How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps (The Non-Boring Way!)
Compelling biographies help us better connect with others while fostering empathy and understanding. Discover the steps to write one that captivates your audience!
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Have you ever been captivated by someoneâs life story? From the ancient tales of great conquerors to the modern accounts of influential figures, biographies have enchanted readers and viewers for centuries.
The stories of real people’s lives not only entertain and educate but also provide a unique window into the human experience. In fact, according to research 1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8796048/ , human stories like biographies can help us better connect with others while fostering empathy and understanding.
In this article, letâs dive into how to write a compelling biography, from the research phase to delivery.
What Are the Key Elements of a Biography?
The key elements of a well-written biography bring characters to life. They include thorough research, relevant interviews, clear structure, captivating prose, compelling themes, and a balance between objectivity and empathy.
- Thorough research: Helps create an accurate portrayal of your subject
- Relevant interviews: Insights help provide a deeper understanding of your subject
- Clear structure: Helps you outline your ideas for a compelling narrative
- Captivating prose: Provides descriptive language to paint a picture of your subject
- Compelling themes: Showcases the motivations and desires behind your subject
- A balance between objectivity and empathy: Keeps biases in check and allows your subject to shine for who they are
As you develop your biography, remember that these stories hold an enduring appeal because they offer people an opportunity to explore the depths of the human psyche, unravel extraordinary accomplishments, and discover the vulnerabilities and triumphs of individuals who have left their mark on the world.
Here are the topics a biography typically covers:
- Early life and background : Provide context about the subject’s upbringing, family, and cultural influences.
- Achievements and milestones: Highlight notable accomplishments, contributions, and significant events throughout their life.
- Challenges and struggles: Explore the obstacles they faced, the lessons learned, and how they overcame adversity.
- Personal characteristics: Describe their personality traits, values, beliefs, and motivations that shaped their actions and decisions.
- Impact and legacy: Discuss the lasting influence and contributions of the subject, both during their lifetime and beyond.
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Letâs look at the six key elements of a well-written biography more closely and the steps you can follow to develop your own.
How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps Using Key Elements
Choose your presentation format.
Presenting your biography can take on various forms, the most traditional being written form. The basis for this article assumes you’re writing a conventional biography; however, this foundation can also help you create a multimedia presentation or website as well.
Consider these various formats to present your biography:
- Traditional Written Biographies: This classic approach provides a comprehensive account of a person’s life through the written word. Traditional biographies can be published in print or ebooks , allowing readers to engage deeply with the subject’s story.
- Multimedia Presentations: In the digital age, multimedia presentations offer a dynamic way to present biographies. Incorporate audio, video, photographs, and interactive elements to enhance the audienceâs experience.
- Online Platforms: Online platforms, such as blogs or dedicated biography websites, provide accessible avenues for sharing biographies. They allow for easy updates, reader engagement, and the incorporation of multimedia elements.
Choose your subject and conduct research
To create a vivid and accurate portrayal of a person’s life, conduct extensive research. Dive into archives, read letters, examine diaries, explore photographs, and immerse yourself in the historical and cultural context surrounding your subject. This will help you unearth the small details that breathe life into your biography.
Whether youâre writing a biography about a historical figure, contemporary icon, or everyday individual, youâll want to consider the different factors to focus on. Here are some examples of three types of individuals and the kind of research that will be most helpful.
- Historical Figures: When writing about historical figures, immerse yourself in their era. Understand the social, political, and cultural forces that shaped their lives. I recommend visiting your local library and connecting with a research librarian for support. Otherwise, other tools for historical research include Google Scholar. Analyze primary sources and multiple perspectives to present a well-rounded account.
- Contemporary Icons: Biographies of modern icons offer a chance to delve into their ongoing impact. Conduct interviews or gather insights from their close associates to understand their present-day influence. Stay current with the latest developments, and be prepared to update your work as the subject’s story unfolds.
- Everyday Individuals: Biographies need not be reserved for the famous. Every day individuals possess stories that can be just as compelling. Uncover the extraordinary within the ordinary, highlighting the struggles, triumphs, and personal growth of individuals who might otherwise remain unsung.
- Yourself! Want to write a biography on yourself? Autobiographies are a great way to explore who you are. Get ready to do some serious self-reflection with the steps below.
Pro Tip: Compile your research digitally using helpful cloud filings systems like Google Drive , OneDrive , or Dropbox . Organize your files by category, including information about their youth, family, achievements, and life lessons. You may also choose to write down research references or collect paper clippings on note cards, categorizing your physical files of research along the way.
Develop compelling themes and motifs
Identify overarching themes or motifs that emerge from the subject’s life. These could be resilience, ambition, love, or societal change. Weave these elements into the narrative, highlighting their significance and impact on the person’s journey. Here are some examples:
- Overcoming Adversity: These biographies feature perseverance, resilience, and determination. Examples include Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, and Malala Yousafzai.
- Pursuit of Excellence: These biographies highlight people who have worked tirelessly to achieve their goals. Examples include Steve Jobs, Serena Williams, and Michael Jordan.
- Quest for Knowledge: These biographies focus on the curiosity that led to significant contributions to our world. Examples include Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Charles Darwin.
- Personal Transformation: These biographies explore a change in beliefs, values, or priorities. Examples include Malcolm X, Oprah Winfrey, and Maya Angelou.
- Legacy and Impact: These biographies examine a body of work that made a lasting contribution to society. Examples include Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, and Mahatma Gandhi.
Conduct relevant interviews
Whenever possible, seek firsthand accounts from those who knew or interacted with the subject. Conduct interviews with family members, friends, colleagues, or experts in the field. Their insights and anecdotes can provide a deeper understanding of the person’s character and experiences.
When conducting interviews for a biography, consider the following tips to ensure a productive and insightful conversation:
- Familiarize yourself with the interviewee’s background and accomplishments.
- Develop a list of well-thought-out questions that cover key aspects of their lives and experiences, including questions about your subjectâs youth, family, achievements, and life transitions or struggles.
- Begin the interview by establishing a comfortable and friendly atmosphere to put the interviewee at ease.
- Show genuine interest in their story and listen actively to their responses.
- Ask open-ended questions encouraging detailed and reflective responses.
- Avoid yes/no questions and ask for their insights, memories, and personal perspectives.
- Some topics you might consider for your questions include early life, achievements, challenges, motivations, values, relationships, lessons learned, and advice.
- Pay close attention to the interviewee’s answers, body language, and tone of voice.
- Ask follow-up questions to clarify or delve deeper into specific topics.
- Show empathy and understanding, creating a safe space for the interviewee to share personal or sensitive information.
- Remain flexible during the interview, allowing the conversation to flow naturally.
- Be prepared to deviate from your prepared questions if unexpected but relevant topics arise.
- Respect the interviewee’s boundaries and be mindful of any topics they may not wish to discuss.
- Take thorough and organized notes during the interview to capture important details.
- Consider recording the interview (with permission) to ensure accurate quotes and references.
- Ask for permission to follow up with additional questions or for clarification.
- Doing a biography on yourself? Ask yourself deep questions to harvest new stories and anecdotes.
Remember, the goal of the interview is to gather valuable information and personal perspectives that will contribute to the authenticity and depth of your biography. Approach the interview process with sensitivity, respect, and genuine curiosity about the interviewee’s life and experiences.
Develop a clear structure
Outline your biography, ensuring a logical and engaging narrative flow. Consider the chronological order, significant milestones, and turning points in the subject’s life. Organize your gathered information to capture the essence of their journey while maintaining a compelling rhythm throughout.
A good outline for a biography can vary depending on the specific subject and the desired structure of the narrative. However, here’s a general outline that can serve as a starting point:
A. Introduction
a) Hook or engaging opening to capture the reader’s attention
b) Background information (birthplace, date, family, etc.)
c) A brief overview of the subject’s significance or why they are worth exploring
B. Early Life and Background
a) Childhood and upbringing
b) Influences, such as family, education, or cultural factors
c) Formative experiences or events that shaped the subject’s character or interests
C. Major Achievements and Milestones
a) A chronological exploration of the subject’s notable accomplishments, contributions, or milestones
b) Focus on key moments or achievements that highlight their impact or significance.
c) Provide context and details to paint a vivid picture of their achievements
D. Challenges and Obstacles
a) Discussion of the challenges, setbacks, or adversities the subject encountered
b) How they overcame obstacles or grew through difficult experiences
c) Insights into their resilience, determination, or problem-solving abilities
E. Personal Life and Relationships
a) Exploration of the subject’s relationships, such as family, friends, or romantic partners
b) Insights into their personal joys, struggles, or transformative experiences
c) How their personal life intersected with their professional or public achievements
F. Legacy and Impact
a) Examination of the subject’s lasting influence, contributions, or impact on society
b) Discuss how their work or actions continue to resonate or shape the world today
c) Reflection on their legacy and the lessons we can learn from their life story
G. Conclusion
a) Summarize the key aspects of the subject’s life and their significance
b) Provide a final reflection or insight on their overall journey or impact
c) Leave the reader with a lasting impression or call to action
Pro Tip: Looking for help drafting an outline to get you started? Use free tools like ChatGPT to jumpstart your outline by putting in a prompt request like, âWrite an outline for a biography about X, including any relevant details on the subject that should be included.â
Craft captivating prose
Employ descriptive language to transport readers into the subject’s world. Paint vivid portraits of their physical appearance, mannerisms, and surroundings. Use sensory details to evoke emotions and create a strong connection between the reader and the subject.
Here are some examples:
- “She was a force of nature, with a fierce determination and an unwavering commitment to justice.” (Ruth Bader Ginsburg)
- “His piercing blue eyes seemed to look right through you, and his voice had a commanding presence that demanded attention.” (Winston Churchill)
- “She moved with a grace and elegance that belied her inner strength and resilience.” (Audrey Hepburn)
- “His rugged features and piercing gaze made him a natural leading man, but it was his depth and vulnerability that set him apart.” (Marlon Brando)
- “She had a contagious energy and a magnetic personality that drew people to her like a moth to a flame.” (Princess Diana)
- “His quiet intensity and unwavering dedication to his craft made him one of the greatest artists of his time.” (Leonardo da Vinci)
Action Step: While writing descriptive prose takes some practice, it’s an art you can master with little creative writing skills. To help you write descriptive prose, practice closing your eyes and imagining your subject.
- What expression is on their face?
- How are they dressed?
- What does their body language express?
- How do they smell?
- How do they make you feel?
- How do they make others feel?
- Whatâs in their surroundings?
- What are they doing with their hands?
- What do you imagine they’re thinking about?
With questions like these, youâll start to use descriptive language to bring your subject to life.
Build a balance of objectivity and empathy
Strive for an objective portrayal while infusing empathy and understanding into your writing. Remain aware of biases and preconceived notions, giving your subject the space to shine in their unique light.
To check yourself, filter your writing and interviewing with these tips:
- Verify Information: Cross-reference information from various sources to ensure accuracy. Use tools like Fact Check Explorer to fact-check claims, dates, and events to avoid errors or inaccuracies that could skew the narrative.
- Multiple Perspectives: Seek out different viewpoints on the subject. This includes interviewing or reaching out to people with significant interactions or relationships with the subject. Incorporating diverse perspectives can counterbalance biases and provide a broader understanding.
- Empathetic Listening: During interviews or conversations, practice active listening and empathize with the interviewee’s experiences and emotions. This allows you to understand the subject’s perspective and incorporate their insights and feelings into the narrative.
- Contextualize Emotions: When sharing the subject’s emotional experiences or personal struggles, provide sufficient context and background. This helps readers understand the motivations and circumstances behind their actions and allows for empathetic understanding without veering into excessive sentimentality.
- Credible Interpretation: While interpreting the subject’s thoughts, motives, or intentions, be clear about what is factual and what is speculative. Clearly distinguish between evidence-based information and your interpretations to maintain objectivity.
- Respect Boundaries: Be mindful of the subject’s privacy and any requests they may have regarding sensitive or personal information. Respecting their boundaries shows empathy and allows for a respectful portrayal while maintaining the necessary level of objectivity.
- Acknowledge Limitations: Recognize that achieving complete objectivity in a biography is challenging. Biases can inadvertently seep into the narrative. However, by being aware of your biases and consciously presenting a fair and balanced account, you can mitigate their influence.
Respect truth, privacy, and sensitivity
Remember, writing biographies carries ethical responsibilities. It’s important to maintain accuracy through credible research and gain consent while being sensitive to controversial or difficult topics. Here are some considerations:
- Accuracy: Maintain a commitment to truth and accuracy. Verify facts and corroborate information from multiple sources to ensure the reliability of your narrative. Cite your sources and be transparent about any uncertainties or gaps in knowledge.
- Privacy and Consent: Respect the privacy of living individuals mentioned in your biography. Seek consent when sharing personal details or sensitive information. Balance the subject’s right to privacy with the importance of honesty and transparency.
- Sensitivity: Approach sensitive or controversial topics with care and empathy. Consider the potential impact of your words on the subject’s loved ones or affected communitiesâpresent differing perspectives without sensationalism or bias.
Writing a Biography FAQs
The length of a biography can vary greatly, depending on the subject and the depth of exploration. Some biographies span a few hundred pages, while others extend to multiple volumes. Focus on capturing the subjectâs lifeâs essence rather than strictly adhering to a predetermined length.
Some common mistakes to avoid when writing a biography include the following: Lack of thorough research or reliance on a single source. Inaccurate or misleading information. Excessive personal bias or projection onto the subject. Neglecting to verify facts or failing to cite sources. Poor organization or a disjointed narrative flow. Neglecting to balance objectivity with empathy. Overloading the biography with irrelevant details or digressions. Failing to respect privacy or ethical considerations.
While chronological order is commonly used in biographies, it is not required. Some biographers employ a thematic approach or explore specific periods or events in the subject’s life. Experiment with different structures to find the most engaging way to tell your subject’s story.
The purpose of writing a biography is to capture and share an individual’s life story. Biographies provide insights into a person’s experiences, achievements, and challenges, offering readers inspiration, knowledge, and understanding. They preserve the legacy of individuals, contribute to historical records, and celebrate the diversity of human lives.
When choosing a subject for your biography, consider someone who inspires you, interests you, or has significantly impacted society. It could be a historical figure, a contemporary icon, or even an everyday individual with a remarkable story. Choose a subject with sufficient available information, access to primary sources or interviews, and a narrative that resonates with you and potential readers.
Key elements to include in a biography are: Early life and background: Provide context about the subject’s upbringing, family, and cultural influences. Achievements and milestones: Highlight notable accomplishments, contributions, and significant events throughout their life. Challenges and struggles: Explore the obstacles they faced, the lessons learned, and how they overcame adversity. Personal characteristics: Describe their personality traits, values, beliefs, and motivations that shaped their actions and decisions. Impact and legacy: Discuss the lasting influence and contributions of the subject, both during their lifetime and beyond.
Including personal anecdotes can add depth and humanize the subject of your biography. However, be selective and ensure that the stories are relevant, contribute to understanding the person’s character or experiences, and align with the overall narrative. Balancing personal anecdotes with factual information is critical to maintaining accuracy and credibility.
Conducting research for a biography involves exploring a variety of sources. Start with primary sources such as personal papers, letters, journals, and interviews with the subject or people who knew them. Secondary sources such as books, articles, and academic papers provide additional context and perspectives. Online databases, archives, libraries, and museums are valuable resources for finding relevant information.
Consult a wide range of sources to ensure a comprehensive and accurate biography. Primary sources, such as personal documents, letters, diaries, and interviews, offer firsthand accounts and unique insights. Secondary sources provide broader context and analysis, including books, articles, scholarly works, and historical records. Remember to evaluate the credibility and reliability of your sources critically.
Organize the information in your biography logically and engagingly. Consider using a chronological structure, starting with the subject’s early life and progressing through significant events and milestones. Alternatively, adopt a thematic approach, grouping related information based on themes or significant aspects of their life. Use clear headings, subheadings, and transitions to guide readers through the narrative flow.
Writing Biographies Key Takeaways
In summary, take note of these ideas and tips before you start writing your biography:
- Biographies hold enduring appeal, offering a glimpse into the human experience across time.
- Thorough research, interviews, and captivating prose are essential for crafting compelling biographies.
- Ethical considerations, such as accuracy, privacy, and sensitivity, are crucial when writing about real people’s lives.
- Choose subjects that genuinely inspire and resonate with you.
- Immerse yourself in the subject’s world to understand their motivations and challenges.
- Develop strong research skills and utilize a wide range of sources.
- Craft a compelling narrative that engages readers from the very first page.
- Seek feedback from trusted sources to refine your writing and storytelling abilities.
- Continuously explore new biographies to broaden your understanding of different styles and approaches.
- Embrace the unique voice and perspective you bring to the storytelling process.
Writing a biography book? Check out this helpful article, How to Write a Book: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Start Writing !
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Posted on Jun 30, 2023
How to Write a Biography: A 7-Step Guide [+Template]
From time to time, nonfiction authors become so captivated by a particular figure from either the present or the past, that they feel compelled to write an entire book about their life. Whether casting them as heroes or villains, there is an interesting quality in their humanity that compels these authors to revisit their life paths and write their story.
However, portraying someoneâs life on paper in a comprehensive and engaging way requires solid preparation. If youâre looking to write a biography yourself, in this post weâll share a step-by-step blueprint that you can follow.Â
How to write a biography:Â
1. Seek permission when possibleÂ
2. research your subject thoroughly, 3. do interviews and visit locations, 4. organize your findings, 5. identify a central thesis, 6. write it using narrative elements, 7. get feedback and polish the text.
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Biography Outline Template
Craft a satisfying story arc for your biography with our free template.
While you technically donât need permission to write about public figures (or deceased ones), that doesn't guarantee their legal team won't pursue legal action against you. Author Kitty Kelley was sued by Frank Sinatra before she even started to write His Way , a biography that paints Ol Blue Eyes in a controversial light. (Kelley ended up winning the lawsuit, however). Â
Whenever feasible, advise the subjectâs representatives of your intentions. If all goes according to plan, youâll get a green light to proceed, or potentially an offer to collaborate. It's a matter of common sense; if someone were to write a book about you, you would likely want to know about it well prior to publication. So, make a sincere effort to reach out to their PR staff to negotiate an agreement or at least a mutual understanding of the scope of your project.Â
At the same time, make sure that you still retain editorial control over the project, and not end up writing a puff piece that treats its protagonist like a saint or hero. No biography can ever be entirely objective, but you should always strive for a portrayal that closely aligns with facts and reality.
If you canât get an answer from your subject, or youâre asked not to proceed forward, you can still accept the potential repercussions and write an unauthorized biography . The ârebellious actâ of publishing without consent indeed makes for great marketing, though itâll likely bring more headaches with it too.Â
â Please note that, like other nonfiction books, if you intend to release your biography with a publishing house , you can put together a book proposal to send to them before you even write the book. If they like it enough, they might pay you an advance to write it. Â
Book Proposal Template
Craft a professional pitch for your nonfiction book with our handy template.
Once youâve settled (or not) the permission part, itâs time to dive deep into your characterâs story. Â
Deep and thorough research skills are the cornerstone of every biographer worth their salt. To paint a vivid and accurate portrait of someone's life, youâll have to gather qualitative information from a wide range of reliable sources.Â
Start with the information already available, from books on your subject to archival documents, then collect new ones firsthand by interviewing people or traveling to locations.Â
Browse the web and library archives
Put your researcher hat on and start consuming any piece on your subject you can find, from their Wikipedia page to news articles, interviews, TV and radio appearances, YouTube videos, podcasts, books, magazines, and any other media outlets they may have been featured in.Â
Establish a system to orderly collect the information you find ä¸ even seemingly insignificant details can prove valuable during the writing process, so be sure to save them.Â
Depending on their era, you may find most of the information readily available online, or you may need to search through university libraries for older references.Â
For his landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow spent untold hours at Columbia Universityâs library , reading through the Hamilton family papers, visiting the New York Historical Society, as well as interviewing the archivist of the New York Stock Exchange, and so on. The research process took years, but it certainly paid off. Chernow discovered that Hamilton created the first five securities originally traded on Wall Street. This finding, among others, revealed his significant contributions to shaping the current American financial and political systems, a legacy previously often overshadowed by other founding fathers. Today Alexander Hamilton is one of the best-selling biographies of all time, and it has become a cultural phenomenon with its own dedicated musical.Â
Besides reading documents about your subject, research can help you understand the world that your subject lived in.Â
Try to understand their time and social environment
Many biographies show how their protagonists have had a profound impact on society through their philosophical, artistic, or scientific contributions. But at the same time, itâs worth it as a biographer to make an effort to understand how their societal and historical context influenced their lifeâs path and work.
An interesting example is Stephen Greenblattâs Will in the World . Finding himself limited by a lack of verified detail surrounding William Shakespeare's personal life, Greenblatt, instead, employs literary interpretation and imaginative reenactments to transport readers back to the Elizabethan era. The result is a vivid (though speculative) depiction of the playwright's life, enriching our understanding of his world.
Many readers enjoy biographies that transport them to a time and place, so exploring a historical period through the lens of a character can be entertaining in its own right. The Diary of Samuel Pepys became a classic not because people were enthralled by his life as an administrator, but rather from his meticulous and vivid documentation of everyday existence during the Restoration period.
Once youâve gotten your hands on as many secondary sources as you can find, youâll want to go hunting for stories first-hand from people who are (or were) close to your subject.
With all the material youâve been through, by now you should already have a pretty good picture of your protagonist. But youâll surely have some curiosities and missing dots in their character development to figure out, which you can only get by interviewing primary sources.
Interview friends and associates
This part is more relevant if your subject is contemporary, and you can actually meet up or call with relatives, friends, colleagues, business partners, neighbors, or any other person related to them.Â
In writing the popular biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson interviewed more than one hundred people, including Jobsâs family, colleagues, former college mates, business rivals, and the man himself.
đ Read other biographies to get a sense of what makes a great one. Check out our list of the 30 best biographies of all time , or take our 30-second quiz below for tips on which one you should read next.Â
Which biography should you read next?
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When you conduct your interviews, make sure to record them with high quality audio you can revisit later. Then use tools like Otter.ai or Descript to transcribe them ä¸ itâll save you countless hours.Â
You can approach the interview with a specific set of questions, or follow your curiosity blindly, trying to uncover revealing stories and anecdotes about your subject. Whatever your method, author and biography editor Tom Bromley suggests that every interviewer arrives prepared, "Show that youâve done your work. This will help to put the interviewee at ease, and get their best answers.âÂ
Bromley also places emphasis on the order in which you conduct interviews. âYou may want to interview different members of the family or friends first, to get their perspective on something, and then go directly to the main interviewee. You'll be able to use that knowledge to ask sharper, more specific questions.âÂ
Finally, consider how much time you have with each interviewee. If you only have a 30-minute phone call with an important person, make it count by asking directly the most pressing questions you have. And, if you find a reliable source who is also particularly willing to help, conduct several interviews and ask them, if appropriate, to write a foreword as part of the bookâs front matter .
Sometimes an important part of the process is packing your bags, getting on a plane, and personally visiting significant places in your characterâs journey.
Visit significant places in their life
A place, whether thatâs a city, a rural house, or a bodhi tree, can carry a particular energy that you can only truly experience by being there. In putting the pieces together about someoneâs life, it may be useful to go visit where they grew up, or where other significant events of their lives happened. It will be easier to imagine what they experienced, and better tell their story.Â
In researching The Lost City of Z , author David Grann embarked on a trek through the Amazon, retracing the steps of British explorer Percy Fawcett. This led Grann to develop new theories about the circumstances surrounding the explorer's disappearance.
