Writing a Great Autobiography

There are many reasons for writing an autobiography. For some people, they have the desire to tell their story and be an inspiration to others, either through the difficulties they have been through or the joys they have encountered. Whatever the reason, writing a great autobiography requires skill. It is one thing to have a great story and yet another to tell it effectively. Even so, many autobiographies have proved to be a great motivation for success for audiences that wish to follow in the path of the author.

Below are a few tips to help you develop a killer autobiography.

Writing in your own Style and Voice

An autobiography should be unique and truthful. After all, you are writing about yourself and no one has lived a life exactly like yours. When writing your book, bring out aspects of your life that defined you. These scenes should be told in your own voice and perspective, bearing in mind that your style should be persuasive. Above all, be truthful. Remember there are people that will read your book who truly know you. For iconic figures and people of greater influence, this number of people becomes even larger. Do not exaggerate your stories, just be frank. People are interested in the real you and not some made up figure.

Writing a Humorous and Emotional Story

For any great story to sell, it must resonate with readers and stand out from the others. A great way to achieve this is to present sub-plots that are comical. Many people fall into the trap of just narrating a long dull story devoid of any action and humor. No one likes dull tales, however inspirational they are. Add humor and keep the reader engrossed. Further, include emotional scenes and capture your feelings at those points in your life. Ask yourself, what did I feel? What did the others around me feel? How did I react and was it appropriate? How did this particular incident add to the person that I am today? These questions will help you bring out the emotional part of the events in your life. Where possible, you should also add emotional suspense.

Considering your Audience

As you write your autobiography, keep in mind who you are writing for. This will guide you in selecting the scenes that you should include and which ones to leave out. The purpose of doing this is not to lure the reader in by using a false story. The essence is to ensure that the autobiography is relevant and inspirational. Not all details in your life need to be included. Only include those that add to the theme of the book and the lesson contained it. For instance, in the book Moving to Oregon, author James Townsend points out scenes in his childhood that related to and contributed to him becoming bipolar. Another example is Lawrence H. Lee’s autobiography Riding for the Brand. In this case, Larry points out areas in his life that inspired him and inculcated values in his life that led him to be the leader he later became.

Lastly, everyone has their own story. Strive to write yours in an outstanding and open manner. Above all else, seek to inspire and grow the reader.