BARRY FOX & NADINE TAYLOR
6 Great Tips!
How to Write Your Autobiography
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How to Write Your Autobiography
www.BarryFox.us
Your autobiography is the story of your life, from the beginning to the present day. All the important people, places, and events should be included. Getting all of this into one book can be difficult. So here are 6 great tips to get you started writing your autobiography.
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#1 - GATHER INFORMATION Write down everything about your life you can think of. Start with your name, birth date, marriage date, and other significant dates. Do the same for your grandparents, parents, siblings, spouse, and others who played significant roles in your life.
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#1 - GATHER INFO (cont.) Write down all that you can recall about these people. If you have any pictures, diplomas, letters, newspaper clippings, personal items, or anything else about yourself or the other people in your life, gather them up and use them to refresh your memory.
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#2 - INTERVIEW OTHERS Talk to family members, friends, relatives, and others who have information about your life. Older relatives may know about your family history, while siblings and friends can remind you of events and people you may have forgotten about.
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#3 - USE OTHER SOURCES Get copies of birth certificates, school and military records, and other documents. Search the web for stories, pictures, and information about you and your family. Leave no stone unturned in your quest for pertinent information!
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#4 - BEGIN WRITING Now you're ready to write! The beginning is an excellent place to start, but the mere thought of starting a lengthy story can be intimidating. You may find it easier to tackle a small piece of your story, then move on to another, and another.
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#4 - BEGIN WRITING (cont.) You might make a list of significant events in your life, such ashitting your first home run, meeting your spouse-to-be, the birth of your first child, your college graduation, getting fired, etc. Then write a short story, or just a paragraph, about each event.
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#4 - BEGIN WRITING (cont.) Or, you might list the five best and five worst moments in your life, and write about them. Or the most unusual things that have happened to you. It’s only important that you begin somewhere. You can rearrange the order later.
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#5 - PULL IT ALL TOGETHER There is no “best” way to structure an autobiography. However, they often start with something about the family history to set the stage for the emergence of the book’s star (you). Your birth can also be a good place to begin.
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#5 - PULL IT TOGETHER (cont.) Or, for dramatic effect, you may start with a quick look at your life as it is now. You might want to start with a brief look at the your life today or a dramatic or impressive event from your adult life, then go back to the beginning.
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#5 - PULL IT TOGETHER (cont.) Some life stories lend themselves to a dramatic or non-chronological approach. Others are best told in a simple, straight-forward manner. Whatever works for your story is the best approach.
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#6 - CONSIDER A THEME A theme is the central idea around which your autobiography is arranged. For example, you may present your entire life, but focus on your military career or marriage. An autobiography does not have to have a theme. You can simply tell your story, beginning to end.
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#6 - CONSIDER THEME (cont.) However, having a theme will sharpen your story. There are many possible themes, including overcoming adversity and the gift of love. Often, a theme emerges as you gather material and write about the events in your life.
How to Write Your Autobiography
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#6 - CONSIDER THEME (cont.) If you decide to use a theme, go back through your material and make sure you’ve selected the people, places, and incidents that support it. These should be emphasized in your book with others items given less weight.
How to Write Your Autobiography
www.BarryFox.us
REVIEWING THE STEPS #1 - Gather information #2 - Interview others #3 - Use other sources #4 - Begin writing #5 - Pull it all together #6 - Consider a theme The key, however, is to write, write, and write some more. You can always tie it all together later.
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NADINE TAYLOR & BARRY FOX
Bestselling Authors & Ghostwriters of Memoirs and More...
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