Hopefully, you wonât have to deal with jaguars and anacondas to better understand your subjectâs environment, but try to walk into their shoes as much as possible.Â
Once youâve researched your character enough, itâs time to put together all the puzzle pieces you collected so far.Â
Take the bulk of notes, media, and other documents youâve collected, and start to give them some order and structure. A simple way to do this is by creating a timeline.Â
Create a chronological timeline
It helps to organize your notes chronologically ä¸ from childhood to the senior years, line up the most significant events of your subjectâs life, including dates, places, names and other relevant bits.Â
You should be able to divide their life into distinct periods, each with their unique events and significance. Based on that, you can start drafting an outline of the narrative you want to create. Â
Draft a story outlineÂ
Since a biography entails writing about a personâs entire life, it will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. You can pick where you want to end the story, depending on how consequential the last years of your subject were. But the nature of the work will give you a starting character arc to work with.Â
To outline the story then, you could turn to the popular Three-Act Structure , which divides the narrative in three main parts. In a nutshell, youâll want to make sure to have the following:
- Act 1. Setup : Introduce the protagonist's background and the turning points that set them on a path to achieve a goal.Â
- Act 2. Confrontation : Describe the challenges they encounter, both internal and external, and how they rise to them. Then..
- Act 3. Resolution : Reach a climactic point in their story in which they succeed (or fail), showing how they (and the world around them) have changed as a result.Â
Only one question remains before you begin writing: what will be the main focus of your biography?
Think about why youâre so drawn to your subject to dedicate years of your life to recounting their own. What aspect of their life do you want to highlight? Is it their evil nature, artistic genius, or visionary mindset? And what evidence have you got to back that up? Find a central thesis or focus to weave as the main thread throughout your narrative.Â
Or find a unique angle
If you donât have a particular theme to explore, finding a distinct angle on your subjectâs story can also help you distinguish your work from other biographies or existing works on the same subject.
Plenty of biographies have been published about The Beatles ä¸ many of which have different focuses and approaches:Â
- Philip Norman's Shout is sometimes regarded as leaning more towards a pro-Lennon and anti-McCartney stance, offering insights into the band's inner dynamics.Â
- Ian McDonald's Revolution in the Head closely examines their music track by track, shifting the focus back to McCartney as a primary creative force.Â
- Craig Brown's One Two Three Four aims to capture their story through anecdotes, fan letters, diary entries, and interviews.Â
- Mark Lewisohn's monumental three-volume biography, Tune In , stands as a testament to over a decade of meticulous research, chronicling every intricate detail of the Beatles' journey.
Finally, consider that biographies are often more than recounting the life of a person. Similar to how Dickensâ Great Expectations is not solely about a boy named Pip (but an examination and critique of Britainâs fickle, unforgiving class system), a biography should strive to illuminate a broader truth â be it social, political, or human â beyond the immediate subject of the book.Â
Once youâve identified your main focus or angle, itâs time to write a great story.Â
While biographies are often highly informative, they do not have to be dry and purely expository in nature . You can play with storytelling elements to make it an engaging read.Â
You could do that by thoroughly detailing the setting of the story , depicting the people involved in the story as fully-fledged characters , or using rising action and building to a climax when describing a particularly significant milestone of the subjectâs life.Â
One common way to make a biography interesting to read is starting on a strong footâŚ
Hook the reader from the start
Just because you're honoring your character's whole life doesn't mean you have to begin when they said their first word. Starting from the middle or end of their life can be more captivating as it introduces conflicts and stakes that shaped their journey.
When he wrote about Christopher McCandless in Into the Wild , author Jon Krakauer didnât open his subjectâs childhood and abusive family environment. Instead, the book begins with McCandless hitchhiking his way into the wilderness, and subsequently being discovered dead in an abandoned bus. By starting in the middle of the action  in medias res, Krakauer hooks the readerâs interest, before tracing back the causes and motivations that led McCandless to die alone in that bus in the first place.
You can bend the timeline to improve the readerâs reading experience throughout the rest of the story tooâŚ
Play with flashbackÂ
While biographies tend to follow a chronological narrative, you can use flashbacks to tell brief stories or anecdotes when appropriate. For example, if you were telling the story of footballer Lionel Messi, before the climax of winning the World Cup with Argentina, you could recall when he was just 13 years old, giving an interview to a local newspaper, expressing his lifelong dream of playing for the national team.Â
Used sparsely and intentionally, flashbacks can add more context to the story and keep the narrative interesting. Just like including dialogue doesâŚ
Reimagine conversations
Recreating conversations that your subject had with people around them is another effective way to color the story. Dialogue helps the reader imagine the story like a movie, providing a deeper sensory experience.Â
One thing is trying to articulate the root of Steve Jobsâ obsession with product design, another would be to quote his father , teaching him how to build a fence when he was young: âYou've got to make the back of the fence just as good looking as the front of the fence. Even though nobody will see it, you will know. And that will show that you're dedicated to making something perfect.â
Unlike memoirs and autobiographies, in which the author tells the story from their personal viewpoint and enjoys greater freedom to recall conversations, biographies require a commitment to facts. So, when recreating dialogue, try to quote directly from reliable sources like personal diaries, emails, and text messages. You could also use your interview scripts as an alternative to dialogue. As Tom Bromley suggests, âIf you talk with a good amount of people, you can try to tell the story from their perspective, interweaving different segments and quoting the interviewees directly.â
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These are just some of the story elements you can use to make your biography more compelling. Once youâve finished your manuscript, itâs a good idea to ask for feedback.Â
If youâre going to publish your own  biography, youâll have to polish it to professional standards. After leaving your work to rest for a while, look at it with fresh eyes and edit your own manuscript eliminating passive voice, filler words, and redundant adverbs.Â
Then, have a professional editor give you a general assessment. Theyâll look at the structure and shape of your manuscript and tell you which parts need to be expanded on or cut. As someone who edited and commissioned several biographies, Tom Bromley points out that a professional âwill look at the sources used and assess whether they back up the points made, or if more are needed. They would also look for context, and whether or not more background information is needed for the reader to understand the story fully. And they might check your facts, too.â Â
In addition to structural editing, you may want to have someone copy-edit and proofread your work.
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Importantly, make sure to include a bibliography with a list of all the interviews, documents, and sources used in the writing process. Youâll have to compile it according to a manual of style, but you can easily create one by using tools like EasyBib . Once the text is nicely polished and typeset in your writing applications , you can prepare for the publication process. Â
In conclusion, by mixing storytelling elements with diligent research, youâll be able to breathe life into a powerful biography that immerses readers in another individualâs life experience. Whether thatâll spark inspiration or controversy, remember you could have an important role in shaping their legacy ä¸ and thatâs something not to take lightly.Â
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How to Write a Biography
Biographies are big business. Whether in book form or Hollywood biopics, the lives of the famous and sometimes not-so-famous fascinate us.
While it’s true that most biographies are about people who are in the public eye, sometimes the subject is less well-known. Primarily, though, famous or not, the person who is written about has led an incredible life.
In this article, we will explain biography writing in detail for teachers and students so they can create their own.
While your students will most likely have a basic understanding of a biography, it’s worth taking a little time before they put pen to paper to tease out a crystal-clear definition of one.
What Is a Biography?
A biography is an account of someone’s life written by someone else . While there is a genre known as a fictional biography, for the most part, biographies are, by definition, nonfiction.
Generally speaking, biographies provide an account of the subject’s life from the earliest days of childhood to the present day or, if the subject is deceased, their death.
The job of a biography is more than just to outline the bare facts of a person’s life.
Rather than just listing the basic details of their upbringing, hobbies, education, work, relationships, and death, a well-written biography should also paint a picture of the subject’s personality and experience of life.
Full Biographies
Teaching unit.
Teach your students everything they need to know about writing an AUTOBIOGRAPHY and a BIOGRAPHY.
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Features of a Biography
Before students begin writing a biography, they’ll need to have a firm grasp of the main features of a Biography. An excellent way to determine how well they understand these essential elements is to ask them to compile a checklist like the one-blow
Their checklists should contain the items below at a minimum. Be sure to help them fill in any gaps before moving on to the writing process.
The purpose of a biography is to provide an account of someone’s life.
Biography structure.
ORIENTATION (BEGINNING) Open your biography with a strong hook to grab the reader’s attention
SEQUENCING: In most cases, biographies are written in chronological order unless you are a very competent writer consciously trying to break from this trend.
COVER: childhood, upbringing, education, influences, accomplishments, relationships, etc. – everything that helps the reader to understand the person.
CONCLUSION: Wrap your biography up with some details about what the subject is doing now if they are still alive. If they have passed away, make mention of what impact they have made and what their legacy is or will be.
BIOGRAPHY FEATURES
LANGUAGE Use descriptive and figurative language that will paint images inside your audience’s minds as they read. Use time connectives to link events.
PERSPECTIVE Biographies are written from the third person’s perspective.
DETAILS: Give specific details about people, places, events, times, dates, etc. Reflect on how events shaped the subject. You might want to include some relevant photographs with captions. A timeline may also be of use depending upon your subject and what you are trying to convey to your audience.
TENSE Written in the past tense (though ending may shift to the present/future tense)
THE PROCESS OF WRITING A BIOGRAPHY
Like any form of writing, you will find it simple if you have a plan and follow it through. These steps will ensure you cover the essential bases of writing a biography essay.
Firstly, select a subject that inspires you. Someone whose life story resonates with you and whose contribution to society intrigues you. The next step is to conduct thorough research. Engage in extensive reading, explore various sources, watch documentaries, and glean all available information to provide a comprehensive account of the person’s life.
Creating an outline is essential to organize your thoughts and information. The outline should include the person’s early life, education, career, achievements, and any other significant events or contributions. It serves as a map for the writing process, ensuring that all vital information is included.
Your biography should have an engaging introduction that captivates the reader’s attention and provides background information on the person you’re writing about. It should include a thesis statement summarising the biography’s main points.
Writing a biography in chronological order is crucial . You should begin with the person’s early life and move through their career and achievements. This approach clarifies how the person’s life unfolded and how they accomplished their goals.
A biography should be written in a narrative style , capturing the essence of the person’s life through vivid descriptions, anecdotes, and quotes. Avoid dry, factual writing and focus on creating a compelling narrative that engages the reader.
Adding personal insights and opinions can enhance the biography’s overall impact, providing a unique perspective on the person’s achievements, legacy, and impact on society.
Editing and proofreading are vital elements of the writing process. Thoroughly reviewing your biography ensures that the writing is clear, concise, and error-free. You can even request feedback from someone else to ensure that it is engaging and well-written.
Finally, including a bibliography at the end of your biography is essential. It gives credit to the sources that were used during research, such as books, articles, interviews, and websites.
Tips for Writing a Brilliant Biography
Biography writing tip #1: choose your subject wisely.
There are several points for students to reflect on when deciding on a subject for their biography. Let’s take a look at the most essential points to consider when deciding on the subject for a biography:
Interest: To produce a biography will require sustained writing from the student. That’s why students must choose their subject well. After all, a biography is an account of someone’s entire life to date. Students must ensure they choose a subject that will sustain their interest throughout the research, writing, and editing processes.
Merit: Closely related to the previous point, students must consider whether the subject merits the reader’s interest. Aside from pure labors of love, writing should be undertaken with the reader in mind. While producing a biography demands sustained writing from the author, it also demands sustained reading from the reader.
Therefore, students should ask themselves if their chosen subject has had a life worthy of the reader’s interest and the time they’d need to invest in reading their biography.
Information: Is there enough information available on the subject to fuel the writing of an entire biography? While it might be a tempting idea to write about a great-great-grandfather’s experience in the war. There would be enough interest there to sustain the author’s and the reader’s interest, but do you have enough access to information about their early childhood to do the subject justice in the form of a biography?
Biography Writing Tip #2: R esearch ! Research! Research!
While the chances are good that the student already knows quite a bit about the subject they’ve chosen. Chances are 100% that they’ll still need to undertake considerable research to write their biography.
As with many types of writing , research is an essential part of the planning process that shouldn’t be overlooked. If students wish to give as complete an account of their subject’s life as possible, they’ll need to put in the time at the research stage.
An effective way to approach the research process is to:
1. Compile a chronological timeline of the central facts, dates, and events of the subject’s life
2. Compile detailed descriptions of the following personal traits:
- Physical looks
- Character traits
- Values and beliefs
3. Compile some research questions based on different topics to provide a focus for the research:
- Childhood : Where and when were they born? Who were their parents? Who were the other family members? What education did they receive?
- Obstacles: What challenges did they have to overcome? How did these challenges shape them as individuals?
- Legacy: What impact did this person have on the world and/or the people around them?
- Dialogue & Quotes: Dialogue and quotations by and about the subject are a great way to bring color and life to a biography. Students should keep an eagle eye out for the gems that hide amid their sources.
As the student gets deeper into their research, new questions will arise that can further fuel the research process and help to shape the direction the biography will ultimately go in.
Likewise, during the research, themes will often begin to suggest themselves. Exploring these themes is essential to bring depth to biography, but we’ll discuss this later in this article.
Research Skills:
Researching for biography writing is an excellent way for students to hone their research skills in general. Developing good research skills is essential for future academic success. Students will have opportunities to learn how to:
- Gather relevant information
- Evaluate different information sources
- Select suitable information
- Organize information into a text.
Students will have access to print and online information sources, and, in some cases, they may also have access to people who knew or know the subject (e.g. biography of a family member).
These days, much of the research will likely take place online. It’s crucial, therefore, to provide your students with guidance on how to use the internet safely and evaluate online sources for reliability. This is the era of ‘ fake news ’ and misinformation after all!
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⭐ Essential Research and critical thinking skills for students.
⭐ Plagiarism, Citing and acknowledging other people’s work.
⭐ How to query, synthesize and record your findings logically.
BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip #3: Find Your Themes In Biography Writing
Though predominantly a nonfiction genre, the story still plays a significant role in good biography writing. The skills of characterization and plot structuring are transferable here. And, just like in fiction, exploring themes in a biographical work helps connect the personal to the universal. Of course, these shouldn’t be forced; this will make the work seem contrived, and the reader may lose faith in the truthfulness of the account. A biographer needs to gain and maintain the trust of the reader.
Fortunately, themes shouldn’t need to be forced. A life well-lived is full of meaning, and the themes the student writer is looking for will emerge effortlessly from the actions and events of the subject’s life. It’s just a case of learning how to spot them.
One way to identify the themes in a life is to look for recurring events or situations in a person’s life. These should be apparent from the research completed previously. The students should seek to identify these patterns that emerge in the subject’s life. For example, perhaps they’ve had to overcome various obstacles throughout different periods of their life. In that case, the theme of overcoming adversity is present and has been identified.
Usually, a biography has several themes running throughout, so be sure your students work to identify more than one theme in their subject’s life.
BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip: #4 Put Something of Yourself into the Writing
While the defining feature of a biography is that it gives an account of a person’s life, students must understand that this is not all a biography does. Relating the facts and details of a subject’s life is not enough. The student biographer should not be afraid to share their thoughts and feelings with the reader throughout their account of their subject’s life.
The student can weave some of their personality into the fabric of the text by providing commentary and opinion as they relate the events of the person’s life and the wider social context at the time. Unlike the detached and objective approach we’d expect to find in a history textbook, in a biography, student-writers should communicate their enthusiasm for their subject in their writing.
This makes for a more intimate experience for the reader, as they get a sense of getting to know the author and the subject they are writing about.
Biography Examples For Students
- Year 5 Example
- Year 7 Example
- Year 9 Example
“The Rock ‘n’ Roll King: Elvis Presley”
Elvis Aaron Presley, born on January 8, 1935, was an amazing singer and actor known as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Even though he’s been dead for nearly 50 years, I can’t help but be fascinated by his incredible life!
Elvis grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a tiny house with his parents and twin brother. His family didn’t have much money, but they shared a love for music. Little did they know Elvis would become a music legend!
When he was only 11 years old, Elvis got his first guitar. He taught himself to play and loved singing gospel songs. As he got older, he started combining different music styles like country, blues, and gospel to create a whole new sound – that’s Rock ‘n’ Roll!
In 1954, at the age of 19, Elvis recorded his first song, “That’s All Right.” People couldn’t believe how unique and exciting his music was. His famous hip-swinging dance moves also made him a sensation!
Elvis didn’t just rock the music scene; he also starred in movies like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock.” But fame came with challenges. Despite facing ups and downs, Elvis kept spreading happiness through his music.
Tragically, Elvis passed away in 1977, but his music and charisma live on. Even today, people worldwide still enjoy his songs like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Elvis Presley’s legacy as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll will live forever.
Long Live the King: I wish I’d seen him.
Elvis Presley, the Rock ‘n’ Roll legend born on January 8, 1935, is a captivating figure that even a modern-day teen like me can’t help but admire. As I delve into his life, I wish I could have experienced the magic of his live performances.
Growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis faced challenges but found solace in music. At 11, he got his first guitar, a symbol of his journey into the world of sound. His fusion of gospel, country, and blues into Rock ‘n’ Roll became a cultural phenomenon.
The thought of being in the audience during his early performances, especially when he recorded “That’s All Right” at 19, sends shivers down my spine. Imagining the crowd’s uproar and feeling the revolutionary energy of that moment is a dream I wish I could have lived.
Elvis wasn’t just a musical prodigy; he was a dynamic performer. His dance moves, the embodiment of rebellion, and his roles in films like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock” made him a true icon.
After watching him on YouTube, I can’t help but feel a little sad that I’ll never witness the King’s live performances. The idea of swaying to “Hound Dog” or being enchanted by “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in person is a missed opportunity. Elvis may have left us in 1977, but he was the king of rock n’ roll. Long live the King!
Elvis Presley: A Teen’s Take on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Icon”
Elvis Presley, born January 8, 1935, was a revolutionary force in the music world, earning his title as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Exploring his life, even as a 16-year-old today, I’m captivated by the impact he made.
Hailing from Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis grew up in humble beginnings, surrounded by the love of his parents and twin brother. It’s inspiring to think that, despite financial challenges, this young man would redefine the music scene.
At 11, Elvis got his first guitar, sparking a self-taught journey into music. His early gospel influences evolved into a unique fusion of country, blues, and gospel, creating the electrifying genre of Rock ‘n’ Roll. In 1954, at only 19, he recorded “That’s All Right,” marking the birth of a musical legend.
Elvis wasn’t just a musical innovator; he was a cultural phenomenon. His rebellious dance moves and magnetic stage presence challenged the norms. He transitioned seamlessly into acting, starring in iconic films like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock.”
However, fame came at a cost, and Elvis faced personal struggles. Despite the challenges, his music continued to resonate. Even now, classics like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” transcend generations.
Elvis Presley’s impact on music and culture is undeniable. He was known for his unique voice, charismatic persona, and electrifying performances. He sold over one billion records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling solo artists in history. He received numerous awards throughout his career, including three Grammy Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Elvis’s influence can still be seen in today’s music. Many contemporary artists, such as Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and Justin Timberlake, have cited Elvis as an inspiration. His music continues to be featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials.
Elvis left us in 1977, but his legacy lives on. I appreciate his breaking barriers and fearlessly embracing his artistic vision. Elvis Presley’s impact on music and culture is timeless, a testament to the enduring power of his artistry. His music has inspired generations and will continue to do so for many years to come.
Teaching Resources
Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.
BIOGRAPHY WRITING TEACHING IDEAS AND LESSONS
We have compiled a sequence of biography-related lessons or teaching ideas that you can follow as you please. They are straightforward enough for most students to follow without further instruction.
BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 1:
This session aims to give students a broader understanding of what makes a good biography.
Once your students have compiled a comprehensive checklist of the main features of a biography, allow them to use it to assess some biographies from your school library or on the internet using the feature checklist.
When students have assessed a selection of biographies, take some time as a class to discuss them. You can base the discussion around the following prompts:
- Which biographies covered all the criteria from their checklist?
- Which biographies didn’t?
- Which biography was the most readable in terms of structure?
- Which biography do you think was the least well-structured? How would you improve this?
Looking at how other writers have interpreted the form will help students internalize the necessary criteria before attempting to produce a biography. Once students have a clear understanding of the main features of the biography, they’re ready to begin work on writing a biography.
When the time does come to put pen to paper, be sure they’re armed with the following top tips to help ensure they’re as well prepared as possible.
BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 2:
This session aims to guide students through the process of selecting the perfect biography subject.
Instruct students to draw up a shortlist of three potential subjects for the biography they’ll write.
Using the three criteria mentioned in the writing guide (Interest, Merit, and Information), students award each potential subject a mark out of 5 for each of the criteria. In this manner, students can select the most suitable subject for their biography.
BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 3:
This session aims to get students into the researching phase, then prioritise and organise events chronologically.
Students begin by making a timeline of their subject’s life, starting with their birth and ending with their death or the present day. If the student has yet to make a final decision on the subject of their biography, a family member will often serve well for this exercise as a practice exercise.
Students should research and gather the key events of the person’s life, covering each period of their life from when they were a baby, through childhood and adolescence, right up to adulthood and old age. They should then organize these onto a timeline. Students can include photographs with captions if they have them.
They can present these to the class when they have finished their timelines.
BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 4:
Instruct students to look over their timeline, notes, and other research. Challenge them to identify three patterns that repeat throughout the subject’s life and sort all the related events and incidents into specific categories.
Students should then label each category with a single word. This is the thematic concept or the broad general underlying idea. After that, students should write a sentence or two expressing what the subject’s life ‘says’ about that concept.
This is known as the thematic statement . With the thematic concepts and thematic statements identified, the student now has some substantial ideas to explore that will help bring more profound meaning and wider resonance to their biography.
BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 5:
Instruct students to write a short objective account of an event in their own life. They can write about anyone from their past. It needn’t be more than a couple of paragraphs, but the writing should be strictly factual, focusing only on the objective details of what happened.
Once they have completed this, it’s time to rewrite the paragraph, but they should include some opinion and personal commentary this time.
The student here aims to inject some color and personality into their writing, to transform a detached, factual account into a warm, engaging story.
A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING BIOGRAPHIES
Teach your students to write AMAZING BIOGRAPHIES & AUTOBIOGRAPHIES using proven RESEARCH SKILLS and WRITING STRATEGIES .
- Understand the purpose of both forms of biography.
- Explore the language and perspective of both.
- Prompts and Challenges to engage students in writing a biography.
- Dedicated lessons for both forms of biography.
- Biographical Projects can expand students’ understanding of reading and writing a biography.
- A COMPLETE 82-PAGE UNIT – NO PREPARATION REQUIRED.
FREE Biography Writing Graphic Organizer
Use this valuable tool in the research and writing phases to keep your students on track and engaged.
WRITING CHECKLIST & RUBRIC BUNDLE
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To Conclude
By this stage, your students should have an excellent technical overview of a biography’s essential elements.
They should be able to choose their subject in light of how interesting and worthy they are, as well as give consideration to the availability of information out there. They should be able to research effectively and identify emerging themes in their research notes. And finally, they should be able to bring some of their personality and uniqueness into their retelling of the life of another.
Remember that writing a biography is not only a great way to develop a student’s writing skills; it can be used in almost all curriculum areas. For example, to find out more about a historical figure in History, to investigate scientific contributions to Science, or to celebrate a hero from everyday life.
Biography is an excellent genre for students to develop their writing skills and to find inspiration in the lives of others in the world around them.
