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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Posted on Jun 30, 2023

How to Write a Biography: A 7-Step Guide [+Template]

From time to time, nonfiction authors become so captivated by a particular figure from either the present or the past, that they feel compelled to write an entire book about their life. Whether casting them as heroes or villains, there is an interesting quality in their humanity that compels these authors to revisit their life paths and write their story.

However, portraying someone’s life on paper in a comprehensive and engaging way requires solid preparation. If you’re looking to write a biography yourself, in this post we’ll share a step-by-step blueprint that you can follow. 

How to write a biography: 

1. Seek permission when possible 

2. research your subject thoroughly, 3. do interviews and visit locations, 4. organize your findings, 5. identify a central thesis, 6. write it using narrative elements, 7. get feedback and polish the text.

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Biography Outline Template

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While you technically don’t need permission to write about public figures (or deceased ones), that doesn't guarantee their legal team won't pursue legal action against you. Author Kitty Kelley was sued by Frank Sinatra before she even started to write His Way , a biography that paints Ol Blue Eyes in a controversial light. (Kelley ended up winning the lawsuit, however).  

Whenever feasible, advise the subject’s representatives of your intentions. If all goes according to plan, you’ll get a green light to proceed, or potentially an offer to collaborate. It's a matter of common sense; if someone were to write a book about you, you would likely want to know about it well prior to publication. So, make a sincere effort to reach out to their PR staff to negotiate an agreement or at least a mutual understanding of the scope of your project. 

At the same time, make sure that you still retain editorial control over the project, and not end up writing a puff piece that treats its protagonist like a saint or hero. No biography can ever be entirely objective, but you should always strive for a portrayal that closely aligns with facts and reality.

If you can’t get an answer from your subject, or you’re asked not to proceed forward, you can still accept the potential repercussions and write an unauthorized biography . The “rebellious act” of publishing without consent indeed makes for great marketing, though it’ll likely bring more headaches with it too. 

✋ Please note that, like other nonfiction books, if you intend to release your biography with a publishing house , you can put together a book proposal to send to them before you even write the book. If they like it enough, they might pay you an advance to write it.  

Book Proposal Template

Craft a professional pitch for your nonfiction book with our handy template.

Once you’ve settled (or not) the permission part, it’s time to dive deep into your character’s story.  

Deep and thorough research skills are the cornerstone of every biographer worth their salt. To paint a vivid and accurate portrait of someone's life, you’ll have to gather qualitative information from a wide range of reliable sources. 

Start with the information already available, from books on your subject to archival documents, then collect new ones firsthand by interviewing people or traveling to locations. 

Browse the web and library archives

Put your researcher hat on and start consuming any piece on your subject you can find, from their Wikipedia page to news articles, interviews, TV and radio appearances, YouTube videos, podcasts, books, magazines, and any other media outlets they may have been featured in. 

Establish a system to orderly collect the information you find 一 even seemingly insignificant details can prove valuable during the writing process, so be sure to save them. 

Depending on their era, you may find most of the information readily available online, or you may need to search through university libraries for older references. 

For his landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow spent untold hours at Columbia University’s library , reading through the Hamilton family papers, visiting the New York Historical Society, as well as interviewing the archivist of the New York Stock Exchange, and so on. The research process took years, but it certainly paid off. Chernow discovered that Hamilton created the first five securities originally traded on Wall Street. This finding, among others, revealed his significant contributions to shaping the current American financial and political systems, a legacy previously often overshadowed by other founding fathers. Today Alexander Hamilton is one of the best-selling biographies of all time, and it has become a cultural phenomenon with its own dedicated musical. 

Besides reading documents about your subject, research can help you understand the world that your subject lived in. 

Try to understand their time and social environment

Many biographies show how their protagonists have had a profound impact on society through their philosophical, artistic, or scientific contributions. But at the same time, it’s worth it as a biographer to make an effort to understand how their societal and historical context influenced their life’s path and work.

