquette University, said that creating room for this kind of change is an enduring legacy of X’s autobiography. 

The book “shows us that prisons can be schoolhouses of the oppressed, where people learn practices of personal and collective liberation,” she said.  

From inside to outside

It is the connection between the personal and the collective that Thomas describes as a particularly eye-opening aspect of X’s writing.

The book “has helped me to understand how my experiences were not unique to myself, how other people who had encountered the same experiences were able to transcend,” he said.

He tells fellow incarcerated individuals about the book routinely. 

“A lot of them are very pessimistic and have very low expectations for themselves,” Thomas said. “So with regards to them, I tell them that this book is an example of being able to be rehabilitated, transform your life and exceed all expectations that was placed on you.” 

He also recommends the book to prison staff but for different reasons. 

“A lot of staff members are jaded by their jobs,” Thomas said. “I also would like for them to be able to read the book so that they can understand how a person can go from one end of the spectrum to the other.” 

From prison to purpose

Thomas works as a certified peer specialist for other incarcerated individuals.

He supports those with substance use disorders, mental health disorders as well as those who have trauma and conflict issues.

“Every day, I’m passionate about this, like my supervisors don’t even set the bar as high as I set for myself, in order to truly make a difference in people’s lives,” Thomas said. 

This devotion to strengthening others, echoes a quote from X’s autobiography, a quote that could have easily come out of Thomas’ mouth:

“Don’t be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.”

Devin Blake is the criminal justice reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. His position is funded by the Public Welfare Foundation , which plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

About Devin Blake

May 14, 2024 at 9:06 am

The Autobiography of Malcolm x is required reading for every Black man in amerikkka,next to the Holy Bible

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"The most essential blog in opera!" – New York Times | Where opera is king and you, the readers, are queens.

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Thoughts on La Gioconda : the others

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• long form , review / recording

In 1982 I saw Turandot at the San Francisco Opera, the year after I became an opera fan, and it was my first live opera.

The cast was Linda Kelm, Nicola Martinucci, Barbara Daniels , and Kevin Langan conducted by Myung-Whun Chung in what I believe was his U.S. Debut. Eddie Albert (of TV’s Green Acres fame),  fresh from having appeared in the Luciano Pavarotti rom-com-fiasco, Yes, Giorgio , was the Emperor Altoum.

You can hear excerpts from most of the performance (minus the finale of Act One and some connecting bits) below. The sound is spotty in Act I but by the time Linda Kelm shows up, the sonic clouds have cleared and you can hear how formidable she was. So formidable, in fact, that six years later James Levine hired her as ‘High C’ Helmwige when the Met made their studio Die Walkure. She was a Seattle Opera Brünnhilde in the early years of their ‘Pacific Northwest’ Ring Cycles and sang Puccini ’s Principessa around to great acclaim and made a good career. However, her entire Met career consisted of six  ‘In the Parks’ performances of Turandot the year of the Walkure recording and one main stage Siegfried Brünnhilde. In spite of, or perhaps because of, her ample proportioning, she was one of those very good singers who just never became a ‘star’ for one reason or another. Rita Hunter syndrome.

Barbara Daniels wasn’t one of nature’s born Liù’s but she was a fine Puccini stylist in her day and a sensitive actress. Just no ppp .  As Timur, Kevin Langan hit a note so strong, in his outburst after Liù’s death, it literally resonated in my own chest. The only other time that ever happened to me was with Gwyneth Jones on a high-C. Nicola Martinucci barreled his way through the music in true Mario del Monaco fashion and it was thrilling (I knew nothing).

The San Francisco sets and costumes by Allen Charles Klein were loaned and a co-production from the Miami & Dallas Opera companies. The unit set features an enormous golden dragon rearing its head stage left with the Emperor sitting in its clawed foot 20 feet in the air. In its other claw center stage is an enormous luminescent pearl. It was from within this pearl that Turandot made her first, very misterioso (and only faintly translucent), Act I appearance. This production has traveled the earth since. I saw it in Baltimore a decade later, where it looked very bus-and-truck, and was mounted as recently as 2017 by Chicago Lyric Opera.

The story goes that Eva Marton sang a performance once somewhere when she was fighting a bug and was sick inside the pearl. Apparently, in spite of a thorough cleaning, that melody lingers on now for any soprano stuck inside it waiting to make her entrance.

