writing an autobiography worksheet

Sample Autobiography

Example of an autobiography gathering the information and staying organized.

A good sample autobiography can take several forms. It can be a recording, put on video or written.

The most common example of an autobiography is still the written form. And when writing an autobiography, you have two primary choices.

You can start with a blank sheet of paper...

...or a fill-in-the-blank format.

basically a book (workbook) with questions, prompts and other activities to help you go back into your memory bank and pull out memorable moments that you've, perhaps, long forgotten about!

Sample Autobiography Worksheets to Get You Started

Me personally... I love the fill-in-the-blank option. Put a blank sheet of paper in front of the average person, then tell them to write down some of the stories of their life, and they will begin to freak out!

They do this because they believe they don't write that well and/or they can't think of much to write about....so they give up before they even get started! This is why an autobiography templates help tremendously. Here is a sample autobiography worksheet . Just download, print and fill it out. You will find more worksheets like this further down this page.

An Autobiography Can Be Much Like Filling Out an Application for Employment

I found such a lifestory workbook (autobiographical template) as a teenager and this way of writing an autobiography has fascinated me ever since. After all, who couldn't simply answer questions about their life?

The More Stories Included in Your Autobiography The Better

Yes, it is true. Even with a fill-in autobiography, one will have to write some. It's unavoidable, but this format gives the self-conscious writer some cover. Also, to be clear, the better that one can write, the better the finished "product" will be.... regardless of method.

Example of Autobiography - The Whole Person Concept

Your life is more than a one man (woman) show!

The people around you, parents, siblings, grandparents, friends etc all play/have played a role in your life's story.

It's my opinion that any worthwhile autobiography will also include details about these individuals that were so close to you. It will tell of your interactions with them and how they had influence on your life.

Questions and prompts dealing with others that have had influence in your life will also spark additional memories that can be included in your autobiography ... lifestory etc.

Sample Autobiography - What Should be Included in an Autobiography

Here is a short example of autobiography ideas and topics to include:

• When you were born
• Where you were born
• Your parents names
• Were you named after anyone?
• How many brothers and sisters you have
• Where in the birth order were you born?
• Your hair and eye color
• Right or left-handed?
• Do you wear glasses? Yes or No

Create an Autobiographical Timeline of Your Life

This may or may not be actually included in your actual autobiography, but it is a great exercise to help you recall a sample of stories from your life that you'll want to include in your autobiography.

Timelines are magical! A timeline is a great way to outline the events of your life in preparation for writing your autobiography.

Use this sample autobiography timeline chart to start outlining your life. It will get the memories flowing! Print the chart out and begin by writing in the year your were born and each year after that.

Then start added major milestones in your life on the line next to the appropriate year.

Milestones to consider are:

•  Started first grade
• Birth of siblings
• Graduated high school
• A family move
• Graduated college
• Periods of employment
• Death of family members etc.

Your Childhood and School Years

These are very impressionable years. They are also a part of your life that your posterity will want to know about...because it is easier for them to relate to - as opposed to your current age and status in life.

Some sample autobiography questions and memory prompts might include:

Memory Walk-Through Exercises

What's a walk-through memory anyway?

Imagine... close your eyes and mentally walk back through physical locations (places) from your past . Your childhood home , your first home as a newlywed, your old school, your grandparent's homes etc

Start by doing a childhood home walk-through with this free worksheet .

Additional Topics to Include

Here are some additional examples of autobiography topics/sections. Some have portions of worksheets that I've developed. Feel free to download them (PDF format) and use them. Use any PDF reader to open these worksheets, such as Adobe Reader. Print the worksheets and fill them out.

• My Teen Years - Download Worksheet
• My College Years
• My Grandparents - Download Worksheet
• Military Service
• Dating My Future Spouse - Download Worksheet
• Our First Home - Download Worksheet
• My Children

Making Lists to Help Your Autobiography Writing

Making lists of all kinds, to help you recall certain events from your life, is one of the most beneficial and FUN activities you will do. I've developed a lot of these lists to create. You'll like these!

A list, or life list as I like to call them, is meant to spark memories . If you were to list every vehicle that you've ever own, it wouldn't necessarily be the actual list that is important to your posterity. But the memories associated with each of those vehicles (cars) might be. Memories are often attached to things...cars, in this example .