An interesting example is Stephen Greenblatt’s Will in the World . Finding himself limited by a lack of verified detail surrounding William Shakespeare's personal life, Greenblatt, instead, employs literary interpretation and imaginative reenactments to transport readers back to the Elizabethan era. The result is a vivid (though speculative) depiction of the playwright's life, enriching our understanding of his world.

Many readers enjoy biographies that transport them to a time and place, so exploring a historical period through the lens of a character can be entertaining in its own right. The Diary of Samuel Pepys became a classic not because people were enthralled by his life as an administrator, but rather from his meticulous and vivid documentation of everyday existence during the Restoration period.

Once you’ve gotten your hands on as many secondary sources as you can find, you’ll want to go hunting for stories first-hand from people who are (or were) close to your subject.

With all the material you’ve been through, by now you should already have a pretty good picture of your protagonist. But you’ll surely have some curiosities and missing dots in their character arc to figure out, which you can only get by interviewing primary sources.

Interview friends and associates

This part is more relevant if your subject is contemporary, and you can actually meet up or call with relatives, friends, colleagues, business partners, neighbors, or any other person related to them. 

In writing the popular biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson interviewed more than one hundred people, including Jobs’s family, colleagues, former college mates, business rivals, and the man himself.

🔍 Read other biographies to get a sense of what makes a great one. Check out our list of the 30 best biographies of all time , or take our 30-second quiz below for tips on which one you should read next. 

Which biography should you read next?

Discover the perfect biography for you. Takes 30 seconds!

When you conduct your interviews, make sure to record them with high quality audio you can revisit later. Then use tools like Otter.ai or Descript to transcribe them 一 it’ll save you countless hours. 

You can approach the interview with a specific set of questions, or follow your curiosity blindly, trying to uncover revealing stories and anecdotes about your subject. Whatever your method, author and biography editor Tom Bromley suggests that every interviewer arrives prepared, "Show that you’ve done your work. This will help to put the interviewee at ease, and get their best answers.” 

Bromley also places emphasis on the order in which you conduct interviews. “You may want to interview different members of the family or friends first, to get their perspective on something, and then go directly to the main interviewee. You'll be able to use that knowledge to ask sharper, more specific questions.” 

Finally, consider how much time you have with each interviewee. If you only have a 30-minute phone call with an important person, make it count by asking directly the most pressing questions you have. And, if you find a reliable source who is also particularly willing to help, conduct several interviews and ask them, if appropriate, to write a foreword as part of the book’s front matter .

Sometimes an important part of the process is packing your bags, getting on a plane, and personally visiting significant places in your character’s journey.

Visit significant places in their life

A place, whether that’s a city, a rural house, or a bodhi tree, can carry a particular energy that you can only truly experience by being there. In putting the pieces together about someone’s life, it may be useful to go visit where they grew up, or where other significant events of their lives happened. It will be easier to imagine what they experienced, and better tell their story. 

In researching The Lost City of Z , author David Grann embarked on a trek through the Amazon, retracing the steps of British explorer Percy Fawcett. This led Grann to develop new theories about the circumstances surrounding the explorer's disappearance.

Hopefully, you won’t have to deal with jaguars and anacondas to better understand your subject’s environment, but try to walk into their shoes as much as possible. 

Once you’ve researched your character enough, it’s time to put together all the puzzle pieces you collected so far. 

Take the bulk of notes, media, and other documents you’ve collected, and start to give them some order and structure. A simple way to do this is by creating a timeline. 

Create a chronological timeline

It helps to organize your notes chronologically 一 from childhood to the senior years, line up the most significant events of your subject’s life, including dates, places, names and other relevant bits. 

You should be able to divide their life into distinct periods, each with their unique events and significance. Based on that, you can start drafting an outline of the narrative you want to create.  

Draft a story outline 

Since a biography entails writing about a person’s entire life, it will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. You can pick where you want to end the story, depending on how consequential the last years of your subject were. But the nature of the work will give you a starting character arc to work with. 