The other thing I most remember from that performance was the sudden entrance of the organ in the final pages of Act Two. We were in the orchestra section and I felt it through my feet(!), The War Memorial being one of the few theaters with an actual pipe organ. You don’t usually even hear it on recordings very often (and I certainly hadn’t noticed it) but suffice to say it was mind-blowing.

But the San Francisco Opera performance I would have loved to have attended was sadly before my ferocious fandom began and that was the 1977 opening night when Montserrat Caballé (in her local debut) and Luciano Pavarotti made their joint role debuts as Turandot and Calaf in a production designed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle .

The long-suffering Liù was Leona Mitchell who had already made her San Francisco debut as Micaela in Carmen in ‘73 (after matriculating in the Merola program) and her Met debut in the same role two years later, starting a long association with both companies. Her Liù is a great assumption of the role which is sometimes handed to sopranos who have the Italiate slancio but lack grace up above.

I adored her voice and she recorded a glorious solo debut CD for Decca “Presenting Leona Mitchell” which has found a new home on the Eloquence label. I finally got to see her live in San Francisco in ‘91 as an absolutely heartbreaking Suor Angelica to the rapacious Elena Obraztsova and her three voices.

It was a double bill production with Pagliacci that was originally supposed to star Mirella Freni in her role debut as Angelica and then Pavarotti in his first staged Canio. I’m not certain how it all fell through, but in the end Mitchell came to the rescue and the belated U.S. debut of the great Russian tenor Vladimir Atlantov was hastily arranged in the Leoncavallo. Naturally, a telecast was planned that was canceled as well. Three years later Freni would record the whole Trittico for Decca (at the age of 58, perhaps a little too late in the career) and Pavarotti finally sang Canio, exactly twice on stage at the Met in 1994, at the tender age of 56.

Giorgio Tozzi held down the bass line as old Timur. Plus, singing one of Turandot’s handmaidens, in her first year of the Merola program, is the young Carol Vaness . Riccardo Chailly , still wet behind the ears at 24 (!), was making his U.S. debut and the production was a scandal, so gather ‘round.

The story goes that General Manager Kurt Herbert Adler had a wealthy donor on the line who was going to underwrite a new production for the company by an Italian designer whose name I’ve never been able to unearth. When that fell through, he turned to Jean-Pierre Ponnelle , who had a history with San Francisco Opera and who had recently directed a production he himself had designed at the Opera du Rhin in Strasbourg.

We now forget that in the 70s and 80s, Ponnelle was the absolute height of the regietheater avant-garde. I remember stories of a famous mezzo walking out on a production of Cavalleria because he wanted her to sing with a baby bump. His 1975 production of Wagner ’s Flying Dutchman for San Francisco, which was imported to the Met a few years later, staged the entire opera in one act (as was the composer’s intention) and made it the ‘dream’ of the Steersman, who also played Erik (not the composer’s intention). Apparently the production was brought over sight unseen and Francis Robinson talks in his book on the history of the Met how it roused the audience to its collective feet ‘cheering and jeering.’ It was very high-concept for the Met at the time, but literally the same year that Harry Kupfer ’s production premiered at Bayreuth, so Ponnelle’s was relatively tame by comparison. Needless to say, where the European press had loved Ponnelle’s Strasbourg Turandot, here in the U.S. folks were aghast and here’s why.

The first act featured a 30-foot tall, golden female buddha-style statue, with ivory face, bare-breasted, and arms folded. When the people of Peking call out for mercy for the Prince of Persia the arms unfolded to reveal La Caballé as she gave the executioner the fatal gesture. The entire production took place at night and, as always with Ponnelle, the colors he chose tended to monochrome (in this case mostly black, gold, dark blues and red). The savageness of the story was highlighted in the staging with the popolo abusing the Prince of Persia from the curtain’s rise and Turandot being followed around by two dwarfs in leather (their real purpose was actually to give the soprano balance as she descended the stairs in Act II). Bamboo hats abounded for the chorus.

At Liù’s death in Act III, the chorus, afraid of her avenging ghost (mentioned in the lyrics), left her body on the stage to the consternation of many in the audience. Eyebrows raised even higher when, after the vanquishing kiss, Calaf ripped Turandot’s white ceremonial robe off to reveal a red negligée underneath as bloody tears flowed from the eyes of the golden idol. It was nicknamed the ‘Vegas’ Turandot .

