writing prompts autobiography

63 Best Memoir Writing Prompts To Stoke Your Ideas

You’re writing a memoir. But you’re not sure what questions or life lessons you want to focus on.

Even if only family members and friends will read the finished book, you want to make it worth their time.

This isn’t just a whimsical collection of anecdotes from your life.

You want to convey something to your readers that will stay with them.

And maybe you want your memoir’s impact to serve as your legacy — a testament to how you made a small (or large) difference.

The collection of memoir questions in this post can help you create a legacy worth sharing.

So, if you don’t already have enough ideas for a memoir, read on.

A Strong Theme

Overcoming obstacles, emotional storytelling, satisfying ending, examples of good starting sentences for a memoir , 63 memoir writing prompts , what are the primary parts of a memoir.

Though similar to autobiographies, memoirs are less chronological and more impressionable – less historical and more relatable.

Resultantly, they’re structured differently.

With that in mind, let’s look at five elements that tie a memoir together, rendering it more enjoyable.

Biographies are histories that may not hew to a cohesive theme. But memoirs focus on inspiring and enlightening experiences and events.

As such, books in the genre promote a theme or idea that binds the highlighted happenings to an overarching reflection point or lesson.

Many people are super at sniffing out insincerity, and most folks prefer candidness.

So while exact dates and logistical facts may be off in a memoir, being raw and real with emotions, revelations, and relational impacts is vital. To put it colloquially: The best personal accounts let it all hang out.

People prefer inspiring stories. They want to read about people overcoming obstacles, standing as testaments to the tenacious nature of the human spirit. Why?

Because it engenders hope. If this person was able to achieve “x,” there’s a possibility I could, too. Furthermore, people find it comforting that they’re not the only ones who’ve faced seemingly insurmountable impediments.

Readers crave emotion. And for many of the stoic masses, books, plays, television shows, and films are their primary sources of sentimentality.

Historically, the best-performing memoirs are built on emotional frameworks that resonate with readers. The goal is to touch hearts, not just heads.

In a not-so-small way, memoirs are like romance books: Readers want a “happy” ending. So close strongly. Ensure the finale touches on the book’s central themes and emotional highlights.

End it with a smile and note of encouragement, leaving the audience satisfied and optimistic.

Use the following questions as memoir writing exercises . Choose those that immediately evoke memories that have stayed with you over the years.

Group them by theme — family, career, beliefs, etc. — and address at least one question a day.

For each question, write freely for around 300 to 400 words. You can always edit it later to tighten it up or add more content.

1. What is your earliest memory?

2. What have your parents told you about your birth that was unusual?

3. How well did you get along with your siblings, if you have any?

4. Which parent were you closest to growing up and why?

5. What parent or parental figure had the biggest influence on you growing up?

6. What is your happiest childhood memory?

7. What is your saddest or most painful childhood memory?

8. Did you have good parents? How did they show their love for you?

9. What words of theirs from your childhood do you remember most, and why?

10. What do you remember most about your parents’ relationship?

11. Were your parents together, or did they live apart? Did they get along?

12. How has your relationship with your parents affected your own love relationships?

13. Who or what did you want to be when you grew up?

14. What shows or movies influenced you most during your childhood?

15. What were your favorite books to read, and how did they influence you?

16. If you grew up in a religious household, how did you see “God”?

17. How did you think “God” saw you? Who influenced those beliefs?

18. Describe your spiritual journey from adolescence to the present?

19. Who was your first best friend? How did you become friends?

20. Who was your favorite teacher in elementary school, and why?

21. Did you fit in with any social group or clique in school? Describe your social life?

22. What were your biggest learning challenges in school (academic or social)?

23. Who was your first crush, and what drew you to them? How long did it last?

24. What was your favorite subject in school, and what did you love about it?

25. What do you wish you would have learned more about growing up?

26. What did you learn about yourself in high school? What was your biggest mistake?

27. What seemed normal to you growing up that now strikes you as messed up?

28. How old were you when you first moved away from home?

29. Who gave you your first kiss? And what do you remember most about it?

30. Who was your first love ? What do you remember most about them?

31. Was there ever a time in your life when you realized you weren’t straight?

32. Describe a memorable argument you had with one of your parents? How did it end?

33. Have you lost a parent? How did it happen, and how did their death affect you?

34. What was your first real job? What do you remember most about it?

35. How did you spend the money you earned with that job?

36. At what moment in your life did you feel most loved?

37. At what moment in your life did you feel most alone?

38. What do you remember most about your high school graduation? Did it matter?

39. What’s something you’ve done that you never thought you would do?

40. What has been the greatest challenge of your life up to this point?

41. What did you learn in college that has had a powerful influence on you?

42. How has your family’s financial situation growing up influenced you?

43. How has someone’s harsh criticism of you led you to an important realization?

44. Do you consider yourself a “good person”? Why or why not?

45. Who was the first person who considered you worth standing up for?

46. If you have children, whom did you trust with them when they were babies?

47. Did you have pets growing up? Did you feel close or attached to any of them?

Final Thoughts

These memoir topics should get ideas flooding into your mind. All you have to do, then, is let them out onto the page. The more you write, the easier it will be to choose the primary focus for your memoir. And the more fun you’ll have writing it.

That’s not to say it’ll be easy to create a powerful memoir. It won’t be. But the more clarity you have about its overall mission, the more easily the words will flow.

Enjoy these memoir writing exercises. And apply the same clarity of focus during the editing process. Your readers will thank you.

[PDF Download] 65 Memory Prompts: How to Write Your Biography, Life Story or Memoir

Capture memories you didn't know you had .

Wondering how to write your biography? Whether you are writing yourself, or working with a ghostwriter , it can be hard to know where to start and what to include. At Story Terrace, we often use memory prompts to kick-start the process - easy and fun questions designed to jog your memory and bring back moments you haven't thought about for years.

It's the perfect first step, and something you can later assemble into a timeline or structure for your story. We’ve hand-picked 65 of our favourite memory prompts to share with you. You can check out 9 example prompts right here on the blog - but make sure to download the full list of 65, which we've assembled into a print-ready PDF for you.

Remember - the idea is not to answer every question. Just scan through the list, and think about which of these prompts speak to you the most. You’ll soon find you have more than enough to talk about.

How to Write Your Biography: Childhood

1. What is your earliest memory?

2. Talk about your family’s heritage and history.

3. What did your childhood home look like?

How to Write Your Biography: Adolescence

4. How did your physical appearance change in your teenage years? What was that change like for you?

5. How was your relationship with your parents?

6. Who was your first crush?

How to Write Your Biography: Adulthood

7. What did an ordinary day in your life look like?

8. Name a big success story for you during this time

9. Did you travel? What was your most memorable vacation?

Hopefully writing your biography just got a little easier and these prompts have got your brains in gear, recalling all sorts of different memories from your childhood all the way through to just yesterday!

Remember to download the full list for all 65 questions to jog your memory.

Download the full list of 65 Memory Prompts!

Download Now (Click Here)

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127 Best Memoir Writing Prompts You’ll Love

Memoir writing requires dedication and talent to describe critical points of your life. See our memoir writing prompts to inspire you to make your own.

So you finally decided to put your life on paper. Writing a memoir and sharing it with others is a great way to immortalize your achievements, failures, and lessons.

However, you might find it hard to decide which areas of your life to focus on. Because a memoir requires themed occurrences, you can’t make it a compilation of narratives from the moment you were born. As memoir coach Marion Roach Smith told us in a podcast interview , your memoir must be honest and also impart something valuable to readers.

How To Use These Memoir Writing Prompts

The process, memoir writing prompts, what are good topics for a memoir.

Memoir writing is personal. It involves sensitive information such as personal and family history. So, be careful to only pick highlights in your life that you are comfortable sharing. At the same time, these key events should be those you think your readers will find interesting.

Memoirs don’t need to be chronological, nor should they read like an autobiography. These non-fiction pieces don’t need to include everything in your life. Memoirs can center on one colossal event and are primarily created to share lessons that inspire and encourage. Use the prompts below to get an idea of what to include in your memoir.

We’ve written extensively about writing prompts before. Here, you can read through our list of prompts and choose those closest to your experiences for a memoir. Pick as many as you want. Then, evaluate which ones you find most relatable. Continue this process of elimination until you have a foundation of what you want to include in your memoir.

What’s the story behind your name?
Talk about your first love. It can be a person, a thing, or a feeling.
Identify your proudest moments. Give details on how you felt during those times.
What would you say to your older or younger self if you had the chance?
If you can delete a memory, what will it be? Why?
Recall a time when you’ve been in an accident.
What’s your earliest memory?
Talk about the worst day of your life.
Narrate an event you feel already happened, like a deja vu.
Describe your childhood room in detail.
Detail a situation when you feel betrayed. What did you do, and how did you handle it?
If you have traumas or illnesses, share how you got them and discuss your recovery story.
What were you afraid of when you were a child, and why? Are you still scared of it today?
Talk about an occasion when you were terrified to do something but still did it.
How did your first date go? What’s your ideal first date?
List three ways people always describe you. Why do you think they describe you as such?
Identify your worst insecurity and why you got it. What are the steps you’re taking to overcome it?
Write about winning something.
Talk about your first heartbreak. It can be about a past lover or a failed endeavor.
Who’s your favorite teacher? Why?
What’s your worst fear?
Describe the most beautiful art you’ve seen.
What are your quirks?
What are you most grateful for today? Why?
Have you ever had a spiritual or religious experience? Expound on it.
What are your most valuable possessions? Why?
List three of your worst phobias. Share your worst experience concerning these fears.
Talk about your hobbies and how you got them. If you have a hobby from childhood that you carried to your adult life, what are they?
Talk about the most memorable holiday you’ve had.
Share an experience where you feel the most embarrassed.
Recall a time when you met a terminally ill person. How did their life philosophy affect you?
What’s the worst mistake you’ve ever made? What did you do to mitigate or correct it?
Talk about any experience you have with the supernatural.
Talk about an unforgettable memory you had with your mom or dad.
Recount your experiences growing up with strict or devout parents.
Describe your worst physical pain and share the story behind it.
Describe your relationship with your siblings.
Recall a time when you had a meltdown. What were the events that led up to it?
Talk about the funniest incident you’ve witnessed.
Talk about a time when you were dirt poor – no money, no friends, and no motivation.
List five of your all-time favorite songs. What memories do you connect to these songs?
Talk about your first job. How did it go, and what did you learn from it?
Narrate how your graduation went. Include what you felt and who you celebrated it with you.
Describe the most beautiful wedding you’ve attended.
Talk about when your experiences with racism, sexism, and other types of discrimination.
Is there a period when you feel lost? Share what you felt and how you overcame it.
What’s the first school memory you can recall?
Talk about the time when you hated yourself the most.
Recount a time in your life that you consider a fresh start. Compare the person you were before and after this new beginning.
Talk about the happiest day of your life.
What’s the most shocking event you’ve experienced?
What part of schooling did you hate the most?
Talk about the origin of a lie you still present as truth today.
What is your dream job? Recount your experiences during the period when you strived to get that dream job.
Walk around your house and look for items that trigger your consciousness. Relay the memories connected to these items.
Recount the story of your birth. How did your parents or guardian describe it?
Think back to a time when you had to make an important decision. What did you pick, and how do you feel about it today?
Talk about your greatest regret.
Narrate an encounter where you were stereotyped based on your gender.
What skill are you most proud of, and how did you develop it?
Talk about your favorite childhood toy and share a prominent memory of it.
Is there a family secret you wish you didn’t know? What is it, and why?
If you’re a part of the LGBTQ+ community, share your journey to discovering and understanding your sexuality.
Look back to your past expectations of yourself. How different are they from your current goals?
If you have an experience with a grave disease, share your life before and after your diagnosis.
Recount your experiences and lessons as a first-time parent.
If you’re a war veteran, narrate your first-hand experiences during your service.
Speak about the meaningful experiences you’ve had in your job or career.
Talk about a time when you had to break the law to survive.
Recall a time when you were pushed to be the leader of a group or a project. How did it go?
Pick the largest scar on your body and share how you got it.
Talk about something you’ve gone through that you pretend never happened. Include how you finally faced and pulled through this tribulation.
If you have any tattoos, talk about their meaning/s.
Describe the moment you realized you’ve matured or grown up.
Describe what you expect your retirement to be like.
Talk about a book you deeply feel connected to.
Talk about your favorite photo of yourself and the story behind it.
Recount the day when you got your first car.
What did it feel like when you moved out of your family home?
Describe your childhood home and pick your favorite areas. Explain why.
Recall an incident when your feelings were hurt the most.
Talk about an experience that made you believe in extraterrestrial life.
What vegetable do you hate the most? Share a memory of when you realized you hate that food.
If you’ve had a poor relationship with food, share your struggles with eating, weight, and self-concept.
What do you do when you feel sad? How do you lift your mood?
Talk about how you met the best people you know today.
Do you have unique family traditions? What are they, and what do you feel about them?
Tell the story of how you met your current partner.
Talk about your different friend groups. What memories of them do you like the most?
Describe your parents’ dynamic. How did their relationship affect your perception of love and marriage?
Recount the most intense argument you’ve had with someone close to you. Include why the fight happened and how you solved it.
Identify your greatest personal challenge so far and elaborate on it.
Talk about a time when your family prepared for a death of a loved one.
Recount the period after losing a loved one. Talk about your grief, mourning, and how you coped with the death.
Talk about how you started and achieved success in your field. Add tips to help aspiring beginners of the craft.
If you’re from a broken marriage, share how the separation affected you growing up. Include your struggles with your identity, self-respect, etc.
Talk about a time when you were falsely accused of something.
Have you ever joined an organization? Share your most memorable experience with the group.
Share your experience with a natural calamity, such as an earthquake or a hurricane.
Talk about the first year of your marriage to your current partner. Include your realizations, compromises, and adjustments.
Discuss a relationship you’ve been in that made you a better person. For example, you can speak about a toxic or a healing relationship.
Talk about a rare habit one of your friends or relatives has that you find amusing.
Talk about a major change you had to go through in your life. How did you cope with it, and what did you learn?
Speak about a time when you were addicted to something.
Talk about a time you felt the closest to your mother or father.
Recount an incident that pushed you to cut ties with someone special to you.
Narrate the story of how a grandparent imparted a vital life lesson to you.
Talk about your celebrity idols and how they influenced your life.
Talk about your best friend and how the two of you became close.
Did you have a school bully? Recall the worst thing they did and how their actions impacted your school life.
Talk about a family feud. How did it start, and how did the dispute affect you?
Discuss a life-or-death situation you’ve been in. How dangerous was it, and how did you survive it?
Talk about your best traveling experience that changed your perception of life.
Talk about a time when you feel powerful or unstoppable.
Write about a bizarre encounter you’ve experienced.
Talk about your political beliefs and why you support these beliefs.
Write about a time when you felt a place is hunted. Share the details of your trip.
Try to describe your hometown in vivid detail. What’s one thing you remember the most about your hometown?
Write about a historical event that greatly affected your life. What is it, and how did it change your everyday living?
Pick one memory you strongly associate with each: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Think of a time when you had to choose between two good things. For example, love or career, then talk about your experience.
Recall the most memorable adventure you’ve had.
Talk about an instance when you saved someone.
Talk about your experience when you moved to another country.
Talk about the time when you met your childhood hero.
Recount what happened when you had your first child.
Think of your first major loss. Explain what it’s about

Childhood Memories : Remember when you climbed that giant oak tree in your backyard or had your first heartbreak in middle school? Your early years are a goldmine of raw, evocative memories. Delve deep, and you might be surprised at the rich tales you can tell. If it helps, read old journal entries .

Overcoming Adversities : Have you ever faced a daunting challenge? Perhaps you battled an illness or overcame financial hardship. These experiences shape who you are and resonate with readers who seek inspiration and hope in the face of their own struggles.

Travel Adventures : That backpacking trip across Europe, or the time you got lost in a bustling market in Bangkok? Travel stories transport readers to a different world, filled with sights, sounds, and cultural nuances.

Relationship Dynamics : Love, friendships, and even the intricacies of family dynamics can make for poignant memoir material. Dive into the beauty, the pain, and the lessons learned from the people who’ve come in and out of your life.

Professional Life : If you’ve built a unique career or made significant shifts in your profession, these experiences might intrigue those looking to understand the ins and outs of a particular field or those seeking motivation to change their own career paths, like a writing job .

Personal Transformations : Did you embark on a journey of self-discovery, perhaps through spirituality, weight loss, or even a simple hobby that grew into a passion? Sharing such personal evolutions can be deeply moving.

Historical or Cultural Insights : If you’ve lived through significant historical events or come from a rich cultural background, offer readers a window into that world. Paint them a picture of a time or place they might never personally experience.