HOW TO WRITE A BIOGRAPHY TUTORIAL VIDEO
OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO BIOGRAPHY WRITING
How to write an Autobiography
How to Write a Historical Recount Text
15 Awesome Recount & Personal Narrative Topics
Personal Narrative Writing Guide
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How to Write a Biography
Last Updated: May 28, 2024 Fact Checked
This article was co-authored by Stephanie Wong Ken, MFA . Stephanie Wong Ken is a writer based in Canada. Stephanie's writing has appeared in Joyland, Catapult, Pithead Chapel, Cosmonaut's Avenue, and other publications. She holds an MFA in Fiction and Creative Writing from Portland State University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,868,769 times.
Writing a biography can be a fun challenge, where you are sharing the story of someoneâs life with readers. You may need to write a biography for a class or decide to write one as a personal project. Once you have identified the subject of the biography, do your research so you know as much about them as possible. Then, dive into the writing of the biography and revising it until it is at its finest.
Researching Your Subject
- If the subject does not give you permission to write the biography, you may want to choose a different subject. If you decide to publish the biography without the subjectâs permission, you may be susceptible to legal action by the subject.
- If the subject is no longer alive, you obviously do not need to ask permission to write about them.
- You may create research questions to help focus your research of the subject, such as, What do I find interesting about the subject? Why is this subject important to readers? What can I say that is new about the subject? What would I like to learn more about?
- For in person interviews, record them with a tape recorder or a voice recorder on your computer or phone.
- You may need to interview the subject and others several times to get the material you need.
- You may also want to visit areas where the subject made a major decision or breakthrough in their life. Being physically in the area can give you a sense of how the subject might have felt and help you write their experiences more effectively.
- When researching the time period ask yourself: What were the social norms of that time? What was going on economically and politically? How did the social and political climate affect the subject?
- You may also include historical events or moments that affected the subject on the timeline. For example, maybe there was a conflict or civil war that happened during the personâs life that affected their life.
Writing the Biography
- You may end up focusing on particular areas of the personâs life. If you do this, work through a particular period in the personâs life chronologically.
- For example, you may have a thesis statement about focusing on how the person impacted the civil rights movement in America in the 1970s. You can then make sure all your content relates back to this thesis.
- Flashbacks should feel as detailed and real as present day scenes. Use your research notes and interviews with the subject to get a good sense of their past for the flashbacks.
- For example, you may jump from the personâs death in the present to a flashback to their favorite childhood memory.
- For example, you may focus on the personâs accomplishments in the civil rights movement. You may write a whole section about their contributions and participation in major civil rights marches in their hometown.
- For example, you may notice that the personâs life is patterned with moments of adversity, where the person worked hard and fought against larger forces. You can then use the theme of overcoming adversity in the biography.
- For example, you may note how you see parallels in the personâs life during the civil rights movement with your own interests in social justice. You may also commend the person for their hard work and positive impact on society.
Polishing the Biography
- Revise the biography based on feedback from others. Do not be afraid to cut or edit down the biography to suit the needs of your readers.
- Having a biography riddled with spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors can turn off your readers and result in a poor grade if you are handing in the text for a class.
- If the biography is for a class, use MLA , APA , or Chicago Style citations based on the preferences of your instructor.
Biography Help
Community Q&A
- Be careful when publishing private or embarrassing information, especially if the person is not a celebrity. You may violate their "Right of Privacy" or equivalent. Thanks Helpful 31 Not Helpful 5
- Have the sources to back up your statements about the subject's life. Untruthful written statements can lead to litigation. If it is your opinion, be clear that it is such and not fact (although you can support your opinion with facts). Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 15
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- â https://www.plagiarism.org/article/how-do-i-cite-sources
About This Article
Before you write a biography, gather as much information about the subject that you can from sources like newspaper articles, interviews, photos, existing biographies, and anything else you can find. Write the story of that personâs life, including as much supporting detail as you can, including information about the place and time where the person lived. Focus on major events and milestones in their life, including historical events, marriage, children, and events which would shape their path later in life. For tips from our reviewer on proofreading the biography and citing your sources, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No
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How to Write a Biography: 11 Step Guide + Book Template
So youâd like to know how to write a biography. We can help with that! Learning how to write a biography doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, it can be a lot of fun!
In this guide, we show you how to write a biography from the initial book idea all the way through to publishing your book , and we throw in a free template to help you on your way.
Ready to learn how to start a biography ? Letâs jump right in.Â
Get Our 6âł x 9âł Pre-Formatted Book Template for Word or Mac
We will send you a Book Template for US Trade (standard paperback size).
How to Write a Biography in 11 Simple Steps
Here are the steps you need to take to learn how to write a biography:
1. Read other biographies
Austin Kleon, Author of Steal Like an Artist , says âthe writer tries to master words. All of these pursuits involve the study of those who have come before and the effort to build upon their work in some way.”
In other words, if you want to learn how to write a biography, you need to read the best biographies written by other excellent authors!
In this case, it would behoove you to read several biographies – whether historical, celebrity, or business biographies is up to you and your sub-genre.Â
A good author to start with? Walter Isaacson . Heâs written highly acclaimed biographies on everyone from Abraham Lincoln and Steve Jobs to Leonardo Da Vinci and Elon Musk.
Once you’ve read some well-crafted biographies, you’ll have a better idea of how to start a biography of your own.
2. Identify your subject
In order to learn how to start a biography, you need to choose who youâd like to write about – if you donât already have someone in mind.
The most important factor will be, of course, your interest in the person youâre planning to write about. Youâll spend months (or even years) deep-diving into this personâs history, so you want to choose someone who youâre unlikely to tire of.
When learning how to write a biography, here are few factors to consider:
- How impactful has your potential subjectâs life been? In other words, will people care to learn more about this person?
- How readily available is information about your potential subject? Biographies require extensive research, so itâs critical to choose someone who has enough information out there to dig into! Consider whether your subject has done interviews, written journals, has family or a partner willing to speak with you, and more.
- Are there already books written about your potential subject? Just because thereâs an existing biography about the person youâre interested in doesnât (necessarily) mean you canât write another one. But if there are two or three biographies, you may want to reconsider. If you do choose to write about someone who has already been well-documented, be mindful about approaching the topic with a new angle or perspective. For instance, there are several biographies about George Washington, but author Alexis Coe wrote one about how Washington isnât âquite the man we remember.â This brilliant iteration has over 12,000 ratings on Goodreads .
- Is there a market demand for a book about your potential subject? If youâre learning how to write a biography, you need to be mindful of whether folks will want to read it. Do some research to determine if readers will be receptive to a book about the person youâre interested in.
Related: Is a Biography a Primary Source?
3. Get permission to write about your subject
Weâll start by stating the obvious. Itâs a good idea to get permission to write about your subject, even if youâre not legally required to. For one thing, itâs just good manners. Plus, youâre much more likely to get unfettered access to the information and sources you need to write your book.
But do you have to get permission? It depends.
In some cases, if your subject is considered a âpublic figure,â permission may not be required. The definition of a public figure varies depending on your jurisdiction, so you should always consult a lawyer before writing a biography.
If you do decide to proceed without permission, be mindful of how your book will be received and any legal issues that may arise. That’s why we always recommend asking permission from your subject when learning how to write a biography.
- Difference Between A Memoir and Biography
- Autobiography vs Biography: Differences and Similarities
4. Create an outline
The next step of learning how to write a biography is to outline your story. Itâs critical to outline your biography before you begin writing it. Among other things, it helps ensure you cover every topic youâd like to and get the book in the correct chronological order. It also helps you identify themes that emerge as you organize your ideas.
Need help creating your outline? Learn how to do it (and take advantage of free templates!) in our guide to outlining a book .Â
5. Select a working title (using a title generator)
Now is the fun part of learning how to write a biography! Itâs time to create a working title for your book. A working title is just what it sounds like: itâs a title that works – for now.
Of course, itâs helpful to have something to call the book as youâre working on it. And it encourages you to think about the message youâd like your book to convey. When your biography is complete, you can always do a little more research on how to write book titles for your specific sub-genre and update your working title accordingly.
Or, you can decide you still love your initial title and publish your book with that one!
Weâve made it easy for you to develop a working title – or multiple – using our book title generator .
Don't like it?
6. Write a rough draft
Okay, now itâs time to start writing your rough draft. Donât be intimidated; just focus on getting something down on the page. As experts on all things writing and self-publishing, weâve got a rough draft writing guide to help you get through this phase of writing a biography.
Remember to be as balanced and objective as possible when learning how to write a biography.
Make good use of your primary and secondary sources, and double-check all of your facts. Youâve got this!
7. Self-edit
There are several different types of editing that we recommend each manuscript undergo. But before you give your rough draft to anyone else to review, you should edit it yourself.
The first step to self-editing?
Take a break! Itâs essential to give your mind some time to recuperate before you go over your work. And never self-edit as you go!
After youâve completed your break, here are a few things to consider as you edit:
- Grammar. This one is self-explanatory and usually the easiest. You can use an AI editor to make a first pass and quickly catch obvious spelling errors. Depending on prompts and your experience with the tool, you can also use AI to catch some grammar and syntax issues as well.
- Content and structure . This is the time to make sure the bones of your piece are good. Make sure your content flows logically (and in chronological order), no important pieces of information are missing, and there isnât redundant or unhelpful information.
- Clarity and consistency. Keep an eye out for any confusing copy and ensure your tone is uniform throughout the book.
- Try reading your draft aloud. Youâd be surprised at how many errors, shifts in tone, or other things youâd like to change that you donât notice while reading in your head. Go ahead and do a read-through of your draft out loud.
8. Work with an editor
Once youâve created the best draft you can, itâs time to hire an editor . As we mentioned, there are multiple types of book editing, so youâll need to choose the one(s) that are best for you and your project when learning how to write a biography.Â
For instance, you can work with a developmental editor who helps with big-picture stuff. Think book structure, organization, and overall storytelling. Or you might work with a line editor who focuses on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and the like.
There are also specialized copy editors, content editors, fact-checkers, and more.
Itâs in your best interest to do a substantial amount of research before choosing an editor since theyâll have a large impact on your book. Many editors are open to doing a paid trial so you can see their work before you sign them on for the entire book.
9. Hire a book cover designer
Once youâve worked with your editor(s) to finalize your book, itâs time to get your book ready to go out into the world. So the next step in learning how to write a biography is to hire a book cover designer to create a cover that grabs readersâ attention (pssst: did you know that all SelfPublishing authors get done-for-you professional book design? Ask us about it !).
10. Get an ISBN
The next step in learning how to write a biography is getting an ISBN number for your book – or an International Standard Book Number. Itâs a unique way to identify your book and is critical for ordering, inventory tracking, and more.
Bear in mind that each rendition of your book – regardless of when you publish them – will need their own ISBN numbers. So if you initially publish as a softcover and hardcover book and then decide to publish an ebook with the same exact content, you’ll need 3 total ISBN numbers.
To get an ISBN, head to ISBN.org and follow the steps they provide. Or reference our guide right here for step-by-step instructions (complete with photos) on how to get an ISBN number for self-published books.
11. Create a launch plan
Now is the most exciting part of learning how to write a biography. Itâs time to get your book out into the world! Youâll need to map out your plan, schedule events , finalize your pricing strategy, and more.
And you can’t just launch your book in a single day. When you go through all the work of learning how to write a biography, you want your book to succeed – and that requires a strategic marketing plan . Luckily, we have an entire guide to launching a book to help you figure it out.Â
Get your free book template!
Learning how to write a biography can be challenging, but when you have a clear plan and guidance, the process is much easier. We’ve helped thousands of aspiring authors just like you write and self-publish their own books. We know what works – and how to become a successfully published author faster.
Take the first step today and down the book template below!
And, if you need additional help with learning how to write a biography, remember that weâre standing by to assist you. Just schedule a book consultation and one of our team members will help answer any of your questions about the writing or self-publishing process.
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How to Write a Biography: A Comprehensive Guide
- April 4, 2024
Writing a biography is a captivating endeavor that allows you to delve into the life and experiences of an individual, capturing their essence in words. Whether you're documenting the life of a historical figure, a family member, or even yourself, the process of writing a biography requires careful research, thoughtful organization, and skillful storytelling. This guide aims to provide aspiring biographers with practical tips and techniques to craft compelling and authentic biographies that resonate with readers.
Steps to Write a Biography
Choosing your subject.
Selecting the right subject is the first crucial step in writing a biography. Consider individuals whose lives have made a significant impact or whose stories resonate with you personally. Whether it's a historical figure, a family member, or a cultural icon, choose a subject whose life you are passionate about exploring and sharing with others.
Researching Your Subject's Life
Thorough research is essential to accurately portray your subject's life and experiences. Utilize a variety of sources, including biographies, autobiographies, archival materials, interviews, and historical records. Take notes on key events, significant milestones, and important relationships in your subject's life, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their journey.
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Organizing Your Material
Organize your research material into a coherent structure that effectively chronicles your subject's life story. Consider using a chronological approach, starting from their early years and progressing through significant life events.
Alternatively, you may opt for a thematic approach, focusing on specific aspects of their life or achievements. Create an outline to guide the flow of your biography , ensuring a logical progression of events and themes.
Writing Style and Tone
Develop a writing style and tone that is both engaging and respectful of your subject's life and legacy. Aim for clarity and precision in your language, avoiding jargon or overly complex phrases that may alienate readers. Strike a balance between objectivity and empathy, presenting your subject in a nuanced and multidimensional light.
Capturing the Essence of Your Subject
Seek to capture the essence of your subject's personality, motivations, and impact on the world around them. Incorporate anecdotes, quotations, and vivid descriptions to bring your subject to life on the page. Pay attention to detail and context, providing readers with insights into the social, cultural, and historical forces that shaped your subject's life.
Editing and Revision
Editing and revision are essential steps in refining your biography and ensuring its clarity, coherence, and accuracy. Review your manuscript carefully, paying attention to grammar, punctuation, and syntax. Seek feedback from trusted readers or editors to gain fresh perspectives on your work and identify areas for improvement. Revise your biography iteratively, honing your narrative and sharpening your prose until it achieves its full potential.
Benefits of Writing a Biography
Writing a biography is a rewarding journey that allows you to explore the complexities of the human experience and celebrate the lives of remarkable individuals. By choosing your subject wisely, conducting thorough research, organizing your material effectively, and crafting a compelling narrative, you can create a biography that resonates with readers and stands the test of time.
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In conclusion , writing a biography requires dedication, patience, and a deep appreciation for the subject's life and legacy. By following the steps outlined in this guide and infusing your narrative with empathy, authenticity, and insight, you can create a biography that honors your subject's memory and inspires readers for generations to come.
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7 Killer Tips for How to Write a Bio
by Pamela Fernuik | 30 comments
Whether you're starting your author website, setting up social media profiles, or submitting stories or articles to a publication, you're going to need an author bio.
Writing your biography can seem almost as challenging as writing a book. But it is a necessary part of publishing your writing. Let's look at how to write a bio that delivers.
How to Write a Bio
- Write your name
- Share your accomplishments
- Use third person
- Say something personal
- Link to your writing
- Follow the rules
Where to Find Author Bio Examples
A good place to find examples of other writers' biographies is right here on The Write Practice. You can meet the Write Practice team on the About page . The Write Practice also includes bio examples with all guest posts (you can click on any post on this page to read the author's bio).
If you're writing a bio for your resume or a cover letter for a professional role, some of the tips here will work, but you'll want to make sure you look at examples in the field where you're applying.
Let me share with you seven tips on how to write a bio and some personal bio examples to get you started.
7 Killer Tips for How to Write a Bio (Including More Examples)
Let me share with you seven tips on how to write a bio and some bio templates to get you started.
1. Write your name
Start with your name. Might seem obvious, but you want to make sure readers know who you are.
2. Share your accomplishments
Don't be shy. Say what you have done.
A list of accomplishments might include things like where you went to school and where you have been published. If relevant, you can include your professional experience or current role. This is not a time to brag or list every award you won since grade two. Pick the major accomplishments that are relevant and recent.
For example:
Mary Jones, a graduate of ____________, has been published in____________ and ______________.
If this is your first publication, you can say:
Mary Jones writes about ________________ and ______________.
3. Use third person
For author bios, write in the third person, even if you are the one writing it. First-person bios are rare and not the industry standard.
Instead of saying, âI have lived in Tokyo and have six cats,â say, âPamela has lived in Tokyo and has six cats.â
4. Say something personal
Well-written bios end with a personal statement about you. There's not room to tell your life story or share too many personal details, but including a personal detail or two shows readers you are a real person beyond the written page. See the ending of the following examples.
Here is Stephen King's biography from the back of his book On Writing . It has 65 words.
Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. Among his most recent are 11/22/63 , Under the Dome , Liseyâs Story , Duma Key , Cell , Dreamcatcher , Hearts in Atlantis , and Bag of Bones . He was the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Maine with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
Stephen Kingâs biography begins with his name and then lists his professional life accomplishments. But it ends with a note about his personal life. Now you know that he lives in Maine and his wife is a novelist. This helps you to connect with him as a regular human being, not just a very accomplished celebrity.
(His biography is long, though. If you were Steven King, and they said, “Mr. King, you have only fifty words,” what would you take out?)
Or read this biography from the back of The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. This one is 42 words.
Steven Pressfield is the author of Gates of Fire, Tides of War, The Afghan Campaign, The Profession, The Warrior Ethos and Turning Pro, among others. He lives in Los Angeles. In 2003, he was made an honorary citizen of Sparta in Greece.
If I wanted to know what books Steven Pressfield wrote, I could look up his page on Amazon. But I would not know to look up whether he was made an honorary citizen of Sparta in Greece. That's an interesting relevant detail based on some of the writing he's done.
Take a look at this one, from the back inside cover of Jon Acuffâs book Finish . This has 49 words.
Jon Acuff is the New York Times bestselling author of Start , Quitter , and Do Over , among other books. He is a popular public speaker, blogger, Tweeter, and the creator of the â30 Days of Hustleâ online challenge. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Jenny, and their two daughters.
Jon Acuff's biography tells me about his accomplishments. Then it ends with a note about his family. It is a good idea to share a piece of personal information about yourself so readers can connect with you.
5. Be funny
Include humor if it fits your writing and the publication you are submitting to. Remember, you donât want to make off-color jokes in your biography, so pretend your mother is reading it.
Unless, of course, it is for an adult magazine. Then you can write humor that fits that publication. Keep your target audience in mind, knowing that humor is highly contextual.
6. Link to your writing
Use only one link. Decide what is the most important place you want your readers to find you. Twitter? Instagram? Your website signup list?
If you only have one link, have it go to your website signup page. An email list is the most important, as it gives you direct access to make friends with your readers. You own your website (we hope!); you donât own Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Social media platforms are great for connecting with readers, but it's good to keep in mind that they can change their rules any time and that can affect your access to your target audience.
7. Follow the rules
Follow the rules. If the publication or bio instructions ask for a fifty-word biography, donât give them 324 words. Stick to fifty. If there's a character limit, follow it. Don't jeopardize your chances of publication because you won't follow through on your author bio.
Bonus Tip: Be Yourself
It can seem intimidating to write a killer bio. But you are a writer. You have already written an article or story so amazing that someone wants to publish it.
You can write a fantastic bio, too.
Now You Try
It's a good idea to try out a few different bios for different target audiences. Mix and match professional accomplishments and personal experiences until you have a blend that really captures you and your writing style.
You can practice using a conversational tone and then a more formal tone. See which one fits the audience or market you have in mind. Share them with your writing friends or on your social media accounts to boost engagement and see which one your target audience likes most.
Keep cutting extraneous details until you have a killer bio that represents you, and then polish and edit until it shines.
The handy template above and your own brilliant writing are all you need!
Do you have any tips for how to write a bio? Let us know in the comments .
Take fifteen minutes to write a fifty-word biography. This is the length of biographies Alice, my editor, asks for on The Write Practice.
What will you include in your biography? Share the bio you write in the Pro Practice Workshop. Tell us what you cut and why.
Please read other readers' biographies and help them write a clear biography.
Pamela Fernuik
Pamela writes stories about art and creativity to help you become the artist you were meant to be. She would love to meet you at www.ipaintiwrite.com .
30 Comments
Dawn Van Beck, an advocate for vulnerable adults and a chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, writes inspirational stories and devotions, and has been published in Short Fiction Break. Currently working on her debut romance novel, she resides in Florida with her husband and feisty dachshund. You can find her at http://www.findingfaithinthefabric.com .
Great bio, Dawn. I love that it has a light-heartedness. Heading to your website now đ
I like your bio. You are really smart.
Hi Dawn, Love that you showed your fun personality as well as what you write, and where your heart is. xo Pamela
Hi Dawn, I agree with Pamela Hodges, job well crafted.
I have a question. I’ve wondered about it for awhile and I’m a bit hesitant in asking, but…
Is is possible to be anonymous? Like, if you published a novel, can you write under a fake name and not have too many people know exactly who you are?
Yes. I do, but I also have a biography for the pen name I use, which is admittedly way more than 50 words long
Hi EmFairley, What a great idea to have a biography with your pen name. xo Pamela And of course you are not going to share it, because it is anonymous. đ
A biography is best written by an outsider or at least to be read that way as in POV 3rd voice. It sounds cool to use a pen name.
Hi Pamela. Your 7-step formula is typical of bio after bio after bio. As writer’s we should let the reader know they’re in for a great read. Writing a mechanical bio doesnât give them much to go on. Here’s some food-for-thought from my 1-day bio course…
1. Don’t put your name at the start for two reasons. Firstly, bio’s are likely to be set within the context of the author anyway, so no point wasting words repeating it. Secondly, if the name should be included – perhaps because it’s to be read in isolation – it has more impact at the end; this is because a) people will remember it more after reading something interesting, and b) a great bio should create tension so the reader WANTS to know who this is.
2. Don’t waste valuable words boring the reader LISTING your accomplishments. Most authors have them, so they won’t make you stand out. And few readers would know the difference between a credible one and a valueless one. And people with truly epic accomplishments, like Stephen King, don’t need to flourish being a 50-times best-seller. By all means, roll your best one into the conversation, just don’t be mechanical.
3. Third person is good for not sounding like it’s an ego trip, but a much better way IS to be in first person and use the bio to connect with the reader. Use humour (your point 5) and open up to them, making sure your comments are directed at THEM (i.e. use ‘you’) to show you care about THEM.
4. Be personal – right! But more than that, make sure you’re saying something relevant TO the reader. Make them feel your reaching out to THEM and not the masses.
5. Yes. I’ve covered that above.
6. Yes, although don’t waste the words if you’ve already put the links on the page in other fields, which is common.
7. Definitely.
8 (added) – Tailor it for the location. Note just word count, but voice. If it’s for a funky radio show for e.g., check out the lingo and match the style.
Hope that helps unlocks a whole new way of thinking about bios and standing out from the crowd. If you get it right, the results speak for themselves.
Here’s an example of one of mine used for my first series of fantasy books:
“My goal is a story that pulls you in. A story you want to keep reading, as powerful as I can make, with characters real and compelling. Some are heroes with flaws, others are weak with hidden strengths. They stand against a hidden enemy. Not all of them want to…”
Miles Allen
Here’s a link to my blog on writing business bios. It’s a different angle, but much of it will translate to creating a more penetrating author bio too.
http://www.milesallen.net/why-your-business-biography-is-killing-sales/
Prince Ydnar Velonza is a frustrated writer and blogger. He loves to eat chocolate whenever he’s alone. Prince Ydnar is editing a book that will be publish soon.
