How to Write an Autobiography.
Committing your life story to paper doesn't
have to end in a book deal to be considered
successful.
What really matters is the insight you gain
along the way.
You will need Memories Notes Theme Conversations
with loved ones and honesty.
Step 1.
Jot down the memories that remain most vivid
in your mind -- even if they don't seem significant.
Chances are if you've remembered them all
this time, they are the memories that are
most meaningful to you.
Step 2.
Review your notes to see if there is a theme
to your memories.
Many autobiographies have one.
Step 3.
Figure out how you want to organize your story.
You don't have to start at the beginning;
you launch the book with a defining event,
or even start with the present, and then go
back in time.
Or organize your life story according to themes.
Step 4.
Talk to friends and family members to fill
in memory gaps and to gain different perspectives
on your experiences.
Be aware that the stories you include about
others could adversely affect your relationship
with them.
Consider changing their names to protect their
identities.
Step 5.
Once you start writing, write descriptively.
Don't just chronicle the major events in your
life; transport the reader with vivid accounts
of how everything looked, smelled, felt, and
sounded.
Include dialogue: Snippets of conversations
can really make memories come alive.
Step 6.
Above all, be honest.
An autobiography won't ring true to your readers
-- or be cathartic for you -- if you don't
bare your soul.
Did you know Actress Drew Barrymore wrote
her autobiography, Little Girl Lost, when
she was 14.