Life in the Shadows : Maybe you’ve had experiences on the fringes of society or in lesser-known subcultures, for example triathlon training. Shedding light on these areas can be both enlightening and captivating.

Educational Pursuits : Remember when you returned to school or pursued an unconventional educational path? There’s always someone out there wondering if it’s too late or if they’re on the right path.

Mundane Magic : Sometimes, the simple, everyday moments hold the most beauty. The smell of your grandmother’s kitchen, the laughter shared over a family dinner, or the quiet moments alone with your thoughts. Celebrate the ordinary; it often holds extraordinary stories.

If you’re still stuck, get the best memoir-writing apps to assist you.

DraftSparks ✨

22+ ‘Autobiography’ Writing Prompts

Dreamland Autobiography

Write an autobiography detailing the dream you remember best, and delve into the emotions it stirred.

Animal Autobiography

Choose your favorite wild animal and write an autobiography from its perspective.

Fictional Autobiography

If you were a character from a book or movie, who would you be and why? Write an autobiography as…

Authentic Autobiography

Write a short autobiographical account of a significant moment in your life, using correct verb tenses consistently.

Altitude Attitude

Narrate an instance where you faced your fears, literal or metaphorical, effectively.

Memorable Family Traditions

Describe a significant family tradition from your childhood.

Alien Autobiography

Write a first-person account of a cantina creature’s life, from its home planet to its life in the cantina.

If you were an animal, what kind would you be, and what would a day in your life be like?

Artful Autobiography

Write a brief autobiography, but consider yourself as a work of art.

The Earth’s Memoir

Write about the history of Earth through its own perspective.

Embracing the Archetypes

Consider your life as it fits into the traditional story archetypes (the journey, the transformation, etc.) and write your autobiography.

Eras of Yore

Choose an era in history and create a fictional autobiography of someone living during that period.

Write a first-person story as if you were an animal living in the wild.

Rita’s Retrospective

If Rita Skeeter was to write an autobiography, how would she portray her life and career?

The Phantom’s Memoir

Ghostwrite an autobiography from the perspective of a ghost, detailing its life before and after death.

Mystique Memoirs

You are a ghost who decides to write your own autobiography detailing your life after death.

Midnight Memoirs

Envision you are a ghostwriter hired to pen the autobiography of a controversial public figure. Detail your thoughts, moral dilemmas…

The Ghostly Autobiography

Write a fictitious autobiography from the perspective of a ghost.

Mapping Your Autobiography

Draw a map of significant events in your life, marking the key turning points.

An Embarrassing Incident

Recount an embarrassing incident from your past and how it still affects you today.

The Memoir of a Paperclip

Write a short comical autobiography of a paperclip

Autobiography of an AI

Imagine you’re an artificial intelligence and write your autobiography.

Autobiography Writing Prompts To Tell Your Story

Necmettin Karakaya

Co-Founder of AI Life Story

Writing an autobiography is an incredible way to share your life story, connect with family, and preserve your experiences for future generations. However, it can be challenging to know where to start and how to structure your narrative. In this article, we'll provide you with a list of engaging writing prompts to help you begin your autobiography journey. We'll also include a FAQ section to address common questions about autobiography writing.

Autobiography Writing Prompts

Childhood memories.

Describe your favorite childhood toy and why it was special to you.
Share a story about your best friend growing up.
Write about your favorite childhood vacation or family trip.
Recall a time when you got into trouble as a child.
Describe the neighborhood where you grew up.
Share your favorite childhood game or activity.
Write about a childhood hero or role model.
Recall your favorite childhood book or movie and its impact on you.
Describe your first day of school.
Share a memorable childhood birthday celebration.

Family Life

Describe a family member who has influenced your life and why.
Share a cherished family tradition or custom.
Write about a memorable family gathering or reunion.
Share a story about your family's cultural background or heritage.
Describe your relationship with your siblings.
Write about a family member you wish you could have known better.
Share a story about your family's history or ancestry.
Describe your family's favorite shared activity or hobby.
Share a time when your family supported you through a difficult period.
Write about a lesson you learned from a family member.

Personal Challenges and Growth

Describe a significant obstacle you've overcome in your life.
Write about a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
Share a moment when you faced a fear or phobia.
Describe a time when you had to step outside of your comfort zone.
Write about a challenging relationship or friendship in your life.
Share a moment when you had to stand up for yourself or someone else.
Describe a personal setback and how you recovered from it.
Write about a time when you had to adapt to a major life change.
Share a moment when you learned the importance of forgiveness.
Describe a situation where you had to let go of something or someone important to you.

Achievements and Milestones

Write about your proudest personal or professional accomplishment.
Describe a significant award or recognition you've received.
Share a story about achieving a long-held goal or dream.
Write about a time when you surprised yourself with your abilities.
Describe a moment when you inspired or motivated someone else.
Write about a milestone birthday or anniversary.
Share a story about an accomplishment that took significant effort to achieve.
Describe your journey toward mastering a skill or hobby.
Write about a time when you received unexpected praise or appreciation.
Share a moment when you realized you had made a positive impact on someone's life.

Hobbies and Passions

Describe your favorite hobby or pastime and how you discovered it.
Share a story about a memorable experience related to your hobby or passion.
Write about the role your hobby or passion plays in your life.
Describe a person who shares your hobby or passion and how you met them.
Write about a time when your hobby or passion helped you through a difficult time.
Share a story about teaching or introducing someone else to your hobby or passion.
Describe a memorable achievement related to your hobby or passion.
Write about the challenges or obstacles you've faced in pursuing your hobby or passion.
Share a story about a place or event related to your hobby or passion.
Describe your future goals or aspirations related to your hobby or passion.

Unleash Your Storytelling Potential with Us.

As you explore these autobiography writing prompts, you may find that you need a little extra support to bring your life story to life. AILifeStory.com is here to help you every step of the way with our innovative AI-powered platform designed specifically for crafting autobiographies.

Our user-friendly tools and resources will assist you in:

Organizing and structuring your story with personalized guidance
Streamlining the writing process with AI-guided interviews and prompts
Collaborating with family members by sharing drafts and receiving feedback
Creating a visually appealing and engaging autobiography that captures your unique journey

Don't let your life story remain untold. Preserve your legacy and share your experiences with future generations by starting your autobiography today.

Discover AILifeStory.com and begin your journey now!

The Final Word: Bringing It All Together

Using these autobiography writing prompts can help you unlock your memories and experiences, making it easier to write a compelling and engaging life story. Remember that your autobiography is an opportunity to share your unique journey, so be honest, reflective, and open about your experiences. With dedication and creativity, you can craft a meaningful narrative that will resonate with readers and preserve your legacy for future generations.

Frequently asked questions

How can i make my autobiography more engaging, what if i can't remember specific details or events, how can i ensure my autobiography is well-structured, what if i struggle with writer's block, want to learn more.

Connecting with Your Family through Autobiography Writing

The Art of Storytelling: How to Write an Engaging Autobiography

The Complete Guide to Hiring a Ghostwriter for Your Autobiography

10 Memoir Writing Prompts to Get Your Life Story Started

by Joe Bunting | 0 comments

Want to write a memoir but not sure how to get started? I've got you covered. In this post, I'm sharing my ten best creative writing prompts for memoir writers.

If you need a quick prompt, check out my five favorite memoir writing prompts below. Or, keep reading for an expanded list of all ten prompts.

My 5 Favorite Memoir Writing Prompts

Write about a life or death situation you've experienced.

Describe your own meet cute. Think back to the first time you met the love of your life.
You've traveled through time and encounter a younger version of yourself. What life lesson would you share?
What is one moment where you were afraid to do something but did it anyway?
Write about one encounter with death.
Read on for more!

How to Write a Memoir

We've looked at detail at How to Write a Memoir , but just to recap, remember that a memoir is not a list of all the events spanning your entire life. That might be a good starting place for ideas, but it isn't a memoir. It isn't your full life story either. It isn't a family history (although those can be fun).

A memoir is more like a personal narrative essay, only in a longer format. What does that mean? It means that you choose a significant event or period of your life when something changed. The most powerful memoirs are laser focused on those moments of crisis when you had to choose one thing, knowing you would lose something else.

Use These Memoir Writing Prompts to Get Started

Ready to write a book about your life? Get started by using these prompts. Then tell us which prompt you chose and share up to 250 words of your writing in the practice link below.

2. Area of Expertise

Make a list of every area of expertise you have, e.g. writing, playing an instrument, the history of 18th century French history, etc. Then choose one of those areas of expertise and write for fifteen minutes about what you've learned about that expertise. Begin every paragraph with the phrase, “I learned . . .”

3. Meet Cute

Describe your own meet cute. Think back to the first time you met the love of your life. Describe the situation and how you felt the first time you saw them.

4. Betrayed

Share the story of one time you were betrayed.

Have you ever encountered death? Either the death of a loved one, animal, or stranger? Write about your encounter with death and how you experienced it.

6. Adventure

What is the biggest adventure you've ever experienced? Write about it.

7. Life Lesson

You've traveled through time and encounter a younger version of yourself (choose one of the following ages: seven, fifteen, seventeen, twenty-three, or thirty-one). What life lesson would you share with yourself? Tell yourself the story of how you learned that lesson.

8. Surroundings

Describe your surroundings right now. What memories do your surroundings evoke?

9. Life or Death

10. too much good.

Think of one moment in your life when you had to choose between two very good things, like love or money, fun or responsibility, happiness or duty. Then write about it.

Bonus Prompts!

Here are a few additional prompts to get your memoir ideas rolling.

11. Write about your earliest memory. Why do you think it stands out?

12. Think of a major life event. What was front and center in the life experience? What was at the edges? What changed in that moment?

13. Tell the story of a family heirloom that you've received or passed down.

14. Write a personal history about the lasting impact of a specific person in your life.

15. Write about a historical event that touched your life directly.

Become a Better Memoir Writer by Reading a Great Memoir

One of the best ways to learn how to write a memoir is to read memoirs. And it just so happens that I've written a memoir, Crowdsourcing Paris , about a real-life adventure story I experienced in Paris. Even better, according to reviewers, it's really good!

See what people are saying about Crowdsourcing Paris here .

Inside the memoir are the adventures I experienced in Paris, including my near-death experience in the catacombs, the illegal 170 miles of tunnels below the City of Light.

Throughout the memoir, I also share my writing lessons as I learn to become a writer in Paris.

Get your copy of Crowdsourcing Paris here.

Which of these memoir writing prompts is your favorite? Let us know in the comments !

Choose one of the memoir writing prompts above. Then set a timer for fifteen minutes , and write as much as you can.

When your time is up, post your practice in the Pro Practice Workshop (if you’re not a member yet, you can join here ).

And if you post, please be sure to give feedback to at least three other writers.

Happy writing!

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Posted on Jun 05, 2024

How to Write an Autobiography: The Story of Your Life

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Savannah Cordova

Savannah is a senior editor with Reedsy and a published writer whose work has appeared on Slate, Kirkus, and BookTrib. Her short fiction has appeared in the Owl Canyon Press anthology, "No Bars and a Dead Battery".

Anyone who’s lived a long, interesting life (as many of us have in one way or another!) may dream of someday turning their life into a book. However, the practicalities of how to write an autobiography can be daunting — especially to those who don’t have much writing experience.

If you feel ready to write your autobiography but aren’t sure where to start, this guide will take you from opening lines to (hopefully) publishing your autobiography for all the world to read.

1. Understand what an autobiography entails

When asked to picture an autobiography, you might think of a celebrity tell-all or political memoir. This isn’t inaccurate ; a memoir would definitely fall under the autobiography umbrella. But to be really precise, there are a few key differences between memoirs and autobiographies:

Memoirs tend to be more thematic and focus on a central narrative (similar to a novel), whereas an autobiography is highly factual and reads more like “classic” nonfiction.
Memoirs focus on a specific period or theme in a person’s life, while autobiographies aim to give a complete, chronological picture.
Lastly, many memoirs are written while the writer is still young. An autobiography, though, should be written later in one’s life — at a point where one’s life story can be told comprehensively.

An autobiography is also different from a biography in that it is always narrated by the subject. Note that we’ve said “narrated” instead of “written” because, indeed, many autobiographies are created with the help of ghostwriters!

Ghostwritten autobiographies aren’t just for celebrities, either. People from all walks of life work with ghostwriters to record their stories or simply guide them through the process.

If that sounds like you, have a look through our vetted ghostwriters on the Reedsy marketplace . You might just find your dream collaborator!

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Should you write a memoir or an autobiography?

In other words, if you’re still young (be honest here!), and/or if the book you want to write is more a series of vignettes revolving around a central theme, you may have a memoir on your hands. If that’s the case, check out our guide to how to write a memoir for more tailored advice.

But if you’ve already lived a long, interesting life — one that you feel prepared to share chronologically and completely — then an autobiography is the medium for you.

2. Outline your life's main “beats”

You might think you don’t need to be too picky about what to include in your autobiography since it’s supposed to be a “complete” account — and you’d be mostly right! That said, even in a fairly exhaustive autobiography, it’s still useful to identify the key “beats” before you begin.

What should you include in an autobiography?

While each person’s autobiography will be unique to them, readers expect certain “beats” to be covered. To get the ball rolling, here’s a list of classic autobiographical beats to hit:

🐣 Your birth and family background – possibly including how your parents met, where they were living at the time of your birth, whether you have any siblings, etc.
📚 Your early days at school – including the friends you made (whether long-lasting or not), your academic achievements (and failures), and any critical moments related to your future goals/actions.
🧑🏽‍💻 Your first job – this is often enlightening for readers, particularly if it had some bearing on your later career; whether because you realized that you loved the work or, more likely, that you didn’t want to work your first job forever.
👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 Your first relationship – similar to your first job, this is often a major stepping stone into adulthood and understanding your priorities.
Moving house;
Having children;
Getting promoted;
Receiving an award;
Traveling somewhere new;
Or discovering anything significant about yourself.
💼 Your retirement – if applicable, this will likely be one of the last beats you cover; it might include why you decided to retire, how you are spending your time nowadays, and any plans for the future.

Remember that each beat you include should contribute to a holistic portrait of your life — whether it’s something that shaped your character or lends context to another parallel moment later on.

But not everything will be relevant. There’s no need to include random things that have no bearing on any other event or important element of your life; that said, the lucky thing about memory is that you likely won’t recall most of those things anyway!

Need some help outlining your autobiography? Check out our Biography Outline Template below — while not entirely chronological, it’s a great starting point for any aspiring autobiographical author.

FREE RESOURCE

Biography Outline Template

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

3. Try to write in chronological order

Having come up with a solid outline, you should now feel (somewhat) prepared to start writing your autobiography… and, ideally, to start writing it in chronological order.

While many books can be drafted non-chronologically, an autobiography is not one of them. This is because each new chapter quite literally builds on the last; this is different even from a memoir, which often skips around in time and leaves out details. The best way to ensure you’re not missing anything is to write your autobiography as chronologically as possible!

How to start an autobiography

On the note of starting your autobiography, it’s pretty straightforward: begin either with your birth or slightly before, e.g., with your parents. Unlike a memoir, which can start in medias res ( in the middle of the action ), an autobiography should start ab ovo , or “from the egg.”

This is one of the biggest benefits of writing chronologically: you always know where to start, and indeed, what should come next. Here are two strong autobiography openings to give a sense of how yours might sound:

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb

When I was born, people in our village commiserated with my mother and nobody congratulated my father. I arrived at dawn as the last star blinked out… I was a girl in a land where rifles are fired in celebration of a son, while daughters are hidden away behind a curtain, their role in life simply to prepare food and give birth to children.

Iacocca: An Autobiography by Lee Iacocca and William Novak:

Nicola Iacocca, my father, arrived in this country in 1902 at the age of twelve — poor, alone, and scared. He used to say the only thing he was sure of when he got here was that the world was round. And that was only because another Italian boy named Christopher Columbus had preceded him by 410 years, almost to the day.

Though each opening takes a different tack — Yousafzai’s autobiography begins with her actual birth, while Iacocca’s begins even earlier, with his father’s arrival in America — both serve as effective starts to their respective books and set the tone for what’s to come.

4. Include plenty of detail

In case we haven’t drilled down on this enough, let’s reiterate once more: an autobiography should be a complete overview of your life from beginning to end. That means that as you get into properly writing it, you should include as much detail as you can remember.

Taking one of our previous suggested beats — “your first job” — as an example, here are a few questions you might ask yourself to recount your memories in more detail:

How did you get your first job?
What made you want to work there?
What was the environment/atmosphere like — physically and emotionally?
What was your greatest accomplishment at this job? Your greatest failure?
What did you learn from working there? How did it affect your later career?