Hello Prince Ydnar Velonza, Right now you have 28 very well written words, I just switched a few words in the last sentence.
“Prince Ydnar Velonza is a frustrated writer and blogger. He loves to eat chocolate whenever he’s alone. Prince Ydnar is editing a book that he will publish soon.”
Can you think of anything else to include? You have the personal element down with the chocolate and frustrated writer and blogger part. How about where you live? Or where you go to school? Any awards?
Best to you, xo Pamela
Hello Pamela. Thanks so much for your article. I was looking for something just like this and the length of a bio. It’s great to learn from famous writer’s bio; now I have an example of how to start and what to include.
Lilian Gardner was born in India. After obtaining her school diploma, she qualified as a teacher at the Teacher’s Training College.
She has written and self-published two books and is busy editing her third novel.
Lilian lives in Italy with her husband, Giuliano, an engineer and pilot, and their cat, Minnie
Unfortunately, I am two words above the word count you gave us. I started wih 220 words, and cut, cut, cut it down to 52 words. It seems scant. Please give me feedback. Thanks.
Hi Lilian, I got it down to 48 words. “Lilian Gardner was born in India. After obtaining her school diploma, she graduated from the Teacher’s Training College. She has written and self-published two books and is currently editing her third novel. Lilian lives in Italy with her husband, Giuliano, an engineer and pilot, and their cat, Minnie”
This is the sentence I changed. Did you work as a teacher after you graduated? What is the most important point in this sentence? What about âAfter graduating from the Teacher’s Training College she worked with elementary school children in Florence, Italy. (or wherever you worked)
“After obtaining her school diploma, she graduated from the Teacher’s Training College” And I had no idea you lived in Italy. Your cat speak Italian!! xo Pamela
Thanks, Pamela. I like your super edit. I honestly needed to know how to write a bio. Minnie is multilingual. i speak to her in English, my husband speaks to her in Italian, and my son’s girlfriend speaks to her in Slovak. Her answer never changes. it’s always ‘meow’. How is Harper and the rest of the clan doing?
Wow! Great feedback here.
SM Sierra is the author of two self-published books, Molly Blue &The Quill of Two Lives, and Molly Blue & The Thirteen Wands, she is currently working on the third book in the series. She resides in California with her mechanic husband, Milo, and her adopted crooked-tail black kitty, Coulson.
I like your post which is Informative and interesting.
Thanks for the feedback Lilian!
Hello S.M. Sierra, So nice to read your biography. I don’t know if you have to say your books are self-published. What do you think S.M.? Do we have to say how they are published? Hello to Milo and Coulson. xo Pamela
Thanks Pam, It took me a lot of time and research to learn the best way to format to create a book…it is all mine, therefore in place of a degree or background in journalism, which I do not have, I consider the writing and self publishing my accomplishments.
Hi S.M. Thank you for your perspective on this. You are right, it is an accomplishment. And great job for learning how to make your own book. I self-published my book too, and spend a lot of time as well learning how to make it. You have opened my eyes to the value of what we have learned. xo Pamela
It took her; you said it took me. I believe the (bio) should be written in POV third voice. ie;. He/she and not I.
Love the croocked – tail black kitty. Lol. .
Hi all. I’ve been told, and read, by many editors that on ocassions, the bio can be the difference between them accepting your story or someone else’s. More important than people think. Here’s mine; Justin Boote is an Englishman living in Barcelona for twenty years working as a stressed waiter in a busy restaurant. He has been writing short horror/suspense stories for two years, in which time, he has published seventeen stories in a diversity of magazines. He can be found at Facebook.
About the Author Victor Paul Scerri first works as a writer and artist published by Recovering the Self: A Journal of Hope and Healing. In recognition of his art exhibits, a Zen painting is the cover image for the April 2011 issue of the journal. He continues to publish articles at EnzineArticles.com, and is an active team writer of short stories. He made cultural award winning entrepreneur in Norway and now lives in Thailand. You can find him at http://www.nicewriters.com / nicewriters on (FB).
Victor Scerri, born in London, living in Thailand, ventured to Norway – he made cultural award-winning entrepreneur. He was published by Recovering the Self: A Journal of Hope and Healing. His art is on the cover of the April 2011 issue. He still writes and publishes with EnzineArticles.com. See: http://www.nicewriters.com .
Thank you, Marsha, for taking the time to edit my bio
(This is an edited.) Prince Ydnar Velonza is a 15 year-old student. He is a starter writer and blogger. He lives from Philippines. Velonza was awarded as salutatorian since his elementary times. Now, he is studying 4th year high school (Grade 10). He loves to play a Philippine outdoor games like “tagu-taguan” (hide and seek) especially in night, “patintero”, and “tumbang-preso”. Playing “busy apple” is the bonding of his family.
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How to Write a Biography in 8 Easy Steps
by Bennett R. Coles
This article will provide you with the basic building blocks required to write a biography starting from a blank page. Before we get into the nuts and bolts, let’s define what a biography is:
A biography is the full account of another person’s life (unlike an autobiography, which is the account of the author’s own life). For a biography to work, it must tell the story of an extraordinary or otherwise captivating life.
For this reason, most popular biographies center around famous people, be they politicians, artists, entrepreneurs, entertainers, or other well-known individuals. But this isn’t a must. Many biographies are also written about ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives outside the public spotlight.
Now, there are two main categories of biographies: authorized and unauthorized.
Authorized biographies are written with the explicit permission of the subject of the biography. The main advantage of authorized biographies is that they provide easy access to family members, friends and acquaintances â and even the subject themselves â during the very important research phase.
Unauthorized biographies, on the other hand, are written without the permission of the subject and therefore the authors usually have no access to their inner circle. As a result, authors must draw all of their information from sources that are at arms-length of the subject and therefore may be less reliable or truthful.
Let’s now begin to outline the process for creating a biography from the ground up.
Step 1: Choose the Biography’s Subject
The first thing you need to do is to choose the subject of your biography. In most cases this will be an obvious choice – that is, you’ll select someone you’ve been following and have admired for a long time.
You’ll already know their life story and will therefore know the aspects of their life that will be inspiring and compelling to your readers. In essence, you’ll be writing your biography for an audience of like-minded people who admire your subject as much as you do and who already have a deep thirst for any information about them.
Your subject might be a public figure, a politician, a business person, a scientist, an academic, or as stated in the introduction, an ordinary person who’s lived an extraordinary life. In every case, I advise that you seek their permission to write and publish the biography.
If granted, you’ll be able to gain immediate access to the subject and also family members and friends, who in many cases will provide you with exclusive details not published anywhere else.
Now, if you do get your subject’s permission, it’ll likely come accompanied with a first right of refusal for any information that they deem is not accurate as written and you’ll have to allow for the possibility of people changing their minds about certain aspects of your work as you go on.
You’ll just have to be flexible and accommodating, and sometimes this will be frustrating. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s a small price to pay for almost unlimited access to credible and in many cases unpublished information.
If you’re unsuccessful in obtaining your subject’s permission, you can still write an unauthorized biography, but there are some caveats you should be aware of:
- Stay away from writing unauthorized biographies about private persons (no matter how extraordinary their lives may be) because you’ll risk breaching privacy laws with serious legal consequences â in other words, those people may wish to remain private and will certainly not appreciate someone writing an unauthorized biography of their private lives.
- If you write about public figures, make sure you stick to publicly available information and that you don’t publish any private, sensitive or otherwise embarrassing information that is not in the public domain or that was illicitly obtained (e.g. through hacked or stolen information)
- If you choose to write a biography about some well-known figure in the public domain who you despise and you want to expose their “bad” side to the world, I advise that you consult with an attorney before you proceed, since you’ll be embarking on a journey potentially fraught with expensive litigation
Step 2: Study Popular Biographies
Before you proceed to the writing stage, you’ll be well-served to learn valuable lessons from those who’ve walked this path this before you, especially those who’ve found success in the marketplace.
Find 2-3 biographies about similar subjects to yours that have made it to the bestseller lists. For example, if you’ll be writing about a tech CEO, then find bestselling biographies of two or three other tech CEOs. Also, ensure that those biographies are of the same type as yours (i.e. authorized or unauthorized).
If cost is an object, get those books from the library but, if you can, purchase them instead so that you can make notations and underline text right on the page.
Next, read them twice cover-to-cover â first as a reader and then as a writer.
In your first reading pass, put on your audience hat and enjoy the read. Don’t pause to make notes yet so as not to disrupt the experience. In your second pass, however, make frequent stops to take notes about how the author uses literary devices, such as storytelling, hooks, descriptive techniques, and so on to drive their narrative.
If you read a story or passage that you deeply connect with, analyze it and try to figure out what it is about it that makes it work so effectively. Make note of the author’s literary choices, their use of language, the flow of the story, etc.
When you’re done with this initial genre research, you’ll be ready to start working on your biography!
Step 3: Choose Your Central Theme
Biographies are not unlike any other nonfiction book: you need to know who the target audience is before you write them (in this case it’ll be you and people like you). But just as importantly, you need to have a central theme that permeates the book.
In most cases, the central theme of your biography will be the aspect that has personally attracted you to your subject, such as:
- Their sense of urgency in enacting change in their personal lives and around them, which your readers will find inspiring
- Their wisdom and brilliance in their specific approach to life, business, etc., which will inform your readers about proven strategies that they’ll be able to use themselves
- Their prophetic power about certain world events, which could help readers make better choices about their investments, their choice of careers, etc.
- Or just their raw courage in the face of extreme adversity, a quality many people strive to achieve in their own lives
You always need to have a clear central theme your biography, an essence that goes beyond a strictly chronological account of someone life (which doesn’t make for a particularly engaging read).
Step 4: Research Your Subject
Now it’s time to begin your research about your subject and their lives.
There are two types of sources of information that you’ll need to rely on for your biography:
1) Primary sources, which originate from your subject and their close circle, and 2) Secondary sources, which originate from people at arm’s length to your subject. Here are some examples:
Primary sources:
- Anything publicly written or recorded by the subject
- Anything privately written or recorded by the subject (you’ll need their written consent to publish this information)
- Anything publicly written or recorded by direct witnesses to events that involved the subject
- Anything privately written or recorded by direct witnesses to events that involved the subject (again, you’ll need their permission to publish this information)
A Note on Privacy:
Whenever you publish information about a subject that’s not already in the public domain, particularly if the subject is not a public figure, you must ensure that you have their written permission to do so.
If you don’t and choose to publish anyway, you’re opening yourself to expensive litigation. People are entitled to their privacy and if you reveal unauthorized information that they deem to be embarrassing or injurious to their reputation in any way, expect them to seek financial damages through libel litigation and other legal remedies.
Secondary sources:
Writings or recordings by people who don’t know the subject personally and who haven’t directly witnessed events involving the subject. Examples are:
- Documentaries
- Magazine articles
- Online articles or recordings
A Note on Secondary Sources:
Before you use these sources, you’ll need to establish their credibility and the veracity of their accounts. Whenever you do refer to secondary sources in your biography, make sure to include the proper citations so that your readers can access the original information if they desire.
Also, make sure that you don’t infringe the copyright of your secondary sources by reproducing entire passages from their works, unless you obtain their written permission first (which usually carries a financial cost).
Step 5: Organize the Information
Once you’ve collected all the relevant information for your project, it’s time to put it into perspective by first creating a timeline for your subject’s life. You want to be able to see where it all fits chronologically so that you can begin to draw a through-line in relation to your biography’s central theme.
Your timeline will allow you to see the sequence of events that formed the character, ability or special circumstances that led your subject to live an extraordinary life. Also, this through-line will allow you to draw inspiration to choose specific time periods and past events should you wish to use flashbacks as a device in your narrative.
Once you’ve defined the proper chronology of events in your subject’s life, you can begin to draft a general outline for your biography, driven by your central theme. Begin by choosing the main milestones on your subject’s journey. These are the building blocks of your central theme. Then, break them down further into as many layers as necessary.
Finally, label your outline entries and, looking at your timeline, allocate your research materials throughout the outline by assigning them to the relevant label.
Step 6: Write Your Manuscript
You now have a fleshed-out timeline, an outline that aligns with your central theme, and lots of well-researched notes. In other words, you’re ready to begin the writing process ! But first, you’ll need to develop a clear writing routine.
When it comes to book writing , there’s no substitute for rubber to the road and this means that you’ll need to get into the habit of writing for a set amount of time every day. Like professional authors do, you’ll need to budget this time religiously and have clear boundaries.
Consistency is key, especially if you’ve never done a project like this before. What you don’t want to do is to write for 4-5 hours straight one day and then take a break for the next day or two.
How long should you write each day? I recommend between 2 and 3 hours but no longer than that â you don’t want to end up creatively spent by the end of a writing session.
Now, it’s critically important during this time that you have no disruptions such as phone calls, notifications from electronic devices, people walking in and asking you for help, etc.
So, enlist the help of those around you to keep you undisturbed, turn your smartphone and tablet to airplane mode, and mute the sound of your laptop.
Step 7: Hire a Professional Editor
When you complete the first draft of your manuscript, take a break to re-calibrate before you begin the re-writing process. Then revisit your manuscript from top to bottom as many times as necessary. This should take you a few weeks.
Keep in mind that the revision process is as creative as your original writing process but in a different way. While your initial writing is more like a stream of consciousness, the revision process is much more clinical and measured. What you’re looking for here is attention to detail, not the broad strokes.
But at some point, you’ll begin to experience diminishing returns for your efforts and here’s when you’ll need to hire the services of a professional editor. In fact, professional editors are paramount to the success of all authors, not just first-time authors but also those with long and illustrious careers.
No author worth their salt would dare publish an unedited book and neither should you. Your biography will be your calling card as an author and you never want to present a less than professional image. So, make sure you budget for a professional editor to take your diamond in the rough and make it shine!
Step 8: Hire a Professional Book and Cover Designer
Now that you have a fully edited manuscript, it’s time to focus on book design. Biographies need to not only be well-edited, but also to be well-produced. That means, they need to have a professional cover design that reflects your central theme, and a book interior as well-designed as your traditionally published competitors.
Don’t fall for the temptation to use free layout templates and book cover maker apps. As sharp as they may look on the surface, they’ll appear amateurish in comparison to what a professional can do and you don’t want to be judged by decision makers and gatekeepers on your path in a less-than-ideal light.
For example, some colors and visual patterns on your book cover may look great to you but won’t work in the market . The same goes for font styles, font sizes and font treatments. Leave this important work to the pros and you’ll never regret your decision.
Best of luck on the journey to your first biography!
If you enjoyed this article and are in the process of writing a nonfiction book, be sure to check out my free nonfiction success guide , drawn from years of experience editing books for bestselling authors (including a New York Times bestseller) and ghostwriting for CEOs and politicians. Simply click here to get instant access .
Leave me a comment below if you have any questions or a specific need that I can help you address â I operate an author services firm  that specializes in helping entrepreneurs, professionals and business owners who want to publish books as a calling card for prospects, to establish their status as an expert or to just to generate additional leads for their businesses.
Here are some related posts I highly recommend:
How to write a compelling book in 12 steps: a must-read guide for nonfiction authors, what to look for in a top book self-publishing company, the 7 most effective book promotion ideas for nonfiction authors.
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Very useful hints indeed
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- Learn How to Write a Biography: A Step-by-Step Guide.
- Self Publishing Guide
Human lives are intricate tapestries woven with experiences, emotions, challenges, and triumphs. Biographies and autobiographies serve as windows into these remarkable stories, offering insight into the lives of individuals who have left their mark on history or those who wish to chronicle their own journeys.Â
I n this guide, we will explore the art of writing biographies and autobiographies, delving into the nuances of both genres and providing valuable tips on how to craft compelling narratives.
Understanding Biography and Autobiography
- Biography: Exploring Lives Beyond the Surface A biography is a literary exploration that unveils the intricate layers of a person’s existence, transcending the mere listing of events. It provides a comprehensive account of an individual’s life, offering insights into their achievements, struggles, societal impact, and distinct qualities that define them. These narratives serve as windows into history, allowing readers to traverse time and understand the legacy left by remarkable individuals. Biographies are usually crafted by biographers, individuals skilled in research and storytelling. They undertake a meticulous journey of gathering information from diverse sources, such as historical records, interviews, letters, and secondary literature. The biographer’s role is to curate these fragments of information into a coherent narrative, painting a vivid portrait of the subject. This comprehensive approach lends credibility and depth to the portrayal, enriching the reader’s understanding of the subject’s contributions and character. Example: Â Consider the biography of Mahatma Gandhi. A biographer compiling his life story would explore not only his role in India’s fight for independence but also his principles of nonviolence, his experiments with truth, and his impact on the world’s political landscape. By presenting a holistic view of Gandhi’s life, the biography reveals the nuances of his personality, beliefs, and the larger context in which he operated.
- Autobiography: The Intimate Dialogue of Self-Discovery An autobiography is a narrative journey undertaken by the subject themselvesâa profound sharing of one’s life experiences, emotions, and reflections. This genre provides readers with an intimate insight into the subject’s psyche, allowing them to witness their life’s trajectory through personal recollections. Autobiographies carry a unique authenticity, as they are composed from the vantage point of the person who lived those moments, providing a firsthand account of their journey. Autobiographies draw from the subject’s reservoir of memories, emotions, and introspections. This self-exploration leads to a narrative that is often more than a linear chronicle; it becomes a tapestry woven with the threads of emotions, thoughts, and personal revelations. By directly communicating with the reader, the autobiographer creates a powerful connection, allowing readers to step into their shoes and experience their story from within. Example: Â A notable example of an autobiography is “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank. Written during her time in hiding during World War II, the book offers a candid portrayal of Anne’s life, fears, hopes, and dreams. Through her own words, readers gain a deep understanding of the challenges faced by Jews during the Holocaust, as well as the resilience and humanity that Anne exudes even in the face of adversity.
Writing a Biography:
Research: The Foundation of a Compelling Biography Thorough research is the cornerstone of a captivating biography. Delve into reputable sources like books, articles, interviews, and archives to gather a comprehensive view of your subject’s life. By immersing yourself in these materials, you gain insights into their experiences, motivations, and contributions. Scrutinise the historical context to understand the era’s impact on their journey. Successful research forms the bedrock of your biography, enabling you to present an accurate and nuanced portrayal that resonates with readers. It’s through meticulous research that you uncover the hidden stories and connect the dots, allowing the subject’s essence to shine through the pages.
Selecting a Focus: Defining the Narrative Scope Choosing a focal point is essential for a well-structured biography. Decide whether to cover the subject’s entire life or concentrate on specific periods or achievements. This decision shapes the narrative’s trajectory, preventing it from becoming overwhelming or disjointed. A focused approach allows you to delve deeply into pivotal moments, providing a more profound understanding of the subject’s journey. By clarifying the scope, you enable readers to follow a coherent storyline, making it easier for them to engage with the subject’s life in a meaningful way.
Structuring the Biography: Chronology and Themes The organisation of your biography greatly impacts its readability. Structure your work into logical sections or chapters, employing either a chronological or thematic arrangement. Begin with an engaging introduction that captures readers’ attention and provides essential context. A chronological structure follows the subject’s life in sequential order, offering a clear timeline of events. Alternatively, a thematic structure groups events by themes, allowing you to explore different facets of the subject’s life. A well-structured biography guides readers smoothly through the subject’s experiences, fostering a deeper connection and understanding.
Show, Don’t Tell: Evocative Storytelling Vivid descriptions, anecdotes, and quotes breathe life into your biography. Rather than merely listing facts, employ descriptive language to recreate scenes and emotions, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the subject’s world. Use anecdotes to illustrate key moments, capturing the essence of the subject’s character and the impact of events on their journey. Integrating quotes from the subject, contemporaries, or relevant sources adds authenticity and depth. Through this technique, you transport readers into the subject’s experiences, enabling them to witness the moments that shaped their lives.
Balanced Perspective: Portraying Strengths and Flaws A balanced portrayal adds credibility and depth to your biography. While it’s tempting to focus solely on accomplishments, a well-rounded view includes the subject’s strengths and flaws. This authenticity humanises the subject, making it relatable and multidimensional. By acknowledging both successes and challenges, readers gain a more honest understanding of their journey. Balancing positives and negatives helps readers empathise with the subject, connecting them on a deeper level and offering a more genuine insight into their lives.
Engaging Emotions: Creating Emotional Resonance Emotions are a potent tool in biography writing. Delve into the subject’s feelings, struggles, and aspirations to create an emotional connection with readers. By tapping into their emotional experiences, you make the narrative relatable and engaging. Sharing personal challenges and triumphs allows readers to empathise and reflect on their own lives. This emotional resonance elevates the biography from a mere factual account to a compelling and moving story that lingers in readers’ minds, leaving a lasting impact.
Citing Sources: Ensuring Accuracy and Credibility Accurate information is vital in biography writing. Properly cite your sources to maintain credibility and integrity. Clear citations not only lend authority to your work but also provide readers with the opportunity to explore further if they desire. Accurate referencing safeguards against misinformation and ensures that your portrayal is based on reliable evidence. In addition to enhancing your credibility, thorough citations demonstrate your commitment to thorough research and ethical writing practises, contributing to the overall trustworthiness of your biography.
Complete Guide to Write a Biography. Start Writing Your Biography Now
Writing an Autobiography:
Reflecting on Significant Moments and Experiences Initiating an autobiography involves introspection into your life’s pivotal moments. Delve into memories that have influenced your journey, such as turning points, challenges, relationships, and achievements. Reflect on these experiences, dissecting their impact on your personal growth and development. By contemplating these key events, you gain insight into the narrative threads that weave your life story together. This reflective process sets the foundation for an authentic autobiography that resonates with readers on a profound level.
Developing Your Unique Voice and Tone Crafting an autobiography demands a consistent voice and tone that reflect your personality. Write in a way that feels true to you, capturing your unique perspective and emotions. Authenticity is key, as it allows readers to connect with your narrative on a personal level. Whether your tone is introspective, humorous, or contemplative, ensure it aligns with the essence of your experiences. By embracing your genuine voice, you create an autobiography that not only tells your story but also conveys the essence of who you are.
Structured Storytelling for Engagement While autobiographies can be more flexible in structure compared to biographies, organising your narrative into coherent sections or themes enhances its readability. By grouping related experiences together, you provide readers with a clearer understanding of the themes that have shaped your life. This structure helps maintain their engagement by guiding them through your journey in a logical and compelling manner. While allowing for creativity, a structured approach ensures that your autobiography remains focused and accessible.
Embracing honesty and authenticity Honesty is the bedrock of an impactful autobiography. Share not only your triumphs but also your mistakes and failures. Authenticity creates relatability, allowing readers to connect with your humanity and vulnerabilities. Your journey’s challenges and setbacks are just as integral to your story as your successes. By being candid about your experiences, you demonstrate resilience and growth, inspiring readers to reflect on their own paths. This level of authenticity fosters a deeper connection, making your autobiography a source of empathy and encouragement.
Adding Depth Through Reflection Incorporate reflection to imbue your autobiography with depth and meaning. Explore the lessons you’ve learned from your experiences and the transformations they’ve prompted. Delve into how these moments shaped your beliefs, values, and perspective on life. By offering insights gained from introspection, you provide readers with wisdom and a broader understanding of your journey. Reflection transforms your autobiography from a chronicle of events into a thoughtful exploration of personal growth and the profound impact of life’s moments.