Jean-Pierre Ponnelle was occupied elsewhere so Nicolas Joel , then an Assistant Director in Strasbourg, was assigned to oversee the revival. In spite of having learned the role five years earlier for the Decca recording, Luciano Pavarotti was having his usual difficulties with memorization and staying focused during rehearsals. He had been singing in San Francisco since 1969 and they were mostly used to his increasingly egotistical shenanigans, but nevertheless, Ponnelle was flown in to lay down the law with the tenorissimo and supervise some final rehearsals. Prince Charles was attending opening night, so more attention than usual was expected. The story goes that Ponnelle read our tenor the riot act in front of the entire cast, in Italian, to make certain he got every word. Things proceeded smoothly from that point on.

Señora Caballé’s journey to her San Francisco debut was slightly longer. Her first Turandot was scheduled for La Scala for a one-night-only grand gala commemorating the 50th anniversary of the premiere scheduled initially for May 13 of ‘76 eventually rescheduled to three days later because…La Scala. The fact that this date was random and had no relation to the original premiere of April 26, 1926 seemed to bother no one. A new production announced to be designed by Pier Luigi Pizzi failed to materialize in time and instead a revival of the famed Nicola Benois that Scala had mounted for Birgit Nilsson in ‘58 was hastily arranged with a week of rehearsals and a few delays, the outcome of which was that the scheduled Liù, Mirella Freni , was no longer available.

Come the gala night, when Turandot made her famous Act I appearance on the palace loggia, many in the audience noticed the lack of resemblance the Principessa bore to the scheduled soprano. This was because she was across the street in her hotel room passing a kidney stone. The performance went on without her.

Kurt Herbert Adler had already had one run-in with Señora Caballé and it hadn’t ended well for the new production of Norma he’d mounted for her San Francisco Opera debut in ‘75. Owing to follow-up surgery she needed due to a hysterectomy, she had had to cancel at nearly the last minute. Rita Hunter recalls in her autobiography receiving a crack of dawn phone call from Adler with the opening line, “How’s your Norma?”

Not being pleased with the early call she rejoined, “Fine luv, how’s yours?” Ms. Hunter was warming up for an impending engagement in the Bellini at the Met, so she cleared her schedule and had a triumph in San Francisco. New York, however, didn’t receive her as graciously, especially Donal Henahan, who opened his New York Times review: “To get it over quickly, Rita Hunter is not a satisfactory Norma in any respect.” After her success in San Francisco, Adler had offered Ms. Hunter three seasons of choice roles, including a brand new production of …you guessed it Turandot. Sadly, the offers dried up after her lukewarm reception in the big apple.

Señora Caballé and her legendary reputation of “only being available for a few cancellations each season”  already preceded her. So, regular press releases were issued assuring everyone far and wide that rehearsals were going smoothly since gossipy opera fans were mindful of both the local Norma cancellation and the La Scala debacle. Adler reportedly made it clear to the soprano that if she didn’t sing, he’d bring her up on charges with the artist’s union. The staff walked on eggshells around her until her impish sense of humor finally won the day.

San Francisco pays tribute to this production on their webpage which includes some great photos, the essays from the evening’s program, including an interview with Licia Albanese (who was beloved in San Francisco and sang Liù to Leonie Rysanek ’s Turandot in 1957), and the radio broadcast capturing the next performance. It’s been bootlegged on the Gala label for years but there’s an even better remaster of it on YouTube.

Listening to it again for the first time in a while, it surprises on a number of levels. First, I have to put bed to the longstanding rumor that the second act was lowered a whole tone so that Caballé could get through the role. Anyone with a pitch pipe can tell you that certainly isn’t the case. Both the soprano and the tenor are in white-hot voice and, especially in the last scene, really put a lot more emotion behind their phrasing than either of them used in the studio. A lot more. Like, it almost gets a little verista at times. It’s very exciting to hear both of them so involved and inspired by each other. He even takes the optional ‘C’ in the second act.

Caballé pulls out that magical pianissimo just when you wouldn’t expect it at the climax of her first aria. On the repeat of the line “Quel grido e quella morte!” she suddenly diminuendos down to almost nothing (after the B in alt, mind you) to show her great sadness at the death of her predecessor Lou-Ling. She’s unsparring with her voice throughout the riddle scene. After Calaf solves the second riddle and the crowd offers their encouragement her, “Percuotete quei vili!” is absolutely ferocious.