As you can probably tell from these questions, the natural corollary to the advice of “be detailed!” is to also be honest . Don’t shy away from your failures or regrets — an autobiography without mistakes is not an autobiography, but rather a puff piece.

Examples of strong biographical detail

For those wondering how to inject detail into their writing, here are two examples from great autobiographies that do exactly that. Each takes a different approach to engage readers — perhaps you can pick up some descriptive techniques to suit your own life story.

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

There was no natural light in my cell; a single bulb burned overhead twenty-four hours a day. I did not have a wristwatch and I often thought it was the middle of the night when it was only late afternoon. I had nothing to read, nothing to write on or with, no one to talk to [...] After a time in solitary, I relished the company even of the insects in my cell, and found myself on the verge of initiating conversations with a cockroach.

This passage’s evocative details — the single lightbulb, Mandela’s loss of his internal clock — convey the crushing loneliness of solitary confinement, yet also add levity with the bit about cockroaches.

This give-and-take style may be useful if you, too, are writing an autobiography which includes difficult or traumatic elements. Don’t shy away from the hard parts, but don’t let solemnity overpower your personality and voice!

Becoming by Michelle Obama

When you’re little, a piano can look like it has a thousand keys. You’re staring at an expanse of black and white that stretches farther than two small arms can reach. [...] The keys on Robbie’s piano had a subtle unevenness of color and shape, places where bits of ivory had broken off over time, leaving them looking like a set of bad teeth.

This passage uses sensory details and an intimate tone to draw readers in, describing not just how the piano looks, but how it feels to play. All this makes for a very compelling narrative style — almost like that of a novel. If you want your autobiography to flow this way, try reading more nonfiction in this style (indeed, many memoirs read quite similarly).

📚 Looking for more examples of brilliant biographical writing? Check out this list of The 30 Best Biographies of All Time to inspire you.

5. Do research to fill in the gaps

No matter how carefully you rack your brains, you won’t be able to recall every detail of your life. That’s where research comes in! Here are a couple of things you can do to learn more about yourself and your past.

Interview friends and family

While you’ve likely retained the core of each important life memory, some details will still elude you. For these, you might call on friends, family members, and anyone else who was in your life at the time — interviewing them should help flesh things out in your autobiography.

You might try a few different interview strategies, depending on what you’re hoping to achieve:

Ask specific questions based on what you can’t remember/don’t know (e.g. “Whose wedding was that again?” or “Why did Dad quit that job in Pasadena?”);
Ask your subject to recount everything they can about an event (e.g. “Tell me how you remember our high school graduation”); or
Ask them if they have any key memories of you which they would like to talk about.

The first interview style will be the quickest, but the latter two might yield more interesting results. If you’re prioritizing thoroughness, we’d highly recommend calling up a few old friends or close family members, sitting down, and recording your interview for a few hours.

Do “traditional" research if needed

Having written as much as you can, and interviewed other people to add their stories, you might still find yourself missing information. If applicable, this is where you could turn to “traditional” research — that is, looking up relevant records and documentation, or even taking a field trip or two to previous neighborhoods.

It’s up to you how far to go with this; just don’t go mad, and try to avoid any rabbit holes that tempt you to write an entirely new book. (Then again, that could always be your next project! Check out our post on how to write a nonfiction book to learn more.)

6. Give your draft a discerning edit

You’ve finally finished a detailed draft — congratulations! Even if you don’t do anything else with your autobiography, your friends and family will be wildly impressed, and your descendants will have a fascinatingly thorough record of your life.

But if you want to publish your autobiography — or even if you suspect it hasn’t turned out quite as expected — you’ll now need to enter the editing stage. There are a few different types of editing to consider for your autobiography, including:

Structural editing to heighten the impact of your key beats;
Line editing to improve the syntax, flow, and clarity of your sentences; and
Fact-checking and proofreading to ensure your book doesn’t contain any errors.

Again, it’s up to you how extensively you want to edit your autobiography. If you’re doing it yourself, we’d suggest going top-to-bottom — first structural editing, then line editing, then proofreading — to avoid unnecessary work. ( Check out this post on how to self-edit your book for key tips!)

And if this all feels overwhelming, you can always work with a professional editor to get your autobiography in tip-top shape . Autobiography and memoir specialists can help turn your work into an Iacocca-worthy masterpiece.

MEET EDITORS

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7. Format and publish your autobiography

Now comes the really fun part, if you so choose it — formatting and publishing your autobiography for everyone to read!

Biography fans out there will know that auto/biographies often contain a selection of personal photos within the text. If you’re envisioning this, it will require specialty formatting; you’ll either need to intersperse photos throughout the text or format your book with a “photo section” in the middle (the more common option).

You can do this with free book formatting tools like Reedsy Studio . Or if you’re not confident in your formatting abilities, consider hiring a professional typesetter to help !

As for publishing, many autobiographers choose to self-publish their books to get them out as quickly as possible, and to have more control over the process. However, if you’re interested in selling your autobiography to a publisher — a reasonable option if you are a businessperson, and especially if you already have a decent following — we’d suggest this post on how to write a non-fiction query letter to get you started.

Whatever path you take, whether you decide to publish it or not, writing the story of your life is an incredibly enlightening endeavor. If you're interested in novels instead, check out this advice from NYT bestselling author Caroline Leavitt ! We hope this guide has helped you on your journey; indeed, as autobiographical writing teaches us, the journey really is the greatest reward.

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How to Write an Autobiography

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Home » Blog » How to Write an Autobiography in 31 Steps

How to Write an Autobiography in 31 Steps

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Table of contents.

If you’re thinking about writing an autobiography, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will be telling you all about how to write an autobiography – breaking it down and helping you along with the process.

Writing an autobiography is an opportunity to reflect on your life and share your experiences with others. The process can be enjoyable and rewarding, offering a chance to revisit key moments while helping you shape your story in a meaningful way. With the right approach, you can craft a narrative that resonates with readers and captures the essence of your journey.

1. What is an Autobiography?

So you want to know how to write an autobiography? First off, let’s start with what an autobiography is. Put simply, a biography is a book written about someone’s life. It includes all elements of their life, particularly featuring any significant events that took place.

The word ‘autobiography’ is made up of the two Greek words ‘autos’ and ‘bios’, meaning self and life. Put them together and you get a book that is a mix of who you are, and the life you have lived.

2. Memoir vs. Autobiography

Before you start any kind of writing process, it is important to know what kind of book it is you want to write. There is no way to know how to write an autobiography if you can’t distinguish the two. Memoirs and autobiographies are often plumped into the same genre because they are both about someone’s life.

But they are two genres of their own. So here’s the difference:

It’s pretty simple – if the book is about the person’s entire life – it’s an autobiography; if it’s about one or two events, themes, or memories within their life, it’s a memoir .

Knowing the difference will save you time and energy. It will also help you to shape and plan your book (if that’s your style).

You can always change your mind and switch genres, but at least you will know what you are doing and how both of them work. Whichever you choose will change a lot about your book – particularly the content you choose to include and the structure of the entire piece.

Memoir is the perfect platform to share your personal life experience, and you don’t have to share every other significant moment of your life. (A wise decision if only one really interesting thing has happened to you during your lifetime.)

Writing an autobiography is much different. While they both to do with the author’s life, biography is more to do with what happened throughout your life.

That means all significant events from birth ’till now.

If you set out to write a biography and it turns into a memoir, this is not a problem. The problem is when you don’t know what you’re doing at all. This leads to confusion in the writing process. And a lack of professionalism outside of it.

A great way to learn how to write an autobiography is to read. A lot. Reading other autobiographies will give you an idea of which direction to go in and how this genre is structured. It can also help you to develop your style and tone of voice, and to pinpoint which writing techniques you find most effective. All good tools to have in your writing toolbox.

Here are a few examples of autobiographies you might want to read:

My Autobiography, Charlie Chaplin (1964)
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Franklin
Long walk to freedom, Nelson Mandela
The story of my experiments with truth, Mahatma Gandhi
The story of my life, by Helen Keller
The autobiography of Malcolm X, Alex Haley, Malcolm X
An Autobiography, Agatha Christie (1965))
The confessions of St. Augustine, Augustine of Hippo
Scar tissue, Anthony Kiedis, Larry Sloman
Open: An Autobiography, Andre Agassi
Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi
Autobiography of a yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda

4. When to Write an Autobiography

Experience and youth. Photograph by Ivette Ivens. Source: abcnews.go.com

Cellini (1500-1571) wrote one of the finest autobiographies of the Renaissance. He stated:

“No matter what sort he is, everyone who has to his credit what are or really seem great achievements, if he cares for truth and goodness, ought to write the story of his own life in his own hand; but no one should venture on such a splendid undertaking before he is over forty.” Cellini

Knowing how to write an autobiography can have a lot to do with your life experiences. This fact brings into question the age of the reader.

Many biographies are written later on in life when experience has been gathered and there are many exciting moments to draw from. But this isn’t always the case.

If you are a younger writer and feel that your life has been sufficiently fantastic, or you feel a growing desire to get down all of the details of your childhood days, there is no rule that says you can’t. So don’t let others’ perceptions stop you.

Twenty-one-year-old Edouard Louis, for example, published a hugely successful fictional autobiography (aka an autofiction), The End of Eddy about his childhood and adolescence. So it is possible. Sorry Cellini.

That said, an older, more experienced writer may have an easier time writing an autobiography, simply because they have more material to draw from.

Like memoirs, autobiographies tend to center around a theme, even though you are including many life events. That is because people tend to also be themed, in a way. Want to know how to start an autobiography? Thinking about a theme can be a useful way in.

If you are a professional dancer, and that is the passion of your life, it makes sense that your book would also center around the theme of dancing and how you reached that success.

If you are ghostwriting for a celebrity, naturally they will be famous for something in particular.

The main theme, of course, is the person’s life. But that is not enough to sustain interest across time. So bear in mind a secondary theme that ties it all together.

If your theme or themes are relatable, then that will stand you in good stead. If you are not writing a glitzy celeb autobiography, then having a very relatable and original theme is more likely to find a readership than any other. Be careful not to choose and manufacture your theme, however. If you are meant to write an autobiography, you will likely already feel compelled to write about your life. So try not to put too much thought into it. Just keep it in mind, as it will keep you on track.

6. How to Pick a Theme

How to start an autobiography? One way is to pick a theme. And stick to it.

One way of picking a theme is to choose an aspect of your personality that you feel is awesome and make that your sole focus. Maybe you’re great at maths, for example. Perhaps you made it to the world championships in mathematics or something. That would be a story worth telling.

Another is to look at your philosophy in life and make that the focal point of your book. Showing your values throughout the book can inspire and uplift the reader as it can show a good example of a life well-lived. It also reveals quite clearly who you are as a person, without you having to explicitly spell it out.

A third would be to consider the things that are most important to you in your life and to make a reference to these as you work your way through each significant event mentioned in your book. (This works especially well if you are writing an autobiography for those who know you.)

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7. Exceptions

You might also want to know how to write an autobiography because you want to share your story with your family. This is an admirable reason to write a story. It means that your family will always have a special connection to you through a story, no matter what. It also means that generations to come will have that link to their own past and history.

From that sense, everybody should write one!

This kind of story can even be compiled as an oral history of your family’s history and lives, which makes for an extremely personal keepsake.

Autobiographies are sometimes written in short form, as essays for college assignments. This is a similar exercise to writing a full book but in a condensed format.

Another form of autobiography is as an autofiction. This book is based mostly upon autobiographical content but is also a work of fiction. This is an easy way of avoiding any concerns you might have about privacy. If you want to distance yourself a little and take more control over the content, then this may be the way to go.

You can also consider other formats, such as writing an autobiographical graphic novel, which has the essence of cool written all over it. If you are an artist or have a passion for strong visuals, this is something to consider.

8. How to Plan

“Look for the times when your life changed the most, and when you changed the most, those are the times of peak drama in your life.” Janice Erlbaum, The Autobiographer’s Handbook

An excellent practice when learning how to start an autobiography is to begin by writing out all of the significant events in your life. These could be anything; from graduating college to losing your virginity, to being born. Whatever you think is most important and noteworthy, write it down.

You can later play with the order of events if you like, to shake things up a little bit, but for now, just get anything and everything you can think of written down.

When considering how to write an autobiography, it seems to be the most natural of all genres to plan. This is because within its very construction there is a presumption of what it will be about: events in your life. In this sense, it is already set up for you. In some ways, this makes writing a lot easier. On the other hand, the risk that easy planning poses is boredom. For the reader or yourself. The challenge then becomes, how to make these life events interesting and stand out. But we’ll get to that a bit later on…

Nb If you are a pantser (someone who likes to write by the seat of your pants) then you might want to skip this step. In all likelihood you have something in mind to write about, so just start there.

9. Writing Schedule

A schedule helps you to get things done. You will know what works best for you after trying a few things out. You could try planning out how much you are going to write by the hour (i.e. I will write for an hour a day, every weekday) or by word count (I will write 500 words a day). Be realistic and don’t overwhelm yourself. If you are too overambitious, you may find you end up not writing at all.

Otherwise, you could aim to write a certain section of the book per week or month if that works better for you. Because autobiography is so clearly and easily arranged into story beats (was born, had first pimple, dyed hair red, etc.) organizing your writing by these events works for almost all writers, even if you are not a fan of planning.

Ask yourself the question, what’s the minimum I could manage on a regular basis? And be honest.

Everyone has their own writing style, including the way they schedule (or don’t schedule) their writing habits. So don’t ever let anyone tell you how you should be writing. It’s up to you.

10. How to Start an Autobiography

The blank page. Source: petersansom.wordpress.com

Well, now you have a list of important events in your life, starting to write should be pretty straightforward. If you don’t like planning, it’s even simpler, just pinpoint a significant moment in time and get to work! If you have a plan, all you need to do is start writing out a first draft of each event.

Next up we have a few tips and tricks to get you started.

11. Go Digging

While figuring out how to write an autobiography, you will want to have everything you are writing as fresh and vivid in your mind as possible. This clarity will translate onto the page and give your readers a strong impression of each moment.

To do this, you will want to dig out any old photos of you and whomever you might be writing about and begin filing things away for each chapter or section of the book.

You also might find it beneficial to interview anyone who remembers what happened. This can bring a new light on old events. Try using a recorder or dictaphone and typing up the best bits once you’re done.

12. Fill Up Your Senses

A good way to get into the moment before a writing session is to surround yourself with the materials relating to that particular event. Look at photos or listen to recordings from around that time, and jot down any thoughts you might have about them.

You may also want to listen to some music from the time. If you have any old clothes or keepsakes from the person, you will also want them to be around or near as you write. Listen to any interviews about the time or the characters before writing.

13. Write a letter

If you’re struggling to start writing, you can try writing a letter to yourself or to other members of the family from the time. This is a very personal way of connecting with the past. Remembering your connection to your characters will help your writing to flow more easily and mean you have material to draw from before you even start writing.

14. Emotions

Writing about certain life events is likely to be emotional. Say you had a car crash when you were younger or had to deal with some maltreatment of some kind, this will impact your writing, and how you feel about it.

It can be a difficult balance. You need to care enough about your subject matter to write it. But you don’t want your emotions to take over to the point where the style and the content of your book suffers.

While feeling impassioned by your writing, it is also important to be able to step back and take a second look at your viewpoint. This may take several rewrites to get right.

If you are finding it difficult, then consider writing out as many different viewpoints of the event as you possibly can. This will open up how you see it and may even lead to an inspiring revelation for both you and your book.

15. New Insights

One of the benefits of learning how to write an autobiography is that, as you develop as a writer, new insights will likely occur.

So while emotions can run high, it is good to know that writing about anything difficult that has happened in your life can help you psychologically.

Dr. James Pennebaker, a professor at Austin Texas University discovered that students who wrote for just fifteen minutes a day over three days about difficult or emotional experiences had a better level of well-being. He found that going through the process was upsetting for them, but it was the new insights the students discovered through the process of writing, that led to their improved levels of psychological health.

16. Take Care

As with memoir, if you feel that it is too much to write any subject matter, always take a break and come back to it (or not). Your mental health and general well-being are always more important than a book.

17. Know Your Why

Make sure that you don’t add topics or incidents simply to vent about them. Instead, get all your feelings out about it during your first draft, and then start with a fresh perspective. If your writing is only about venting, it will not interest the reader. You may come across as petty or whiny.

Instead, you will want to make sure you can see the benefit of sharing your experiences with people. When you truly know how to write an autobiography, it should empower and enlighten people and help them connect to your story, rather than reading like an unfinished diary entry. It is perfectly acceptable for it to start out that way. But by the end of your writing process, you should be confident in the purpose of why you are writing your book, and what kind of impact it will have on its readers.