Creating vivid details for immersion Immerse readers in your world by employing sensory details and vivid descriptions. Paint a picture with words, allowing readers to visualise the scenes and emotions you’re describing. By incorporating sensory elements like sights, sounds, smells, and feelings, you transport readers into the moments you’re recounting. This immersive experience draws them closer to your story, fostering a stronger connection. Vivid details not only make your autobiography more engaging but also enable readers to forge a deeper connection with your experiences and emotions.
In the realm of literature, biographies and autobiographies stand as powerful testaments to the diversity and richness of human existence. Whether you’re capturing the life of a historical figure or penning your own life story, the art of writing these genres involves meticulous research, introspection, and a keen understanding of human emotions.Â
Through carefully chosen words and evocative storytelling, biographers and autobiographers alike can craft narratives that resonate with readers and offer a deeper understanding of the human experience. So, whether you’re writing about the extraordinary or the everyday, embrace the challenge and privilege of narrating lives through the written word.
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How to write a biography: 7 life-writing ideas
Biography – literally ‘life writing’ – poses a variety of challenges. Balancing historical narration and day-to-day incident, for example. Or choosing what to include and what to leave out. Read 7 ideas on how to write a biography, with examples from biographical writing:
- Post author By Jordan
- 4 Comments on How to write a biography: 7 life-writing ideas
7 life-writing ideas:
- Create compelling voice
- Think about representation
- Decide on narrative style
- Use illustrative anecdotes
- Find interest in the mundane
- Avoid hagiography
- Fictionalize where necessary
First: What type of biography do you want to write?
There are many different types of biography, both in fiction and non-fiction.
Popular types of biographical books
If you want to write non-fiction, you may be working on either an autobiography (a book about your life) or memoir , or a biography of a public figure.
Biographies can straddle both fiction and non-fiction, too. Many authors have written semi-fictionalized biographical stories (such as Now Novel writing coach Hedi Lampert’s novel , The Trouble with My Aunt ) with the author themselves as a main or supporting character.
For example, in Ivan Vladislavic’s Portrait with Keys , the author invents a brother. This fictional addition allows for lively debates between him and this imaginary relative about urban spaces and race politics in the city of Johannesburg.
Novelized biographies (such as Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield or Charlotte BrontĂŤ’s Jane Eyre ) often follow a central character’s life arc in a linear way , from early life to later years or even death.
Other types of fictional biography include fictional letters and diaries. These allow you to play with other modes of representation.
For example, Sue Townsend’s popular Adrian Mole series (the first book being The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13ž ), presented as a British teenage boy’s diary.
Let’s examine 7 ideas about how to write a biography:
1. Create compelling voice
You could say that voice is a crucial ingredient of any story , especially in first person (where the narrator is the character).
In autobiography, in particular, you want your reader to form a clear sense of who is telling the story. Are they funny? Serious? Angry? Inventive? Philosophical? Just a little bit insane?
Consider the comical, self-aware voice that comes through from page 1 of Townsend’s novel. The first chapter, under the heading ‘THURSDAY JANUARY 1ST’, begins:
These are my New Year’s resolutions: 1. I will help the blind across the road. 2. I will hang my trousers up. 3. I will put the sleeves back on my records. 4. I will not start smoking. 5. I will stop squeezing my spots. 6. I will be kind to the dog. 7. I will help the poor and ignorant. 8. After hearing the disgusting noises from downstairs last night, I have also vowed never to drink alcohol. Sue Townsend, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13ž (1982), p. 5.
Adrian Mole’s resolutions range from the virtuous to the droll (e.g. helping the ‘poor and ignorant’; scathing remarks on his parents’ drunken ‘disgusting noises’).
From the opening page there’s a clear sense of the voice of the subject of this diary-format biography. We form a sense of Mole’s desires, faults, attitudes and beliefs straight away.
2. Think about representation
Whether you’re writing fictional or non-fictional biography, how you represent events or tell the story is a creative decision.
Besides curating content (choosing what formative experiences, dramatic incidents, background details you include), there are different ways to approach representation , the way you tell the story.
As respected literary biographer Hermione Lee says, in an interview with James Rivington , there’s a difference between ‘autopsy’ and ‘portraiture’:
Autopsy, yes. There is a kind of biographical process that is, necessarily, cutting into the dead corpse, however ghoulish that can seem. You are as ruthlessly as possible trying to dissect and analyse the nature of the life. The other approach is more akin to portraiture: to see how the person looked from the outside, how they affected and influenced people, what their friendships were like, how they were one thing to one person and another thing to another person. I think you have get at both inside and outside if you can. Hermione Lee, interviewed by James Rivington for The British Academy
What Lee touches on is the issue of representation .
How will you mix biographical and historical facts (e.g. born here, raised there, had this key experience) with more painterly ways of revealing character ?
3. Decide on narrative style
Deciding how to write a biography means choosing between many available narrative modes or styles.
Will your story run from A to B to C, documenting each decade in a person’s life? Or will it be a crisscross portrait cutting back and forth in time?
A fragmentary style of narration may suit certain subjects and contexts better than a linear story. Says Lee:
I think that biography has to be watchful of making life seem too predictable, or determinist, or shaped, or ordered. Biographies go through fashions. There used to be a fashion for making the study run smoothly and look definitive â âthis leads to this leads to this.â I think life-stories are more bitty and piecemeal. Hermione Lee, interview for The British Academy
Example of inventive narrative style: Roland Barthes
As an example, Roland Barthes, a pioneer in semiotics (the study of signs and symbols and their interpretation), famously wrote an autobiography in fragments called Roland Barthes by Roland Barthes .
In this book, Barthes includes the preface ‘it must all be considered as if spoken by a character in a novel’.
What follows are captioned images from Barthes’ life, and then titled fragments where Barthes reflects on incidents, places, experiences and the development of his body of work.
For example, in a short section about the discomfort of writing called ‘Truth and Assertion’, Barthes refers to himself in third person , expressing discomfort in how words committed to paper express more than our original aims:
His (sometimes acute) discomfortâmounting some evenings, after writing the whole day, to a kind of fearâwas generated by his sense of producing a double discourse, whose mode overreached its aim, somehow: for the aim of his discourse is not truth, and yet this discourse is assertive. (This kind of embarrassment started, for him, very early; he strives to master it â for otherwise he would have to stop writing â by reminding himself that it is language which is assertive, not he). Roland Barthes, Roland Barthes by Roland Barthes , p. 48, available here.
Fragments provide a fitting choice of narrative style for an unconventional autobiography that is as much a self-portrait of Barthes as a questioner of seemingly self-evident truths, as it is the representation of his life.
Barthes’ use of third-person and questioning reflections on the act of writing creates the ‘looking from the outside’ effect Hermione Lee describes as ‘portraiture’ in biography. Even as Barthes creates a self-portrait, he resists the idea of the ‘assertive’ author, the ‘completeness’ of the ‘final report’.
4. Use illustrative anecdotes
An English professor once asked his third year class ‘What is an anecdote?’
A girl put up her hand and answered, ‘It’s what you give someone when they’ve been bitten by a snake’, to which he replied ‘Please don’t ask someone for an anecdote if you’re ever bitten by a snake, for they will talk and talk and you will die.’
This is an anecdote. These usually short, often humorous stories about events involving a particular person are great fodder for biographies. They may illustrate a person’s quick wit or surly, non-communicative demeanor .
In biography, a brief anecdote may be all the reader needs to develop a sense of a key figure – a parent, friend, lover, rival or other.
Example of illustrative anecdotes: Dorothy Parker
The writer, poet and satirist Dorothy Parker is known for her witty comebacks and phrases.
One anecdote illustrating this character gives an alleged exchange between Parker and a snooty woman at an event, where both were trying to enter through a door at the same time:
It is recorded that Mrs. Parker and a snooty debutante were both going in to supper at a party: the debutante made elaborate way, saying sweetly âAge before beauty, Mrs. Parker.â âAnd pearls before swine,â said Mrs. Parker, sweeping in. Dorothy Parker, attributed. More on this anecdote at Quote Investigator.
Parker’s clever comeback to the woman’s quip about her being the older (and the implication she is less beautiful) evokes Jesus’s sermon on the Mount in which he said ‘Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine…’
The anecdote is a brilliant illustration of Parker as a quick-witted person with a sharp tongue and an ear for comedy. An anecdotal exchange here conveys a good sense of personality.
5. Find interest in the mundane
When we think about how a biography is written, we might think in terms of grand, important or scandalous events. Yet a biography is not a gossip column.
Lee makes this important point in her interview, regarding Virginia Woolf’s eventual suicide.
In writing the author’s biography, Lee describes the pitfalls of writing it as though Woolf was thinking about suicide every day.
It would possibly be sensationalizing (rather than allowing multiple ‘Woolfs’ to come through) to assume this linearity:
When, as in the case of Virginia Woolf, you have a very important, much-read woman writer who kills herself, there is a powerful desire to make the story move towards that point. You see that also in the life of Sylvia Plath â perhaps even more, because she was so much younger. It becomes all about the suicide. […] So one of my motives in writing about Virginia Woolf was to get away from the determinist sense of a story that had to end that way. Lee, interview for The British Academy
How do we make the repetitive, ‘boring’ parts of life interesting in life-writing?
- Skip over them (e.g. ‘For the next 5 years she was busy establishing the Hogarth Press. Then…’)
- Show their interesting place within a wider arc (e.g. ‘With every manuscript the Press put out, she gained a keener understanding of X that would lead to …’)
6. Avoid hagiography
Hagiography, the term for the writing of the lives of saints, also means ‘to display a subject undue reverence’ in writing.
The British statesman Arhtur Balfour is alleged to have said ‘Biography should be written by an acute enemy.’
There’s truth in this, since an enemy would dissect their rival’s life without mercy. Perform a thorough autopsy, and paint a colourful (even if unflattering) portrait.
In deciding how to write a biography, make sure you choose incidents that reflect multiple dimensions of the subject’s life. Their glorious and inglorious moments.
For example, to write the story of a now-revered author as the story of success after success may ring false for readers who know about the 12 rejections their first manuscript received.
Plan the scenes and incidents of a biography the way you would build a character profile. Ask, ‘What are the subject’s…’
- Impressive moments?
- Cringe moments?
7. Fictionalize where necessary
Author and essayist Geoff Dyer has written books in many forms, from travelogues blending fiction and non-fiction to books about writing biography ( Out of Sheer Rage: Wrestling with DH Lawrence ).
Dyer’s book But Beautiful: A Book about Jazz is an example of his genre-defying approach.
Part biography of renowned jazz musicians (including Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk), part homage to the improvisational and playful language of jazz, it combines historical details, photography and discussion of music. Rather than tell a linear story of each musician’s life, Dyer captures fleeting moments and experiences in a manner evocative of jazz music’s ephemeral nature.
This approach naturally involves plenty of fictionalizing, filling in and describing unknown details.
For example, here Dyer imagines a road trip where Duke Ellington’s driver muses on their road-tripping and the impossibility of recording every detail:
He’d bought the car in ’49, intending just to hop around New York, but soon he was driving Duke all over the country. Several times he’d had an impulse to keep a notebook record of how far they’d traveled but always he came to thinking how he wished he’d done it right from the start and so, each time he thought of it, he gave up the idea and fell to calculating vaguely cumulative distances, remembering the countries and towns they had passed through. Geoff Dyer, But Beautiful: A Book about Jazz (1991), p. 4.
Adding fictionalized events, such as particular exchanges between Duke Ellington and a driver that may not have happened ‘exactly that way’, is a useful part of biography. Like the driver’s thought process, there are ‘vaguely cumulative distances’ you, the biographer, must calculate and recreate for your reader.
Writing a fiction or non-fiction (or semi-fictional) biographical novel? Get constructive, considere d feedback from a writing coach.
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- Tags biography , life-writing , memoir
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 a biography: 7 life-writing ideas”
This article is brilliant, useful and educational which I admired the most and I can’t wait to read more. Thanks for the topic you’ve shared!
Thank you, Rosella. Thanks for reading our blog and sharing your feedback.
I would like to write a biography of someone who is a brother to me. Inorder to be remembered forever.
That sounds wonderful. Have you started writing or planning it?
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How to Write a Biography (Examples & Templates)
A biography is a written account of a person’s life that details their life in chronological order. Another person usually writes this detailed account, and it contains reports of their childhood, career, major life events, relationships, and social impact. It also details their relationships with their family, children, and life accomplishments.
The best way to find out more about a popular figure is through reading their biographies, so you need to make sure you get the correct information. Before writing a biography, you need to do a lot of research and interviews to represent a person’s life accurately.
Types of Biography
A biography is the story of someone’s life as written by another writer. Most biographies of popular figures are written years, or even decades, after their deaths. Authors write biographies of popular figures due to either a lack of information on the subject or personal interest.
A biography aims to share a person’s story or highlight a part of their life.
There are different types of biographies, depending on the story. Some biographies are written true to the story, while some are written as fictional works. Biographies can give you true understanding of a person on an internal as well as external level along with a lot of life lessons.
Autobiography
An autobiography is different from a biography because it is written by the subject of the story, themselves. The author writes in the first-person narrative, and it flows step-by-step like a story of their life. Autobiographies contain personal accounts of the subject’s life, along with their perspectives and opinions on events in their life.
How To Write a Biography
Pick a subject.
Picking a subject is the first step in writing a biography. You can pick an already famous person or a relatively unknown person with a great life story. If you already have a few in mind, you can start by asking yourself some questions such as;
- What has the subject accomplished that makes them a good subject?
- Have they had an impact on society?
- Is the subject a celebrity or a well-known personality?
- Will the biography appeal to a wide audience?
Get Permission
When you pick a subject, the next thing to do is to get permission from them or their family or rights owners. Although, with some historical figures, there may not be any need for permission. Getting permission from your subject makes it easier for you to get stories to put into your book. You can get the chance to obtain additional personal stories and anecdotes that will make your book more interesting by doing so as well.
Do The Research
Research is the most important part of a biography’s process as the entire content of the book is dependent on it. Irrespective of what you know about the subject, you need to carry out as much research as possible to get the story’s facts precisely.
Biography research comes from various sources, depending on the book’s subject. Firsthand reports from family, friends, or personal accounts from the subjects are primary sources. They are usually the most accurate and reliable, and they are crucial for a biography. Secondary sources come from other sources like magazines or documentaries.
Pick a Format
Biographies come in various formats, with each of them having their pros and cons. A typical biography will start at the beginning, usually with the birth and childhood of the subject. Yet, if the biography’s theme involves a different event in their life, the author may want to explore the flashback option or one with concurrent events from different times.
Usually, biographies have a theme or a general life lesson at the center. The author’s role is to tell the subject’s story leading up to the major event.
Which-ever format you choose should place the theme at the center, with the other events detailing the journey.
Create a Timeline Of The Story
Since a biography takes place in chronological order, there needs to be a timeline of the events in the right order. The timeline should contain the key events in the subject’s life, in the order the author plans on revealing them. A great way to declutter the story and keep it interesting is to use flashbacks . This way, the author can introduce past events and explain later events excluding the element of monotony.
Add In Your Thoughts
The good thing about biographies is that you don’t have to stick to the hard facts only. As the author, you can share your opinions and emotions in writing. The author has the freedom to do this by commenting on a significant action by the subject in a manner that describes why they feel the subject may have done what they did.
The author can also include commentary on events depicted in the biography â how it was influenced society or its impact on the lives around them. Recounting these events through a different perspective can make the biography more relatable and interesting to read.
FAQ’s
Why is a biography template important.
A biography template has an outline that makes the writing easier for the author. Biography templates usually contain a sample timeline, format, and questions that provide more information about the subject. With a great biography template, you can cut your writing time in half and spend less time coming up with an outline.
How are biographies better in comparison to autobiographies
Since a different person writes biographies, they tend to be more objective and somewhat accurate than autobiographies. An autobiography tells things from the author’s perspective, so their views and perspective cloud it. Thus, a biography will likely tell a more factual story.
These are the important steps you need to take to help you write a great biography. Now, to make things easier for you, we have a free customizable autobiography and biography template that you can use to start your first book. Get the template and start writing today
What are some of the most important elements to keep in consideration while writing a biography?
Any author looking to write a biography must consider the factors below. They aren’t the only important factors, but a biography isn’t complete without them. ⢠Date and place of their birth ⢠Academic background ⢠Professional expertise ⢠Death, if deceased ⢠Facts and anecdotes about the person ⢠Main accomplishments ⢠Detailed accounts of their child and adult life
Biographies tell the untold stories of some incredibly relevant people in the world. But biographies are not always strictly accurate. So, every biographer needs to follow the necessary steps to provide a biography with all the requirements.
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A biography is a written account of the series of events that make up a person's life. Some of those events are going to be pretty boring, so you'll need to try to make your account as interesting as possible!
Every student will write a biography at some point, but the level of detail and sophistication will differ. A fourth grade biography will be much different from a middle school-level biography or a high school or college-level biography.
However, each biography will include the basic details. The first information you should gather in your research will include biographical details and facts. You must use a trustworthy resource to ensure that your information is accurate.
Using research note cards , collect the following data, carefully recording the source for each piece of information:
Including Basic Details
- Date and place of birth and death
- Family information
- Lifetime accomplishments
- Major events of life
- Effects/impact on society, historical significance
While this information is necessary to your project, these dry facts, on their own, don't really make a very good biography. Once you've found these basics, you'll want to dig a little deeper.
You choose a certain person because you think he or she is interesting, so you certainly don't want to burden your paper with an inventory of boring facts. Your goal is to impress your reader!
Start off with great first sentence . It's a good idea to begin with a really interesting statement, a little-known fact, or really intriguing event.
You should avoid starting out with a standard but boring line like:
"Meriwether Lewis was born in Virginia in 1774."
Instead, try starting with something like this:
"Late one afternoon in October, 1809, Meriwether Lewis arrived at a small log cabin nestled deep in the Tennessee Mountains. By sunrise on the following day, he was dead, having suffered gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
You'll have to make sure your beginning is motivating, but it should also be relevant. The next sentence or two should lead into your thesis statement , or main message of your biography.
"It was a tragic end to a life that had so deeply affected the course of history in the United States. Meriwether Lewis, a driven and often tormented soul, led an expedition of discovery that expanded a young nation's economic potential, increased its scientific understanding, and enhanced its worldwide reputation."
Now that you've created an impressive beginning , you'll want to continue the flow. Find more intriguing details about the man and his work, and weave them into the composition.
Examples of Interesting Details:
- Some people believed that Lewis and Clark would encounter elephants in the western wilderness, having misunderstood the wooly mammoth bones discovered in the United States.
- The expedition resulted in the discovery and description of 122 new animal species and subspecies.
- Lewis was a hypochondriac.
- His death is still an unsolved mystery, although it was ruled a suicide.
You can find interesting facts by consulting diverse sources.
Fill the body of your biography with material that gives insight into your subject's personality. For instance, in a biography about Meriwether Lewis, you would ask what traits or events motivated him to embark on such a monumental exercise.
Questions to Consider in Your Biography:
- Was there something in your subject's childhood that shaped his/her personality?
- Was there a personality trait that drove him/her to succeed or impeded his progress?
- What adjectives would you use to describe him/her?
- What were some turning points in this life?
- What was his/her impact on history?
Be sure to use transitional phrases and words to link your paragraphs and make your composition paragraphs flow . It is normal for good writers to re-arrange their sentences to create a better paper.
The final paragraph will summarize your main points and re-assert your main claim about your subject. It should point out your main points, re-name the person you're writing about, but it should not repeat specific examples.
As always, proofread your paper and check for errors. Create a bibliography and title page according to your teacher's instructions. Consult a style guide for proper documentation.
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Essay Papers Writing Online
How to craft an engaging and insightful biography essay that captivates your readers.
Writing a biography essay can be a challenging task, as it requires capturing the essence of a person’s life in a concise and engaging manner. Whether you are writing a biography for a school assignment or for publication, there are several key tips to keep in mind to ensure that your essay is compelling and well-written.
Research is key: Before you start writing, make sure to thoroughly research the person you are writing about. This includes gathering information about their life, accomplishments, and the historical context in which they lived. The more you know about your subject, the better equipped you will be to craft a detailed and accurate biography.
Focus on the narrative: A biography is a story, so make sure to structure your essay in a way that captures the arc of your subject’s life. Start with an engaging introduction that sets the stage for the rest of the essay, then move on to the main body where you explore key events and experiences in the person’s life. Finally, conclude with a strong ending that ties everything together and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
Expert Tips for Writing
When crafting a compelling biography essay, consider these expert tips to make your writing stand out:
1. | Start with a captivating introduction that sets the tone for the rest of the essay. |
2. | Research thoroughly to gather accurate information and interesting anecdotes about the subject. |
3. | Focus on key moments and events in the subject’s life that highlight their character and achievements. |
4. | Show, don’t tell â use descriptive language and vivid imagery to bring the subject to life on the page. |
5. | Structure your essay effectively with clear transitions between paragraphs and sections. |
By following these expert tips, you can create a biography essay that will engage readers and leave a lasting impression.
A Captivating Biography
Writing a captivating biography requires a combination of skill, creativity, and attention to detail. To truly captivate your readers, you must delve deep into the subject’s life story, highlighting key events, challenges, and triumphs that shaped their journey. It’s essential to portray their essence and character through vivid anecdotes, engaging descriptions, and powerful storytelling techniques.
By weaving together facts with emotions, you can create a rich tapestry of narratives that bring the subject to life on the page, allowing readers to connect with them on a personal level. Remember to balance the narrative with well-researched information and ensure that the biography flows smoothly, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish.
Ultimately, a captivating biography is more than just a retelling of events; it’s a celebration of a life lived, a tribute to the extraordinary qualities that make the subject unique and inspiring. Through your writing, you have the power to immortalize their story and leave a lasting impact on those who read it.
Research Your Subject
To craft a compelling biography essay, thorough research on your subject is essential. Dive deep into all available resources, including books, articles, interviews, and any other materials that offer insights into the life of the person you are writing about. Take note of key events, experiences, achievements, and significant moments that shaped their life. By conducting extensive research, you will be able to provide a detailed and accurate portrayal of your subject in your essay.
Gather Key Information
Before you start writing a biography essay, it is crucial to gather all the key information about the person you are writing about. This includes their background, early life, education, career achievements, notable events in their life, personal traits, and any other relevant details that will help paint a clear picture of who they are.
- Research their life history thoroughly, using reputable sources such as biographies, interviews, articles, and documentaries.
- Take note of important dates, locations, and events that shaped their life and career.
- Interview people who knew the person personally to get insights into their character, motivations, and impact on others.
By collecting all this key information, you will be able to create a comprehensive and compelling biography that truly captures the essence of the person you are writing about.
Create a Strong Narrative
One of the key elements of a compelling biography essay is a strong narrative that engages the reader from start to finish. Consider the chronological order of events in the subject’s life and how they connect to form a coherent story. Start by introducing the subject and setting the stage for the narrative to unfold.
Use vivid descriptions and details to bring the subject to life and make their story more relatable to readers. Highlight key milestones, challenges, and achievements in the subject’s life that showcase their character and resilience. Include anecdotes and personal insights that provide a deeper understanding of who the subject is and what drives them.
Structure the narrative in a way that keeps the reader engaged and eager to learn more about the subject’s journey. Consider using storytelling techniques such as foreshadowing, flashbacks, and cliffhangers to maintain suspense and build anticipation. Ultimately, a strong narrative will help bring the subject’s biography to life and make it a memorable read for your audience.
Engage Readers with Stories
One of the most effective ways to make your biography essay compelling is to engage readers with stories. People are naturally drawn to narratives, and weaving personal stories into your biography can create a powerful connection with your audience.