List Worksheet #1 List Worksheet #2

More Sample Autobioghy Topics to Include

• Favorites - Favorite holiday, book, color etc
• List of First - Download Worksheet (first kiss, first plane ride etc)
• Social Interaction - Download Worksheet
• Rapid Fire Questions - Download Worksheet (Give yes or no answers to quick, revealing questions)
• Daily Journaling Prompts
• Word Associations (Memories associated with "rain", "paycheck", "barefoot" etc?)
• Your Medical History - Can be very helpful to posterity to know this info
• Skills Learned

Family Awards

Family Awards is an idea that helps one to think of ones relatives in a new way. Imagine, if you will, that your family was to have its own awards show. And there were awards to be given out, such as...

• "Most Social"
• "Best Cook"
• "The Quietest"
• "The Funniest"
• "Most into Politics"
• "The Best Gardener"
• "The Biggest Tease"
• "Most Educated etc"

After considering these, what stories come to mind? The stories remembered is the main purpose of the above exercise.

The sample autobiography that I give on this web page, focuses on recollecting, organizing and then preserving events from your life for the purpose of passing personal history and stories onto your children, grandchildren etc.

Other sample autobiographies might be more formal in nature such as those for a school project , but I believe the information included here will also help in this area as well...you be the judge.

Regardless of the type of autobiography you are planning to write, I congratulate you on taking on such a rigorous and enjoyable undertaking. 

If you'd like more worksheets, like those I've included on this page, you will probably really enjoy my full 321 page autobiography template called Memorygrabber.

I guarantee that it will help you recall many pleasant memories from your past. Perhaps many that you would never have, otherwise, thought to record in your autobiography.

Special Note: If you found the information on this page helpful, please use any or all of the social bookmarking links below to let others know about the free worksheets on this page. Thank you!

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Autobiography

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Autobiography Examples

40 autobiography examples (autobiographical essay templates).

Writing an autobiography template isn’t an easy undertaking. When written, there will be as many life stories as there are people. What will make an autobiographical essay stand out are the essential topics.

Those which will make it unique among the rest, sorting out the most significant events in one’s life and writing about them are difficult. There is an abundance of experiences to choose from.

Table of Contents

• 1 Autobiography Examples
• 2 Formats for autobiography examples
• 3 Autobiography Samples
• 4.1 Map out your whole life
• 4.2 Creating your narrative
• 5 Autobiographical Essay Templates
• 6.1 Edit your information first
• 6.2 Publishing your autobiography

Fortunately, there are plenty of innovative and well-thought-out autobiography samples that are available. They can assist you in organizing your thoughts to come up with a great autobiography. These samples can save you valuable time, especially on how to start an autobiography. Check out our extra 40 biography templates

Formats for autobiography examples

As mentioned earlier, there could be as many life stories out there as there people. Each life story is unique; no two can be the same. It will be up to the writer to make his autobiography stand out.

The presentation of ideas will be an integral factor. Using the right strategies and format to make the writer more creative are necessary. As we all know, an autobiography is an account of a person’s life and it’s written by that person. Find out a suitable autobiography example to take reference from.

The reasons for writing an autobiographical essay differ from person to person. The main point of the writer’s exercise is to convey his life events using words. Autobiography samples will make it easy for the writer to organize thoughts.

To get you started, learn first the following types of written works:

• Dramas or scripts Usually presented on stage or screen as the venue, this type is in script formats.
• Graphic novels This new genre of novels is unique in the sense that they use drawn panels to convey a true story. Simply said, it’s a novel in comic-strip format. They tell stories through pictures and words.
• Memoirs This type limits the information you will present. It’s an account written from personal knowledge or special sources. Its main focus is on specific moments in one’s life. Those which could either are historical, religious, philosophical, adversity, coming-of-age, and more.
• Personal narratives or essays This type is shorter than a memoir. Its narratives focus on a single event in time. It expands that moment’s experience through conversations and imagery. These types are usually seen in classrooms, magazines or written by internet bloggers.
• Traditional autobiographies This type usually covers the events of the writer’s life from birth to the present moment.
• Vignettes This type covers just one particular occurrence at a time. It’s a brief evocative description, account or episode. You can even call it a lone chapter in a compilation of vignettes. You can have it published as a complete piece of work. Bear in mind, though, that each chapter in the collection is not directly related to the others.

Autobiography Samples

How to start an autobiography

Interesting lives make for good autobiographies. When we say interesting, it means the person lived a life full of fascinating experiences. Those he can and should share with others.

A good trick when writing your autobiography example is to think of it just like any other story, a good one at that. There’s always the protagonist, a central plot, and a number of compelling characters. All these will keep the reader’s attention.

Before venturing for an autobiography sample, think of an important event in your life and build your story on that. There is a writing craft or a technique that can make your story come to life. Read on and make your writing sing!

