Any Authors / writers can help me out ?

Question

If I were to write a book about my life where do i start? like day one i was born... lol obviously thats not how i would start it but i duno how... also im sure i shouldent write evey detail .. is there things i should leave out ??? I never wrote anything before but i just have a strong urge to write my life story...

Answer 1

Here's some basic tips:
http://www.sarasota.k12.fl.us/bhs/bryan/bryan_auto.html

You might want to check out "Writing Your Life: An Easy-to-Follow Guide to Writing an Autobiography"
http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Your-Life-Easy-Follow/dp/1877673072/sr=8-1/qid=1163532814

Personally, I would just sit down and brainstorm. Just put down on paper as much as you can in a really broad way. What were the major events in your life? Who are you? Who are the people that have shaped you, and how? What's your life philosophy? In the preliminary writing stages, just let it all hang out. Ignore your inner critic. Once you've brainstormed, see if you can put together a rough outline. And then go from there. Good luck!

Answer 2

Make a list of all your favourite songs. Find out when they were current, one by one (e.g., when that particular Michael Jackson or Rolling Stones or Madonna song was in the charts, and when you bought each of the albums in your collection). The memories associated with those songs will come flooding back and give you your starting point.

Then pin down something that fascinates you, whether it be a hobby or your profession or some particular person with whom you have a close relationship. Use the 'memory bank' you have built up from your songs to tie your story in to the thing which fascinates you.

Most importantly, do this for yourself, not for anyone else. That way you can choose every detail your heart desires. You'll find it a wonderful experience even if it never reaches a wider audience (which of course it might, if it's interesting enough and you decide to publish).

Answer 3

Im not that experienced with writing but i do have suggestions like start out when u were five and work your way up...if there are serious parts of your life u want to express make sure u try and change the names of the people involved writing every detail about your life can help and sometimes they can't they become useless to a point

Answer 4

i've got this strong urge to write my life story...not 'cause i have this "higher" knowledge that the world is waiting for, or anything...but, just a feeling that i should write about my life before it's too late.
i've felt like this for several months now...and today's as good as any to start....i don't know if i'll get time to finish it, though....tomorrow i'm getting married.
--i wonder if that has anything to do with it....



just an example of one of the manymany ways to write your autobiography....jumping right in.

important questions to consider
to help you tell the tale you want....
1) who is your audience?
--make sure the "voice" of your story is talking to them/that person
2) what is your style?
--is this a cut-and-dried fact book? is it, basically, a page on your family tree?
--does it have a theme? lessons learned, for example
--is it humorous? amusing vignettes
3) are you writing from your memory only? or, will you do research...family, friends, official records, etc.
4) are you going to include pictures? yours/family members'...you can write chapters around them, etc.


what biographies/auto-biographies that you've read have really made an impact on you? consider patterning your book after one of those


get writing
and see where it leads you.
everything doesn't have to be included in the first draft...or even in the first book.
maybe you'll decide to write several volumes.

g'luck

Answer 5

The important question to ask is: What makes you YOU?
What were the events, who were the people, who shaped your life so that you arrived at the place where you are today.
Those are the things to write about.
The everday stuff is boring. Nobody wants to read about you doing your laundry, unless you had some profound insight about the meaning of life while you were doing it. If you had a vision of the Virgin Mary while folding towels, include it .... otherwise....

Answer 6

Just start writing :)

Start anywhere you like, with whatever comes to mind first. Maybe try writing up any of the stories you remember telling people - whenever you've said anything like, "This one time...," or "You wouldn't believe what happened to me...," or just start off with "I remember," and see what you get.

Don't worry about writing events in order (ie. starting off with your childhood and moving forwards). Just write down any stories/anecdotes from your life that you like, or whatever comes out once you start writing.

What's your earliest memory? Describe your rooms, or your childhood home? What are your parents like, and where did they come from? Have any oddball relatives? What do you remember from school life?

That's my main advice - just start writing, without worrying about where you're going. Keep writing, and once you hit, say 50,000 words (you can pick any large number as a goal), you'll probably have a better idea of what you've got and how to shape it.

Answer 7

Start in the middle of a major moment that changed who you are. A car wreck, divorce court, a fist fight in elementary school...something with action that will drive us forward. Then start over at the beginning while still using your wisdom of TODAY to discuss it. Use plenty of foreshadowing, like, "But that would come much later in my life..." or "LIttle did I know that this was just the first time I'd be mad at Mary Sue."

Most successful memoirs don't tell their story lineally...they talk about a major CURRENT/RECENT issue, while lacing in their childhood. Buy a few memoirs and see how they are written.

Answer 8

If it were me, I'd start out with a little about my parents. Where and how they met, etc. After all, they *DID* play a tiny part in your being here, eh? Then something about their lifestyle. Did they "plan" you, etc. It sort of sets the tone for when you became the light of their life. Then, what kind of a child were you - not the boring, mundane stuff, but were you especially cute about something in particular? Or, were you a little RASCAL ... always getting into stuff. Spice it up; embellish it. People get bored with dull stuff.

Answer 9

Try writing it in the third person and begin when the action begins. You can always do flash backs, but you have to begin with a strong statement to get the reader attention.

Answer 10

this is a story about you. write what is most important in your heart. you want the readers to enjoy it but dont put stuff in there just to please the readers, remember this is a very important book about your life. write what you wish and all will be well.