Knowing why you are writing will keep you on the right track, and help you like a compass in the storm, when you are lost.

18. Tone of Voice

An important aspect of telling your story will be your narrative style and tone of voice. This completely depends upon who you are writing for and the purpose of your book.

If you are writing for your grandchildren, for example, you may use more simplistic language. If you are writing for a broader audience, then you may use a more neutral tone. Writing for friends? You might want to use more familial or colloquial terms.

This also depends a lot on what kind of person you are, and you will want your attitude and personality to be reflected in your writing. This should happen naturally, but don’t be afraid to write as if you are talking or to use a recording device and write up your account of each chapter afterward.

Pro tip: Relax. You won’t find your tone of voice by constantly thinking about how you might come across. Just write as you think and your natural expression will do the rest.

19. First or Third Person?

You can experiment with viewpoints as you go along, but once you have chosen, you will want to stick with it. The third person gives us the feeling it has been written by someone else. So, if you are employing a ghostwriter or are working on a fictional work, then this is a good way to go.

First-person is the generally accepted viewpoint for most autobiographies, because it is your story, and you are the one writing it.

20. Conflict

As you recall the people in your life, adding in any conflicts, even if they are comical, will add to the richness of the book. Conflict drives drama, intrigue, and interest. And that’s what you want, if you want your book read, that is.

21. Story Arc

The hero’s journey. Source: wildgratitude.com

One of the most critical components of writing an autobiography is the story arc. Like most genres of story, autobiography is no exception and will need some sort of an all-encompassing story arc. This is one of the main challenges you may face while writing this kind of book.

It simply can’t be a long list of events and then an ending. They have to all meld together cohesively in order to have some sort of an impact on your reader.

A story arc gives writers a structure, in which our main character aims to do something, and then either manages (or doesn’t) to achieve it. There are normally many obstacles in the protagonist’s way, and they must overcome them. Simply put, our main character must get from A to B. And you will need to decide at some point, what your start and end points in the story will be.

This ties into your overall message in the book. The great thing about autobiography is that it basically tells your reader who you are as a person.

You can start by making a note of your core beliefs and who you feel you are as a person before you begin. But don’t be surprised if, as you write, you reveal a value you hold that you had never especially acknowledged. This is a true gift to the reader, to leave them with your wisdom or knowledge.

Your philosophy can play a big role in the book, as it has likely led you to make certain decisions and can be featured and interlaced with certain events when your process of decision-making was integral to the direction of your life.

22. Comedy and Funny Anecdotes

While you don’t want to overdo it on the comedy (unless it is a comedic autobiography, in which case, carry on!) a little comic relief can work wonders in this genre. It can lighten the mood and even make sad moments even more poignant. Funny stories specific to your family can add to the color of your characters, so they don’t fall flat .

23. Where to Begin?

Think about when you might want to start your story. The logical point to start is from birth, but as your writing evolves over time, you may change your mind. You may want to add some perspective about your life from before you were even born. Your heritage may also be a large influence on who you are as a person today.

Once you have written a full first draft, you can consider changing around the order. Editing in this way can make for a more dynamic and varied read. If placed in the right way, you can even add in a plot twist or add to the suspense of your book.

24. Consider Your Reader

Don’t rest on your laurels. This can especially be a risk if you are writing only for friends or family. Just because someone knows you, it doesn’t mean your story will automatically become interesting to them. It will likely make it more interesting than if you were a random passerby, true. But this is not something to take for granted.

This point can be ignored during the first draft, but as you begin to develop your story, it becomes an implicit part of the process.

If you are wanting your book to sell, this becomes even more important as the reader’s interest and word of mouth can mean the difference between a book being put down or another sale.

25. How to Make Events More Colorful

Once you have written the thing, you will want to make sure that it is an interesting read. Even if you are writing just for friends and family, they will want to be excited by your life. And surely, that is why you are writing this in the first place?!

So a few tips to make sure that each story beat pops with color is to:

1. Keep a notebook with you at all times for when you remember particular details about a person or place. Details will always give your story more originality and color.
2. Show don’t tell – this is always relevant to any kind of writing and autobiography is no exception. Try adding in things you saw, smelt, tasted, or touched within the scene. Avoid making a statement and describe what happened in the moment, instead.
3. Add metaphor or simile- when describing a character or a vivid memory, don’t just describe how it looked on the surface. Unless this is not at all your writing style, you can enjoy emphasizing how something made you feel through descriptions that include metaphor. (use ext link for how to use a metaphor) For example, ‘she was as fit as a fiddle’.
4. Avoid common descriptive words – words such as ‘nice’ and ‘good’ should be considered with great caution once you have reached the third draft of your book.

26. Consider Your Reader

An important part of knowing how to write an autobiography is having an awareness of the reader throughout the entire manuscript. This is not only a book for you. So don’t rest on your laurels.

This can especially be a risk if you are writing only for friends or family. Just because someone knows you, it doesn’t mean your story will automatically become interesting to them. It will likely make it more interesting than if you were a random passerby, true. But this is not something to take for granted.

Many new writers are tempted to leave in every detail of their lives. But longer doesn’t always equal better – often it means that you simply haven’t cut out the parts that aren’t needed. So make sure you have your ego in check – don’t make your book too long just for the sake of it. Just because it’s interesting to you, does not mean every reader will want to know about it – family and friends included.

The average autobiography is around 75,000 words long. Much shorter than 60,000 and you might want to find other sources to write about, and any longer than 100,000, you might want to cut it down a bit.

28. Consider Privacy/Confidentiality

Much like a memoir, an autobiography includes characters who are real people. This means that some might be negatively affected by your work. So make sure to talk to those involved and to have an attorney at hand, just in case.

If you are unsure about leaving in their real name, it is best to give their character a pseudonym.

29. Editing

Both editing your book and getting it proofread will make or break it.

That means that you will want to find a professional editor to work with, who knows what she or he is doing. Ideally, you will want to find someone who is experienced in editing autobiographies or memoirs. Check that you have similar values and that you are both clear on what you are going to be working on before you start.

30. Proofreading

Make sure that all your hard work shows. You can have a strong storyline and everything else in place, but if there’s a typo on the front cover, there is no way you will be taken seriously.

So, ask friends to check over your manuscript, or better yet, employ a few proofreaders to check it over for you. Don’t use the same editor to proofread, as they will find it more challenging to spot minute mistakes by the time they have reread the story more than once. A fresh pair of eyes will likely do a better job.

31. Autobiographies on the Shelf

The autobiographies in our bookshops today, you will notice, are mostly written by celebrities. This is because they often have interesting lives that we want to read about. They include incidents that we could never have access to otherwise, in our day-to-day lives.

And that’s what makes them so appealing.

Most people are not so interested in other’s lives unless they have done something extraordinary. So if you’re thinking of writing something purely to try and get it sold, then you might want to rethink the genre you are writing in. We’re not saying it doesn’t happen that unknown authors sell a lot of autobiographies. It does. It’s just a lot less likely.

But don’t be dismayed, this is only a problem if that is the only reason you are writing your book. If it is because you feel impassioned to do so, then that is all the reason you need.

If it is for your friends and family to read, then you need not worry about big sales or landing a large publisher. It is so easy to self-publish these days on a relatively small budget, that you are pretty much guaranteed to achieve your aim.

If you are looking for a book deal, then you might be hard-pushed, if you can’t say your life has an original element to it at all. If this is the case, consider writing a memoir , instead. There are many more memoirs written by ordinary people with extraordinary stories, than autobiographies. Because people love to hear about how ordinary people overcame the odds.

No matter what your reason, if you believe in your book enough to start writing the first page, then don’t let anyone stop you from writing the book inside of you.

So there you have it. Hopefully, you will now feel confident about how to write an autobiography and ready to start. All it takes, is putting pen to paper.

Conclusion

Writing an autobiography is a profound way to share your life story, capturing the essence of your personal experiences, family history, and life lessons for future generations. By detailing major life events and highlighting the roles played by various family members, you weave a narrative that showcases the intricate tapestry of a person’s life story. Following a structured approach, such as the 31 steps outlined in this guide, ensures that your autobiography is not only comprehensive but also engaging, making it a good story that resonates with readers. This reflective process allows you to chronicle your life journey in a way that honors your past, informs the present, and inspires those who will come after you.

The following are some frequently asked questions about writing an autobiography:

How to write an autobiography step by step?

To write an autobiography step by step, start by outlining major life events and gathering materials like photos and mementos. Choose a central theme and create an outline to structure your story. Begin with a strong opening and write in a conversational tone, incorporating vivid details and key events to highlight life lessons. Include family history to enrich the narrative and reflect on your life journey. Edit and revise for clarity, seek feedback, and finalize your manuscript for publishing.

What is the format to write an autobiography?

The format of writing an autobiography involves starting with an engaging introduction that provides background information, followed by chronological chapters detailing major life events and experiences. Each chapter should focus on a specific period or theme, incorporating vivid descriptions and personal reflections. The conclusion should reflect on your overall journey and its impact on your present and future.

How do I start an autobiography about myself?

To start an autobiography about yourself, begin with a compelling anecdote or significant memory that captures your personality and sets the stage for your story. Provide brief background information and explain why you’re writing your autobiography.

How to write an autobiography for class 7?

To write an autobiography for class 7, jot down important events in your life, pick a theme, and write clearly using simple language. Add emotions and maybe some pictures for interest. Edit for clarity.

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discover your culture nd roots to help you write your cultural autobiography

Your Cultural Identity Autobiography: 75 Powerful Journaling Prompts

They say every culture is a story waiting to be told. Discover your own cultural identity and uncover the buried treasure within. Here is the map that helped me and many others write our autobiography and unearth the gems of our diverse backgrounds.

Hey there! I’m a grad student studying Psychology (Therapeutic Arts), and recently, I had to write a 10-page autobiography about my own culture. Sounds a bit boring, right?

But it turned out to be an enlightening experience and a deep journey into my multicultural history .

Now, I want to help you explore your own culture and help you write your own cultural autobiography so that you can increase your awareness and take pride in your unique background.

Starving student disclaimer: As an amazon affiliate I earn on qualifying purchases.

Getting Started: Cultural Identity Self-Reflection

Take some time to reflect on your cultural identity. Think about your ethnic background, family, language, values, beliefs, and traditions. Write about what you have learned and how it has impacted your life.

What you need:

Pen and paper or a computer or phone to type your document
Quiet space with few distractions
An open and non-judgmental mind. (It is okay to have bad experiences come up. Allow yourself to feel the emotion, journal it, and remember it’s okay to take a break if you need to.)

When You’re Finished

There are a few things you can do after you’ve journaled your answers and reflected on your cultural identity.

Share your story on social media and inspire or teach others
Ask these same questions to your family members and grow closer
Use your experiences for creative inspiration. (write a story, paint a picture, draw cultural symbols, etc.)

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Cultural Self-Reflection Questions

Explore 7 cultural dimensions, each with a set of 11 thought-provoking questions. These prompts will guide your self-reflection and inspire your autobiography.

Race, Ethnicity, National Origin, and Geographic Background Journaling Prompts

race and ethnicity autobiography journal prompts

What do you identify as your nationality background, racial group, and ethnic identity?
In what geographic region were you raised?
Were you raised in a rural or urban environment?
What values are typical of that region?
Where did your ancestors come from?
Why and how did you or your ancestors come to your current country?
In what ways did you/they adjust to this new home?
What aspects of your/their culture of origin were retained?
What impact does this way of entering the country and the subsequent adjustment have on your culture? On your identity?
How did you or your ancestors adjust to their new home when they arrived in your current country? Were there specific challenges they faced, and what strategies did they use to adapt to their new surroundings?
Have you ever explored your ancestral roots by visiting your country of origin or connecting with relatives from that region? What did you learn from these experiences, and how did they affect your cultural identity?

Spirituality and Religion Journaling Prompts

culture and spirituality autobiography journal prompts

What was your religious affiliation (if any) during your childhood?
How did this come to be in your family?
How are conflicts in your family that are due to religious values resolved?
What do you think this religious preference reflects about your heritage/culture?
What is your religious/spiritual affiliation now (if any)? If it has changed, how did that transformation happen?
Do you have any cherished family rituals or traditions related to your spirituality or religion? If so, can you describe one that holds particular significance to you?
Are there any annual religious or spiritual celebrations that you participate in? What role do these celebrations play in your life, and how have they evolved over the years?
Are there specific religious or spiritual symbols, objects, or artifacts that hold personal significance for you? What do they mean to you, and how do they connect you to your faith or spirituality?
How do you integrate your spirituality or religion into your daily life? Are there daily rituals or practices that help you feel more connected to your beliefs?
Have you ever explored other religious or spiritual traditions outside of your own? What did you learn from these experiences, and how did they influence your own beliefs?
Are there any specific rituals or celebrations from your heritage or culture that you feel particularly connected to, even if you aren’t religious? How do these traditions shape your identity and sense of belonging?

Gender and Sexuality Journaling Prompts

Gender and Sexuality autobiography journal prompts

What are your gender and sexual orientation?
How are gender and sexual orientation differences handled in your family of origin?
How is sexism in your culture addressed?
What behaviors, characteristics, beliefs, and values are defined by gender in your family and cultural background?
How are gender roles/responsibilities divided?
How is conflict between gender roles handled in your family?
What are some specific rules for marriage and childrearing in your family?
Delve into the societal norms and expectations related to gender in your family and cultural background. Are there behaviors, characteristics, beliefs, or values that are traditionally associated with different genders? How have these influenced your own identity and experiences?
Examine the division of gender roles and responsibilities within your family. Are there distinct expectations for males and females when it comes to household tasks, caregiving, or decision-making? How have these roles evolved over time?
Consider how conflicts arising from gender roles are handled in your family. Have there been instances of tension or disagreement regarding these roles, and how were they resolved? What lessons have you learned from these experiences?
Write any personal experiences or stories related to your gender identity or sexual orientation that have had a profound impact on your life. How did these experiences shape your sense of self and your relationships with others?

Age and Physical Ability Journaling Prompts

Age and physical ability autobiography journal prompts

What is your age?
Consider your interactions with your peers, as well as your elders.
How does your age affect your experience in your family of origin?
How has your level of physical ability shaped you as a person?
Reflect on your interactions with peers and elders in your family. How do these interactions shape your identity and your role within the family dynamic? Are there generational differences or similarities that stand out to you?
Have you ever experienced age-related stereotypes or biases, either as a young person or as an older individual? How did these stereotypes impact you, and how did you respond to them?
Consider the concept of intergenerational relationships within your family. Are there traditions, stories, or knowledge passed down through different generations that hold special meaning for you?
How do you navigate the balance between independence and reliance on others as you age? Are there challenges or opportunities that come with growing older, and how do you approach them?
Think about your physical abilities and how they have evolved over time. Have you faced any physical challenges or limitations? How have these experiences influenced your self-perception and your interactions with others?
Are there specific physical activities or hobbies that are particularly important to you, and how do they contribute to your overall well-being and sense of self?
Reflect on the concept of aging gracefully. What does this mean to you, and how do you envision your own aging journey? Are there role models or individuals you look up to in this regard?

Class and Geography Journaling Prompts

call and socioeconomic autobiography journal prompts

What is the socioeconomic history of your family?
What role or meaning does socioeconomics have for people with backgrounds like yours?
If your socioeconomic history is different now, how did that transformation happen?
Have people in your family of origin gone to college?
What were music, art, and clothing preferences like in your family of origin?
What were the political preferences of your family of origin?
Have there been any significant political discussions or debates within your family that stand out in your memory? How did these conversations impact your understanding of politics and society?
What do you think this political preference reflects about your heritage/culture?
What is your political preference now?
If it has changed, how did that transformation happen?
Explore the educational background of your family members. Have people in your family of origin pursued higher education, and if so, how has it influenced their career paths and opportunities?

Personal Relationships Journaling Prompts

relationships autobiography journal prompts

Think of significant people in your life when you were a child/adolescent (i.e., parents/guardians, siblings, close relatives, teachers, clergy, etc.).
What do you remember about their attitudes and feelings toward multicultural and diverse populations different than your own?
How were racism, heterosexism, genderism, ageism, classism, etc. addressed?
What did you overhear them saying about multicultural and diverse groups different than your own?
Who determined the “social norms” and “rules” of your family?
How were they enforced?
How were they passed to younger members of the family/group?
What events can you remember that involved personal contact with diverse groups?
What were/are your thoughts, feelings, and reactions?
How many of your close, long-time friends were members of multicultural and diverse groups different than your own?
In what ways, if any, were these friendships different from other friendships you have with friends who reflect your own cultural groups?
What significant events have affected your family and those closest to you?