Map out your whole life

It wouldn’t be so hard to map out your timeline; after all, you have lived it. Before anything else, conduct a study on your life. Make a timeline to ensure you will include the important details, both events, and dates.

This will provide you a basis to work on. Don’t inhibit yourself from writing down all you can recall. Don’t underestimate the importance of each event.

• Autobiographies needn’t always start with your birth Include a brief history of your ancestors if relevant. Introducing your family’s history can make readers relate. They can understand how you evolved into who you are at this moment.
• Identify your main characters Make them interesting and compelling, either he/she be friend or foe. Be sure they help in moving the story along. Obviously, an autobiography sample will mention your parents. Also, include your spouse, friends, and relatives. But think past your family and friends. Search for those characters that have directly influenced your life. They should play their roles in your life story.
• Include the best stories Your life is a collection of short stories and anecdotes. Each day, each struggle could be in itself a chapter. But there would be too many of them to contain in a book. Choose the best stories you can remember that have influenced you. Begin your manuscript with these chosen stories. Weave them together to create a picture of your life.
• Write using your own voice Most people like reading autobiographies to experience what it’s like to be the writer. Being yourself when writing your story is a great way to maintain the reader’s attention. Remember, you are writing about yourself and your life experiences. Stiff and formal writing is for college essays . It won’t and can’t totally engage your readers.
• Reveal things about your life You can reveal the truth about yourself without having to be too explicit. Write down the good as well as the bad experiences. This will make the reader feel the human side of you. You can write about your accomplishments but you also need to write the flaws that have made you what you are. Readers should empathize with you and may even cheer for you as the story progresses.
• Show your weaknesses too You may have pitfalls in life but will still remain a protagonist. Write about your mistakes and the times that you have failed in some struggles. Writing too much about your positive side may even turn off some of your readers.

Creating your narrative

One, or perhaps the most important element of an autobiographical essay, is the plot. Not just a plot but a great one that could hold your readers spellbound. When you’ve gathered the material to work with, it’s time to create a fascinating story that would end with a climax as well as final resolutions.

Autobiographical Essay Templates

Craft your story by organizing your memoirs and anecdotes in an autobiography example. Keep in mind that these are coherent to your plot and should flow logically together. There should be a central conflict in your narrative.

It can involve an eventful experience in your life that took you years to conquer.

• Build the suspense and tension to make it interesting Organize your plot in such as a way that every story would veer towards the conflict’s climax. Make it your goal to include anecdotes on your initial successes and failures. Readers love underdogs. Build on that.
• Think about your climax Every story will have to end as the protagonist will deal with the conflict. You have read novels and seen movies. You should know what a climax is. You should also know that it’s very important.
• Also, think about the resolution Autobiographies usually end with happy endings. If for some reason your story’s ending isn’t happy, just make sure that it’s profoundly satisfying. You might have lost the race but the wisdom you gain from the experience will be compensation enough.
• Determine where to start your story Most autobiographies start with birth and end with the present. But many successful writers have resorted to mixing up their chronology. This makes the narration more interesting. If you’re bold enough, try doing this.
• Weave in your themes Try to remember major themes in your life. Use them to link stories together by connecting the past with the now. Apart from a central conflict, there are themes that have followed us all through life. Use these themes as often as you can to form a consistent depiction of your story.
• Reflect on the content of your autobiography template You surely have learned many lessons during the course of your life. It would be nice to relay your desires, intentions, feelings of joy and loss, and more you’ve gained in your life. You can include these lessons intermittently throughout the story. Reflect on these important experiences and what they have meant to you. This is a great way you can add profundity to your life story.
• Add structure to your book by using chapters The use of chapters will permit you transition from talking about specific times in your life. We’ve all heard the expressions, “closed a chapter” and “opening a new chapter” in life. These are very applicable to autobiography samples and autobiography examples.

Creating and publishing your autobiography

After you’ve written everything, subject your work to several processes. Do this to make sure that its contents are true and accurate. Be sure to comply with all the rules of writing to avoid any problems that may arise later.