Share anecdotes, experiences, and pivotal moments from the subject’s life that showcase their character, challenges, triumphs, and growth. These stories humanize the subject and help readers relate to them on a personal level.
Remember to use descriptive language, vivid imagery, and emotional detail to immerse readers in the story. By painting a vivid picture of the subject’s life through compelling stories, you can capture the reader’s attention and keep them engaged from start to finish.
Show Your Subject’s Growth
One of the most captivating aspects of a biography is witnessing the growth and development of the subject. Highlight the key milestones, challenges, and transformative moments that shaped your subject’s journey. Show how they evolved as a person, overcame obstacles, and learned from their experiences.
Include details about pivotal moments that influenced their beliefs, values, and decisions. Whether it’s personal growth, professional success, or emotional development, showcasing your subject’s growth adds depth and complexity to their story. Use anecdotes, quotes, and reflections to illustrate their evolution over time.
- Explore how their early experiences shaped their future path.
- Discuss how they dealt with setbacks and challenges along the way.
- Show how they adapted, learned, and grew from their experiences.
- Highlight moments of self-discovery, transformation, and personal growth.
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Highlight Personal Development
One of the key elements to include in a compelling biography essay is the individual’s personal development over time. Highlighting the growth, challenges, and experiences that have shaped the person into who they are today can add depth and authenticity to the narrative. Consider including anecdotes or specific examples that demonstrate how the individual has evolved and overcome obstacles in their journey.
Illustrate how the individual has grown professionally, personally, or intellectually over the years. | |
Showcase the obstacles or setbacks the person has faced and how they have persevered through them. | |
Describe impactful experiences or pivotal moments that have influenced the individual’s development. |
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BUSINESS STRATEGIES
How to write a professional bio (with examples and templates)
- Rebecca Strehlow
- 11 min read
Get started by: Creating a website â Â | Getting a domain â
Which three words would you use to describe yourself? Most of us have been asked this question and many of us have fumbled through it awkwardly.
Coming up with a personal description can be daunting. But there are times when itâs essential - whether weâre updating our LinkedIn profiles, blogging for Medium or creating a business website of our own.
In this post, weâll go over how to write a bio, step by step. To help guide you, weâve also included a handy template, along with some professional bio examples for your inspiration. With these resources, youâll find that writing a bio, as part of making a website , is much easier than you might think.
What is a short bio?
Before you learn how to write a bio, you should have a clear understanding of what it is and why you need it.
In the world of literature, a personal biography can span the length of an entire novel, like Nelson Mandelaâs Long Walk to Freedom or Malala Yousafzaiâs I Am Malala . In the online world, however, a bio is a short paragraph in which you introduce yourself. Typically, some of the best business websites place bios on a designated About Us page in their website, as well as on their social media pages and other networking platforms.
What to include in a short bio
Depending on your audience and goals, your bio can highlight your personal interests, your professional achievements or a mix of both. Here are some of the elements a bio might include:
Job title or workplace
University degree and other qualifications
Hometown or city of residence
Personal or professional goals
Mission statement and values
Skills and expertise
Interests and hobbies
The goal of writing a bio is to provide people with a snapshot of who you are. This is important for a variety of reasons, whether itâs drawing people toward your personal website or promoting your blog, attracting clients and business partners to your brand, or highlighting your achievements for job interviews.
How to write a short bio
The most effective online bios are both professional and concise. Hereâs how to write a short professional bio that suits your website or brand:
Introduce yourself
State your company or brand name
Explain your professional role
Include professional achievements
Discuss your passions and values
Mention your personal interests
01. Introduce yourself
Begin your bio by stating your first and last name. If youâre writing in the third person, these should be the first two words of the paragraph. This makes your name easy for your audience to identify and remember. Your bio is a huge part of your personal branding efforts, and should start with a strong intro to make a positive impact.
02. State your company or brand name
Think about whether you want your bio to represent yourself on a personal level, or whether youâd like it to come across as more professional. If you have a personal brand or business - for example, a blog, freelance business or eCommerce site - be sure to mention your brand name at the beginning of your bio. Donât be afraid if the name sounds simple or redundant. Itâs perfectly fine, for instance, to say Mary Smith is the founder and CEO of Smith Digital.
Likewise, feel free to mention the name of another company or brand that you work for if youâd like to associate it with your professional accomplishments - e.g., Mary Smith is a consultant at Google and the founder and CEO of Smith Digital.
03. Explain your professional role
Next, briefly explain your current position. This is relevant whether youâre the founder of a company, a high-level specialist or a beginner in your field, and it can be similar to the description you have on your resume. Your website visitors wonât necessarily know what your job involves, so elaborating on your primary responsibilities helps paint a picture of who you are and what you have to offer. This can also be used, if needed for employment and recruitment opportunities. If you're a freelancer a strong bio can make all the difference in how successful sourcing work can be.
04. Include professional achievements
In addition to explaining what your job entails, highlight milestones that make you stand out. Even if you havenât won an award or gained external recognition, you can discuss ways in which youâve contributed to your professional role and touch on new ideas or approaches that you bring to the table.
05. Discuss your passions and values
Once you describe what you do and how you contribute to your role, youâll need to explain the why . This is one of the most important elements to focus on as you consider how to write a bio.
Think about the values and passions underlying your work, as well as your professional philosophy. What gets you up in the morning? Whatâs the driving force behind what you do?
You can also think of this part of your professional bio as a kind of mission statement. Perhaps your mission is to serve others, contribute to society, grow your expertise or learn new skills. Whatever your reasons, expanding upon these ideas can help your audience get a better understanding of what truly matters to you. Don't be afraid to deploy storytelling in this part of creating your bio. Explore your narrative and then convey it.
06. Mention your personal interests
The most effective short bios will not only focus on your professional experience, but will also touch on what you like to do in your spare time. Consider mentioning:
Your family
Your hometown
Your hobbies
Side projects youâre working on
Transitioning to a more casual discussion of who you are outside of work is a great way to conclude your bio. This will present you as a more well-rounded person while making you relatable for your audience.
Professional bio template
As you go through the steps on how to write a bio, this handy template will help you get started:
Sentence 1: [Name] is a [job title] who [job description].
E.g., Lisa Green is an English teacher who teaches beginning to advanced literature courses for 10th and 11th grade students at Bloomfield High School.
Sentence 2: [Name] believes that [why you do the work you do].
E.g., Lisa believes that written and analytical skills are not only a fundamental part of academic excellence, but are also the building blocks of critical thinking in high school and beyond.
Sentence 3: [Name/pronoun] has [mention your achievements].
E.g., In addition to managing the English curriculum for the school, she runs an after school program where she works one-on-one with students.
Sentence 4: [Name/pronoun] is a [mention any relevant awards, training or honors].
E.g., She has also been nominated Teacher of the Year for two consecutive years.
Sentence 5: [Name/pronoun] holds a [insert degree] in [field of study] from [university].
E.g., Lisa holds a BA in Creative Writing and a Masterâs Degree in Teaching from the University of Michigan.
Once youâve filled in this template, put it all together into a single paragraph to create an initial framework for your professional biography. Note that you can shorten or expand upon this bio according to your unique needs.
Professional bio examples
Now that you know the basics of writing a professional bio, here are some short bio examples to inspire you. You can use these examples as additional templates for guidance as you craft your own personal biography.
Like the creators of these examples, you can place your bio on your personal or professional website and, later, revise the structure for other online platforms.
01. Bristol Guitar Making School
Of all the professional bio examples, Alex Bishopâs content exudes passion. Strategically placing the bio on the About page of his small business website , he highlights his skills and explains why he finds his work meaningful. In particular, we love his description of why he chose to pursue guitar making:
ââMy passion as a guitar maker comes from a life-long obsession with making things. From a young age I have always tried to manipulate objects and materials in order to create something entirely different. I find that working with wood is a way for me to connect with nature. The simple act of shaping wood to make something functional or beautiful brings me endless satisfaction.â
He also lists his accomplishments and awards, adding credibility to his business and building trust among prospective clients.
02. Alexandra Zsigmond
As someone who has served as art director for both The New York Times' opinion section and The New Yorker , it's no surprise that Alexandra Zsigmond's bio is thorough and detailed. Providing statistics or reflections on the things she achieved in her career is a clever way to demonstrate her value without saying so directly. As she explains:
"She has collaborated with a roster of over 1000 artists worldwide and art directed over 4000 editorial illustrations. She is known for greatly expanding the range of visual contributors to the Times, drawing equally from the worlds of contemporary illustration, fine art, animation, and comics."
03. Amanda Shields Interiors
Amanda Shields provides us with another effective bio example on her interior design website. Importantly, she spices up her bio by explaining how home decor aligns with her personal life and why itâs so close to her heart as a mother and entrepreneur:
"After working as a product designer for numerous retailers over the years, and after I had my first child, I decided to take the plunge and start my own home staging businessâŚ. Coincidentally, a month later I discovered I was pregnant with my second child. I loved the new challenges I faced as a new entrepreneur and mom and it didn't take long for me to discover that this was my callingâŚ. I felt the need to expand my business and launch Amanda Shields Interiors as its own entity to focus specifically on residential interiors and design."
By placing this content on her websiteâs About page, she provides potential clients with insights into her expertise and professional experience. She expands upon the choices she made along her career path, strategically making note of her achievements and acquired skills along the way.
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Tips for writing a bio
As you write your bio using the professional template above, make sure to keep the following tips in mind:
Keep it concise: Your bio should be sufficiently explanatory but it should also be short and to the point. A good rule of thumb is to keep each element of your bio - from your job description to your mission statement and hobbies - to about 1-2 sentences. That way, youâll end up with a brief paragraph that holds your readersâ attention without rambling on.
Consider your audience: The voice and tone you choose for your biography largely depends on your audience and personal goals. If youâre looking for a job and are writing primarily for recruiters, youâll want to use a serious, professional tone. On the other hand, if youâre creating an Instagram bio , consider using more casual, conversational language that reflects your personality.
Add humor: Relatedly, consider adding humor when appropriate. This is especially valuable if youâve founded your own business or created your own website , as it can give you a distinct brand identity while helping your audience build a stronger sense of connection with your brand.
Link to your website: When writing a bio for a platform other than your own website - a social media page, another company page, or a guest blog or publication - remember to include a link to your website. This will help you promote your website while highlighting your professionalism and authority.
Adapt for different platforms: Youâll most likely need to adapt the length and writing style of your biography to suit different platforms. For example, you may place a longer bio on your websiteâs About page and a shorter one on your LinkedIn page. In these cases, use the same main principles for writing a bio while scaling down the most important elements.
How to write a bio in four sentences or less
Really need to create a super short bio? We'd suggest following some of the tips above, just condensing them into less word for a short bio that still makes impact.
But if we really had to choose we'd say focus on - you, your professional role and company. That condenses everything that matters for bio into three sentences. Humor, creativity and uniqueness still all matter - just use fewer words to convey them.
Creating a bio for your website
As weâve noted in the examples above, one of the most strategic places to put your bio is on your website - so be sure to consider it within your web design plans. Whether the goal of your site is to start and promote your business , showcase your design portfolio or display your resume, including a bio gives your audience a glimpse into the person behind your content. It can also kickstart your professional growth . Show the world what you do, how you do it and why it matters, and people will be drawn to your passion and inspired by your experience.
Bio for a website example:
Hi, I'm Alex Johnson, a passionate web developer with over 10 years of experience in creating dynamic and user-friendly websites. I specialize in front-end development, bringing innovative designs to life with clean and efficient code. When I'm not coding, you can find me exploring hiking trails, experimenting with new recipes, or buried in a good book. Let's build something amazing together.
Pro tip: You can add a bio to many different types of websites, so using templates can help you create yours faster. For example, if you're creating a portfolio website , explore portfolio website templates to help you get started.
Creating a bio for social media
Crafting a professional bio for social media is vital as it introduces you or your brand, and it builds credibility and trust. A well-written bio establishes your expertise, attracts the right audience, and fosters engagement. It helps maintain a consistent brand image, optimizes search and discovery, and opens doors to networking and career opportunities. A compelling bio delivers a concise, informative snapshot of who you are, what you do, and the value you bring, leaving a lasting impression on visitors and potential collaborators alike.
Bio for social media example:
đ Tech Enthusiast | đ Avid Reader | đ¨ Amateur Artist | đ Explorer
Passionate about AI and its impact on our future. Sharing insights on tech trends, book recommendations, and my travel adventures. Lover of all things creative. Let's connect and inspire each other
You may need to edit your bio depending on which social media platform you plan to use it on. Some of the most popular ones include Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Focus on getting your bio right on the platforms you plan to focus your personal or brand social media marketing efforts on.
Writing a bio with AI
If you're looking to write your bio fast while creating your website, consider using an AI text generator to build your draft. You'll still need to make sure it goes through. an intensive editing process, so that it really captures the essence of who you are and your professional skills. A bio is about much more than just basic information, so don't forget to include the storytelling too. Build a website with Wix and you can make use of the in-built AI text generator within its Editor .
Why good bios are important for a professional
In a world where first impressions matter, a well-crafted bio can make a significant impact in establishing trust and credibility with potential clients, employers or collaborators. It also offers insight into your personality and values, helping to forge authentic connections with your audience. It acts as a powerful tool for personal branding, allowing you to differentiate yourself in a competitive landscape and leave a memorable impression.
A strong bio also serves as a gateway to opportunities, whether it's securing new clients, landing job interviews or establishing partnerships. It acts as a professional introduction, allowing you to showcase your expertise. A polished and impactful bio is essential for you to effectively communicate your professional identity and stand out in your field.
Writing a bio without experience
Writing a bio when you don't yet have experience can be challenging, but it's an opportunity to showcase your potential and aspirations.
Begin by highlighting your educational background, skills and any relevant coursework or projects you've completed. Focus on your passions, interests and personal qualities that make you unique. Consider including volunteer work, internships or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your commitment and initiative. Emphasize your eagerness to learn and grow in your chosen field and express your future goals and aspirations. Don't be afraid to be honest about your current stage and your willingness to gain experience and develop professionally.
If you don't know what to write in your bio, start by brainstorming your key experiences, achievements, skills and personal attributes. Consider what sets you apart and what you want others to know about you. Look for inspiration from other bios or profiles in your field, and consider seeking feedback from friends, mentors or colleagues. Don't hesitate to highlight your passions, interests and goals, as well as any unique experiences or perspectives you bring to the table. Remember to keep it concise and engaging, and don't be afraid to revise and refine your bio until it accurately represents you.
How to write a bio FAQ
A short bio, short for biography, is a concise summary of a your life or professional background. It provides a brief overview of your key achievements, qualifications, experiences, and relevant details. Typically written in the third person, a short bio is often used in various contexts, such as professional profiles, social media accounts, introductions for speaking engagements, author descriptions, and other situations where a brief introduction is required. The length of a short bio can vary, but it's generally kept to a few sentences or a short paragraph to provide a snapshot of the person's background and expertise.
How do I write a bio about myself?
What should i include in a short bio, how do you write a fun bio for work, how do i make my bio stand out, related posts.
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How to Write a Short Professional Bio
U.S. News & World Report
June 25, 2024, 8:00 PM
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A professional bio can help you stand out from the crowd by showcasing who you are and what you strive for in your work. However, writing a professional biography for potential employers, clients, colleagues or networking is easier said than done. It can feel awkward to write about yourself and fluently express your contributions.
Here are essential elements for any professional bio:
— Your name and professional title
— What you do in your current position
— Your branding statement
— One to two outstanding professional accomplishments with measurable results
— One to two details to describe your personality
You may post your professional bio on your personal website, your personal blog, your company’s website, your professional portfolio, your LinkedIn “about” section, your Facebook business page or another social media site such as Instagram.
While the length of your bio will vary depending on where you aim to publish it, this outline of elements will help you create a complete bio. For example, if you post your bio in your “about” section on LinkedIn , you are limited to about 2,000 characters. Your website might include a lengthier bio, but a short professional bio works best on social media pages.
[ READ: Job Skills to List on Your Resume (And What to Exclude) ]
How to Start a Biography
You may know who you are professionally, but it can be hard to articulate this clearly and precisely, especially in writing. To start, outline what you want to include in your bio using the elements above. You can use your resume and other documents where you’ve tracked professional accomplishments to help you, but avoid copying and pasting.
You can also look up the professional bios of successful professionals whom you admire. What impresses you about their bios? Take note of the elements that stand out to you and use them as inspiration for your own bio.
To help you come across authentically, think about what you would say out loud to someone if they asked you about the items on the list above. For example, how would you explain your job or branding statement? Write it down. This can help you to “see” your voice on paper.
Generally, a professional bio should be written in third person , especially if it’s for a company website. However, there are exceptions. For example, your “about” section on LinkedIn should be written in first person.
Here are some additional details to include on your professional bio.
Your Name and Professional Title
Include your full name and your title. For example: John Doe, Marketing Director. If you don’t have a job, list your last job title or certifications .
What You Do in Your Current Position
This helps the reader understand if your experience would be a good fit for their organization. For example: John specializes in all forms of digital marketing, including social media marketing, online advertising and search engine optimization.
Your Branding Statement
A branding statement is a sentence or two that reflects your professional values and how you stand out from others in the industry. For example: John is diligent and adapts seamlessly to evolving processes and technologies. This allows him to provide the best service to his customers.
Outstanding Professional Accomplishments
Listing a few accomplishments allows readers to understand your level of expertise and how you positively contribute to your organization or industry. Examples could include how you helped your company save money, increased visibility or attained positive results for your clients.
Personal Details
Including a few personal details can help a reader connect with you on a more personal level. This may make them more likely to reach out to you. Examples could include hobbies, pets or interesting details about your background that you feel comfortable sharing.
[ See: Red Flag Phrases to Leave Off Your Resume. ]
How to Write a Bio for Work
If your company has asked you to write a professional bio for its website, make sure you include the requested elements. If you are unsure, ask your supervisor for additional information. Also, check your company’s “about” page and note what others have included in their bios. Try to follow the same format and order of information. Once you have finished your professional bio, ask someone you trust to proofread it for grammatical errors and clarity.
Sean McLoughlin, vice president of operations at the executive search firm HireMinds, recommends always writing your corporate bio with the company in mind. “If you have been with the company for a significant amount of time, your short professional bio should highlight achievements within the company. If you’re new to the organization, they should be written highlighting why you’re going to be successful in your new role,” he said in an email.
Professional Bio Examples
Here are a few examples of what a short professional bio could look like:
1. Physician Sample Bio
James Oliver is an empathetic family medicine physician leveraging 10-plus years of experience promoting health and improving the quality of patients through changes in research, medical education and patient care across organizations and the community. He’s known for his innovative, tactical thinking and authentic, influential leadership style. He’s also skilled in building the relationships, consensus and strategic partnerships needed to move large-scale and challenging initiatives forward.
2. Graphic Designer Sample Bio
Amy Lin is a freelance graphic designer known for her creative thinking and attention to detail. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Amy specializes in translating complex ideas into compelling visual narratives. She has a background in visual arts and has worked on diverse projects ranging from logo designs to website layouts. In her free time, Amy likes to find inspiration for her art in nature, travel, dance and music.
3. Software Engineer Sample Bio
Lucy Michaels is a senior software engineer at Meta who works closely with product and design teams to build innovative application experiences for the iOS platform. Her technical prowess spans from backend systems architecture to frontend user interface design, with a strong focus on optimizing performance and usability. She’s also well-versed in various programming languages and frameworks like C++, Ruby on Rails, Python and Java. On the weekends, Lucy enjoys going on hikes and training Muay Thai.
4. Human Resources Sample Bio
Michael Sanchez is a human resources professional with three years of experience in talent acquisition and HR operations. His empathetic approach and strong communication skills make him a go-to person for resolving issues and boosting team morale. He’s also played a key role in building high-performing teams and is known for his strong interpersonal skills and ability to create a supportive work environment. With him on board, you can expect a workplace where people feel valued and empowered to shine.
5. Sales Sample Bio
Sarah David is a tech sales specialist known for her talent in building strong client relationships and driving revenue growth. She has a solid background in the tech industry and excels at understanding customer needs and consistently exceeding quota each month. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys doing yoga and roller skating.
6. First-Person Sample Bio
Hi! My name is Tracy Jones. I’m a content marketing specialist passionate about helping brands connect authentically with their audiences through compelling storytelling and well-defined content strategies. Over the past six years, I’ve had the privilege of working with leading brands, including tech giants like Microsoft and startups like Airbnb, to help them create engaging blog posts and social media campaigns. In my free time, I enjoy learning Spanish and spending time with my three cats.
[ Read: How to Highlight Interpersonal Skills in Interviews and Resumes. ]
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your Professional Bio
— Being too generic. Always tailor your bio to reflect your unique skills and avoid using clichĂŠs or generic statements that don’t differentiate you from others in your field. “Nobody expects a generalist to solve their issues,” Sharon Rose Hayward, a women’s career coach and founder at Winning at Work, said in an email.
— Exaggerating or misrepresenting. Exaggerating your accomplishments or misrepresenting your achievements won’t do you any good and could damage your reputation. Be truthful when describing your skills and experiences.
— Not updating regularly. Don’t use outdated information that no longer reflects your current professional status and make sure to update your professional bio periodically.
— Committing grammar mistakes. A bio riddled with errors gives the impression that you’re careless and lack attention to detail. Always triple-check your professional bio before publishing, and consider asking a friend or colleague to proofread it.
— Using industry or location-specific abbreviations or acronyms. Industry jargon and location-specific abbreviations or acronyms likely mean nothing to your readers. “Leaving someone wanting to know more because they’re interested is different than creating confusion,” Hayward said.
— Making your bio too long. Laurie Cure, executive coach and CEO at Innovative Connections, a consulting company that provides organizational solutions, warns against writing a long bio. “Have you ever sat at a conference and spent the first five minutes of a session listening to the moderator read a two-page bio of how great someone is? It’s a bore. Always keep your bio short and sweet,” she said in an email.
Be Authentic
Focus on highlighting your unique strengths and showcasing your personality. “Your word choice and language will say a lot about who you are and how you want to be represented,” Cure said. “Your personality will show in how you describe yourself and your experiences, as well as what you choose to highlight.”
Don’t be afraid to embrace your individuality and emphasize what truly matters to you. Whether you choose to tell your story with a polished professional tone or a more conversational approach, always let your bio reflect your authentic self.
More from U.S. News
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How to Write a Short Professional Bio originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 06/26/24: This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
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Iâm finding the joy in writing again with a little help from the Supernote Nomad
Handwriting, i just canât quit you..
I've recently accepted the fact that I am, and always will be, a pen-and-paper kind of gal. When it comes to writing, nothing does it for me quite like the act of scrawling by hand. Iâm more creative, less distracted and more emotionally invested in what Iâm doing than when I type on a keyboard.
But over the last decade or so of writing professionally, I've become disconnected from writing by hand. I spend most of my time hunched over a laptop, and have unwittingly conditioned myself into writing almost exclusively in this way for the sake of efficiency. While thatâs undoubtedly what works best for the day-to-day demands of news blogging (I mean, how else could we do it?), my shift away from notebooks has killed my will to do any creative writing outside of work. These days, every time I crack open a laptop to write in my off-hours, it feels like a chore.
But what also feels like a chore is typing up pages upon pages of handwritten text after dumping all the words in my brain out onto paper. This burden is what first got me looking into digital notepads; since many of them can convert handwritten notes to text files, theyâre kind of the best of both worlds. For a while, though, none of the available options really spoke to me â the reMarkable 2 and other E Ink tablets are just too big for my taste. Then, Ratta came out with the Supernote Nomad , and I was sold.
