How to Write an Autobiography (7 Amazing Strategies!)

• Oct 21, 2024
• 7 min read

• Tags: Language, Nonfiction, Writing Tips

Imagine the lives you could touch with your story! By writing an autobiography, you can leave a lasting impact on the world. In this article, understand how to write an autobiography in 7 easy steps! For every step, we’ve given practical tips on writing an autobiography. 

Before following these 7 steps, you must: 1) Decide your autobiography’s focus (personal growth, career, social impact, loss, or other) 2) Make a timeline of all important events to include in your autobiography. 

Here’s how to write an autobiography: 

• • • Decide the structure and outline 
    • Write a strong opening 
    • Give historical and cultural context 
    • Show, don’t tell 
    • Share your fears, challenges, mistakes, and growth 
    • Include others’ perspectives when important 
    • Craft an impactful ending 

Explore all these steps to writing an autobiography in detail! 

1. Decide the structure and outline 

Some structures you can select for your autobiography are: 

• • • • Reverse chronological: Start with the present and then move backward in time.
      • Episodic: Structure the narrative in such a way that every chapter highlights one important episode of your life and its impact. 
      • Thematic: Organize the chapters or sections around specific themes or ideas. For example, while the theme of one chapter is love, the theme of another chapter can be dreams and careers. 
      • Framed narrative: Use a present-day event or reflection to frame a story from the past. For example, reflect on an award you won recently and then reflect on your journey to win the award. 
      • Chronological: This involves describing the story from your childhood till the present. 

Following are sample outlines for every structure: 

A. Reverse chronological

• • • • Present day 
      • Recent past 
      • Middle years 
      • Early adulthood 
      • Teenage years 
      • Childhood 

B. Episodic

• • • • A turning point 
      • An unexpected journey 
      • A moment of truth 
      • A life-changing decision 
      • A lesson learned 
      • A new beginning

C. Thematic 

• • • • Family and roots 
      • Love and relationships 
      • Education and learning
      • Career and ambition
      • Challenges and resilience
      • Personal growth and self-discovery

D. Framed narrative 

• • • • A present-day event 
      • Childhood memories 
      • Teenage years 
      • The trials of adulthood 
      • A moment of truth 
      • Reflection and insights 

E. Chronological 

• • • • The early years 
      • Teenage trials 
      • Venturing into adulthood 
      • Career developments and challenges 
      • Analyzing life choices and achievements 
      • The road ahead

You can customize the outlines given above and create detailed chapter outlines. 

2. Write a strong opening 

Following are some ways you can write an engaging opening: 

• • • • Start by describing a memorable incident/turning point
      • Begin by describing a memorable photo and its significance. 
      • Describe a life-changing moment when you won something. 
      • Start with an intriguing statement that changed your life 
      • Begin with a rhetorical question 
      • Start with an honest confession 
      • Begin by mentioning one of the biggest challenges you faced 
      • Start by sharing the earliest childhood memory (followed by your birthplace, and family background)

3. Give historical and cultural context

This includes information about any major historical events, social and cultural trends, and pop culture influences. You can also describe any music, movies, fashion, or books that have shaped your life. With this, also include your family background and family history that has influenced you. 

Some strategies to include historical and cultural context are: 

• • • • Instead of simply stating facts or offering dry explanations, use personal experiences and anecdotes. For example, “Growing up during the Cold War, we had bomb shelter drills at school.” 
      • Describe sensory details: “The soundtrack of my teenage years was filled with the rebellious anthems of punk rock.” 
      • Use dialogues wherever relevant: For example, “My grandmother, who had lived through the Great Depression, always told me, ‘Waste not, want not.’ 

4. Show, don’t tell 

This involved describing details like actions, visuals, tastes, sounds, voices, and touch instead of plainly stating the characters’ experiences and feelings. Let us see the difference between show, don’t tell: 

Tell: I was scared.  

Show: My breath hitched in my throat, and my palms turned clammy. 

Some other strategies to use show, don’t tell are: 

A. Replace weak verbs (like “was,” “were,” “felt”) with strong, descriptive verbs that show action. For example, instead of: “I was nervous about the audition”, you can write: “

My heart hammered in my chest as I clutched my sheet music, my fingers trembling so badly I could barely turn the pages.”

B. Describe actions to reveal the characters’ personalities. 

For example, instead of saying the person was kind and generous, describe the character’s actions that show kindness and generosity.

Example: “He knelt beside the homeless woman, offering her a warm meal and a compassionate smile. Without hesitation, he slipped a twenty-dollar bill into her hand, hoping it would bring her some comfort.” 

5. Share your fears, doubts, mistakes, challenges, and growth 

Some literary techniques you can use to do this are: 

• • • • Flashbacks: This means shifting from the present moment to narrating about a past event. For example, “As I stood on that stage, accepting the award, my mind drifted back to Mrs. Thompson’s third-grade class, where my stammering presentation earned me nothing but snickers.” 
      • Use humor: Adding humorous statements to make fun of oneself makes the author relatable, even while dealing with serious subjects. For example, “My attempt at cooking a meal for my family ended up being a comedy of errors, featuring a burnt roast, a smoke-filled kitchen, and a very amused fire department.”
      • Use symbolism: You can use objects and events to symbolize your growth, mistakes, and challenges. For example, “The old, tattered journal I found in my attic was a symbol of my past mistakes and the lessons I had learned.” 
      • Use irony: Irony refers to a situation where someone says something but their intended meaning is the opposite of what they say. While writing an autobiography, irony can be used to show the difference between beliefs, expectations, and reality. For example: 

a. There I was, confidently lecturing my friends on the importance of saving money, blissfully unaware that my own bank account was about to be emptied by a fraudulent charge.

b. I joined the school’s debate team to learn how to argue better, only to discover I hate arguing. 