First, does a substance check. Second, do forms check? Here are some tips for you:

Edit your information first

• Your facts should be completely accurate Double check or even triple if you have the time. Check the names, event descriptions, dates, and other things. Everything in your story should be accurate. Wrong facts will certainly get noticed at one time or another by people acquainted with you.
• Ask permission from those you mention in your book You may name names or quote quotes from sources. In this case, make certain they’ve granted permission. Many don’t appreciate the thought of appearing in an autobiography. Respect that. If the character is central to the plot, describe them differently or change their names.
• Go through your draft and edit if needed After you’ve finished the initial draft, go through your life story again. Comb through it by double checking your data. Reorganize the paragraphs, passages, and characters if necessary. Check your vocabulary and replace tedious words. Make your phrases more clear and compelling. And lastly, check your grammar and spelling.
• Let other people read your work An outside or second opinion will be necessary to make sure that your work would appeal to all. You may find passages in your book that are funny or serious but would be mundane or even offensive to others. Present your work to as many close acquaintances and listen to their feedback. This will make sure that your thoughts will come across clearly with other people.
• Hire a copy editor The job of a copy editor is to clean up your work and make those boring parts shine. Almost all writers seek the services of copy editors. Being a beginner, take a hint by seeking their help as well. Hire a seasoned copy editor to make sure that your book will have that professional polish.
• Think of your title Think of a title that is intriguing and attention-grabbing. A simple and short title for your autobiography can be “My Autobiography”. If you find it too direct and common, choose something more unique.

Publishing your autobiography

Some people try self-publishing their books. That means they will have their finished work printed but only for themselves. It would also be appropriate to present your work to persons you mentioned in your book.

There are companies that can handle your book design, printing, and even shipping services. But if you want to go public on publishing your autobiography, the sensible thing to do is hire a literary agent.

He will send a query letter to research agents who work frequently with autobiographies. The query will contain information about your autobiography. It will also contain information about the author and how you want to market the book.

You can also send the query letter yourself directly to the publisher and wait. Depending on your query letter, he might get interested. Don’t send them your manuscript all at once. Send it when you get a request for your manuscript.

You can also try publishing your work online. This new alternative method is increasingly getting popular. It doesn’t involve expenses for printing and shipping. Search for online publishers and send them a query letter.

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How to Write an Autobiography: Make Yourself a Literary Hero

What is an autobiography.

An autobiography is a form of narration written by a writer about his or her own life. An autobiographical writing serves different purposes, and its main goal depends on the type of writing. There are four major types of autobiographical writing.

1. Autobiography

The autobiography is the longest and the fullest story about yourself. You can write it for your personal use in order to structure and perpetuate your memories. If you are sure that your life will be an interesting theme to read about, you may create an autobiography for the wider public. An autobiography covers the period from the day of your birth until today. If you think that your life journey will be a good example for others, include the information on how you have achieved your goals and success and how you got your autobiography published.

If you are not sure that your whole life path is worth attention, then a memoir is your best choice. It is focused on one particular event, relationship, place, or period of your life that has influenced your personality a lot. Don’t be afraid to express your personal feelings and ideas in your memoir, as it shouldn’t be simply a brief list of facts, but the reflection of your inner world.

3. Autobiographical essay for college

The aim of such an essay is obvious: you need it to convince admissions officers to accept you into college. As a rule, there is a word limit specified in the instruction for applicants. Don’t confuse an autobiographical essay with your CV or resume! They have totally different structure and formatting. In addition, the essay is aimed at portraying you as a personality, not as a professional.

4. Personal essay

This is an extremely emotional and intimate type of writing. You share a personal experience with your readers in a detailed manner. Your audience should have an opportunity to see the event or person that you’ve written about through your eyes and understand your feelings. Any personal essay has two main aspects: the description of a particular situation and how it has influenced your worldview and life. Generally, the personal essay is the shortest form of autobiographical writing, along with the essay for college.

In our guide on how to write an autobiography about yourself, we will talk more about a personal or autobiographical essay. However, we will not miss a chance to share a few awesome tips about other types of autobiographical writing. Plus, you’re always free to use our instructions for any type of autobiography, as they can be helpful for any piece of writing.

Autobiography Structure: How to End an Autobiography

The structure of your autobiographical writing depends on the type you’ve chosen to create. In our guide on how to write an autobiography about yourself, we’ll focus on the basic principles of structuring the autobiographical essay.

Introduction

You may wonder how to start an autobiography introduction. The answer is simple: the same way you start other essays’ introductions. The main purpose of the introductory paragraph is to grab the reader’s attention and present the idea and theme of your writing. Don’t make the first paragraph too long: between one and three sentences are enough to compose a regular introduction. Try to provide readers with a general portrait of yourself, so they will know more about the main “hero.” Mention your age, significant personal qualities, and principles of worldview. You can also add some details about your appearance in order to make your story more vivid.

The main body includes the biggest amount of information. It is 80-90% of the whole text. There are no strict requirements, but you should not forget to use a logical sequence and correct wording. You can use the classic five-paragraph structure for your autobiographical essay if your ideas fit it. Anyway, you have to divide your writing into separated paragraphs to increase the readability of your essay. You should also create a logical connection between paragraphs. In this manner, readers will easily follow your thoughts.

