How to go about writing my autobiography, starting at age 18 with no previous journals?

Question

I just decided while trying to go to sleep that I want to write an autobiography, I find my life very bipolar, up and down all the time, interesting enough to write about.

My questions is:
Should I start from age 18, now, writing daily?, or should I try my best and remember back to earlier in my life?

Honestly, the only reason I thought of this is because of recent events, but I dont want to leave people wondering how the hell all this happened(my childhood).

The reason I'm scared of this is because for the first 10 or so years, it will be shake and jumping from year to year, month to month, and once I turn 18, it will go day by day and week by week, leaving the book unbalanced, But that would be the art of it, I'm not an english major, you tell me....

So, my question to you all is, do you all think I should start from recently, when I just started college, or try and rack my brain from my childhood also???

And I dont plan to publish it til' I'm older, but I want it to be vivid...

I didn't mean I have bipolar disorder and manic episodes, I meant my life is bipolar, as a whole, sorry for the misunderstanding.

And for the record, I JUST turned 18 a month ago

Answer 1

I think you should start now, because if you will try to remember your childhood you will forget to write about the present, so what do you think starting with the first chapter "18 years old".

Good luck, and I want to read the autobiography in a few years!

Answer 2

Journaling is exactly how I had resource material for my first book and subsequent stories, etc.

I started at an age when I first learned how to print however.

I suggest this. Certainly begin some form of journaling Now. You don't state your current age of how distant you are from 18 at the moment.

I'd go back over my history, as best as possible, at least to a point where the Bi Polar/Manic Depression first became an issue, or you first noticed what effects it had on your every day life. You don't need to "Rack" your brain at all. Choose the highlights most valid to the present, and incorporate them in such a way, as to be recollections, that may still be relevant to your college experiences, etc.,,, Then develop the book as you evolve.

You must realize already that this process might be life long? AND that's OK. You mention not wanting to publish now, and that's OK too, BUT I have another suggestion. If you're able, create this book as a cyclical journey, relative to you, your day to day, and also as regards goals, plans, your general outlook on life, where you see yourself After College,,,AND perhaps craft the book in such a way as to be "publishable" at some point down the road (IE: 4 years hence)

What I think is most important for you, and any possible reader is the context of the piece. It could be that you are creating a valid, viable, valuable piece or resource material. Certainly it isn't NON fiction.

NOT being an English major doesn't mean you can't put out a piece of work that others can benefit from.

Final; example and the reason should be pretty clear.

Think of other books, authored with the intent I just described, in that there are sequals. In one recent case the "FINAL" sequal is due out in 07. That particular one also made it's author more wealthy than the Q of E, as well as it showed on film at least, the evolution of the characters. That's an abstract example perhaps, but the situation is similar with your idea... or Mine rather, smiles.

The "Next" book, taken from the journals, might be focused just on college years, and again become a valid piece of reference material, serving others in your situation.

Good Luck, keep in touch

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

I hear ya. Start now to write down what you remember of your child hood Start with your earliest memories, Every detail of every day is not necessary but put in as much as you can remember of events that stand out in your mind.

From this point on you need to start keeping a journal You could write in it daily recording events as they come. You could also do a weekly summary of things if you can't do it every day.

You are 18 and trust me the most interesting things that will happen to you lay in the future. You simply have not lived long enough to have a books worth of material and if you stop now you will leave out the best parts of your life and thus the best parts of your book.

Answer 4

Start by making a chronology of key events. The biography could start with your birth, or work outward from a seminal event (what led up to it, why it happened, the outcome).
Another way is to divide it into categories and write everything that's interesting about each category. Examples: School, family and ancestors, home and places you lived, friends, etc.
Consult your family members, especially the older ones.You never know when it will be to late to find out about their lives. telling you would be an experience they would cherish.

Answer 5

Well...I would definately try and write down what you remember first...and the older you get, the less you will remember...so do it now...It is a regret of mine of not keeping a journal through my life...so I think this is a great idea...

P.S. I have suffered with up and down emotions for much of my life...I went and had some "interactive" light therapy which helped greatly...(this is not the same as traditional light therapy)...

Good luck.

Answer 6

I would say you might like to do a memoir. Sometimes how you remember things now is more important than the actual events. I just read running with scissors, it was written that way

Answer 7

keep a journal for now, use a separate one for memories, but try to live a while so its not a 10 page pamphlet