Tips for writing an auto biography?

Question

Ive been working on mine every now and then for some time now and it seems to me, although one never knows till finished, to be about half done.

I am at the moment just getting everything onto paper and will have some very intensive editting to do later on.

But for now I am wondering if there are any hidden rules to writing such a peice, and secrets I should know about to make it better, any ideas or tips from people who have written things like this before.

I really hope people will want to read it when Im done, its certainly a feel good story and it takes the reader on an amazing journey through the life of someone who we probably all know and wave to every day, but never get to know deeply. There is deception, deep dark family secrets and families in turmoil, there is all kinds of situations including romance, horror and bit of science, drugs, abuse and never ending emotional pain.

Anything I should know so I can be sure I am doing everything I can to make it work?

Yes as I read answers so far I realise this is going to be a messy book.

In short, I am willing to tell all secrets, I have nothing to lose. This will most likely hurt some people, well, one, my grandfather - but he deserves it and I think he owes it to me to allow me to tell the truth about him. He ruined my life and then went on living his as if nothing happened and thinking he was so F*cking clever and that the rules and laws didnt apply to him - he got a away with it for most his life - up till few years ago. He is only sorry because he got caught. He OWES it too me to let me do this. Too many years have been wasted due to his unthinkable behaviours. This is MY turn at freedom, this is MY story and - (gee I am just making myself angry now, no I think passionate is the word for it actually) I will stop at nothing to get this story out there, no matter what it takes. HE OWES me this much.

To give you an idea - the other day he called to talk to my father - I answered the phone which I dont normally do and it was him. He was a little shocked that I answered and in his weak and frail voice he tried telling me he loved me - "You know I will always love you dont you kira"

I cant tell you the rest of the conversation - you will have to buy my book - bu the nerve of this guy is beyond stupidity. he still thinks he can make me like him, he still thinks he did nothing wrong... He still thinks I beleive he loves me...

No matter what I need to do I will get this done someday... I will find a way, people need to know, I need this as well, for closure, if nothing else and to be freed or all these experiences and tramas I have suffered and kept quiet about, both to do with my grandfather and the ones which had nothing to do with him but which all derived from him...

Answer 1

An autobiography is, in some ways, like a work of fiction. It is, first and foremost, a story. Like all works of art, it must thus be shaped and given form. You must be able to step back and see your life from a distance, as it were, and determine what course it has taken over the years. Like all stories, there must be a beginning, a middle, and an end, a rising action, a denouement, and a climax.

But an autobiography poses special challenges. You are the main character. How much are you willing to tell? Can you be relied upon to tell the truth and not to distort things? Can you provide information from other more objective sources to counterbalance your own inevitable bias?

How much do you want to tell about your family? Are there stories from your life that are perhaps better left untold, secrets that might hurt someone if they are revealed? Might you be accused of libel? Your autobiography may have legal and moral consequences that must be carefully weighed.

By the way, I like your notion about the stories untold about people we meet every day. I had an idea for a novel about such a person. My working title was "Unravelling Penelope Webb". Perhaps some day I'll get around to writing it.

Answer 2

Just remember to be honest. Don't fall into the James Frey pit. Tell your story as simply and honestly as possible. Of course one of the biggest issues with a book that depicts a real life is getting authorization from the people in it. Remember these are real people and they have real rights. You have to obtain a release from every one of them if you use their names or write about them in your book. For that, you will need a literary attorney. You will need one anyway, to read the manuscript and be certain that you haven't committed anything that could be construed as slander, liable, defamation or malicious in any way. So be prepared to pay some hefty legal fees before you even submit this to an agent or publisher. Either one would expect that your book was cleared by a lawyer before they would even look at it. Pax- C

Answer 3

G'day Kira! (I read your profile). I write as well, although the sort of things I have been writing about lately, are more op-ed related and have to do with conservation and the natural environment. But I know a screenwriter who might be able to give you some advice. She is just putting the finishing touches on a story that is auto-biographical. If you are intereted in screenwriting, I'm sure she could give you some helpful suggestions.

Answer 4

Make it entertaining! I'm not suggesting you make up details, but the writing style should be engaging. Yes, I know, that's broad, but I've noticed any successful memoirs of people who aren't well known have to be either deeply depressing, or really funny. For depressing autobiographies, try reading Lucky by Alice Sebold; for funny ones, check out Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris and Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs.

Answer 5

don't autobiography's generally tell from the past of the point you started writing it? Or maybe I misunderstood. Are you keeping like a diary of what goes on etc? I dunno, I would never have the desire to write an autobiography. But basically I think it is just a story, your story, right? lol.

But I did some google searches, maybe these will help:

http://www.sarasota.k12.fl.us/bhs/bryan/bryan_auto.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Autobiography
http://www.tv411.org/lessons/cfm/writing.cfm?str=writing&num=13&act=1

Answer 6

Honesty and Memory. be very honest. That produces a satisfactory and non-controversial Biography.

And Of course, remeber the incidents of ur life well.
Starting writing them, if u havent been maintaining your diary.


TW K

Answer 7

i hope you have an interesting life to read about

good luck