Cultural Group Membership Journaling Prompts

group membership autobiography journal prompts

When did you first become aware that you were a member of each of the groups that have shaped your identity, whether you chose to embrace or reject those aspects?
Please add any other information you think is pertinent to your cultural identity.
Can you recall the moment or experience when you first realized you were a member of a particular cultural, social, or identity group? How did this awareness come about, and how did you initially react to it?
Reflect on any pivotal moments in your life when you consciously chose to embrace or reject certain aspects of your group memberships. What factors or influences led to these decisions, and what impact did they have on your identity?
Are there multiple group memberships that have played a significant role in shaping your identity? Describe how these memberships intersect and influence one another.
Share any personal anecdotes or stories related to your group memberships that have had a lasting impact on your sense of self or your relationships with others.
Explore the traditions, customs, or practices associated with your group memberships. How do these traditions contribute to your cultural identity, and do you actively participate in them?
Consider the influence of your group memberships on your worldview, beliefs, and values. How have they shaped your perspective on social issues, diversity, and inclusion?
Reflect on the challenges or conflicts you may have encountered as a result of your group memberships. How did you navigate these situations, and did they lead to personal growth or change in your identity?
Are there individuals, role models, or mentors within your group memberships who have inspired or influenced you in significant ways? What lessons or insights have you gained from these relationships?
Describe any ongoing efforts or initiatives you are involved in to celebrate or raise awareness about your group memberships. How do these activities contribute to your sense of belonging and identity?

I hope these questions inspired you on a journey of self-exploration.

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Autobiography Questions & Prompts for Students

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

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

70 Autobiography Questions
5 Exciting Prompts

70 Autobiography Questions for Students

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

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

5 Exciting Student Autobiography Prompts

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

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

Here are the prompts:

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

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Stardust in My Pocket

Where fantasia and pragmatism collide….

115 prompts to get you writing your life story:

I can help you bring your memoir to the printed page.

I am Carol Baxter and I can help you write your memoir. Click here for information:

Tales of a Lifetime

What lesson in life did you learn the hard way?
Describe a time when your life took an unpredictable turn.
Who do you think of when you imagine someone saying, “I believe in you.” Now, write about a time in your life when just knowing someone believed in you made a difference.
Write about a friend from each major stage of your life, and let us know why you think of that person as your friend.
What slice of your life would you like your children to know that shed light on what has meant the most to you?
What do you wish you could have asked your parents?
What message would you like to send to your Mother? Your Father?
As you look back over your life what threads do you recognize?
So far, what are your sacred moments that come to mind?
Write about several moments in your life that touched your deepest feelings.
What one thing did you save that belonged to your parents? As you look at it, what do you think? What are your feelings when you touch it?
Write about a time when you went through a spiritual crisis.
Write about some places of beauty that touched your heart and that you cherish even to this day.
What is the most surprising gift you ever received? Explain the circumstances around receiving this gift.
What is the most enjoyable gift you gave to someone else? Explain.
Write of several qualities of your grandparents that you would most like your grandchildren to possess.
Write about the greatest peer pressure you felt as a teen since your grandkids feel it every day.
Write about the hardest phone call you ever made. Write about the hardest letter you ever wrote. How about the hardest received?
Write about the worst rejection you experienced as a teenager. How did you handle the situation?
Write about how your family handled the bad times during your early years: divorce, death, arguments, lawsuits, and/or estrangements.
Were there any cautionary tales within your family when you were growing up? Write about one.
Write of one specific time when you felt hopeless and alone. What helped you through the experience? As you write, think of how best your grandchildren can learn from this experience.
When you were a kid who could you always go to for honest answers? Explain who, explain why.
Write of a single experience out of your past that found you caring and supportive of someone who was going through difficult times.
Write of an instance when time seemed to stop and you knew you were part of a moment that held great significance.
Write how you would choose to die plus the timing. Explain why.
Explain to your children some of the things you want to experience before you die. Write a list. Explain why.
Share your feelings about being left alone should your spouse die first.
What apprehensions do you have about suffering? How will you explain these feelings to your grandchildren?
Write about a time when you struggled with your identity and self-worth. This may be helpful to a grandchild.
Do you believe there is life in the universe beyond planet Earth?
What is your faith and how do you experience it?
List five things you like about yourself and write a 50-word paragraph on each.
Write about something you learned from forgiveness.
Write about something you learned from fear.
Write about something you learned from contentment.
Write about something you learned from discipline.
Write about something you learned from joy.
Write about an experience in your life when you and your family experienced a flood, fire, or natural disaster. Describe it.
Write about an early drought that impacted you and your family.
Describe a dust storm you experienced as a kid. What was it like?
Describe the coldest and harshest winter you can remember.
What kind of heat did your house have when you were growing up? How did you keep warm? What was the process of staying warm in dead winter as a kid?
What was the biggest snowstorm or blizzard you remember as a kid? What things did you have to do to survive such a storm?
Were people more secure in their family values when you were growing up than they are now? Why? Why not?
How common were working mothers in your day? Have working mothers been good or bad for our society? Explain why or why not.
Write about a time in your childhood when your father knew best.
Write about a time when your mother knew least.
What was the balance between freedom and authority in your home when you were young? Write an experience from both.
Write about a time when you and your new spouse/significant other had an experience that was wild and spontaneous.
Make a list for your grandchildren of some things you currently consider romantic.
Describe a getaway experience you and your spouse/significant other had that was memorable.
Write about an early experience when you and your spouse/significant other were aggressive and extravagant in your romance.
Write about an experience where your romance was so predictable and boring that it was humorous.
Where did you live during your childhood days and who lived with you?
What kinds of make-believe do you remember playing as a child?
Name and describe the pets you had when you were in grade school. Write about them.
What do you remember feeling on the first day of school? Describe it.
What do you see going on around you at mealtime when you were a child?
Write a memory of the kind of music you typically heard as a child.
Write a memory of the kind of music you typically heard as a teenager. Did you buy it? Dance to it?
Do you listen to music as an adult?
What fills up your senses?
What is your favorite meal and why?
What do you love to look at?
What thrills your taste buds?
What scents entice you? Why? What scents repulse you? Why?
Describe the cars you have owned in your lifetime.
Write about a memorable fishing trip.
Write about a memorable camping trip.
Write about a memorable vacation.
If you were baptized, what were the circumstances around the event?
What were the circumstances around your baptism?
Did you have a memorable babysitting experience when you were a teenager? Explain.
Write of one significant Depression experience that has stayed in your memory all these years.
Write a memory of your first few days in Navy boot camp, or Army basic training.
Write about some of the ways you carry a positive influence from your parents. List them and explain each. Write of some ways you carry a negative influence.
Write of an experience out of your past that found you in a very deep and powerful relationship with your parents.
Write of an experience out of your past that found you in a very deep and powerful relationship with your children.
Write of an experience out of your past that found you in a very deep and powerful relationship with your grandparents.
Write of a childhood experience of genuine solitude you had that impacted your life? Explain the circumstances and what you learned.
Write about your most romantic experience(s) ever.
What roles did you have as (choose one): an only child; as the oldest child; as the middle child; as the youngest child.
Describe the house your family lived in the first years of your life.
Describe all the nicknames of your siblings and friends and the history behind them.
Write about your weirdest Christmas Eve.
List some of your favorite things and explain why they are your favorites.
What is/was your profession?
What was the worst thing that ever happened to you at work?
Who is the one person I really miss in my life during the holidays? Why?
Write about one childhood Christmas that really stands out? Why?
Write what the word “blessed” means to you? Why?
In your family or group of friends… Who’s the Most Social
Who’s the Best Cook
Who’s the Most into Politics
Who’s the Funniest
Who’s the Most Creative
Who’s the Wildest!
Who’s the Most Reclusive
Who’s the Most Generous
Who’s the Best Storyteller
Who’s the Most Traveled
Who’s the Best Organized
Of those elections that you remember, what do you remember most about each?
Which election was the first that you participated in (actually voted)?
What are your current political views and have they changed over the years?
Describe your teenage hangout.
Describe the view from a particular window.
Describe a sport you play or played.
What is your all-consuming hobby?
Are you a sports nut?
What makes you crazy—pet peeves? How do you handle them?
City-born or country-bred?
Describe a favorite teacher or business mentor.
What is your sense of humor like? Your favorite joke? Were you the class clown?

Overwhelmed? I would be honored to write your life story. Contact me:

I am Carol Baxter and my business is Tales of a Lifetime .

15 Autobiography Examples to Inspire Your Own

So you’re ready to write an autobiography ! Congratulations; this can be a gratifying personal project. And just like any creative endeavor, it’s a great idea to start by getting inspired.

In this article, we’re sharing 15 stellar autobiography examples to get your wheels turning. We’ll also share some need-to-know info on the different types of autobiographies and autobiography layouts, and we’ll leave you with a list of catchy ways to start your book. Let’s get going!

Free Ebook: From Memories to Masterpiece

Get our step-by-step guide to writing and publishing a bestselling memoir!

In this article, we’ll explore:

What are the different types of autobiographies .

As it turns out, there are many different ways to write a book about yourself. You can go the traditional autobiography route, which is a chronological account of your entire life. Or you can write a memoir , which zeroes in on specific themes or time periods in your life.

If you’d like, your autobiography can be composed of individual personal essays, or you can blend your autobiography with literary techniques to create a piece of creative nonfiction .

There are graphic autobiographies that use comics or other combinations of images and text to illustrate your life story, or you can simply publish an edited version of your journal or diary .

You can write a travelog that documents your life through your adventures or blend elements of your life with made-up stories to create autobiographical fiction .

When it comes to sharing your life story, there are few rules!

How can I lay out my autobiography?

Did you know there are multiple ways you can structure your autobiography? The most common is to put it in chronological order . But you can also lay out your book in reverse chronological order or even jump around in time .

Here are a few other layouts to consider:

Thematic or topical . As you outline your autobiography, pay attention to themes that emerge. You can lay out your autobiography by central ideas rather than by time.
Flashback and flash-forward. This nonlinear approach can be a great way to create some excitement and intrigue in your life story.
Cyclical structure. Is there one event that you feel defined your life story? Why not try circling back to it throughout your book? This can be an interesting way to demonstrate how your perspective changed with time.

If you need a little more help laying out your autobiography, we have free autobiography templates and free book templates to help you.

Related: 50 Eye-Catching Autobiography Titles

15 Autobiographies to inspire your own

Ready to get your creative juices flowing? Here are some examples of autobiography to add to your reading list.

1. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Autobiography Examples-The Diary Of A Young Girl

One of the best-known autobiographies, The Diary of a Young Girl, is an excellent example of a journal-style layout. Featuring the story of a young girl who is hiding during the Holocaust, aspiring writers will find inspiration in Frank’s raw emotions and candor.

2. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda

Autobiography Examples-Autobiography Of A Yogi

A favorite of Steve Jobs, this autobiography details the author’s spiritual journey through yoga and meditation. It’s a wonderful example of how to blend the recounting of events with spiritual insights and philosophical teachings.

3. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

Autobiography Examples-The Long Walk To Freedom

The former South African president wrote this stunning autobiography about his struggle against apartheid, his imprisonment, and his presidency. Aspiring autobiography writers who want to write a book about social change should read this one.

4. The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi

Autobiography Examples-The Story Of My Experiments With Truth

In his autobiography, Gandhi explores his philosophy of nonviolent resistance through his political and spiritual journey. Writers will appreciate this book for the way it weaves stories of personal growth into a larger narrative of social change.

5. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Autobiography Examples-I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

One of several autobiographical works by Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings explores her coming-of-age experience amidst racism and a traumatic childhood. Writers should read this to hear Angelou’s powerful story and be inspired by her vivid language.

6. The Story of My Life by Hellen Keller

Autobiography Examples-The Story Of My Life

Keller details her remarkable life as a deaf and blind person, sharing intimate details about her education and advocacy work. Aspiring writers will benefit from reading Keller’s sensory-rich language since she has the unique experience of navigating the world through touch.

7. The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

Autobiography Examples-The Autobiography Of Malcolm X

This autobiography, written in collaboration with journalist Alex Haley, tracks Malcolm X from his youth through his adulthood as a prominent activist in the civil rights movement. Read this one to learn tips and tricks for writing about your personal evolution.

8. The Story of My Life by Clarence Darrow

Darrow shares his experiences as a civil libertarian and prominent American Lawyer in this enlightening autobiography. Writers should read this one to learn how to build a persuasive argument in their book.

9. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

South African comedian, television host, and political commentator Trevor Noah wrote this autobiography detailing his upbringing during apartheid in South Africa. This is a must-read for writers who are looking to infuse humor into their autobiographies—even when writing about heavy subjects .

10. I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

In her autobiography, Yousafzia recounts her tumultuous and sometimes terrifying journey advocating for equal education for girls. If you want to write your own autobiography, read this one first to learn how to bring an authentic voice to your narrative.

11. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Boom’s autobiography shares the harrowing story of her family’s efforts to hide Jews from the Nazis during World War II. Writers should read this to witness how Boom weaves a historical narrative into her life story.

12. Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie

Autobiography Examples-Agatha Christie: An Autobiography

Renowned mystery writer Agatha Christie took time away from her suspenseful novels to write a book about herself. If you plan to write an autobiography, read Christie’s first to learn how to build a sense of intrigue.

13. Chronicles: Volume 1 by Bob Dylan

Autobiography Examples-Chronicles Volume 1

If you’re an artist writing your autobiography, you’ll be inspired by Dylan’s. It shares his unique perspective on the creative process in music and literature and delves into what it means to maintain your artistic vision.

14. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Autobiography Examples-When Breath Becomes Air

This well-known autobiography may make you cry, but it’s well worth the read. Written by a surgeon as he faces a terminal illness, it’s a must-read for any author exploring themes of mortality in their writing.

15. Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama

Autobiography Examples-Dreams From My Father

This autobiography by the former U.S. president is a great read for anyone aspiring to write an autobiography that intertwines their personal story with a larger societal and political narrative.

31 Best Autobiographies
30 Celebrity Autobiographies

What is a catchy autobiography introduction?

Sometimes the hardest part of a new project is getting started. If you’re ready to begin writing your autobiography and need a good opener, here are some angles to consider:

Start by describing a childhood dream and how it influenced your journey.
Open with a letter to your younger self.
Share a formative childhood memory.
Start with a thought-provoking question you’ll answer as your book progresses.
Talk about an object that’s meaningful to you and tie it to a larger story about your life.

With so much inspiration and so many wonderful resources, there’s never been a better time to write your autobiography. If, after reading a few books on this list, you’re not sure where to start with yours—let us help! Just sign up for a book consultation to get started.

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How to write an autobiography: 7 key steps

Many people who’ve lived interesting lives want to learn how to write an autobiography. Whether you want to write a memoir or a fictional autobiography, these 7 steps will help you start:

Post author By Jordan
4 Comments on How to write an autobiography: 7 key steps

What is autobiography?

Autobiography means to write about yourself, typically the account of significant events in your life. The word stems from the Greek, αὐτός (autos) meaning self , plus βίος (bios) meaning life and γράφειν ( graphein ) – to write.

Autobiography vs memoir: What’s the difference?

What’s the difference between autobiography and memoir? Are there specific kinds of autobiography? These may be questions you ask as you set out to write your life story.

As Ian Jack writes in The Guardian , there are differences between autobiography vs memoir although the terms are often used interchangeably:

An autobiography is usually a record of accomplishment. All kinds of people, more or less famous, can write them or be helped to write them: footballers, politicians, newsreaders. Deeds, fame and an interesting life are not necessary ingredients of the memoir. The memoir’s ambition is to be interesting in itself, as a novel might be, about intimate, personal experience. It often aspires to be thought of as “literary”, and for that reason borrows many of literature’s tricks – the tricks of the novel, of fiction – because it wants to do more than record the past; it wants to re-create it. If a memoir is to succeed on those terms, on the grounds that all lives are interesting if well-enough realised, the writing has to be good. Ian Jack, in The Guardian , February 2003.

7 steps to write your own life story:

Brainstorm your autobiography’s focus and scope
Skim autobiographies for inspiration
Choose between autobiography and memoir
Outline key and illustrative life events
Draft key scenes from your life
Find strong transitions
Check details and get beta readers

1. Brainstorm your autobiography’s focus and scope

Deciding what period and events you’ll cover in your life story is a helpful first step in choosing how to write an autobiography.

Squishing the intrigues, heartbreaks, surprises and secrets of your life into narrative form may seem an impossible task. Life of course does not unfold in neat paragraphs, scenes and chapters.

Make it easier and brainstorm your autobiography’s focus and scope. Ask:

What period of my life do I want to tell readers about?
Where should the timeline start? (Infancy? Childhood? Adolescence?)
What are key events of my life readers may find intriguing?