Supernote Nomad
The Nomad is perfectly compact. With a 7.8-inch screen, itâs more like the size of an ereader, meaning I can toss it in a mini-backpack and bring it with me everywhere â and I do. My Nomad arrived in May (I ordered the $329 Crystal version, because Iâm a sucker for a transparent shell) and I've been using it just about every day since. I was cautiously optimistic about what actually writing on this thing would be like, but it exceeded all of my expectations.
It took only a few minutes to get used to, which mainly came down to me getting over my somewhat irrational fear that the pen â the one thatâs made for this device â would scratch the display. (It was expensive, okay?) The tablet doesnât come with a writing implement, and I shelled out a little extra for the $89 Heart of Metal pen, a decision Iâm super happy with. Itâs nothing like a stylus, but instead has a sharp, precision tip like a real pen â hence my initial hesitation.
The experience of writing on the Nomad is so close to the feeling of actually using a pen and paper. Thereâs texture to it, something you donât get with the smooth experience of writing on an iPad. I write pretty fast, and haven't had many issues so far with lagging. It comes with a bunch of writing templates, including lined âpaperâ with a few different ruling size options, and you can create your own templates or download those made by others. I haven't messed around much yet with custom versions, though, because the built-in offerings have been adequate for free writing, note-taking and organizing my life.
I was pleasantly surprised by how well the handwriting recognition tool has been able to convert my chicken scratch to typed text. My handwriting is fine at best, but when I'm working fast, things can get pretty messy. It's not 100 percent accurate â itâll throw in the occasional string of gibberish â but the device mostly gets it right. You can export the converted writing as a .TXT or .DOCX file, and have the Nomad format it for you. This requires some cleaning up, but itâs never a huge job.
Supernote devices can sync with a number of different cloud storage providers, like Dropbox and Google Drive (though Google is currently not working for me, so thatâs one point against it), along with the companyâs own cloud. You can lock individual files and folders behind a passcode, too, which I really appreciate. Nothing haunts me more than the thought of someone reading through my unfinished drafts, some of which arenât destined to ever see the light of day.
And Iâve finally ditched my paper planner â something I never thought would happen. Supernoteâs built-in monthly calendar and weekly planner have finally given me an alternative that actually works for me. One of the main things thatâs kept me using paper planners is that I like to doodle as a way to make important events or tasks stand out, and the Supernote Nomad allows me to do this. The only thing I miss is using stickers and pens of different colors, but Iâll survive.
In the last month or so using the Supernote Nomad, Iâve probably gotten more writing done (the âfor meâ kind) than I had in the last year. It just doesn't trigger that dreaded âyouâre at workâ feeling that my laptop and even other distraction-free writing devices, like the Freewrite Traveler , have. Eventually, I hope to get around to drawing and reading on it as well, but for the moment, all I want to do on this thing is write because I'm having such a great time doing it. And before you ask â yes, I wrote this article on my Nomad.
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EXCLUSIVE: VA Senate candidate says he was 'blown up' in combat. His record doesnât show that.
WASHINGTON â The Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Virginia, a decorated Navy veteran, has made repeated references to becoming disabled after he was âblown upâ in combat, and has stressed that he has scars from his military service while Democratic incumbent Sen. Tim Kaine got rich from the safety of Capitol Hill.
Yet the Navy service record for Hung Cao, who won the GOP primary in June, does not show a Purple Heart award, the commendation given to troops who have suffered wounds from âdirect or indirect result of enemy actionâ that required medical attention. Nor does his record indicate that he received the Navyâs Combat Action Ribbon, which requires that a sailor "must have rendered satisfactory performance under enemy fire while actively participating in ground or surface combat engagement.â USA TODAY obtained Cao's record from the Navy.
Cao, 52, through his campaign, declined to answer specific questions about his military service. He has not claimed to have been awarded a Purple Heart or the Navy's Combat Action Ribbon. His record shows that he was awarded a Bronze Star and that he deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. The Bronze Star is awarded to sailors who distinguish themselves by "heroic or meritorious achievement or service."
The Navy designated him a "special operations explosive ordnance disposal/dive officer." He retired as a captain in 2021.
âCapt. Hung Cao is a retired Navy Captain with twenty-five years of honorable service to his country. His service is a matter of public record under his DD 214, as with any retired member of our armed forces," his campaign said in a statement Wednesday, referring to his military personnel form.
In a statement, a Navy spokesperson said there was not a narrative description in the record of why Cao was awarded the Bronze Star. Asked why there was neither a Purple Heart or Combat Action Ribbon, spokesperson Ferry Gene Baylon said the Navy cannot discuss criteria or reasons "someone would or would not have a certain award."
Cao has been more expansive about his service during campaign appearances. When he ran an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2022, Cao told an audience that combat wounds had fully disabled him.
"I'm 100% disabled, you know, because just from being blown up in combat many times and everything else, you know, knee, shoulders," Cao said on April 22, 2022. âI've got more surgeries than you could possibly imagine.â
In his campaign against Kaine, Cao has continued to stress his military service on radio shows, podcast episodes and in television news segments. Cao has said that heâs been âshot at,â âblown up,â and has âscarsâ from his time in the military. He often refers to combat deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia as the origin of those combat wounds.
On a June 21 episode of the podcast Talk of Delmarva with Jake Smith, Cao said he "was getting shot at and blown up in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia."
Again, on a June 21 episode of the podcast The Schilling Show, Cao said, "Are you telling me your air-conditioned office where the worst thing that can happen for you is having a paper cut is the same as me getting, you know, blown up and shot at in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia?"
Four retired Navy and Army officers who reviewed Caoâs service record said it was unusual for a sailor severely wounded in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan not to have received a Purple Heart or the Navyâs Combat Action Ribbon.
Cao, in a Facebook post, criticized USA TODAY for asking about his service record and listed questions posed to him by reporters. USA TODAY reporters called, texted and emailed his campaign manager Tuesday and Wednesday seeking comment on Cao's military record.
The campaign has not addressed the questions directly, issuing only the short statement.
"I want to give you all a window into what it's like being a combat veteran who had the gall to run for public office against a career politician," Cao posted. "Any veteran will read this with the same disgust. Imagine being asked to provide documentation of the dates and times Al Qaeda shot at you. Imagine being asked, if you're a disabled veteran, why don't you have a Purple Heart?"
The contest between Cao and Kaine is one of several across the U.S. that will determine which party controls the closely divided Senate.
Cao, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, won the primary decisively. He garnered over 60% of the vote in the field of five candidates, which included retired Army Ranger Eddie Garcia, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Chuck Smith, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
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10 Best AI Tools for Meeting Notes in 2024
Senior Content Marketing Manager
June 12, 2024
There was a time, not so long ago, when running a meeting required some major multi-tasking. Between keeping track of the meeting agenda, managing the conversation, and taking manual notes from scratch, something was bound to fall through the cracks. Thankfully, with the rise of AI tools for meeting notes, those days are over. đ
Artificial intelligence (AI) software has changed the way we work. AI for meetings makes it easy to capture the conversation and then process and organize it. That leaves you freer to focus on whatâs happening, knowing you can review the AI meeting notes in your own time to make decisions and extract data for your project status report .
So with all the AI note-taking tools out there, which one would be best for your business? Join us as we review the top features and functionalities to look for and take you through the best AI tools for meeting notes available this year. â¨
What Should You Look for in AI Tools for Meeting Notes?
2. otter.ai, 5. fireflies.ai, 6. notes by dubber, 7. timz.flowers, 8. sembly ai, 10. superpowered.
An AI meeting assistant boosts productivity, improves accuracy, and supports project transparency . It also makes it easy for you to share meeting notes. AI tools save you time too, so you can more easily reach your goals within the bounds of your project constraints . đ ď¸
A good AI note-taker will be able to do some combination of these tasks for you:
- Integrate with video conferencing platforms like Teams or Zoom
- Record the meeting and then save the recording
- Provide a live transcription so all the meeting participants can easily follow the proceedings
- Facilitate collaborative note-taking between multiple team members
- Use advanced AI features to summarize key points, making it easy to identify the main takeaways
- Help create meeting minutes from the meeting notes
- Identify action items and automate the delegation of tasks from online meeting notes
- Provide a great user experience that streamlines your workflow
- Offer data security so your confidential conversations are protected
The 10 Best AI Tools for Meeting Notes to Use in 2024
Weâve compiled a list of the best AI tools for meetings, from brilliant note-taking apps to transcription apps, and more. Letâs see what AI technology can do to make your meetings more productive at every level.
ClickUp is one of the best AI tools for startups and small businesses available today. Itâs an all-in-one project management application that helps you manage every aspect of your businessâstreamlining workflows, boosting productivity, and enabling collaboration. And because itâs completely customizable, you can adapt it to suit your specific needs.
This AI tool for meeting notes offers a range of features to improve process efficiency and boost creativity. Save time right up front by using one of the meeting agenda templates to set clear expectations and get everyone on the same page. Create immediate engagement using ClickUpâs ChatGPT Prompts for Team Meetings to kickstart the brainstorming process and generate discussion points.
Take meeting notes using the Meeting Note Style Template , or use a ClickUp Doc to capture key moments and takeaways. You can also jot down quick notes or checklists on the ClickUp Notepad . đ
Both the Notepad and Docs come with ClickUp Brain built right in so you can write notes more quickly, concisely, and creatively. With ClickUp Brainâs AI assistant, you can streamline your workflow and enhance meeting productivity in several ways:
- Create meeting minutes: Instead of scrambling to jot down every word during meetings, let the AI Writer assist you. It can help draft clear and structured minutes that capture the essence of the discussion, ensuring nothing important slips through the cracks
- Summarize your notes : After a long brainstorming session or research dive, you might end up with pages upon pages of notes. The AI Writer can condense this information into concise summaries in your Docs, making it easier to review and share the main points
Then, because your Docs connect to your workflows, you can quickly and easily turn those tasks into action items and assign them to your team members.
ClickUp best features
- ClickUp stores all your meeting Docs in one place for easy access and searchability
- You can edit those documents in real time with your team, dramatically enhancing collaboration
- For multilingual teams, you can translate your meeting documents from English into Spanish, French, or Japanese, amongst other languages
- Custom views help you see all your tasks, workflows, and projects in the way that works best for you
- You can access ClickUp from a web browser, a desktop app, an iOS or Android mobile app, or a Chrome extension
- ClickUp integrates with over 1,000 work apps, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Slack, Outlook, HubSpot, and Salesforce to help streamline your workflow
ClickUp limitations
- The mobile app doesnât yet offer all the views that the desktop one does
- While the user interface is highly intuitive, because there are so many features, it can take some time to get used to them all đ
ClickUp pricing
- Free Forever
- Unlimited: $7/month per user
- Business: $12/month per user
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
- ClickUp Brain is available on all paid plans for $5 per Workspace member per month
ClickUp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (8,500+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (3,700+ reviews)
Otter.ai is a meeting transcription tool that can convert voice conversations from video meetings or audio files into text. It can identify speakers, label text with that speakerâs name, and capture slides that are shared.
The live chat feature allows your team to chat or ask questions during the meeting, and anyone can add comments to the live transcript or highlight a key point. And in case you get distracted or join late, it creates a live summary in real time from the AI notes, so you can always catch up on what you missed.
Otter.ai best features
- Otter.ai can identify keywords and phrases so you can search for them in a long transcription
- If you connect it to your Microsoft or Google calendar, it will automatically record your Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams meetings
- Each successive package allows you to transcribe more minutes per month and per conversation and to upload more files
- Otter.ai is available on web and mobile platforms, so it can be used while youâre on the go đą
Otter.ai limitations
- The AI sometimes gets confused when there are multiple speakers
- It works purely to transcribe meetings and doesnât allow you to take your own notes in the app
Otter.ai pricing
- Basic: Free
- Pro : $10/month per user
- Business: $20/month per user
Otter.ai ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.0/5 (100+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (60+ reviews)
Laxis is designed to support sales, content marketing, and product and market research teamsâas well as anyone else who talks to customers or prospects. It takes notes during virtual meetings and captures each participantâs words verbatim, so you can stay focused on the conversation.
Afterward, this AI tool for meeting notes auto-generates summaries, extracting insights and identifying the customerâs requirements. It pulls out any action items or next steps required and can also automatically send a follow-up email to close the loop. đ¤
Laxis best features
- It helps you sort through and categorize topics in the meeting notes
- Transcripts are quick and easy to download and share
- You can ask Laxis questions based on previous conversations
- It integrates with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Cisco Webex
Laxis limitations
- While you can transcribe up to 300 minutes per month on the free plan, the AI writerâwhich generates follow-up contentâis only available from the Premium plan and up
- Thereâs no CRM integration yet, although it is planned
Laxis pricing
- Premium: $13.33/month
- Business: $24.99/month
Laxis ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.9/5 (20+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (16 reviews)
Before you can create meeting notes, you first need to coordinate the attendeeâs calendars to get them to that meeting. Thatâs where Doodle comes in. You can schedule one-on-one meetings and team meetings quickly and easily.
Set up your availability, then share it by sending a link to your chosen invitees. They can then choose the time that works for them, which blocks that time out in your calendar, so youâll never double-book anyone again. And when you have multiple invitees, you can easily find the most suitable time for everyone.
Plus, Doodle integrates with meeting platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. đď¸
Doodle best features
- The system sends out reminders for scheduled meetings, so you donât have to deal with no-shows
- The customizable branding allows you to align the system with your businessâs branding
- You can also use Doodle to collect data via a survey or poll
- Doodle works on mobile devices too, so you can schedule meetings while youâre out and about
Doodle limitations
- Some users feel that scheduling multiple events for large groups of people is more time-consuming than it needs to be
- It can be tricky to use when working with invitees across different time zones
Doodle pricing
- Pro : $6.95/month per user
- Team: $8.95/month per user
Doodle ratings and reviews
- G2: 3.7/5 (13 reviews)
- Capterra: No reviews yet
Fireflies.ai can perform real-time transcription during an audio or video call or transcribe from a meeting recording. Then it can summarize the key points, decisions, and action items that come out of the meeting. âď¸
If you want to relisten to any part of the meeting, you can search for keywords and then run the playback at normal speed or up to twice that. Collaboration tools allow your team to comment on, pin, or react to the conversation, or pull out snippets to create sound bites.
The Free plan allows up to 800 minutes of storage and the Pro plan up to 8,000, while the Business and Enterprise plans offer unlimited space.
Fireflies.ai best features
- Fireflies.ai works in 40+ languages, handling different accents and dialects
- It can detect and label the voices of different speakers
- It integrates with multiple meeting platforms, including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet
- You can share meeting notes to other platforms like Asana, Slack, or Notion
Fireflies.ai limitations
- If the audio track isnât of good quality, it can affect the accuracy of the transcription
- CRM, Zapier, and Slack integrations are only available from the Pro plan and up
Fireflies.ai pricing
- Business: $19/month per user
Fireflies.ai ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (70+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.0/5 (5 reviews)
Formerly known as Notiv, Notes by Dubber claims to help you âmeet smarter, not harder.â It syncs with your Outlook or Google calendar, automatically joining and recording your scheduled calls. Once in the meeting, it creates a transcript, then afterward, it generates a summary that you can share.
The AI tool also extracts action items for follow-up and automatically creates tasks for each participant. Integrations with apps like Asana and Slack help to streamline your workflow and make it easy to follow up on allocated tasks. â
Notes by Dubber best features
- You can also upload and transcribe a recorded audio or video file
- This AI tool for meeting notes is scalable and aligns with the usual sales channels
- Itâs available worldwide on more than 170 mobile networks as well as video, voice, and chat providers
- You can share recordings, transcripts, or notes via your CRM or other collaboration tool
Notes by Dubber limitations
- This AI tool only supports English, so itâs not suitable if you want to meet in another language
- Some users find the user interface a little confusing to navigate
Notes by Dubber pricing
- Contact for pricing
Notes by Dubber ratings and reviews
- G2: 5/5 (1 review)
Timz.Flowers is a hybrid conferencing platform designed for distributed teams, combining video calls with asynchronous collaboration.
It can record live meetings and then generate a text or video summary and meeting minutes that are easy to share with anyone who couldnât make it to the meeting. For asynchronous meetings, participants can contribute with recorded video messages. đââď¸
The system automatically sends an email recap after each meeting. And if you want to refer back to a specific section, the AI chatbot helps you quickly find it.
Timz.Flowers best features
- The flower-based flowchart gives you a helpful visual of all feedback and queries
- Even if a meeting is held asynchronously, the system creates the feeling of a live conversation
- It offers transcripts with time stamps so you always know where you are in the meeting
- While there is a free option, the Pro and Business packages give you more hours of recording time, and your data is saved for longer
Timz.Flowers limitations
- Some users feel that the initial setup is a bit time-consuming
- Not all browsers are supported yet, so you may have to use a browser that isnât your first choice
Timz.Flowers pricing
- Pro : âŹ6.99/month per team
- Business: âŹ13.99/month per team
Timz.Flowers ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (13 reviews)
As an AI tool for meeting notes, Sembly AI records meetings and transcribes them. Then it creates meeting summaries and minutes, highlighting key insights from the discussion. And if you canât attend a meeting, you can send Sembly along instead, then review the meeting notes later. đ§âđť
Tasks are automatically identified and described, and then assigned to a team member. Integrations with tools like Slack and Trello allow you to stream tasks, along with any notes, directly to those workspaces.
Sembly AI best features
- Meeting notes are saved on the system, and you can always come back to them to search for keywords or attendees
- Sembly AI works in more than 35 languages
- Itâs available for Android and iOS apps as well as on the web
Sembly AI limitations
- Occasionally it fails to join or record a meeting
- The meeting sentiment doesnât always reflect the whole meeting, focusing only on part of it
Sembly AI pricing
- Personal: Free
- Professional: $10/month per user
- Team: $20/month per user
Sembly AI ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (11 reviews)
Fathom is an AI tool for meeting notes that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings. Both the recording and the transcription are instantly available when you end your meeting. Then you can simply copy and paste the summaries and action items into Gmail, Google Docs, or a task management tool.
Call notes are automatically synced to your CRM, so you always have a record of your interactions with anyone on your database. You can also make the highlights from your meeting into a playlist and share that with other interested parties.
Fathom best features
- It works with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meetings
- When you highlight a portion of the call, Fathom summarizes that for you
- The system supports seven languages, including English, Spanish, and French
- The paid Team edition has extra features and is designed to roll out across an organization đ˘
Fathom limitations
- Some users feel that the interface is a bit dark, and theyâd like a lighter option to choose from
- While it works fine for scheduled meetings, it currently doesnât support some impromptu meetings, specifically on Microsoft Teams
Fathom pricing
- Team Edition: $19/month per user
Fathom ratings and reviews
- G2: 5/5 (1,300+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8/5 (8 reviews)
Superpowered transcribes your meeting, but without recording it or using botsâit works directly from your device audio. Those transcriptions are stored for seven days to give you time to generate notes before being deleted.
This AI tool for meeting notes automatically summarizes the conversation and identifies action items for you.
It also keeps you on top of your calendar. Reminders for upcoming meetings display on the menu bar, and you can click directly through to the meeting from there. đąď¸
Superpowered best features
- It works with every meeting platform
- Superpowered even identifies and documents emotions during the meeting
- The development team is very open and responsive to feedback and suggestions
Superpowered limitations
- The free version only integrates with email and Slack, so if you want to use it with Google Drive or Salesforce, for example, you have to choose a paid plan
- Mobile and Linux are not yet supported
Superpowered pricing
- Basic: $30/month
- Pro : $90/month
Superpowered ratings and reviews
- Capterra: N/A
Save Time and Boost Productivity with AI Tools for Meeting Notes
AI for meetings can help with every aspect of your interactions with your team, clients, or prospects. The best AI meeting tools can simplify scheduling, record and transcribe meeting notes, or provide templates with AI writing tools to help you make your own notes.
AI tools can also help you summarize all those meeting notes, highlighting the most important parts of the conversation and identifying tasks and next steps. They can even integrate with task management tools, saving you more time and streamlining your workflow at every turn. đŞ
Speaking of streamlining your workflow, ClickUp is all over thatânot only when youâre running a meeting but also when youâre running your company or managing a team. With templates and project management tools that cover every aspect of your business and integrations that save you time and effort, itâs a one-stop shop for all your business needs. đ¤Š
Sign up for free today, and start using ClickUp to streamline your businessâand your life.
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70 Thoughtful Messages For A Meaningful Thank You Note
Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note.
- Birthday Thank You Card
- Graduation Thank You Card
- Wedding Thank You Card
- Baby Shower Thank You Card
- Interview Thank You Card
- Teacher Thank You Card
- Host Thank You Card
If we learned anything from our mothers, it's that sending a thank you card is non-negotiable . It's the polite way to recognize a friend, colleague, or family member's thoughtfulness and to show you appreciate their support and warm wishes.
Keep in mind that it's also important to try and send your card in a timely manner, so be sure to prioritize your notes . Here are some thank you card messages to get you started.
What To Write In A Birthday Thank You Card
Southern Living
- Thank you for thinking of me on my special day.
- I can't wait to use my new gift!
- I couldn't have picked out a better gift for myself if I tried.
- You knew exactly what I wanted.
- You know me so well, what a precious gift!
- Your thoughtfulness is a gift.
- You made my day!
- This gift is so thoughtful (and then share your plans for how you will use/celebrate this gift)
- I am touched you remembered me.
What To Write In A Graduation Thank You Card
- Thank you for supporting me in my next adventure.
- I'm thankful to have you in my corner as I take this next step.
- I don't know where I would be without your support.
- You lift me up!
- Thank you for believing in me.
- You've always been one of my biggest cheerleaders. Your support means the world!
- I wouldn't be where I am without your help along the way.
- I'm so thankful to have you as a mentor as I start this new chapter.
- Thank you for being part of this big moment.
- I can believe fully in myself because you believed in me first. I'm forever grateful.
What To Write In A Wedding Thank You Card
- Thank you for being here on our journey.
- Thank you for celebrating this milestone with us.
- We're so happy to have you in our lives to celebrate our Big Day.
- Thank you for being part of our joyous day.
- We're so lucky to have you in our lives as we start this new chapter. Thank you for celebrating with us!
- We're touched beyond words by your generous gift.
- Thank you for helping us start our lives together. We're so appreciative to have friends/family like you!
- We can't wait to use {insert gift} in our lives together.
- Having you there as we take this big step meant the world to us.
- We appreciate the miles traveled to attend our celebration, and can't thank you enough for being here. It means the world to us.
- Thank you for coming to our Big Day!
- How did you know we needed {insert gift}? We thank you for your generosity.
What To Write In A Baby Shower Thank You Card
- Thank you for helping us welcome our little one into the world.
- We're so thankful our child will know such love.
- Thank you for supporting us as we take on our exciting new roles.
- This is just what we needed for the baby!
- Thank you for showing us and our baby so much love.
- Your friendship and support make us certain we can do this.
- I can't believe how precious and small baby outfits can be! Counting the days until I can send you photos of our little one wearing the beautiful outfits you gifted us. Thank you!
- We can't wait for our baby to meet you!
- We will make sure the baby knows you were behind this special gift.
- How cute are the toys you gifted us? I can already picture afternoons spent on the floor playing. Thank you for giving me that daydream to look forward to!
- How did you know this is just what we needed? You must have raised a few little ones of your own ;).