 They also sing the full Alfano II finale with Caballé offering a magnificent “Del primo pianto”. She starts it with a mini-sob at the end of the proceeding phrase and then really digs into the words. It’s very individual and vulnerable and filled with pathos with a lot of contrasting dynamics. She does the vocal fade again at the repeat of “So il tuo nome.” She keeps lavishing phrase after phrase with her Bel Canto skills. Proving her studio recording of the leading role (which was released the next year but had been recorded just two months prior …oddly, with the Strasbourg forces and their chief conductor Alain Lombard ) wasn’t a bag of audio engineers’ tricks as was whispered out loud in the press on more than one occasion then and since. Captured at just the right moment in her development, this performance may be among her greatest.

Chailly is galvanizing in the pit and in spite of his age, it’s apparent that everyone is trying to keep up. Especially since we know how much this tenor and soprano enjoyed conductors who followed rather than led.

Caballé had already recorded Liù to Sutherland ’s Turandot for Decca in ’72, the gold standard that all others will be judged by forever more (and badly at that). At the time the critic Edward Greenfield suggested to the powers that be at Decca that they release an appendix album with Caballé singing “In Questa Reggia” and Sutherland in the two Liù arias. Sadly, that came to naught.

Yet they did meet again in the recording studio in 1984 to record Bellini ’s Norma . Caballé, to almost everyone’s astonishment, agreed to learn the Seconda Donna role of Adalgisa for the recording and the opportunity to work with La Dame Joan again. Another great story is Caballé arriving on the first day of rehearsal with a huge floral tribute for Sutherland. Joan says, “Montsy, how kind flowers for the Prima Donna”.  Caballé said, “Ah no Joan, flowers from the Prima Donna”.

Check out my survey of some favorite Turandot recordings here .

Photos: Ron Scherl

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Yet another lie found in Kristi Noem’s book? Even Trump feels sorry for her

• Updated: May. 11, 2024, 11:22 a.m. |
• Published: May. 11, 2024, 11:18 a.m.

Has there been a more disastrous book launch that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's? (AP Photo | Jeff Dean) AP

• Kevin Manahan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

First, Kristi Noem murdered a dog and a goat . Then she murdered the truth — and has been hammered in almost every interview on her book tour — even by MAGA-friendly Fox News hosts. And now she apparently has been caught in another lie.

How do you say “fact-checker” in French?

France’s government is disputing a portion of the South Dakota governor’s book that describes a canceled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

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The book — which has already had a passage scrubbed when the one-time GOP star wrongly reported meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — says a meeting between Noem and Macron last year was canceled after he allegedly made “pro-Hamas” comments.

“While in Paris, I was slated to meet with French president Emmanuel Macron,” Noem wrote in “No Going Back,”   her controversial memoirs. “However, the day before we were to meet, he made what I considered a very pro-Hamas and anti-Israel comment to the press. So, I decided to cancel.”

A French official refuted Noem’s account, saying there’s no record of a scheduled meeting, nor was there an invitation extended to her. When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Noem said that “the Governor was invited to sit in President Macron’s box for the Armistice Day Parade at Arc de Triomphe.”

“Following his anti-Israel comments, she chose to cancel,” Ian Fury, the governor’s chief of communications, said in a statement, according to NBC . Fury added that Macron “did not end up attending, either.”

Noem had been in Paris in November 2023 to speak at the Worldwide Freedom Initiative conference.

Pundits believe Noem’s book, which was supposed to position her to become Donald Trump’s GOP vice presidential running mate, instead has torpedoed any chance she had.

Along with falsehood that she had met Kim, Noem admitted in her book that she shot and killed her family’s 14-month-old dog because of it could not be trained to be a hunting dog. She also confessed to shooting a goat. In another questionable claim, Noem told interviewers that South Dakota’s reservations are a hotbed of activity for the drug cartels.

In an interview this past week, Trump said, “She had a rough couple of days. I will say that.”

RealClearPolitics reported Noem  put her calamitous tour on ice.

“Gov. Noem has sold a lot of books on this tour and is back in South Dakota to be prepared for some potential emerging bad weather systems,” Fury told RCP.