Now, it’s time to think on how to conclude an autobiography. Your conclusion has to be strong and impressive. Mention what lessons you’ve learned and what changes in your life you’ve witnessed thanks to the described episode of your life. Even if this event has had negative consequences, you shouldn’t hide anything. Bad experiences are also useful for personal development. As Theodore Roosevelt once said: “The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.”

We’ve provided you with general information on how to start and how to end an autobiography. Let’s move on to the detailed guide about essay writing steps.

N.B. For your convenience you can use Canva templates to quickly and nicely organize your autobiography structure.

How to Write an Autobiography Step by Step

If you need a simple and brief instruction on how to write an autobiography about yourself, you’ve already found it! The next time you get such an assignment in your English class, don’t worry – just check out this step-by-step guideline.

1. Read a well-known autobiography.

You are not the first person who wants to write about his or her life. Many famous writers, artists, politicians, and businessmen create autobiographies to share their wisdom and experience with a wide audience. Find the autobiography that belongs to the author whose personality inspires you and read it in order to get a basic understanding of autobiographical writing.

2. Think over your life.

Remember every significant event, unusual experience, or important person in your life. That might take a considerable amount of time, as we think that your life has been interesting enough, and you have many worthy moments. If you want to write about your childhood, you’d better apply to the “experts” – your parents. Perhaps you did something outstanding and awesome when you were a child.

3. Make a list.

This is the most satisfying part of writing an autobiography if you like making lists. On the other hand, it can be quite boring for those who hate lists. Everything depends on your personal tastes. We highly recommend you to divide all memories into categories. You will be able to structure your thoughts in a more logical manner.

4. Pick one point from your list.

Remember that you should not write your full autobiography. You have to choose one event, one place, or one person you’d like to write about. This can be quite challenging, especially if you are an adult who has an active social life. Try to be objective and choose a theme that will be interesting for readers, not only for you.

5. Brainstorm ideas.

When you have a particular topic, it is the right moment to think over a few amazing ideas for your autobiography. Here is a list of questions that will help you to focus on certain aspects:

• What was the best (or the worst) thing about an event or person you want to tell about?
• What details are worth readers’ attention?
• What mood do you want to share?
• What feelings do you want to awaken?
• What has changed after this event or meeting?
• What lessons have you learned?
• Why was this moment important for you?
• What general idea can be related to this particular case?
• Why have you decided to choose this event to share with your readers?
• Why have you decided to write your autobiography now, at this moment of your life?

6. Provide an outline (above).

Planning is a crucial part of any writing process. If you need a detailed instruction on how to write an autobiography outline, you should read the section about autobiography structure above if you haven’t yet. There, we explained what you should include in each part of your essay. You can make your outline in the form of a list, scheme, table, or pyramid.

7. Create a draft.

Make your first draft as perfect as possible. There is no reason to correct mistakes later if you can avoid them in the first place. On the other hand, this is just your first attempt, so don’t be too demanding. Good ideas will come sooner or later. Take your time and enjoy the process of writing!

8. Proofread your writing.

You should check your autobiographical essay for mistakes in spelling, grammar, verb tense, style, punctuation, word forms, etc. No matter how emotional or exciting your writing is, your readers will stop reading as soon as they notice the first grammatical mistake. An illiterate author cannot win the trust of the audience, so you should take this step very seriously.

9. Get feedback.

Before you present your writing to the public, ask your parents, siblings, or friends to give you feedback. Maybe, they’ll notice a few mistakes that you missed or give you advice on how to improve the content. A fresh perspective never hurts.

10. Write the final copy.

After you proofread your essay and get feedback, you’ll be able to create the final draft of your writing. Take into account all recommendations that you have received from your proofreaders, and bring your essay to perfection!

Your work is accomplished! We are sure that you will succeed on the first try if you use the list of helpful tips for autobiography writing provided by our experienced writers. We’ve gathered tips that will turn your writing into a real masterpiece.

How to Write a Good Autobiography: Helpful Tips

• Catch attention from the very beginning.

Your readers won’t be interested in reading the whole text of your autobiography if you don’t provide a good impression in the introduction. Convince your audience that your story is unique, original, and is worth their time. If you are going to write about an episode from your childhood, use a feeling of nostalgia to create a tight connection between readers and your own memories. Remember that all people are the same to some extent. We live through similar experiences every day, so you should use these similarities to make your writing attractive for the general public.

• Don’t expand your resume.

This tip is extremely useful when it comes to writing an autobiographical essay for college. Admission officers know everything about your grades and academic achievements. In your essay, they’ll look for information of another kind. You have to present your personality and to prove that you deserve to become a part of the college community.