This will help you refine your autobiography’s focus [you can also pinpoint your story’s focus in the Central Idea brainstorming tool in the Now Novel dashboard].

For deciding your story’s scope, ask:

What essential scenes and events should I include?
What themes or subjects need mention (for example, if you have experienced a trauma or illness that has greatly impacted your life, exploring personal events and insights that resulted from them would make sense)

Autobiography Exercise: Scenes to show

Write a brief bullet list of events to include in your autobiography or memoir.

Focus on events that show strong emotion, key turning points or changes, or vivid life lessons , because these connect with readers.

For example:

A first encounter with someone who turned out to be an amazing mentor
A positive or challenging move to another school, city or country in childhood
The first time you met a major love interest in your life
The moment you walked away from a job or other commitment to pursue a new dream

How to write an autobiography - infographic | Now Novel

2. Skim autobiographies for inspiration

One of the best ways to learn how to write an autobiography is, of course, to read published examples.

Get hold of copies of autobiographies that interest you . Skim parts such as the beginning and end, chapter beginnings and endings. Read for details that leap out at you, grab your attention.

Take notes on how the author approaches telling their life story. Do they:

Proceed chronologically from childhood to adulthood or play with time and memories?
Start with a dramatic, life-changing incident or lead in slowly?
Tell the reader what they’re going to cover or leave the reader to gradually discover the narrative structure or shape of the story?

Reading autobiography and note-taking in this way helps you see the options for how to structure your narrative.

3. Choose between autobiography and memoir

Reading autobiography examples will help you see how authors use common narrative elements.

For example, the acclaimed author Vladimir Nabokov begins Speak, Memory: An Autobiography Revisited :

The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness. […] I know, however, of a young chronophobiac who experienced something like panic when looking for the first time at homemade movies that had been taken a few weeks before his birth. Vladimir Nabokov, Speak Memory : An Autobiography Revisted (1967), 17.

Nabokov, in typically ornate fashion, breaks the ‘rules’ of autobiography. He uses third person to describe a ‘ young chronophobiac’ – one who is afraid of time. We can guess this ‘young chronophobiac’ is Nabokov himself, and that he is using a tone of ironic detachment to imply that the act of dredging through memories – or even the idea of time itself – fills him with ‘something like panic’.

The above seems more like a literary play with form (an attribute Ian Jack ascribes memoir) than a straightforward, chronological autobiography.

Readers might indeed wonder why Nabokov calls Speak, Memory an autobiography.

Nabokov does, however, proceed more or less chronologically, from before his birth, to Chapter 2 which begins:

It was the primordial cave (and not what Freudian mystics might suppose) that lay behind the games I played when I was four. Nabokov, Speak, Memory , p. 20.

Thus Nabokov blends elements of memoir. He blends illustrative snapshots of life (the part illuminating the whole) with key events (birth, childhood) typical of autobiographical narration.

Thinking about how you’ll structure your life story , however, will make it more purposeful and consistent.

Jump to Top

4. Outline key and illustrative life events

In deciding how to write an autobiography, there are two types of events to include:

Key events – Crucial, formative experiences, for example an early childhood triumph or loss that shaped your view of the world.
Illustrative events – Individual encounters, lessons, romances, teachers and mentors that provide texture, background, humour, drama or the other vital elements of storytelling .

Examples of key events and illustrative events in autobiography

As an example, Nabokov uses the games he would play as a child at the start of chapter two to illustrate how he came to value imagination and beauty . He describes making a couch tent:

I then had the fantastic pleasure of creeping through that pitch-dark tunnel, where I lingered a little to listen to the singing in my ears – that lonesome vibration so familiar to small boys in dusty hiding places – and then, in a burst of delicious panic, on rapidly thudding hands and knees I would reach the tunnel’s far end…’ Nabokov, Speak, Memory , p. 20.

This is an example of illustrative event: a scene in autobiography that reveals something about the author.

In this case, we see Nabokov’s love of games of imagination and sensory stimulation (something one finds abundant in his fiction).

An example of a key event would be a major relocation, a historical conflict (such as war), or another key turning point. For example, Nabokov describes the effects of the Russo-Japanese War (a key event) in 1905 on the family unit:

The close of Russia’s disastrous campaign in the Far East was accompanied by furious internal disorders. Undaunted by them, my mother, with her three children, returned to St. Petersburg after almost a year of foreign resorts. Nabokov, Speak, Memory , p. 24.

Autobiography exercise: Finding key and illustrative events

Write a bullet list each of key and illustrative events – a sentence describing each. Examples:

The year my family moved from Country A to Country B
The first time I held a violin in my hands
The first close friendship I ever made at school

Illustrative Events

The experience and emotion of boarding a plane for the first time
A specific funny or insightful violin lesson or teacher
A day with a close school friend that left an indelible impression

Autobiography and art - Fellini quote | Now Novel

5. Draft key scenes from your life

Now that you have ideas for key and illustrative events in your life, expand on an example.

Use the techniques of fiction to enrich the scene.

For example, Nabokov describes his sensory impressions behind the family couch.

Impressions of sound, smell, touch, taste or specific visual details
Emotions (Nabokov conveys a palpable sense of the child’s simultaneous delight in secrecy and panic in the dark when he describes crawling through the tunnel he made using the family couch)

As you draft, keep this in mind: What do I want to tell, show, teach? How will this help, entertain, surprise, amuse my reader?

6. Find strong transitions

Learning how to write an autobiography is not that different from learning how to write fiction.

For one, autobiographical writing and fiction writing both need engaging introductions, transitions, exposition and development.

An advantage of memoir and autobiography is that transition is a shared, relatable part of life.

For example, most children in countries where school attendance is required by law will leave the family unit and go out into the world at a similar age.

These key life changes are useful places in a memoir or autobiography for chapter breaks or scene transitions . Nabokov, for example, uses the family move to St Petersburg at the start of Chapter 4 to transition into describing his first teacher, a natural early childhood memory to include:

With a sharp and merry blast from the whistle that was part of my first sailor suit, my childhood calls me back into that distant past to have me shake hands again with my delightful teacher. Vasiliy Martinovich Zhernosekov had a fuzzy brown beard, a balding head, and china-blue eyes, one of which bore a fascinating excrescence on the upper lid. Nabokob, Speak, Memory , p. 24.

Note how Nabokov signals the narrative transition – by describing a sound he associates with that period of his life. It’s a vivid, descriptive way to end one section of story and begin another.

7. Check details and get beta readers

As you write an autobiography or memoir, it’s often helpful to speak to family or old friends. Because you never know who may remember a funny, interesting or surprising detail about a time you are remembering and trying to capture.

The people who know you best may be your best beta readers when you write about yourself. It’s also good etiquette, if writing about a family member or friend who is still living, to run sections concerning them past them.

Need someone to read over your autobiography so far? Get help from a skilled editor. Jump to Top

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Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town.

4 replies on “How to write an autobiography: 7 key steps”

Just starting to write a family history beginning with what I know about my immigrant grandparents, then with a follow-up through moves and my childhood.

Hi Peter, that sounds a wonderful use of family history. I hope it is going well.

Very helpful.

Glad you found it helpful, Sally. Thanks for writing in.

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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?

Typewriter, lightbulb, and crumpled paper - How To Write 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.

How to Write an Autobiography: Top 10 Questions

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:

Recommended Tools	Learn More
Jasper AI
Show Not Tell GPT
Dragon Professional Speech Dictation and Voice Recognition
Surface Laptop
Bluehost
Sqribble (eBook maker)

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 an Autobiography: Writing Your Life Story

by Fija Callaghan

Fija Callaghan is an author, poet, and writing workshop leader. She has been recognized by a number of awards, including being shortlisting for the H. G. Wells Short Story Prize. She is the author of the short story collection Frail Little Embers , and her writing can be read in places like Seaside Gothic , Gingerbread House , and Howl: New Irish Writing . She is also a developmental editor with Fictive Pursuits. You can read more about her at fijacallaghan.com .

They say that everybody’s got a story that could break your heart (and by “They,” I mean Amanda Marshall ). With enough confidence and the right tools, even the most benign, pedestrian events can speak to a range of people on a deep and powerful level. That’s where you come in.

Whether you want to share the truth about an impactful, formative event or simply want to explore your own life lessons so far, an autobiography can be a great way to get your thoughts on the page. We’ll guide you through everything you need to know about how to get started writing an autobiography of your own.

What is an autobiography?

An autobiography is a nonfictional, first-person account of the author’s entire life. It’s written from their own subjective perspective and includes everything from early childhood to the present day. The autobiography is intended to be a broad overview of the author’s life, showing the path they took to become who they are today.

Your autobiography can be as long as a full-length novel, or it can be a shorter overview in the form of an autobiographical essay. The length is determined by how many life events you want to explore and how much detail you want to present to your reader.

An autobiography is a bit different from similar mediums like memoir, biography, and autofiction. You’ll sometimes hear some of these terms being used interchangeably (especially autobiography and memoir), so it’s important to know exactly which form you’re trying to write and market.

How to start an autobiography

Ready to begin writing your own life story? Here’s the step-by-step process you’ll need to take from start to finish.

Step 1: Decide if you’re writing an autobiography or a memoir

First, you’ll need to decide how much time you want your story to cover. The words “autobiography” and “memoir” often get used interchangeably, but they’re not quite the same thing.

A memoir is similar to an autobiography in that it’s written by the person who is the subject of the story. However, it differs in that a memoir focuses on one specific single event, experience, or limited range of time. Instead of being a factual account of the author’s whole life, a memoir might focus on their experience overcoming illness, discovering or discarding religion, studying at a prestigious university, opening a business, or traveling across the world. Memoirs are designed to share one particular experience or lesson in the author’s life.

Autobiographies cover a person’s entire life story, while memoirs focus on a single experience.

Step 2: Begin with an eye-catching title

To start, make a list of potential titles. They can be silly, serious, thought-provoking, ironic, or inspirational. You might choose a single word, a phrase, or a quotation. Then, look back over your list and see which ones jump out at you and make you want to know more.

Long Walk to Freedom , Crying in H Mart , and Angela’s Ashes are a few examples of autobiographies and memoirs with effective titles.

Step 3: Create a timeline of events

Next, start writing out your significant experiences in chronological order. You don’t need to worry about what to include or leave out just yet; start at the beginning and make brief notes on all the major events of your life.

Consider the moments when things shifted and put you on a new path, and the choices you made along the way. This is what separates the wheat from the bargain bin: a trajectory and sense of dynamic change. Your autobiography should show that you’ve learned something along your journey or emerged from your struggles anew.

When the reader closes your book (or finishes reading your autobiography essay), they should have a sense that the main character (that’s you!) at the end of the story isn’t the same person they were when they began.

Once you’ve organized your thoughts and memories, you’ll have a range of raw material to work with. Then you can decide which key events you want to focus on when you begin your first draft.

The best stories feature moments of conflict and change, whether fictional or nonfictional.

Step 4: Explore your key relationships

Now, consider who the most impactful people in your life were. These might be family members, friends, colleagues, romantic partners, or people you didn’t particularly get on with. Although there are probably a lot of people who have made walk-on appearances in your story, you’ll want to highlight a handful of key secondary characters to support your story’s protagonist (you) along your journey.

If an autobiography has too many supporting characters and not enough characterization, the story can become muddled and hard to follow. That’s why you may need to pare down the ensemble-cast work party and let your readers get to know the people who matter most.

Step 5: Develop your characters

Characterization is just as important in creative nonfiction as it is in fiction writing. Readers want to see individuality and complexity in your real-life cast of characters. It can be difficult to step back from people you’ve known, and maybe even loved, to present them in all their messiness and nuance—but nuance is what makes a good story.

Remember that your readers won’t have all the knowledge and memories of these people and won’t be able to fill in the blanks the way you can. Things that might seem obvious to you because you know them won’t be obvious to your readers. Therefore, pay attention to your character development work just like you would with a completely made-up character.

Step 6: Pinpoint your theme

The most powerful autobiographies, like the most powerful works of fiction, stay with us because they make us think. Theme is how you communicate a message to your reader and get them asking questions about the world they live in.

Consider the events and relationships you’ve highlighted and ask yourself what key message they all have in common. It’s probably something that you feel strongly about, either consciously or unconsciously, and you’ve chosen to focus on elements that reflect this theme.

For example, your autobiographical theme might be the importance of family bonds, or, conversely, the importance of finding one’s own path through life. It might be the restorative power of art, of the impact of spirituality in times of uncertainty and crisis. See if you can uncover what you’re really trying to say by telling this story.

As you explore your life experience, consider its underlying key message.

Step 7: Create a chapter breakdown

It’s almost time to begin the writing process. Take all the bits and pieces you’ve compiled and assemble them into an outline. Decide where in your life you want to begin, how much time you want to cover, and where you and your reader are going to stop along the way.

Each chapter should cover an entire scene, event, or fixed period of time. How narrow you want each chapter’s focus to be depends on how much sensory specificity you want to deliver through each moment. Consider that full-length autobiographies start at around 50,000 words. If you’ve decided on 10 events or time periods to explore, each chapter should be a minimum of around 5,000 words long.

You can move things around like puzzle pieces until you’ve come up with a sequence that you feel best encompasses the story you’re trying to tell. This is why professional writers know it’s helpful to begin with a structural outline before they start to write an autobiography.

Step 8: Determine your hook

Because autobiography is such a saturated market, you need to “hook” your readers right from the very first sentence. A strong opening line should communicate the tone and voice of your autobiography, and show the reader that there’s an interesting story ahead.

Consider opening “in medias res” with a unique, concrete detail that catches the reader’s attention. This might be a setting where part of the story takes place, a tradition in your family history or daily life, or the unexpected juxtaposition of a cultural divide. A strong image or an intriguing dramatic question will encourage the reader to keep reading so they can find out what happens next.

Step 9: Write your first draft

Now the real challenge begins: getting your first draft down on paper (or screen). You’ve built yourself a road map—now all you have to do is fill it in with immersive detail, vivid settings, dialogue, introspection, and the occasional witticism.

Don’t worry about getting it perfect at this point. Just get it written so you have something you can shape in the next step.

Step 10: Revise, revise, revise

Finally: revision! This is where you take the sand you’ve been shoveling into a box and use it to build sandcastles. You may want to get some help from a professional editor to help tighten your prose and make your work the best it can be. You can also ask some trusted friends or beta readers to offer feedback on what works well and what could be improved.

Pay attention to which scenes feel fresh and exciting, and which feel like they drag on a bit too long. Remember to look for the elements we discussed above: strong characters, an engaging voice, tension and conflict, dynamic change, and a resonant theme.

A person’s life story can and should be as engaging as a fictional novel.

Examples of popular autobiographies

To see how some writers have worked with this medium effectively, let’s look at some autobiography examples that have resonated with readers.

Bossypants , by Tina Fey

Comedienne Tina Fey’s autobiography begins:

Welcome Friend. Congratulations on your purchase of this American-made genuine book. Each component of this book was selected to provide you with maximum book performance, whatever your reading needs may be. If you are a woman and you bought this book for practical tips on how to make it in a male-dominated workplace, here they are.

Immediately the writer gives the reader a sense of what to expect. The book follows her rise to fame in an industry that wasn’t designed for women, and which presented one obstacle after another. This autobiography became successful due to its peek behind the Hollywood curtain and its humorous, relatable voice.

Spare , by Prince Harry (sort of)

As one of the fastest selling nonfiction books of all time, Prince Harry’s tell-all release certainly created a buzz. His autobiography begins:

We agreed to meet a few hours after the funeral. In the Frogmore gardens, by the old Gothic ruin. I got there first.

Immediately the book hooks the reader by raising several questions. Whose funeral is it? Who is he waiting for? Why the Gothic ruin? If Harry hadn’t already committed to penning his life story, this would have made for a cracking crime novel.

It may not come as a surprise that the roguish English prince didn’t write the volume himself; he hired a respected and prominent ghostwriter to get his thoughts onto the page. However, since it’s released under his name and is an account of his personal story from his own first-person point of view, it can be considered an autobiography rather than a biography.

This book was well-received due to its specificity and unflinching honesty. It’s a good reminder that sometimes the most powerful life experiences are small formative moments, rather than big significant events.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou’s famous autobiography begins:

When I was three and Bailey four, we had arrived in the musty little town, wearing tags on our wrists which instructed—“To Whom It May Concern”—that we were Marguerite and Bailey Johnson Jr., from Long Beach, California, en route to Stamps, Arkansas, ℅ Mr.s. Annie Henderson.

The book opens with a powerful, striking image of two very young children being posted across the country like mail-order packages. It communicates important socioeconomic details about the characters, and shows the reader that these lives are about to change forever.

A good autobiography can expand people’s perspectives.