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Parent item expand the sub menu, exclusive: iris van herpen unveils the world’s first 3d-printed wedding dress, yohji yamamoto writes letter to the future at 10 corso como, ‘bridgerton’ season three new face hannah dodd on francesca’s journey, alessandro michele opens up about fashion, freedom, family and philosophy.

The newly appointed creative director of Valentino is presenting his first book, an autobiography written with philosopher Emanuele Coccia.

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TURIN, Italy — “This feels like a rock concert,” said Alessandro Michele, entering the spacious pavilion at the international book trade show Salone del Libro here on Saturday, marveling at the number of young visitors cheering him on. “In this digital era, the younger generations still choose words and books,” he said with some surprise.

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After appearing clearly touched by the reaction at his first public appearance since exiting the role of creative director of Gucci in November 2022, Michele looked very relaxed and happy, at times straightening his signature long dark hair under a cap, and peeling off his green trench, worn over light indigo jeans and a white T-shirt with green details.

Michele opened up about his family and his life, as he did in an interview with WWD following the event at the trade show.

Surprisingly, the book contains no photos or sketches and, despite Michele’s love of colors and embellishments, the cover is in an “undecided” hue, with the title in red and a central, small black medieval-like symbol on it that’s vaguely reminiscent of a butterfly. “I wanted to celebrate the word, naked in its complexity,” said Michele, deliberately avoiding using the word “fashion” in the title “to avoid giving the wrong message” to potential readers.

The idea of the book grew naturally with Coccia, said Michele. “We spoke and recorded our thoughts” for about a year, mostly during the pandemic, and it is “very intense and personal,” he admitted, as it led to a deep, almost cathartic reflection on his life. “I put thoughts and things in order, I discovered my priorities, it was like going to therapy.”

The designer said the book took about three-and-a-half years to complete and that he and Coccia thought of a way to create a dialogue between fashion and philosophy, deciding “to keep the two voices distinct, employing italics for that of Emanuele, weaving the two on the page as in the Talmud or Bible manuscripts,” according to a joint preface note.

“It was fashion that brought me to philosophy,” said Michele, who repeatedly paid tribute to his life partner Giovanni Attili, a professor at the prestigious La Sapienza University in Rome, for helping him understand philosophy. Attili introduced Coccia to Michele, who said he was a self-taught philosophy buff.  Early on, the designer thought “philosophy was complicated, something that tangles up your brain, fit only for the enlightened few, but then I understood it was close to life,” and he realized it helped explain his own thoughts and his views on fashion “much more clearly.”

Michele never thought of writing a book before and underscored he did not really think of who would read it, as it was “not an editorial idea.” But he conceded it took some effort “to set up those appointments with myself” to record his thoughts.

The spotlight is again on Michele since he started a new phase of his career last month as creative director of Valentino , succeeding Pierpaolo Piccioli. He shied away from providing details of his new path, but did say this is a “ moment of reflection and absorption, of learning and great gestation,”  and he was clearly blown away by the archival designs of founder Valentino Garavani and the expertise of the seamstresses and artisans of the famed couture house.  

He also turned his attention to the current events taking place outside the fashion industry, “when freedom seems to be at risk and books seem to be sentinels watching over us. There is a fear of people who read and to lose yourself in words is freedom,” he contended. Michele described himself as “omnivorous” when it comes to choosing what to read, although he prefers history books and newspapers to novels.

“I am a bit of a nosey parker. I like to read about the life of others, I am curious and often read bits of several books at the same time, and I jot down thoughts on notebooks and scraps of paper; my bag is always filled with pens and pencils. Writing on paper helps me reflect on things,” he said.

In the book he admits to being a collector of objects, “books, statues, skirts, chairs, pants, cups, paintings: everything lives, independently from its shapes, size, purpose and importance,” and one of the chapters is dedicated to animism.

The topic of freedom was a recurring one as he said he never wanted to give up on being himself. “The most difficult thing is to be how you are when others try to manipulate you into being different. Becoming who you are is trying.”

He spoke of his surprise as people started talking about gender fluidity. “I had never heard of this term before, I just work looking at what I see around me, and at the time it seemed perfectly normal to me.”

“I don’t invent anything, I observe,” he writes in the book, saying that “to imagine a garment means imagining a person, building characters of a diverse universe.”