To outline the story then, you could turn to the popular Three-Act Structure , which divides the narrative in three main parts. In a nutshell, you’ll want to make sure to have the following:

• Act 1. Setup : Introduce the protagonist's background and the turning points that set them on a path to achieve a goal. 
• Act 2. Confrontation : Describe the challenges they encounter, both internal and external, and how they rise to them. Then..
• Act 3. Resolution : Reach a climactic point in their story in which they succeed (or fail), showing how they (and the world around them) have changed as a result. 

Only one question remains before you begin writing: what will be the main focus of your biography?

Think about why you’re so drawn to your subject to dedicate years of your life to recounting their own. What aspect of their life do you want to highlight? Is it their evil nature, artistic genius, or visionary mindset? And what evidence have you got to back that up? Find a central thesis or focus to weave as the main thread throughout your narrative. 

Or find a unique angle

If you don’t have a particular theme to explore, finding a distinct angle on your subject’s story can also help you distinguish your work from other biographies or existing works on the same subject.

Plenty of biographies have been published about The Beatles 一 many of which have different focuses and approaches: 

• Philip Norman's Shout is sometimes regarded as leaning more towards a pro-Lennon and anti-McCartney stance, offering insights into the band's inner dynamics. 
• Ian McDonald's Revolution in the Head closely examines their music track by track, shifting the focus back to McCartney as a primary creative force. 
• Craig Brown's One Two Three Four aims to capture their story through anecdotes, fan letters, diary entries, and interviews. 
• Mark Lewisohn's monumental three-volume biography, Tune In , stands as a testament to over a decade of meticulous research, chronicling every intricate detail of the Beatles' journey.

Finally, consider that biographies are often more than recounting the life of a person. Similar to how Dickens’ Great Expectations is not solely about a boy named Pip (but an examination and critique of Britain’s fickle, unforgiving class system), a biography should strive to illuminate a broader truth — be it social, political, or human — beyond the immediate subject of the book. 

Once you’ve identified your main focus or angle, it’s time to write a great story. 

While biographies are often highly informative, they do not have to be dry and purely expository in nature . You can play with storytelling elements to make it an engaging read. 

You could do that by thoroughly detailing the setting of the story , depicting the people involved in the story as fully-fledged characters , or using rising action and building to a climax when describing a particularly significant milestone of the subject’s life. 

One common way to make a biography interesting to read is starting on a strong foot…

Hook the reader from the start

Just because you're honoring your character's whole life doesn't mean you have to begin when they said their first word. Starting from the middle or end of their life can be more captivating as it introduces conflicts and stakes that shaped their journey.

When he wrote about Christopher McCandless in Into the Wild , author Jon Krakauer didn’t open his subject’s childhood and abusive family environment. Instead, the book begins with McCandless hitchhiking his way into the wilderness, and subsequently being discovered dead in an abandoned bus. By starting in medias res , Krakauer hooks the reader’s interest, before tracing back the causes and motivations that led McCandless to die alone in that bus in the first place.

You can bend the timeline to improve the reader’s reading experience throughout the rest of the story too…

Play with flashback 

While biographies tend to follow a chronological narrative, you can use flashbacks to tell brief stories or anecdotes when appropriate. For example, if you were telling the story of footballer Lionel Messi, before the climax of winning the World Cup with Argentina, you could recall when he was just 13 years old, giving an interview to a local newspaper, expressing his lifelong dream of playing for the national team. 

Used sparsely and intentionally, flashbacks can add more context to the story and keep the narrative interesting. Just like including dialogue does…

Reimagine conversations

Recreating conversations that your subject had with people around them is another effective way to color the story. Dialogue helps the reader imagine the story like a movie, providing a deeper sensory experience. 

One thing is trying to articulate the root of Steve Jobs’ obsession with product design, another would be to quote his father , teaching him how to build a fence when he was young: “You've got to make the back of the fence just as good looking as the front of the fence. Even though nobody will see it, you will know. And that will show that you're dedicated to making something perfect.”