• Add sensory details.

If you want your readers to feel the atmosphere of your writing, vivid details should be an indispensable part of your essay. Let your audience see, smell, touch, and feel the world of your story. Create a full picture of your personal universe and let your readers be your guests!

• Make your characters feel alive.

If you are not the only character in your story, introduce your characters to your audience. Describe them at least in a few words and add some dialogues to give them personal voices. If your characters represent real people, ask for permission or use fake names.

• Create a connection with a general idea.

The episode of your life described in an autobiographical essay should exemplify a certain general idea. All of us like good stories, but readers should see a deeper meaning behind your narration.

• Choose one verb tense.

This is a crucial aspect for any kind of storytelling. Decide what verb tense you will use before you start writing, and stay consistent throughout the text. You can use both past tense or present tense to write about past events. However, don’t change the manner of writing in the middle of your essay! Use first-person narration.

This is your autobiographical essay, and you write about your own life. Use the words “I,” “my,” and “me” without hesitation. An autobiography differs from academic writing, where you will avoid personification. When you write a personal essay, readers should hear your personal voice, as it is your primordial purpose!

How to Write an Autobiography: Example Analyzed

Below, you’ll find an example of an autobiography provided by one of our experienced writers. You are welcome to use it as a template for your own autobiography. Although you can borrow some ideas about proper structure of an autobiography and writing style, you can’t copy our sample without citing it properly. Please, don’t commit plagiarism! We believe that you are able to create an autobiography that will be no worse than our autobiography example for high school students.

Click the images to see their full size.

Mistakes to Avoid While Autobiography Writing

• Don’t make it too long

Many people cannot resist the temptation to tell as much as they can, but a longer piece of writing doesn’t always equal a better piece of writing. For whatever reason you are writing the autobiography, think of the person who is going to read it. Imagine you were an admission officer or the judge in the scholarship committee, and you have to choose from hundreds, if not thousands, of autobiographies. At some point you will hate people who prefer to write long admission essays and autobiographies. There’s also a good way to check whether your writing is interesting or not. Give it to one of your most impatient friends, who prefers short articles to books and long stories, and ask for their opinion.

• Don’t make it trivial

“I was born in 19XX year, I entered school N…” Would you read that if you had a choice? Most likely not, especially if you already have read a dozen biographies which star with the same phrase. Yes, an autobiography is a formal piece of writing. But here, it rather means that you are not allowed to use slang and colloquial language, instead of following a specific pattern of writing.

• Don’t turn it into your personal diary

Yes, you have to be precisely honest and quite revealing and candid to write a successful autobiography. And obviously, you need to describe some hardships of your life to show how you coped with that or how it influenced you. However, we strongly advise you to describe the thing that you feel rather calm about when writing. For example, you are writing about other students picking and making fun of you at high school. If you still feel like wanting to kill them all, it would be better to avoid this topic or mention it slightly. Why so? Because your feelings will leak into the writing and make your reader feel subconsciously uncomfortable.

How to Choose Autobiography Topics

We hope that you now have a general idea on how to write an autobiography about yourself, because now it’s time to choose a topic. But shouldn’t you and your life be the topic of an autobiography? Well, in general, yes. There are, however, also a lot of tiny nuances.

• Make it focused. The purpose of any autobiography, excluding the one written for your personal diary, is to promote you and advertise your awesome personality. Find out what is appreciated the most in the institution you are applying to and focus on these traits in your character.
• Choose one or two aspects of your personality. We believe that you are an amazing person and even a book wouldn’t be enough to tell your story, but in an autobiography, it’s better to tell a short and meaningful story than try to describe everything that has ever happened in your life.
• Drawbacks. Think of an autobiography a great outfit: you need everything to match. For example, if you were saying that you are persistent and purposeful, pick a matching drawback and show how you overcame it due to your good character traits.
• Find out what is in trend. Yes, this may sound a little bit weird, but try to keep up with massive worldwide trends. Is it popular now to be creative and daring? Show how creative and daring you are.

Many people who have something to tell, have an experience, or have the knowledge and vision “as it should be.” What if you decided to write your own book and it’s not a novel about love and adventures? To become a good writer or to write an interesting book is not an easy task. Unfortunately, this won’t totally depend on hard work, diligence and regular training: you can sit with a laptop, paper, pen or voice recorder at least eight hours every day – and still, you will get something dull and colorless that nobody wants to read. Not always does the desire to write a book match the capabilities and talent. But making effort and progress is still necessary. Anyone who wants to write their first book, should read and write, try different styles and genres, and listen to the world around. The main thing is to throw into trash away all “must” and “deserving / not deserving of attention,” ideas which aspiring authors often suffer from. Here are an  autobiography topics list and autobiography examples which can help you.