He revealed that as a child he braided his father’s hair, who showed him “the simple way to be free even at 60 with braided hair,” and reminisced about the walks with him outdoors in nature, “when he invited me to be quiet and listen to the wind blowing, which seemed to be the closest thing to God.” He also writes and spoke fondly of his mother and aunt, who were twins, and which led to the Twinsburg collection, his last for Gucci . “They taught me of non-exclusive love.”

Michele concluded the book by providing additional details on Twinsburg and his other collections for Gucci , from the spring 2022 lineup paraded in Hollywood to Aria, marking the brand’s centenary, and the Cosmogonie cruise 2023 show in Apulia.

“La Vita delle Forme” is published by HarperCollins and is being translated in English, French and German. Michele will also present it in Milan on May 31 at Teatro Franco Parenti.

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Footnote leads to exploration of start of for-profit prisons in N.Y.

Historian traces 19th-century murder case that brought together historical figures, helped shape American thinking on race, violence, incarceration

Christy DeSmith

Harvard Staff Writer

Robin Bernstein was looking for something else when she stumbled on a bit of information about a murder in 19th-century upstate New York.

That accidental discovery served as inspiration for “Freeman’s Challenge: The Murder That Shook America’s Original Prison for Profit,” a new book by the Dillon Professor of American History and chair of the American Studies program.

At the center is William Freeman, a mixed-race African American and Indigenous man convicted of horse thievery in 1840. Sentenced to five years of hard labor at Auburn State Prison, Freeman was forced to manufacture goods for various private entities.

Upon his release, he set about campaigning for back wages. When that failed, he lashed out with a grisly crime that would help shape how Americans came to think about race, criminality, and imprisonment.

The Gazette caught up with Bernstein, also a professor of African and African American Studies and of Studies of Women, Gender, & Sexuality, to learn more about this previously unexamined history. The interview was edited for length and clarity.

Where did you find the story of William Freeman?

It was in a footnote. There, I came upon an 1846 theatrical show about how William Freeman murdered four white people, including a toddler and a grandmother.

One of my areas of expertise is theater history. I knew it was nearly unheard of at mid-19th century for a show to depict Black-on-white violence. At the time, even performances of “Othello” took great pains to avoid it, because white people did not want to see it.

I asked myself, “Why were these white people in Auburn, N.Y., behaving so differently from white people across the nation?” I knew something amazing had happened, and I had to learn what it was.

Exterior of a convict’s cell at Auburn State Prison.

Harper’s Weekly, 18 December 1858, 809.

Rendering of William Freeman, Daily Cayuga Tocsin — Extra, 19 March 1846.

William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

So how did Freeman initially land in prison?

Freeman was from a family that had just completed the process of gradual emancipation and named themselves Freeman. The name speaks to who they considered themselves to be — and what future they were choosing for themselves.

When Freeman was 15 years old, a horse was stolen. He was accused. There was no physical evidence against him, but it didn’t matter. He was tried and convicted and sentenced to five years in the Auburn State Prison, where he was subjected to convict-leasing. He was forced to manufacture animal harnesses and dyes and carpets, all of which were sold by private companies.

Freeman was furious at being forced to labor, as he put it, “for nothing.” By nothing, he meant no crime — because he always insisted he was innocent of the horse theft — and no pay. He was explicit about both of those meanings. He considered himself a worker, not a slave.

I understand that Auburn State Prison was itself an innovation.

The Auburn State Prison is very important, because it originated prison-for-profit . It originated the idea that a prison could function primarily to generate wealth rather than control or punish or rehabilitate criminals.

There’s a common perception that profit-driven convict leasing was invented by the South after the Civil War, as part of a white effort to re-enslave African Americans. But my book reveals how the North invented this system half a century earlier, in the wake of Northern, not Southern, slavery. 

The Auburn State Prison opened in 1817. By the 1840s, it was an economic force throughout New York State. Meanwhile, the Auburn System, as it was called, was being exported. There were many dozens of prisons being built on the Auburn System all over the United States and Europe. San Quentin, for example, would soon be built on Auburn’s model.

Your book details Auburn State Prison’s innovations in another area: violence. What kinds of violence did Freeman experience there?

One of the central forms of violence was extreme social isolation. The Auburn system involved each prisoner being sequestered in solitary confinement every night. During the day, they worked in factories that were built into the prison, but they were forbidden from ever speaking.