- I can't wait to read these books to our little one. I know it will be such a special time. Thank you!
What To Write In An Interview Thank You Card
- Thank you for considering me for this position
- I appreciate you setting time aside to speak with me.
- It was great to hear more about the company.
- Thank you for our wonderful conversation.
- It was a pleasure to learn more about this company.
- Thank you for giving me the opportunity to show you how I can fit into your team.
- I appreciated your thought-provoking questions.
- Thank you for your time. It sounds like you have built a great team, and it's one that I'd be excited to join.
What To Write In A Thank You Card For A Teacher
- Your wisdom and outlook inspire us each day!
- Thank you for helping our child continue to learn and grow.
- We couldn't thank you enough for looking out for our child.
- You've had such a positive impact on our child.
- Thank you for pushing me to be my best self.
- Where would we be without leaders and teachers like you?
- Thank you for encouraging me to keep striving for the best.
- I appreciate all your support and motivation.
- The amount of time and dedication you've given us this year is tremendous. I can't thank you enough.
- Your mentorship is invaluable.
What To Write In A Thank You Card For A Host
- Thank you for hosting!
- Thank you for welcoming us into your home.
- You put together a wonderful celebration.
- I'm so happy we could get together.
- Your home is beautiful!
- Another event, another success. With you as a host, I'm never surprised by how well things go!
- Thank you for organizing everything.
- I appreciate all the time and effort you put in to make this event possible.
- It's always such a pleasure to attend one of your parties.
- As always, you have made everyone feel so welcome. What a wonderful get-together.
- It is always wonderful to spend time with you â thank you for inviting us into your home.
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- Today Only: VIP “Behind-the-Scenes” Offer Today is your last day to accept your rare, VIP “behind-the-scenes” offer… The same one that will help you professionalize your writing business and transform it into a moneymaking machine. Make sure you grab it today!
- On Monday, Your No. 1 “Worry” as a New Writer Will Vanish Into Thin Air Monday, Rebecca and her special guest will lay out all the details — from the exact writing projects you could be writing to how much you’ll be paid for each one… so you’ll have everything you’ll need to decide if this is the path for you. Best of all, this training is FREE to AWAI members.
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Fun Writing Niches That Pay Well
What can you get paid to write about?
The answer is easy: Almost anything!
And you could even start landing paid writing gigs this month .
Let’s say you’re a health enthusiast …
“Health and Wellness” is a 5.6 trillion-dollar industry, covering everything from high-tech medical devices to making your own smoothies. It’s always hungry for content, and it’s one of the best-paid niches for writers.
Maybe you love movies …
The entertainment niche is enormous — and it went through a LOT of changes during the pandemic. Just think of the streaming services, from Netflix on the large end … to small, independent online “party planning” companies.
How about beer? Wine? Coffee?
Yes, you could get paid to write about your favorite food and drinks! Craft beer alone is a $28.4 billion industry … and the spending in the wine industry is more than $66.97 billion a year! Everyone from huge corporations to your local wine shop need good writing.
Are you passionate about a cause?
Are you a parent?
Do you own a home?
Do you love crafting?
The list goes on and on (and on!) …
Just about any interest or experience you have can translate into a solid income when you find the right niche …
And you have the persuasive writing skills needed to write effective copy and content.
You don’t even have to be a master to start landing well-paid gigs …
You just need the basics.
And you can pick those up in less than a week!
Once you do, you could write simple blog posts for $250-$800 each. Update a company’s social media accounts for around $2,000 a month. Or write emails for $250-$2,000 each!
And that’s just the beginning!
How far you take it from there is up to you.
So if you’d like to get paid — and paid well! — let us give you the essential writing skills you need and start landing your first paid gigs THIS month.
Here’s how we’ll do it.
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Posted on Jun 30, 2023
How to Write a Biography: A 7-Step Guide [+Template]
From time to time, nonfiction authors become so captivated by a particular figure from either the present or the past, that they feel compelled to write an entire book about their life. Whether casting them as heroes or villains, there is an interesting quality in their humanity that compels these authors to revisit their life paths and write their story.
However, portraying someoneâs life on paper in a comprehensive and engaging way requires solid preparation. If youâre looking to write a biography yourself, in this post weâll share a step-by-step blueprint that you can follow.
How to write a biography:
1. Seek permission when possible
2. research your subject thoroughly, 3. do interviews and visit locations, 4. organize your findings, 5. identify a central thesis, 6. write it using narrative elements, 7. get feedback and polish the text.
FREE RESOURCE
Biography Outline Template
Craft a satisfying story arc for your biography with our free template.
While you technically donât need permission to write about public figures (or deceased ones), that doesn't guarantee their legal team won't pursue legal action against you. Author Kitty Kelley was sued by Frank Sinatra before she even started to write His Way , a biography that paints Ol Blue Eyes in a controversial light. (Kelley ended up winning the lawsuit, however).
Whenever feasible, advise the subjectâs representatives of your intentions. If all goes according to plan, youâll get a green light to proceed, or potentially an offer to collaborate. It's a matter of common sense; if someone were to write a book about you, you would likely want to know about it well prior to publication. So, make a sincere effort to reach out to their PR staff to negotiate an agreement or at least a mutual understanding of the scope of your project.
At the same time, make sure that you still retain editorial control over the project, and not end up writing a puff piece that treats its protagonist like a saint or hero. No biography can ever be entirely objective, but you should always strive for a portrayal that closely aligns with facts and reality.
If you canât get an answer from your subject, or youâre asked not to proceed forward, you can still accept the potential repercussions and write an unauthorized biography . The ârebellious actâ of publishing without consent indeed makes for great marketing, though itâll likely bring more headaches with it too.
â Please note that, like other nonfiction books, if you intend to release your biography with a publishing house , you can put together a book proposal to send to them before you even write the book. If they like it enough, they might pay you an advance to write it.
Book Proposal Template
Craft a professional pitch for your nonfiction book with our handy template.
Once youâve settled (or not) the permission part, itâs time to dive deep into your characterâs story.
Deep and thorough research skills are the cornerstone of every biographer worth their salt. To paint a vivid and accurate portrait of someone's life, youâll have to gather qualitative information from a wide range of reliable sources.
Start with the information already available, from books on your subject to archival documents, then collect new ones firsthand by interviewing people or traveling to locations.
Browse the web and library archives
Put your researcher hat on and start consuming any piece on your subject you can find, from their Wikipedia page to news articles, interviews, TV and radio appearances, YouTube videos, podcasts, books, magazines, and any other media outlets they may have been featured in.
Establish a system to orderly collect the information you find ä¸ even seemingly insignificant details can prove valuable during the writing process, so be sure to save them.
Depending on their era, you may find most of the information readily available online, or you may need to search through university libraries for older references.
For his landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow spent untold hours at Columbia Universityâs library , reading through the Hamilton family papers, visiting the New York Historical Society, as well as interviewing the archivist of the New York Stock Exchange, and so on. The research process took years, but it certainly paid off. Chernow discovered that Hamilton created the first five securities originally traded on Wall Street. This finding, among others, revealed his significant contributions to shaping the current American financial and political systems, a legacy previously often overshadowed by other founding fathers. Today Alexander Hamilton is one of the best-selling biographies of all time, and it has become a cultural phenomenon with its own dedicated musical.
Besides reading documents about your subject, research can help you understand the world that your subject lived in.
Try to understand their time and social environment
Many biographies show how their protagonists have had a profound impact on society through their philosophical, artistic, or scientific contributions. But at the same time, itâs worth it as a biographer to make an effort to understand how their societal and historical context influenced their lifeâs path and work.
An interesting example is Stephen Greenblattâs Will in the World . Finding himself limited by a lack of verified detail surrounding William Shakespeare's personal life, Greenblatt, instead, employs literary interpretation and imaginative reenactments to transport readers back to the Elizabethan era. The result is a vivid (though speculative) depiction of the playwright's life, enriching our understanding of his world.
Many readers enjoy biographies that transport them to a time and place, so exploring a historical period through the lens of a character can be entertaining in its own right. The Diary of Samuel Pepys ć为äşçťĺ ¸,ä¸ćŻĺ 为人enthralled by his life as an administrator, but rather from his meticulous and vivid documentation of everyday existence during the Restoration period.
Once youâve gotten your hands on as many secondary sources as you can find, youâll want to go hunting for stories first-hand from people who are (or were) close to your subject.
With all the material youâve been through, by now you should already have a pretty good picture of your protagonist. But youâll surely have some curiosities and missing dots in their character arc to figure out, which you can only get by interviewing primary sources.
Interview friends and associates
This part is more relevant if your subject is contemporary, and you can actually meet up or call with relatives, friends, colleagues, business partners, neighbors, or any other person related to them.
In writing the popular biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson interviewed more than one hundred people, including Jobsâs family, colleagues, former college mates, business rivals, and the man himself.
Read other biographies to get a sense of what makes a great one. Check out our list of the 30 best biographies of all time , or take our 30-second quiz below for tips on which one you should read next.
Which biography should you read next?
Discover the perfect biography for you. Takes 30 seconds!
When you conduct your interviews, make sure to record them with high quality audio you can revisit later. Then use tools like Otter.ai or Descript to transcribe them ä¸ itâll save you countless hours.
You can approach the interview with a specific set of questions, or follow your curiosity blindly, trying to uncover revealing stories and anecdotes about your subject. Whatever your method, author and biography editor Tom Bromley suggests that every interviewer arrives prepared, "Show that youâve done your work. This will help to put the interviewee at ease, and get their best answers.â
Bromley also places emphasis on the order in which you conduct interviews. âYou may want to interview different members of the family or friends first, to get their perspective on something, and then go directly to the main interviewee. You'll be able to use that knowledge to ask sharper, more specific questions.â
Finally, consider how much time you have with each interviewee. If you only have a 30-minute phone call with an important person, make it count by asking directly the most pressing questions you have. And, if you find a reliable source who is also particularly willing to help, conduct several interviews and ask them, if appropriate, to write a foreword as part of the bookâs front matter .
Sometimes an important part of the process is packing your bags, getting on a plane, and personally visiting significant places in your characterâs journey.
Visit significant places in their life
ä¸ä¸Şĺ°ćš,ćŻĺŚčżćŻä¸ä¸Şĺĺ¸,ĺćçćżĺ,ća bodhi tree, can carry a particular energy that you can only truly experience by being there. In putting the pieces together about someoneâs life, it may be useful to go visit where they grew up, or where other significant events of their lives happened. It will be easier to imagine what they experienced, and better tell their story.
In researching The Lost City of Z ä˝č éčżth大ĺŤčĺĺźĺ§äşéżéčˇćśe Amazon, retracing the steps of British explorer Percy Fawcett. This led Grann to develop new theories about the circumstances surrounding the explorer's disappearance.
Hopefully, you wonât have to deal with jaguars and anacondas to better understand your subjectâs environment, but try to walk into their shoes as much as possible.
Once youâve researched your character enough, itâs time to put together all the puzzle pieces you collected so far.
Take the bulk of notes, media, and other documents youâve collected, and start to give them some order and structure. A simple way to do this is by creating a timeline.
Create a chronological timeline
ĺŽĺŻäťĽĺ¸ŽĺŠçťçťä˝ çćśé´éĄşĺşä¸ćĺşfrom childhood to the senior years, line up the most significant events of your subjectâs life, including dates, places, names and other relevant bits.
You should be able to divide their life into distinct periods, each with their unique events and significance. Based on that, you can start drafting an outline of the narrative you want to create.
Draft a story outline
Since a biography entails writing about a personâs entire life, it will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. You can pick where you want to end the story, depending on how consequential the last years of your subject were. But the nature of the work will give you a starting character arc to work with.
To outline the story then, you could turn to the popular Three-Act Structure , which divides the narrative in three main parts. In a nutshell, youâll want to make sure to have the following:
- Act 1. Setup : Introduce the protagonist's background and the turning points that set them on a path to achieve a goal.
- Act 2. Confrontation : Describe the challenges they encounter, both internal and external, and how they rise to them. Then..
- Act 3. Resolution : Reach a climactic point in their story in which they succeed (or fail), showing how they (and the world around them) have changed as a result.
Only one question remains before you begin writing: what will be the main focus of your biography?
ćłćłä¸şäťäšä˝ čżäšĺ¸ĺźä˝ ç丝é˘dedicate years of your life to recounting their own. What aspect of their life do you want to highlight? Is it their evil nature, artistic genius, or visionary mindset? And what evidence have you got to back that up? Find a central thesis or focus to weave as the main thread throughout your narrative.
Or find a unique angle
If you donât have a particular theme to explore, finding a distinct angle on your subjectâs story can also help you distinguish your work from other biographies or existing works on the same subject.
Plenty of biographies have been published about The Beatles ä¸ many of which have different focuses and approaches:
- Philip Norman's Shout is sometimes regarded as leaning more towards a pro-Lennon and anti-McCartney stance, offering insights into the band's inner dynamics.
- Ian McDonald's Revolution in the Head closely examines their music track by track, shifting the focus back to McCartney as a primary creative force.
- Craig Brown's One Two Three Four aims to capture their story through anecdotes, fan letters, diary entries, and interviews.
- Mark Lewisohn's monumental three-volume biography, Tune In , stands as a testament to over a decade of meticulous research, chronicling every intricate detail of the Beatles' journey.
Finally, consider that biographies are often more than recounting the life of a person. Similar to how Dickensâ Great Expectations is not solely about a boy named Pip (but an examination and critique of Britainâs fickle, unforgiving class system), a biography should strive to illuminate a broader truth â be it social, political, or human â beyond the immediate subject of the book.
Once youâve identified your main focus or angle, itâs time to write a great story.
While biographies are often highly informative, they do not have to be dry and purely expository in nature . You can play with storytelling elements to make it an engaging read.
You could do that by thoroughly detailing the setting of the story , depicting the people involved in the story as fully-fledged characters , or using rising action and building to a climax when describing a particularly significant milestone of the subjectâs life.
One common way to make a biography interesting to read is starting on a strong footâŚ
Hook the reader from the start
Just because you're honoring your character's whole life doesn't mean you have to begin when they said their first word. Starting from the middle or end of their life can be more captivating as it introduces conflicts and stakes that shaped their journey.
When he wrote about Christopher McCandless in Into the Wild , author Jon Krakauer didnât open his subjectâs childhood and abusive family environment. Instead, the book begins with McCandless hitchhiking his way into the wilderness, and subsequently being discovered dead in an abandoned bus. By starting in medias res , Krakauer hooks the readerâs interest, before tracing back the causes and motivations that led McCandless to die alone in that bus in the first place.
You can bend the timeline to improve the readerâs reading experience throughout the rest of the story tooâŚ
Play with flashback
While biographies tend to follow a chronological narrative, you can use flashbacks to tell brief stories or anecdotes when appropriate. For example, if you were telling the story of footballer Lionel Messi, before the climax of winning the World Cup with Argentina, you could recall when he was just 13 years old, giving an interview to a local newspaper, expressing his lifelong dream of playing for the national team.
Used sparsely and intentionally, flashbacks can add more context to the story and keep the narrative interesting. Just like including dialogue doesâŚ
Reimagine conversations
Recreating conversations that your subject had with people around them is another effective way to color the story. Dialogue helps the reader imagine the story like a movie, providing a deeper sensory experience.
One thing is trying to articulate the root of Steve Jobsâ obsession with product design, another would be to quote his father , teaching him how to build a fence when he was young: âYou've got to make the back of the fence just as good looking as the front of the fence. Even though nobody will see it, you will know. And that will show that you're dedicated to making something perfect.â
Unlike memoirs and autobiographies, in which the author tells the story from their personal viewpoint and enjoys greater freedom to recall conversations, biographies require a commitment to facts. So, when recreating dialogue, try to quote directly from reliable sources like personal diaries, emails, and text messages. You could also use your interview scripts as an alternative to dialogue. As Tom Bromley suggests, âIf you talk with a good amount of people, you can try to tell the story from their perspective, interweaving different segments and quoting the interviewees directly.â
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These are just some of the story elements you can use to make your biography more compelling. Once youâve finished your manuscript, itâs a good idea to ask for feedback.
If youâre going to self-publish your biography, youâll have to polish it to professional standards. After leaving your work to rest for a while, look at it with fresh eyes and self-edit your manuscript eliminating passive voice, filler words, and redundant adverbs.
Then, have a professional editor give you a general assessment. Theyâll look at the structure and shape of your manuscript and tell you which parts need to be expanded on or cut. As someone who edited and commissioned several biographies, Tom Bromley points out that a professional âwill look at the sources used and assess whether they back up the points made, or if more are needed. They would also look for context, and whether or not more background information is needed for the reader to understand the story fully. And they might check your facts, too.â
In addition to structural editing, you may want to have someone copy-edit and proofread your work.
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Importantly, make sure to include a bibliography with a list of all the interviews, documents, and sources used in the writing process. Youâll have to compile it according to a manual of style, but you can easily create one by using tools like EasyBib . Once the text is nicely polished and typeset in your writing software , you can prepare for the publication process.
In conclusion, by mixing storytelling elements with diligent research, youâll be able to breathe life into a powerful biography that immerses readers in another individualâs life experience. Whether thatâll spark inspiration or controversy, remember you could have an important role in shaping their legacy ä¸ and thatâs something not to take lightly.
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Writing Biographies Key Takeaways. In summary, take note of these ideas and tips before you start writing your biography: Biographies hold enduring appeal, offering a glimpse into the human experience across time. Thorough research, interviews, and captivating prose are essential for crafting compelling biographies.
See why leading organizations rely on MasterClass for learning & development. Biographies are how we learn information about another human being's life. Whether you want to start writing a biography about a famous person, historical figure, or an influential family member, it's important to know all the elements that make a biography worth ...
If you're looking to write a biography yourself, in this post we'll share a step-by-step blueprint that you can follow. How to write a biography: 1. Seek permission when possible. 2. Research your subject thoroughly. 3. Do interviews and visit locations. 4.
A good writing routine can make the process smoother and more enjoyable. Choose a Writing Space: Find a quiet, comfortable place free of distractions. Set a Time: Write at the same time each day to build a habit. Prepare Mentally: Take a few minutes before writing to clear your mind and focus on the task ahead.
BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip: #4 Put Something of Yourself into the Writing. While the defining feature of a biography is that it gives an account of a person's life, students must understand that this is not all a biography does. Relating the facts and details of a subject's life is not enough.
However, for most published works, biographies offer a deeper analysis, including many stories and examples that demonstrate the person's unique character. 1. Choose your subject. Ideally, your subject should be someone whose life deeply interests you. Note, however, that this doesn't mean you have to like the person.
1. Go for a chronological structure. Start chronologically from the subject's birth to their death or later life. Use the timeline of the person's life to structure the biography. Start with birth and childhood. Then, go into young adulthood and adulthood.
4. Create an outline. The next step of learning how to write a biography is to outline your story. It's critical to outline your biography before you begin writing it. Among other things, it helps ensure you cover every topic you'd like to and get the book in the correct chronological order.
Writing a biography is a captivating endeavor that allows you to delve into the life and experiences of an individual, capturing their essence in words. ... of sources, including biographies, autobiographies, archival materials, interviews, and historical records. Take notes on key events, significant milestones, and important relationships in ...
Let me share with you seven tips on how to write a bio and some bio templates to get you started. 1. Write your name. Start with your name. Might seem obvious, but you want to make sure readers know who you are. 2. Share your accomplishments. Don't be shy. Say what you have done.
Step 3: Choose Your Central Theme. Biographies are not unlike any other nonfiction book: you need to know who the target audience is before you write them (in this case it'll be you and people like you). But just as importantly, you need to have a central theme that permeates the book.
The organisation of your biography greatly impacts its readability. Structure your work into logical sections or chapters, employing either a chronological or thematic arrangement. Begin with an engaging introduction that captures readers' attention and provides essential context.
Let's examine 7 ideas about how to write a biography: 1. Create compelling voice. You could say that voice is a crucial ingredient of any story, especially in first person (where the narrator is the character). In autobiography, in particular, you want your reader to form a clear sense of who is telling the story.
The process of writing a biography can be easier with a map to follow. You can follow these steps to write a biography: 1. Research your subject. The first step to writing a great biography is to spend time conducting extensive research on the person you're writing about, their career, their family and other information about them.
A biography is the story of someone's life as written by another writer. Most biographies of popular figures are written years, or even decades, after their deaths. Authors write biographies of popular figures due to either a lack of information on the subject or personal interest. A biography aims to share a person's story or highlight a ...
Including Basic Details. Date and place of birth and death. Family information. Lifetime accomplishments. Major events of life. Effects/impact on society, historical significance. While this information is necessary to your project, these dry facts, on their own, don't really make a very good biography.
Expert Tips for Writing. When crafting a compelling biography essay, consider these expert tips to make your writing stand out: 1. Start with a captivating introduction that sets the tone for the rest of the essay. 2. Research thoroughly to gather accurate information and interesting anecdotes about the subject. 3.
How to Write a Biography. Fearless confessions [electronic resource] : A writer's guide to memoir / Sue William Silverman. Find your story, write your memoir [electronic resource] /Lynn C. Miller and Lisa Lenard-Cook. How to do biography [electronic resource] : A primer / Nigel Hamilton.
Unsure of what to include in a biography? Whether about yourself or someone else, write one easily with these key parts of a biography.
Discuss your passions and values. Mention your personal interests. 01. Introduce yourself. Begin your bio by stating your first and last name. If you're writing in the third person, these should be the first two words of the paragraph. This makes your name easy for your audience to identify and remember. Your bio is a huge part of your ...
A biography (BYE-og-ruh-fee) is a written account of one person's life authored by another person. A biography includes all pertinent details from the subject's life, typically arranged in a chronological order. The word biography stems from the Latin biographia, which succinctly explains the word's definition: bios = "life" + graphia = "write."
Take note of the elements that stand out to you and use them as inspiration for your own bio. To help you come across authentically, think about what you would say out loud to someone if they ...
The experience of writing on the Nomad is so close to the feeling of actually using a pen and paper. There's texture to it, something you don't get with the smooth experience of writing on an ...
Cao has been more expansive about his service during campaign appearances. When he ran an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2022, Cao told an audience that combat wounds had fully disabled him.
Take meeting notes using the Meeting Note Style Template, or use a ClickUp Doc to capture key moments and takeaways. You can also jot down quick notes or checklists on the ClickUp Notepad. đ. Both the Notepad and Docs come with ClickUp Brain built right in so you can write notes more quickly, concisely, and creatively. With ClickUp Brain's AI assistant, you can streamline your workflow ...
70 Thoughtful Messages For A Meaningful Thank You Note. Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. By. Sierra Guardiola. Sierra Guardiola. Sierra is a writer and editor with many interests. She comes from a newspaper background and has over four years experience writing for magazines.
Once you do, you could write simple blog posts for $250-$800 each. Update a company's social media accounts for around $2,000 a month. Or write emails for $250-$2,000 each! ... Please Note: Your comments will be seen by all visitors. You are commenting as a guest. If you're an AWAI Member, Login to myAWAI for easier commenting, email alerts ...
Please note that, like other nonfiction books, ... Since a biography entails writing about a person's entire life, it will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. You can pick where you want to end the story, depending on how consequential the last years of your subject were. But the nature of the work will give you a starting character arc ...
Summary. Korro Bio, Inc. has initiated a phase 1/2 study, using KRRO-110 for the treatment of patients with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, expected in the 2nd half of 2024.
The last official report in February was a health summary which concluded that the president was "fit for duty." The White House said a team of 20 doctors, including a neurologist ...