If you have thoughts about writing an autobiography, you should start your way reading autobiographies of different people all over the world and get inspired. In our humble opinion, the following list consists of autobiographies that are worth reading.

Books for Inspiration for Autobiography Writing

• “Childhood, Boyhood, Youth” by Leo Tolstoy (1852-1857)
• “A Moveable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway (1964)
• “My Autobiography” by Charlie Chaplin (1964)
• “Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia” by Elizabeth Gilbert (2006)
• “A Street Cat Named Bob” by James Bowen (2010)
• “Gretzky: From the Backyard Rink to the Stanley Cup” by Walter Gretzky (1985)
• “My Game” by Booby Orr (1974)
• “I Can Jump Puddles” by Alan Marshall (1955)
• “My Family and Other Animals” by Gerald Durrell (1956)
• “De Profundis” by Oscar Wild (1897)
• “An Autobiography” by Agatha Christie (1965)
• “The Summing Up” by W. Somerset Maugham (1938)
• “Three Singles to Adventure (Three Tickets to Adventure)” by Gerald Durrell (1954)
• “Walden; or, Life in the Woods” by Henry D. Thoreau (1854)
• “The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge” by Carlos Castaneda (1968)
• “Orlando: A Biography” by Virginia Wolf (1928)
• “The Hero” by Rhonda Byrne (2006)
• “The Beatles (the Authorized Biography)” by Hunter Davies (1968)
• “My Life in France” by Julia Child (2006)
• “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values” by Robert M. Pirsig (1974)
• “The Tender Bar” by J.R. Moehringer (2005)
• “Ham On Rye” by Charles Bukovwski (1982
• “Girl, Interrupted” by Susanna Kaysen (1993)
• “The Long Hard Road Out of Hell” by Marilyn Manson (1998)
• “Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy” by Frances Mayes (1996)
• “Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut (1969)
• “The Man Without Qualities” by Robert Musil (1930-1943)

When you are done with reading and have reached an inspiring mood, you can try to write. Then comes the question on how to organize time wisely and your text, in order to present it in the best way possible. Such questions you may face while writing and after the first draft is finished. We have worked hard and found for you some sources that will be helpful while writing an autobiography.

Sources to Use in Autobiography

Useful information about autobiography writing, tips and steps. “How to Write an Autobiography and Make the Best-seller List.” Published February 16, 2014, in https://blog.udemy.com/

Lots of information about writing an autobiography, a list of topics for inspiration and advice on how to choose more appropriate. http://www.scanyourentirelife.com/how-write-a-autobiography-vs-memoir-difference-life-story-secret-tips/

You can buy a workbook “Memorygrabber” that will help you to write your own life story without problems, as it asks all important questions that you or your relative can answer. http://www.familyhistoryproducts.com/memorygrabber-cb.html?hop=tomgilbert

It’s not only a how-to manual, but also an inspiring book for newbie writers. “Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You” by Ray Bradbury (1987)

Read about the experiences of the famous writer and take into account his advice for aspiring writers. “On Writing” by Stephen King (2000)

Here you can find important information for any kind of creative work and avoid problems that it may cause. “The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle” by Steven Pressfield (2002)

Detailed tips that will help you turn facts into fiction by Helena Halme. http://selfpublishingadvice.org/writing-how-to-turn-your-life-into-a-novel/

If you have already written your autobiography and want to publish it and sell it, read this article with practical advice.

Read the tips from Stanley Fish on how to write sentences and organize writing in a right way. He presents the language as cultural organism and gives a manual to the art of language. “How to Write a Sentence: And How to Read One” by Stanley Fish.

This book may be called a treasure in your home library, as it’s a collection of wisdom from famous writers. “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life” by Anne Lamott.

Discover the peculiarities of grammar while writing a book and the importance of style in your writing. “The Elements of Style. Illustrated.” by Maira Kalman.

Helpful YouTube Videos for Writing an Autobiography

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9rdvJhkzXE – Try this exercise from this video to start out your autobiography writing. https://youtu.be/t5TUZajlM6g – Brook Adams shares tips on writing an autobiography for beginners. https://youtu.be/bQn7FREub4Y – Jerry B. Jenkins, a bestseller author, talks about the key points to consider while writing an autobiography.

Putting It All Together

The success of a good autobiography and any book – comes from the ability of the author to show readers the story from the “outside”, and make the reader feel in your place, “in your shoes.” Everyone does not care about your difficult childhood, or your parents’ divorce, or the fact that in school you were a fat and ugly kid with glasses. But if the difficulties experienced by you will be displayed so that the reader learns some lessons for himself – this would qualify as a good book.