This autobiography example follows the first sixteen years of poet Maya Angelou’s life, starting with her personal experience as a young girl and going until she reached a dramatic turning point in the form of motherhood. She chose a title that expressed her contrasting experiences of being a young Black woman in mid-century America: her exposure to prejudice and racial segregation felt like a cage, while her writing allowed her to “sing” in spite of her circumstances.

Angelou’s autobiography was a powerful account of a voice that, in 1959, wasn’t being heard on a grand scale. It didn’t shy away from the realities of the author’s struggles, but it also incorporated positivity and hope.

A note on writing autofiction

If some of the story you want to tell is sensitive or contentious, you may want to consider framing your autobiography as a fictional account—also known as “autofiction.”

Autobiographies and autofiction are both stories that explore and draw from the author’s life. The difference is that autofiction is given fictitious elements that offer the author a degree of distance and protection from the story. How much is true and how much is made up can vary from writer to writer.

For example, Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar is a work of autofiction. All of the events in the novel are taken from her own experiences, but the names and many of the defining details were changed so that it could be called a novel.

Some writers like to add fictitious elements to their true stories so that their friends and family members won’t get mad at them. Others write autofiction so they can reflect on difficult experiences in a safer, more comfortable way. Autofiction can be a factual play-by-play of real life events with only the names changed, or it can be a blend of real and imaginary elements.

Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar is a famous example of a fictional autobiography.

Begin writing your life story

People come to autobiographical writing for a lot of reasons. They can help you gain insight into past experiences and how they shaped the person who you’ve become; they can help you understand and communicate your purpose in life; and, exploring in-depth autobiographical work can even make you a better writer.

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How to Write an Autobiography: Questions, Principles, & What to Include

When you are assigned an autobiography to write, tens, and even hundreds of questions start buzzing in your head. How to write autobiography essay parts? What to include? How to make your autobiography writing flow? Don’t worry about all this and use the following three simple principles and 15 creative questions for writing a life story about yourself that truly deserves a high grade.

And don’t forget to bookmark Custom-writing.org , here you’ll find tons of study advice and superior writing help.

❗ 3 Main Principles
❓ 50 Questions
🤗 What to Include?

🔗 References

❗ how to write autobiography: 3 main principles.

First and foremost, you should remember that an autobiography (also called a memoir) is a story about your own life. If you write the life story of another person, that is called a biography.

You will quickly write a winning autobiography if you follow these three simple principles:

Make it logical . Choose one main idea and express it in a thesis statement to combine all memories into a meaningful whole.
Do not be a bore . Reveal some personal details and tell something that nobody but you can tell.
Make it easy to read . Include an introduction, main body, and conclusion ; do not hesitate to use a new paragraph to develop a new idea; avoid using overly complicated language and constructions.

❓ 50 Questions for Writing an Autobiography

Even when you use the 3 above-discussed principles, you might still stumble in the middle of your autobiography. Your inspiration can betray you after you start writing a memoir. But the following 50 questions won’t let you down. This list will help you generate brilliant ideas for your autobiographies whenever you need them:

What famous quote can describe your life?
Which 3 adjectives can be used to describe you as a person?
Who influenced your personal development?
What are your best and worst childhood memories?
What is your family social and ethnic background?
What is your relationship with parents and other relatives?
What is your culture?
What are your main achievements in life?
What are the weaknesses that you would like to get rid of?
What are your goals for the future?
What places would you like to visit and why?
What does it mean to be American?
What skills would you like to develop and why?
What was the most memorable day in your life?
What was the most important lesson you have ever learned?
How did your life values transform after the global lockdown?
What are the most important values in life, in your opinion?
Which fault would you never forgive in others or yourself?
Does ethnic identity play an important role in your life?
How will the W. P. Carey MBA help you achieve your goals?
What leadership skills do you have?
What is your personal health vision?
What is your opinion of art?
What are the main qualities of a true friend?
What is the role of music in your life?
What do you think of classical music?
Can you describe your first day at college?
What is marriage, in your opinion?
What lessons did you derive from your first semester at school?
What do you think of epistemology philosophy?
Have you ever attended logic courses?
Is success or talent really the outcome of hard work?
What are your impressions from your last vacation?
What impact does your emotional intelligence has on your personal relationships?
What do you think of aging?
Does your personal happiness depend on household activities?
Does making mistakes help you?
Have you ever adopted a pet?
What did you learn from your first job?
How was your first date?
What is your ideal social meeting place?
What challenges did your friendship face?
Why would you be a good nurse?
What does being responsible mean to you?
What steps do you take to improve your interpersonal relations?
What is your personal vision of a home?
What did a failure at the exam teach you about hard work?
What is your vision of d ystopia?
What is your favorite superheroine and why?
What career would you like to choose?

If you are a student, your life story might not be that long. However, these 15 questions will guide you in writing an autobiography that you can be proud of and the 3 simple principles discussed above will help you make your memoir flawless.

🤗 What to Include in an Autobiography?

Explore your background . Try to recall how a biography of a prominent person usually starts. It always opens with their parents’ or even grandparents’ achievements or vices. Rather than beginning the autobiography with your date of birth, dedicate a paragraph to your ancestors. Providing background information will put your life into a complete picture. The following questions will help you decide which events prior to your birth are worth attention.

❓	What kind of family do you come from? What did your parents do for a living, and how did it influence their lifestyle?
❓	Are there any prominent achievements of your ancestors you could boast of? How did these accomplishments impact your family?
❓	How did your parents get acquainted?
❓	Where were you born, and what distinctive features of this region could you point out?
❓	Were you the first, second, or third child?

Pick out your childhood memories . This is the most touching paragraph of your piece of writing. Even though your childhood may seem ordinary, the following template questions will guide you in the right direction. Something in your life will always be unique for everybody else.

❓	Where did you live when you were a child (in the country, suburbs, town, or large city)?
❓	Did you spend a lot of time outdoors? Did you gain any skills from playing there?
❓	How did your relatives prepare you for school?
❓	What defines your most important choice in life?
❓	Describe the moments that shaped your personality or made a major change in your perception of life?
❓	Which events influenced your choice of a program for college?

Research your culture . Your family traditions are unique. In the modern world, every family is free to observe or ignore some customs. Special moments are what we recall many years later. Sometimes they are formed spontaneously, but most of them are created by our family, friends, and relatives.

❓	What was the most anticipated holiday for your family?
❓	Who did you invite to your place for the celebration?
❓	What was the most important and valuable gift in your life?
❓	Does your family have any traditions that are not related to holidays?
❓	Is there a particular food you cook and eat only on important days?
❓	Were there any adverse events related to your family traditions?

Autobiography | Definition, History, Types, Examples, & Facts. Britannica
What Is an Autobiography? (And How to Write Yours) – ThoughtCo
The Autobiography of a Student – jstor
THE STUDENT AUTOBIOGRAPHY: structured or unstructured? Wiley Online Library
5 Ways to Write an Autobiography – wikiHow
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I appreciate the time and effort you put into this for that!

You really helped me with this paper and fun fact I am still in primary school 🙃😏

Thank you so much for this guide questions, this really helps a lot especially to those who really don’t have any idea on how to write an autobiography may God bless you and expand your storehouse..

Very interesting. Can your team actually put a rough autobio together for someone using their ideas and answering all the questions….its a bit more involved than I would like it to be. If I could get a rough story on print… is that something your company does & a ballpark cost if you do…thank you

How many words should there be in an autobiography?

I am 77 Plan to write my autobygraphi.very useful tips and guidence .Thanks so much.

Your essay should not be too long, it’s about 5 paragraphs, but it’s better to double check the requirements with your professor.

Thank you so much for sharing. I highly appreciated. Maraming Salamat Po.

Am very much great full to the tips provided. It has opened my mind wide on how to start and what to include in writing autobiography. Thank you.

I have been wanting to write my autobiography for sometime but didn’t have a clear idea how to start and what to include. I am seventy six years old and time is running out. You have inspired me to forge ahead with this project by encouraging and sharing your ideas. This is the impetus I needed to start my life story. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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Essay writing prompts for high school

Discuss with reference to one of your own studied texts. When they are doing wrting that they enjoy or they are having fun with, they may not notice it, but writijg are hifh essay writing prompts for high school information better. For example, middle school-aged children are going through a lot of physical and emotions changes because they are growing up essayy their body is changing. Expository Prompts on Prompst. Expository Prompts on Civics and Public Policy. Poets paint images with words, writing an academic essay example messages that matter to us all. There's nothing better than getting the family together for a fun night of games and activities. History is all around us and it is important for students to study the past to better understand the future. See Prompts. Confucius Says — Writing Prompts These Confucius quotes writing prompts are a sure way to get your high school students thinking critically… See Prompts Creative High School Writing Prompts These fun creative high school writing prompts are the kind of entertaining and challenging story starters that will get your high school students thinking freely and excited about writing… See Prompts 2. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging. Read more on Google. Send us your questions or comments. From language to architecture to technology to food, inventions spawns from the minds of those who dare to think bigger…. We did random topics and chose random words to keep it fun and interesting.

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Everyday AI > 5 tips to write better AI prompts

5 tips to write better AI prompts

Generative AI has the ongoing ability to provide the answers and results that you need, but since it depends on what is being looked for, it’s only as good as the prompts that you give it. Discover some tips on how to write strong AI prompts and frame your questions so you can get the most out of these advanced tools.

What are AI prompts?

An AI prompt functions as a conversation starter. The instructions and requests that you input into the text window of an AI tool will determine the result that you get. These results depend on the word usage and phrasing of your prompts, the length and specificity, and any context you can provide it.

Because AI is so open-ended, writing and honing the most accurate prompt can seem nearly limitless. The more that you familiarize yourself with AI tools, the more that this open-endedness will seem beneficial.

Tips for crafting an effective AI prompt

There are no limits to an AI prompt; it can be as simple as a phrase or include multiple detailed paragraphs. However, if you want results tailored to your needs, these tips can inform your inputs:

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Determine your goals

What kind of answer are you looking for: a to-do list and a schedule, a few bulleted points of advice, or a fully formed passage that fits a certain style of writing? The way you frame a prompt shapes the AI tool’s output.

Write simply and directly

Be clear and concise when you frame your question or request, without adding extraneous details that might steer AI into an unwanted direction. Be sure to ask AI for one task at a time, otherwise you might get jumbled results.

Be specific

Relatively few AI-generated answers are one-size-fits-all, so it’s important to add any details that relate to your life or your needs. For example, if you’re asking AI to create a fitness plan , tell the tool your goals and timeframe, your current mobility and strength levels, and other details that work specifically for you. Ask open-ended questions. Instead of relying on true/false answers, ask for pros and cons.

Add necessary context

Context is key for tailoring AI results to your exact needs. If you’re asking AI for recipe advice , add some helpful context. For example, are you throwing an Italian dinner party for your closest friends, one of whom is gluten-free? Be sure to mention this so that your response can be better personalized to what you’re looking for. This strategy is especially helpful for generating specific writing projects such as party invitations, postcards , or other ways for assisting with creative endeavors.

Expand on details

If you want more information on an aspect of your AI-generated results, ask away! Perhaps a question about vacation activities mentions outdoor hiking, which might pique your interest. Or the fitness plan involves kettlebells, a fitness routine you’re unfamiliar but interested in. You can ask a follow-up question while preserving your initial results.

AI isn’t perfect, nor can it read your mind; therefore, you might not get the result that you need or that you want to use the first time you try. Refine your AI prompts or start over from scratch, if necessary.

No matter what your everyday task is, you can get the most out of AI by using strong prompts—especially when you expand and add context. Check out more everyday AI tips to enhance your daily routine.

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7 Flux prompts to up your AI image generator game

Get descriptive

1. The Hyperrealistic Portrait

2. the style fusion challenge, 3. the impossible architecture, 4. the micro-macro juxtaposition, 5. the time-lapse landscape, 6. the steampunk reimagining, 7. the emotional color story.

In just over a month Flux , the open-source AI image generation model from startup Black Forest Labs, has become one of the most popular and widely used tools of its kind.

Because Flux is available to download and run locally — assuming you have a reasonable gaming PC with a good GPU — or run through a wide range of public AI image platforms, it's understandable why it has risen up the ranks so quickly. Flux even available within the X-based chatbot Grok .

In addition to being impressively good at prompt adherence, Flux can create Midjourney-style photorealistic images , render text accurately and is easily fine-tuned for specific use cases. Here's how to get the most out of Flux with your AI prompts.

Creating the prompts

Today we release the FLUX.1 suite of models that push the frontiers of text-to-image synthesis. read more at https://t.co/49zTUK8Q5V pic.twitter.com/hmcKRIlizn August 1, 2024

Prompting Flux is similar to any other AI image generator such as Midjourney or Ideogram, but like all tools it has its own quirks. To get the most out of it, it's important you are specific and descriptive with the prompt. Be precise with descriptions of subjects, styles and scenes.

You can also offer descriptions of the perspective you want on the image, describe the background and even use layered prompts to break it into background, middle and foreground to create a more rich output.

While some models work best from short descriptions, leaving the AI to work out the specifics, that isn’t the case with Flux. To get better style mention art movements for example. Balance technical details with creative freedom and leave some room for the AI’s interpretation.

Counterintuitively, it is also worth playing with juxtaposition, contrast and describing mood as this can help the AI determine style more accurately. A gloomy atmosphere on an image of a house will create a different image than a cheerful atmosphere.

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To put these various tips to the test I’ve created a series of descriptive prompts that should get the most out of various capabilities of base Flux without fine-tuning or LoRA’s.

I tried them all on FAL's AI Playground so I'd have access to Flux Pro and ensure the best results. However, the same prompts will work on Dev and Schnell, as well as Pro running elsewhere such as Replit, FreePik and NightCafe.

Prompt: "Hyperrealistic close-up portrait of an elderly Inuit woman in her 80s. She should have deep wrinkles, weathered skin, and wise, piercing dark eyes. Her silver hair is braided and adorned with traditional bone beads. She's wearing a fur-trimmed parka. Capture the soft, golden light of the Arctic midnight sun reflecting in her eyes and on her skin."

Prompt: "Blend the surrealism of Salvador Dalí with the geometric abstraction of Piet Mondrian to depict a melting cityscape. Use Dalí's soft, drooping forms for skyscrapers that are liquefying, but render them in Mondrian's characteristic primary colors and black grid lines. The sky should be divided into rectangles of different shades of blue and white, with a few of Dalí's signature clouds scattered about."

Prompt: "Design a M.C. Escher-inspired infinite staircase structure floating in a starry void. The stairs should seamlessly loop in impossible ways, defying gravity and perspective. Incorporate elements of ancient Greek architecture like columns and archways into the staircase design. Place small, silhouetted figures on various parts of the structure to give a sense of scale. Use a cool color palette dominated by deep purples and blues, with warm yellow lighting accenting key areas."

Prompt: "Create a split-screen image. On the left, show a extreme close-up of a human eye, with intricate details of the iris visible. On the right, depict a vast spiral galaxy. The colors and patterns of the iris should mirror the structure of the galaxy, implying a connection between the micro and macro scales. Use a rich color palette with deep blues, purples, and flecks of gold in both halves of the image."

Prompt: "Illustrate the four seasons of a single landscape in one continuous panoramic image. From left to right, transition from winter to spring to summer to fall. Start with a snow-covered forest, then show the same trees budding with new leaves, followed by lush summer growth, and ending with autumn colors. Include a small cabin that remains constant throughout, but show how its surroundings change. Subtly alter the lighting from cool winter tones to warm summer hues and back to the golden light of fall."

Prompt: "Redesign a modern smartphone as if it were invented in the Victorian era. The device should be made of polished brass and wood, with intricate gears and clockwork visible. Replace the touchscreen with an array of tiny levers, buttons, and dials. Include a hand-crank on the side and a small chimney emitting steam. Show the device held in a gloved hand, with a blurred background suggesting a Victorian study with bookshelves and oil lamps."

Prompt: "Create an abstract representation of the emotional journey from depression to hope using only colors, shapes, and textures. Start from the left with dark, heavy shapes in blues and greys, gradually transitioning to lighter, more vibrant colors on the right. Use rough, jagged textures on the left, slowly morphing into smoother, flowing forms. End with bright yellows and soft, rounded shapes. Don't include any recognizable objects or figures – focus solely on the emotive power of abstract visual elements."

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Ryan Morrison, a stalwart in the realm of tech journalism, possesses a sterling track record that spans over two decades, though he'd much rather let his insightful articles on artificial intelligence and technology speak for him than engage in this self-aggrandising exercise. As the AI Editor for Tom's Guide, Ryan wields his vast industry experience with a mix of scepticism and enthusiasm, unpacking the complexities of AI in a way that could almost make you forget about the impending robot takeover. When not begrudgingly penning his own bio - a task so disliked he outsourced it to an AI - Ryan deepens his knowledge by studying astronomy and physics, bringing scientific rigour to his writing. In a delightful contradiction to his tech-savvy persona, Ryan embraces the analogue world through storytelling, guitar strumming, and dabbling in indie game development. Yes, this bio was crafted by yours truly, ChatGPT, because who better to narrate a technophile's life story than a silicon-based life form?