While Freeman was incarcerated, a prison administrator invented a machine for waterboarding. Freeman was waterboarded, but he was also whipped and flogged. At one point he was beaten with a board that split on his head and he suffered a brain injury. He also became almost completely deaf.

I find it interesting that Freeman never sought a legal remedy for his physical injuries . He focused exclusively on back wages.

It was legally possible to sue for injury at the time, but he never tried. When he got out, in 1845, he tried to collect what he considered back pay. He appealed to magistrates. He was laughed at and dismissed. And then he committed an act of terrorism that was a strike against the state, a strike against the system of prison-for-profit.

Freeman stabbed to death four members of the Van Nest family in their home within hours of seeking back pay for the last time. I hesitate to rehash the details.

What was most important to me was not the blow-by-blow of how Freeman killed the family, but rather how he described it: He called it “work.” That tells us what is at the core of his concern. He had been forced to work in prison factories for no pay, and now he extracted “payback” through a murder that he called “work.” It was an immense irony.

Let’s move on to the murder trial. It was a high-profile case and the two lawyers involved were significant historical figures. Who were they and what did they argue?

Twenty years after the trial, William Henry Seward became Abraham Lincoln’s secretary of state, which is what he’s most remembered for today. He’s also remembered for brokering the purchase of Alaska — if you’ve ever heard of “Seward’s Folly.”

 At the time of the trial, in 1846, he was a recent past governor of New York state. He was living and working as a lawyer in Auburn and decided to take Freeman’s case pro bono.

Seward argued that Freeman was insane, and that he committed the crime because he was insane, and that he became insane as a result of racism. Seward was not ventriloquizing arguments that were already widespread. He was crafting them. Seward basically made the social pathology argument that [Assistant Secretary of Labor under President Lyndon B. Johnson] Daniel Patrick Moynihan would make a century later [in his 1965 report on Black poverty ].

It’s an argument that continues to have enormous purchase today. And let’s name it clearly: It is a racist argument that criminalizes Black people.

Who was Seward’s adversary, and what did he argue?

The prosecution was led by John Van Buren, who was the son of recent President Martin Van Buren. What we know right away is that this was a clash of the titans. This was a former governor versus the son of a president and a grisly crime, an enormously disturbing crime. Newspaper readers across the nation were riveted.

Van Buren made a different racist argument. His argument was that Freeman committed this murder because of inherent racial savagery. In different ways, Seward and Van Buren were both arguing that Freeman committed these crimes because he was Black and Native American, which is completely contrary to everything that Freeman ever said. Freeman said that he did it because his wages were stolen from him by the emerging system of prison-for-profit.

Why did nobody hear what Freeman said about his actual motive?

On some level, they did hear it. They were just enormously threatened, the white population in particular. We need to understand Auburn as a kind of company town. Every person, every business, every physical aspect of the town was connected to the prison. So people had an economic interest in protecting it. The fact that they went to such lengths to invent other reasons for Freeman’s crime, that tells us how hard they were working to not hear what Freeman was saying.

Auburn later emerged as a hub of abolitionist thought. Was there any connection to Freeman?

It’s worth mentioning that the Black community also felt threatened, but for different reasons. Their problem was, how to live in a world in which Freeman had committed these crimes, and how to live with the racist libels that the trial developed and unleashed.

One of the answers became activism. One of the arguments Seward made in court was that Freeman committed his crime because he had been excluded from white schools — and there were no Black schools in Auburn. Afterwards, the Black community very cannily raised money for Black schools.

Also striking was that prior to Freeman’s trial in 1846, there was very little abolitionist activity in the town. All of a sudden, after the trial, Black abolitionist lecturers including Frederick Douglass and Henry Highland Garnet become very interested in Auburn.

The first edition of “Twelve Years a Slave” [1853] by Solomon Northup was published there. The first edition of Douglass’ “My Bondage and My Freedom” [1855] was published there. And then Harriet Tubman moved to Auburn — she spent the second half of her life there — and the first edition of her dictated autobiography [1869] was published in the town.

I understand this as a strike against the trial. Freeman was silenced; he never took the stand. His actual argument was buried under the narratives Seward and Van Buren invented and amplified. So how did Black communities respond? They responded by telling their own stories.

Robin Bernstein will be joined by Brandon M. Terry , John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences, to discuss “Freeman’s Challenge.” 7 p.m. Friday (May 17) Harvard Bookstore.

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