How you can see that, writing an autobiography is not a piece of cake. You should plan your time, read and get inspired from books, and search for information about writing styles and grammar. Don’t forget to figure out your final destination and why you need to write an autobiography. All of thus titanic-sized work will end with a great treasure – your own autobiography. Hopefully, our information will help you on this interesting but hard path. So, pick a pen or open your laptop and start your masterpiece. We wish you lots of inspiration and easy writing!

We hope that our guide on how to write autobiography, example, and tips has clarified all nuances of the writing process for you. Being a character of your own narration may seem confusing at first sight. However, thinking about your past may help you to deal with your current problems and look at your future from a different angle.

We are always ready to help you with any kind of writing! Don’t hesitate to check out other guides and improve your writing skills with PayforWriting – pay for an essay to get qualified help!

Maybe you have a better idea on how to write a good autobiography about yourself ? Share your insights at the comment section below.

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Autobiography Worksheets

If you have a good handle on your Latin root words, you should be able to tell what this word means. Auto means self. Bio means life. Graph mean to write. An autobiography is a self-written life story. People that are confident in their ability to write and communicate will often choose to write their own story. An autobiography is an exercise in self discovery and can often be self-therapeutic. People also love to learn about individuals that are not like everyone else. While we may think that famous entertainers or athletes would have the most read autobiographies. The most read book of this form of all time are often historical figures. Benjamin Franklin's is thought to be the most read of all time by historians. These worksheets will help students understand the key features of a well thought out autobiography. We will position them to be able to write their own as well.

Autobiography Worksheets To Print:

The Different Types - Briefly describe each type that we present to you.

Introductions - This is a great way introduce the concept.

Concept Fills - Number 5 will require that you provide 2 answers.

True or False - Take a look at each of the sentences and classify them as you go along.

Biography and Memoir - We take a deep dive into all these different forms of literature.

Importance - Look at the clear reason why this was written.

Objective, Subjective, or Anecdote - Find an example of each type of detail in the book.

On the Inside - Read the description of the book on the back cover an/or the inside front flap.

All the Elements - Does it contain a mix of objective and subjective details?

As they Appear - You can use this you transverse through the work.

Night by Ellie Wiesel - Why is this book generally considered an important historical document?

Memoir - Take a look at how this story develops.

Why They Are Important - Bring this thought to words.

Helen Keller - What was the turning point in Helen Keller's life? What contributions did Helen Keller make to the world?

Review and Report - Write a short review of this book. Do you recommend it? To whom? Why?

What is an Autobiography in Literature?

An autobiography is a life story of an individual. It can be written by the individual in question or by someone else, but it is a story about their life. A primary goal of this form of literature is to recount life in an interesting and entertaining way. While autobiographies aren't the most popular genre in literature, they are the most personal. Autobiographies act as a medium between the author and the reader, helping the writer build a strong connection with their readers.

Author's Definition

An autobiography is a book written by a person about their life. The book sheds light on the author's childhood, education, family, and career. The author usually shares personal experiences and thoughts, such as how they were raised, their thoughts on their family, and the events that led to the author's career. These are a personal account of the author's experiences, and narrating these experiences can help readers find answers in their life.

How Autobiographies Can be Used in Literature

An autobiography is a detailed description of a person's life and can be found in many literary forms, such as poetry and short stories. Autobiographies in literature are often used in storytelling to explore themes such as identity, cause and effect, and freedom. For example, an autobiographical short story about an American boy named Del Honey, who felt neglected as a child as his foster parents forced him to live in a boarding school. He later escaped from the school to find his birth parents and eventually lived a life of freedom with the primary goal of finding himself.

Key Features and Characteristics

A complete autobiography consists of several elements. The key components of these works are self-reflection, self-evaluation, and introspection. It is essential for authors to reflect on their ideas and beliefs in order to bring them out on paper. Writing an autobiography grants the author a chance to re-evaluate their story and see it from a fresh perspective. Autobiographies are often written in the first person, as the narrator is the author. This allows the author to connect with readers on a deeper level. Another interesting characteristic of these works is that it isn't fact; it is just the author's version of the truth.

An autobiography is a biography of a person's life, written by the person. The author will often write about what life was like before, during, and after the events in the book.

It often includes their thoughts, feelings, and experiences during their life. They may include the different people they have met, their relationships, and how they felt about certain things that happened to them. An autobiography is a narrative that shows how someone's life is shaped by the events they experience.

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