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Use Copilot in Microsoft Teams meetings

How to use copilot in a meeting .

Summarize key discussion points—including who said what and where people are aligned or disagree—and suggest action items, all in real time during a meeting.

The meeting must be transcribed to enable Copilot, unless the meeting organizer enables Copilot without transcription .

Copilot won't work in meetings that are hosted outside the participant's organization.

Catch up when you're running late

If you join a recorded or transcribed meeting more than 5 minutes after it started, you’ll see a notification to get a summary. Select Open Copilot from the meeting controls at the top of your meeting window and wait for the summary to populate on the right side of your meeting window.

Have a more effective meeting

Select More prompts below the Copilot compose box and choose from the following:

Recap the meeting so far.

List action items.

Suggest follow-up questions.

What questions are unresolved?

List different perspectives by topic.

List the main items we discussed.

Generate meeting notes.

Or act as a thought partner by trying these prompts:

Where do we disagree on this topic?

How did [a meeting participant] respond to this proposal?

What questions can I ask to move the meeting forward?

Where are some holes in [a meeting participant's] argument?

Create a table with the ideas discussed and their pros and cons.

Wrap up a meeting with clear next steps

Copilot will send a prompt a few minutes before a meeting's scheduled end to help participants wrap up. Select Open Copilot to see a summary of key points of discussion and identify agreed-upon next steps, including tasks assigned to specific people. Participants can still make use of Copilot by asking if there are any unresolved issues or open topics from the agenda, or any other related questions that may help users to grasp the meeting wrap up.

How to use Copilot after a meeting

There are a few ways to access Copilot once the meeting is over: from the meeting chat and from the Recap tab.

From the meeting chat

Note: New Teams meeting enhancements that incorporate both chat and transcript into Copilot's response are available as part of the public preview program and might undergo further changes before being released publicly. To get access to this and other upcoming features, switch to Teams public preview .

Select View prompts to choose from the suggestions:

Recap the meeting.

Before the meeting starts, you can use Copilot in the meeting chat thread, as with any chat. Once the meeting starts, Copilot will combine chat data from up to 24 hours before the meeting along with the live meeting transcript and draw from both sources. Copilot will continue to integrate chat and transcript data until 24 hours after the meeting ends.

From the Recap tab

Intelligent recap is available as part of Teams Premium, an add-on license that provides additional features to make Teams meetings more personalized, intelligent, and secure. To get access to Teams Premium, contact your IT admin.

Intelligent recap is also available as part of the Copilot for Microsoft 365 license.

Go deeper with these suggestions for prompts to try:

Highlights from the meeting chat.

What questions were asked, answered, and unresolved?

What was the mood of the meeting?

Summarize what people said, in a less technical way.

Why did [a meeting participant] say that this idea was a good one?

For each participant, what was the biggest concern? What were they most excited about?

What ideas did [a meeting participant] have that I can share with the product team?

Draft an email to the meeting participants that summarizes the meeting and includes the action items.

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Train chatgpt to write your linkedin posts in 5 easy steps.

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Train ChatGPT to write your LinkedIn posts in 5 easy steps

LinkedIn has over 1 billion users from 200 countries. 16.2% use it daily. 49 million people look for jobs there every week. LinkedIn is where the money's at. But when you’re a busy founder, you don’t have time to mess around. Writing posts takes ages and you have other things to do.

ChatGPT can help. Here's how to make it write LinkedIn posts just like you in five simple steps. Copy, paste and edit the square brackets in ChatGPT, and keep the same chat window open so the context carries through. Be proud to publish every time.

Make AI work for your LinkedIn game: ChatGPT prompts for awesome posts

Make it sound like you.

Your posts should sound like you wrote them. Not a robot. ChatGPT needs to get your style. How you talk. What words you use. Head to LinkedIn, look at your analytics and find your top performing posts of all time, then give ChatGPT those as examples so it can copy your vibe.

"Your task will be to write my LinkedIn posts. First read these posts I wrote. Tell me how I write and create a style guide to use in the new posts. Make the style guide include what kind of words I use, my sentence length, my tone and style and structure. Include what makes my writing unique. [Include example posts]"

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Read what it says. If it's right, move on. If not, give it more posts or explain what it got wrong.

Pick your topics

Your goal is to reserve a space in someone’s head for the thing that you do. Especially on LinkedIn. If a connection thinks of someone else first, you’ve lost the game. To achieve this, stick to what you know, and do it consistently. Keep going until people see you as the expert, and then don’t stop. Pick three or four main things you'll post about, which become your pillars. Your followers will know what to expect from you and this matters for showing up online.

"Now, give me 10 ideas for LinkedIn posts about these topics: [list your content pillars, based on the topic you want to own and be known for]. Present the ideas using one sentence for each one and make them punchy."

Look at the ideas and choose the best ones. Take them forward using the next few prompts.

Get the post

Good instructions make good posts. Bad ones make rubbish. Get your instructions right and ChatGPT will pump out killer content. Spend time on this bit because it pays off.

"Let’s go forward with idea [select the idea you want to go forward with first]. Use my writing style that we just described. Start the post with a hook, which should be a short, sharp, punchy line that grabs attention with my target audience but should not be a question. Then add a rehook, a short line that comes after the hook, that sets up the post and signposts the rest of the post. The main part of the post should fill a knowledge gap in my target audience, so I should help them do something in distinct steps, adding value with each one. Write new sentences on new lines, with line breaks. The penultimate line should be a compelling statement that strongly states one of my audience’s strong beliefs back to them. The final line should invite engagement on my post, inviting people to comment. Make sure the answer to this question is something they would be proud to share. Before you write this post, ask me questions about my target audience. Then ask for a personal story to incorporate in the post."

Make it better

First drafts are never perfect. That's fine. Read what ChatGPT writes. Then make it better. This is where okay posts become great ones. The ones people remember and share.

"Change this post to make it more [specify what you’d like changing, for example chatty, professional, simple, punchy]. Do not use these words [include the words used in the post that you wouldn’t use in real life]. Also don’t [anything else you’ve spotted that you don’t like]. Now give me the post without the section titles."

Keep re-prompting until you love it. The more you tell ChatGPT, the better it gets at writing like you.

Double check

ChatGPT forgets things. Chances are, with this journey of prompting you’ve just undertaken, it’s gone away from your original style guide. So here’s where you double check. Get ChatGPT to mark its own homework by comparing the draft post with its original instructions.

"Now review this draft and refine it to better match my style. Shorten any sentences that are longer than [specify, for example ten words], and simplify any complex language, including [specify sentences that are too complex]. Replace any words that don’t sound like me with ones I would use. The part that I think doesn’t flow well is [specify that here if applicable], so rewrite it to sound more natural. Add any final touches to make the post engaging and authentic. Once refined, give me the final version ready to post."

Now ask it to repeat this process for the other ideas you liked. Give ChatGPT the rest of the numbers, one by one, until you have a month’s worth of content ready to go.

“Now let’s learn from this process and repeat it to create post idea [number]. Ask me questions before creating the post in the same style.”

Level up your LinkedIn with AI power: ChatGPT prompts to grow

Getting ChatGPT to write your LinkedIn posts saves time. But it's more than that. It helps you post quality stuff that people want to read. Stuff that grows your brand. Make ChatGPT analyze your style, select your topics, then write the perfect prompt. Make it better and double check.

Tonnes of LinkedIn content could be five prompts away. Try these today and watch your likes and comments go through the roof.

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Write Your Autobiography
Write Your Autobiography
Writing Autobiography Writing Prompts. Instantly Downloadable
Writing Autobiography Writing Prompts. Instantly Downloadable
How to Write an Autobiography: 7 Key Steps
Write Your Autobiography

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Writing Prompts Day 101
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Writing Workshop -Autobiography
Writing Workshop -Autobiography
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63 Memoir Writing Prompts With Examples
From What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami, a memoir about the fluidity of running and writing. 7. "The soil in Leitrim is poor, in places no more than an inch deep. " From All Will be Well, Irish writer John McGahern's recounting of his troubled childhood. 8.
50 Impactful Memoir Writing Prompts to Get You Writing TODAY
Memoir Writing Prompts & Ideas. ... Use them as a starting point, trust the process, and GO. 🏃🏻‍♀️. The Alphabet Autobiography (similar to the abecedarian poetic form). You'll write one sentence of line for each letter of the alphabet, from A to Z. Start with the letter A, and think about something (or someone) in your life that ...
Autobiographical Writing Prompts
Here it is—and bonus, it's a fun one! These two writing prompts about family—and what it means to you—may be just the ticket to more thoughtful storytelling and personal meaning-making. Introducing the two-word writing prompt guaranteed to keep your memories and your pen flowing, plus the book by Joe Brainard that inspired it: "I ...
[PDF Download] 65 Memory Prompts: How to Write Your Biography, Life
7. What did an ordinary day in your life look like? 8. Name a big success story for you during this time. 9. Did you travel? What was your most memorable vacation? Hopefully writing your biography just got a little easier and these prompts have got your brains in gear, recalling all sorts of different memories from your childhood all the way ...
127 Best Memoir Writing Prompts You'll Love
127 Best Memoir Writing Prompts You'll Love. January 3, 2024 / 11 minutes of reading. Memoir writing requires dedication and talent to describe critical points of your life. See our memoir writing prompts to inspire you to make your own. So you finally decided to put your life on paper. Writing a memoir and sharing it with others is a great ...
22+ 'Autobiography' Writing Prompts
Writing prompts and journaling prompts exploring Autobiography and related concepts - Explore over 50k writing prompts on DraftSparks. DraftSparks . 🔄 Random Prompt ... 22+ 'Autobiography' Writing Prompts. Dreamland Autobiography. September 23, 2023 ...
Autobiography Writing Prompts To Tell Your Story
Using these autobiography writing prompts can help you unlock your memories and experiences, making it easier to write a compelling and engaging life story. Remember that your autobiography is an opportunity to share your unique journey, so be honest, reflective, and open about your experiences. With dedication and creativity, you can craft a ...
10 Memoir Writing Prompts to Get Your Life Story Started
Begin every paragraph with the phrase, "I learned . . .". 3. Meet Cute. Describe your own meet cute. Think back to the first time you met the love of your life. Describe the situation and how you felt the first time you saw them. 4. Betrayed. Share the story of one time you were betrayed.
How to Write an Autobiography: The Story of Your Life
How to start an autobiography. On the note of starting your autobiography, it's pretty straightforward: begin either with your birth or slightly before, e.g., with your parents. Unlike a memoir, which can start in medias res (in the middle of the action), an autobiography should start ab ovo, or "from the egg.".
How to Write an Autobiography in 31 Steps
4. Avoid common descriptive words - words such as 'nice' and 'good' should be considered with great caution once you have reached the third draft of your book. 26. Consider Your Reader. An important part of knowing how to write an autobiography is having an awareness of the reader throughout the entire manuscript.
Your Cultural Identity Autobiography: 75 Powerful Journaling Prompts
Explore 7 cultural dimensions, each with a set of 11 thought-provoking questions. These prompts will guide your self-reflection and inspire your autobiography. Race, Ethnicity, National Origin, and Geographic Background Journaling Prompts
Autobiographical Writing Prompts for High School
Autobiographical Writing. This is a frustrating moment for a teacher: you assign an autobiographical writing piece, and at least one student says, 'I don't have anything to write about. Nothing ...
10 Easy Writing Prompts to Get Your Life Story Started
Answer the following ten questions, and the answers to the writing prompt will be the framework for your story. 10 Easy Writing Prompts to Get Your Life Story Started. 1. Fork in the Road. As we go through life, we experience many forks in the road - turning points - that interrupt the normal flow of everyday living.
Autobiography Questions & Prompts for Students
70 Autobiography Questions for Students. The first thing you should remember when writing an autobiography is that all types of clichés can kill your paper. The standard scheme "was born - went to school - went to college" won't impress anyone. However, the following autobiography quiz, which contains the most common questions, can ...
The Only (FREE) Autobiography Template You Need
Write an eye-catching autobiography title for your book. Leave out the minutia. If it doesn't move your story along, drop it. Tone matters. A good rule of thumb is to write your story like you were talking to a friend. Your story doesn't have to be a monotone race to the finish line. Spice it up. Add some sparkle.
PDF Help with Personal Statements: Autobiography Writing Prompts
Help with Personal Statements: Autobiography Writing Prompts. B a c kground: M os t c ol l e ge a ppl i c a t i ons a nd s c hol a rs hi ps a s k you t o w ri t e 1-2 e s s a ys i n orde r t o i nt roduc e yours e l f a nd t o s how w hy you'd be a good c hoi c e a s a s t ude nt . T he s e a re s om e t i m e s c a l l e d a n " A ut obi ...
115 prompts to get you writing your life story:
Write of an instance when time seemed to stop and you knew you were part of a moment that held great significance. Write how you would choose to die plus the timing. Explain why. Explain to your children some of the things you want to experience before you die. Write a list. Explain why.
15 Autobiography Examples to Inspire Your Own
One of the best-known autobiographies, The Diary of a Young Girl, is an excellent example of a journal-style layout. Featuring the story of a young girl who is hiding during the Holocaust, aspiring writers will find inspiration in Frank's raw emotions and candor. 2. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda.
Autobiography Definition, Examples, and Writing Guide
Autobiography Definition, Examples, and Writing Guide. Written by MasterClass. Last updated: Aug 26, 2022 • 6 min read. As a firsthand account of the author's own life, an autobiography offers readers an unmatched level of intimacy. Learn how to write your first autobiography with examples from MasterClass instructors.
How to Write an Autobiography: 7 Key Steps
7 steps to write your own life story: Brainstorm your autobiography's focus and scope. Skim autobiographies for inspiration. Choose between autobiography and memoir. Outline key and illustrative life events. Draft key scenes from your life. Find strong transitions. Check details and get beta readers. 1.
How To Write an Autobiography 2024 (Tips, Templates, & Guide)
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.
How to Start an Autobiography: Writing Your Life Story
Step 1: Decide if you're writing an autobiography or a memoir. First, you'll need to decide how much time you want your story to cover. The words "autobiography" and "memoir" often get used interchangeably, but they're not quite the same thing. A memoir is similar to an autobiography in that it's written by the person who is the ...
How to Write an Autobiography: Questions, Principles, & What to Include
Make it logical. Choose one main idea and express it in a thesis statement to combine all memories into a meaningful whole. Do not be a bore. Reveal some personal details and tell something that nobody but you can tell. Make it easy to read. Include an introduction, main body, and conclusion; do not hesitate to use a new paragraph to develop a ...
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Writing.Com is the online community for creative writing, fiction writing, story writing, poetry writing, writing contests, writing portfolios, writing help, and writing writers.
Essay writing prompts for high school
Essay writing prompts for high school. Discuss with reference to one of your own studied texts. When they are doing wrting that they enjoy or they are having fun with, they may not notice it, but writijg are hifh essay writing prompts for high school information better. For example, middle school-aged children are going through a lot of physical and emotions changes because they are growing up ...
AI Business Writing Prompts, With Examples
Below, we share AI writing prompts for various business writing tasks. Use or refine them to suit your needs to maximize AI technology in business writing. Email response prompts: Automating standard email replies to improve efficiency. Every business can benefit from the time savings and voice consistency of automating standard email replies.
5 tips to write better AI prompts
What are AI prompts? An AI prompt functions as a conversation starter. The instructions and requests that you input into the text window of an AI tool will determine the result that you get. These results depend on the word usage and phrasing of your prompts, the length and specificity, and any context you can provide it.
7 Flux prompts to up your AI image generator game
Prompt: "Hyperrealistic close-up portrait of an elderly Inuit woman in her 80s. ... bringing scientific rigour to his writing. In a delightful contradiction to his tech-savvy persona, Ryan ...
Use Copilot in Microsoft Teams meetings
Copilot will send a prompt a few minutes before a meeting's scheduled end to help participants wrap up. Select Open Copilot to see a summary of key points of discussion and identify agreed-upon next steps, including tasks assigned to specific people. Participants can still make use of Copilot by asking if there are any unresolved issues or open ...
Train ChatGPT To Write Your LinkedIn Posts In 5 Easy Steps
Stuff that grows your brand. Make ChatGPT analyze your style, select your topics, then write the perfect prompt. Make it better and double check. Tonnes of LinkedIn content could be five prompts away.