When you hear the term “autobiography,” the word “life” immediately comes to mind. They are indeed connected to one another because the former refers to the story of an individual’s life. Most autobiographical works are often created to tell, express, and confess a person’s story and truth. These kinds of accounts are first written in the form of diaries, journals, and letters. Thus, they are typically narrated using the first-person point-of-view.
At present, there are already thousands of autobiography books that have moved, taught, and inspired readers of all ages. Most of these books feature different kinds of lives, struggles, pieces of baggage, and faiths, such as The Story of My Life by Helen Keller, Becoming by Michelle Obama, The Beginning… The End… Anew! by Zedart Hodges, Educated by Tara Westover, and Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt.
Hence, if you have been planning to share your story with the world or wanting to narrate the personal account of a significant figure, then here are some of the tips in writing a good autobiography that you should know.
Recall the memories
Given that this type of writing stems from a person’s experiences from childhood to the present, it is best that you recall your memories. You may take a moment to breathe and prepare yourself for the wounds that you might reopen while doing this activity. If your mind fails to retrieve the significant parts of your life that you want to remember, you can connect with the people present in those certain stages. Nostalgia will definitely hit you, along with the gratitude of experiencing those good, bad, and ugly happenings that molded you into the person that you are now. Moreover, do not forget to list these events for reference.
Create an outline
You successfully had traced down your memories and experiences when you were little until the present. So, what do you have to do next? You should make a comprehensible outline. Make sure to include the exact dates when these events took place, names of people who you were with, locations where it happened, and the likes. Also, you can indicate the highlight of each point of your life so you won’t get caught on choosing what memory to focus on that has helped you shape your life now. This outline will guide you during the writing process by making you in line and on track until you reach the conclusion of your manuscript.
Write truthfully
It will be a sin if you fabricate even the littlest detail in your or your subject’s autobiography. The most valued trait during this process is honesty. Hence, you should write nothing but the truth. Why? As you go through life, there were people who journeyed with you, and they’ve witnessed and contributed to some parts of your voyage. They can definitely testify or speak up when there are glimpses of your book that you’ve altered. A single tweaking of information can lead to a stain on your integrity as an author and a disappointed reader base. So, show your readers the genuineness of your story and the rawness of your emotions through an honest narrative.
Do not be too hard on yourself
Many might think it is the easiest genre to write since you only narrate your personal experiences. But, little did they know about the complexities of looking back on your darkest moments and revisiting your traumatic experiences. When the pain of the past hit you while writing, do not be too hard on yourself and take some breaks; and, on moments when you feel like you’re about to be burnt out, just pause and relax. Don’t push yourself too much to the point that you become lost and unable to write a word. Opt to have breaks in between your schedule to refresh your mind.
Review and edit
When you finish the first draft, expect that there will be lots of polishing work to do. Don’t worry because this is a good part of the writing process that can contribute to your growth as an author. Please review and proofread your work because there might be errors that you haven’t noticed while writing. If you wish, you may hire a professional editor to have a fresh set of hawk eyes to spot the issues in your manuscript and give you points on what to improve on.
Oliver’s Twist 