Some tips while using irony are: 

• • • • Don’t overdo it: Too much irony can feel forced or confusing. Use it selectively for maximum impact.
      • Be clear: Make sure the irony is evident to the reader. You can use context, tone, or even a brief explanation to ensure it lands.
      • Connect to a larger theme: Irony works best when it highlights a larger truth about your life. For example, an important lesson you learned that was different from what you believed earlier. 

6. Include others’ perspectives when important 

Following are the situations when you should include others’ perspectives in your story: 

• • • • When their words or actions changed your life in some way 
      • When someone made you realize your mistakes 
      • When someone saw your huge potential 
      • When someone’s unexpected act of kindness helped you 
      • When someone made a prediction about you 
      • When someone changed their opinion about you 

Some strategies to include other people’s perspectives are: 

• • • • Direct quotes: For example, “My mother always said, ‘Stubbornness will either be your downfall or your saving grace.” 
      • Paraphrasing: For example, “My brother remembers our childhood games as fiercely competitive, while I recall them as mostly playful.” 
      • Contrasting viewpoints: Write a paragraph or section about how others experienced a shared event, highlighting the different perspectives. 

Here is an example of this: 

I remember our childhood games as epic adventures, full of imagination and laughter. Strangely my childhood friend recalls it differently. He often tells me stories about how I argued about rules and cheated at Monopoly, ruining everything.

Now let us see the last step of autobiography writing! 

7. Craft an impactful ending 

Following are some practical strategies to create an impactful ending for your autobiography: 

A. Full circle moment: Connect back to an important event or theme from the beginning of your story. 

For example, As I stood on that same stage, years later, accepting an award for my writing, I realized how far I’d come from the shy, awkward girl who once dreaded speaking in public.” 

B. A powerful image: Craft a final, impactful scene or focus on a specific object which creates a lasting impression on readers. 

For example, Surrounded by the laughter of my grandchildren, I saw reflections of our family’s spirit, a legacy woven through generations.

• • • • A heartfelt message: Share a message of hope, gratitude, forgiveness, or resilience, depending on the overall tone of your autobiography.

For example, “If my story inspires even one person to chase their dreams, embrace their true selves, or find the courage to forgive, then sharing my journey will have been worth it.” 

• • • • A quiet reflection: Conclude the story by offering a glimpse into your current state of mind.

For example: “Today, I find peace in the quiet moments. Sipping my coffee as the sun rises, listening to the birdsong in the garden, feeling grateful for the simple gifts that life has to offer. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but it has led me to a place of contentment.” 

Bonus section! Autobiography writing prompts 

Explore and use the following prompts to start writing your autobiography! 

• • 1. Facing extreme poverty or hardship: How has it shaped your resilience and perspective on life? 
    2. Your journey of self-education: Was it overcoming a lack of formal schooling, pursuing knowledge independently, or challenging limiting beliefs? 
    3. A period of personal transformation in your life: For example, during a time when you traveled, a spiritual awakening, or a significant life change. 
    4. A life-changing moment: An incident or words that forced you to confront your past, make difficult choices, or redefine your identity. 
    5. A cause you strongly believe in: Challenges, problems in funding, getting support, valuable partnerships, etc.  
    6. Discrimination and injustice: What happened and how did it fuel your desire for change and social activism? 
    7. Race and racism: How did these factors shape your understanding of the world and your place in it? 
    8. Entrepreneurial journey: What were the risks you took, the obstacles you overcame, and the lessons you learned from building something from scratch? 
    9. Leadership: What motivated you to make a difference, and what lessons did you learn about service, social justice, and leaving a legacy?
    10. A profound loss: How did it impact you and how did you overcome the trauma to progress and achieve success? 

This concludes our guide on how to write an autobiography! You can also include significant photos of your journey such as images of awards received, cherished family moments, influential mentors, or maps. To revisit any tips for writing an autobiography, bookmark this article! 

You can also take inspiration from autobiography writing examples like The Story of My Life by Hellen Keller, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela, etc. After writing an autobiography, the next step is to edit it. As experts in editing and proofreading services, we’d love to help you enhance your autobiography! 

Which tip did you find most helpful about how to write an autobiography about yourself? Share your thoughts in the comments section! 

Here are some useful resources for you: 

• • How to Write a Book Title (15 Expert Tips + Examples)
  • How to Write a Novel in Past Tense? 3 Steps & Examples
  • How to Write a Novel: 8 Steps to Help You Start Writing
  • Top 10 Online Book Editing Services of 2024
  • Quick Guide to Book Editing [Complete Process & Standard Rates]

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Rishi

Rishi was a zealous student at IIT Bombay when he realized, firsthand, the power of good language in effective communication. As part of this belief, after a brief stint in a hedge fund, he co-founded PaperTrue in 2014.