Unlike memoirs and autobiographies, in which the author tells the story from their personal viewpoint and enjoys greater freedom to recall conversations, biographies require a commitment to facts. So, when recreating dialogue, try to quote directly from reliable sources like personal diaries, emails, and text messages. You could also use your interview scripts as an alternative to dialogue. As Tom Bromley suggests, “If you talk with a good amount of people, you can try to tell the story from their perspective, interweaving different segments and quoting the interviewees directly.”

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These are just some of the story elements you can use to make your biography more compelling. Once you’ve finished your manuscript, it’s a good idea to ask for feedback. 

If you’re going to self-publish your biography, you’ll have to polish it to professional standards. After leaving your work to rest for a while, look at it with fresh eyes and self-edit your manuscript eliminating passive voice, filler words, and redundant adverbs. 

Then, have a professional editor give you a general assessment. They’ll look at the structure and shape of your manuscript and tell you which parts need to be expanded on or cut. As someone who edited and commissioned several biographies, Tom Bromley points out that a professional “will look at the sources used and assess whether they back up the points made, or if more are needed. They would also look for context, and whether or not more background information is needed for the reader to understand the story fully. And they might check your facts, too.”  

In addition to structural editing, you may want to have someone copy-edit and proofread your work.

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Importantly, make sure to include a bibliography with a list of all the interviews, documents, and sources used in the writing process. You’ll have to compile it according to a manual of style, but you can easily create one by using tools like EasyBib . Once the text is nicely polished and typeset in your writing software , you can prepare for the publication process.  

In conclusion, by mixing storytelling elements with diligent research, you’ll be able to breathe life into a powerful biography that immerses readers in another individual’s life experience. Whether that’ll spark inspiration or controversy, remember you could have an important role in shaping their legacy 一 and that’s something not to take lightly. 

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Biography Book Cover Template

Biographies can be incredibly personal and expressive, especially if they're written by the subject themselves. That's why it's important to design a book cover that is representative of not just the material inside but also of the person that it will be describing. Our Biography book cover template is the perfect starting point for a succinct yet personal biography cover thanks to the large space on the cover that can be used for a photograph of the subject. It's flanked by both the biography title and an explanation of what the book is, utilizing very simple and clean fonts with a consistent color scheme. The summary itself also contains a title and a clean white box that can be used to contain the text itself.

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Biography Book Cover Design

Biographies pretty much sell themselves, as anyone who is already interested in a particular person is likely to go searching for their biography. The trick comes when you have someone famous enough that more than one author has taken it upon themselves to write a biography . Then they have to compete with one another to have their bio read instead of the next one. Interesting covers can give a competitive edge.

Albert Einstein was so incredibly important to the scientific community, and to the world as a whole, that it’s pretty safe to say that almost anyone has at least a vague idea of who he was. This familiarity with the subject already gives an edge against books about other, less known people, but it comes with its own unique problem. Because Einstein is so well known, there are likely to be more people wanting to write his biography. This cover has a great edge against the competition for several reasons. The first, and likely the most eye-catching, is the fact that almost all pictures seen of Einstein are in black and white. This cover image has a color photo that immediately captures the attention of the reader. The photo itself helps to keep that attention, with a candid shot of the genius smiling, his iconic crazy hair standing on end. The words in the corner add just a tiny bit of intrigue, talking about not only his life, but his universe. Altogether, this cover is sure to win out over any competition when it comes to being the best attention getter.

Sometimes a book can stand out just be being the most simplistic of the bunch. This cover takes this approach with a simple, black and white photo of the person of interest that takes over most of the available space. It is this picture of this woman, seemingly staring at the reader, with hands posed in front of her, that becomes so immediately captivating and gently pushes the reader towards opening this intriguing cover to learn more. The simplistic effect is continued with the plain font in easy to read colors; the white against the black background and the black against the grey of the photo. The blue of the title is easy on the eyes, and stands out just enough to continue that eye-catching effect without being too overwhelming. This cover has come together perfectly so that even for those who are unfamiliar with its subject, they are captivated enough to pick it up and at least learn a little more.

Steve Jobs has been one of the most influential people in our modern world, bringing a slew of technology that has come to be depended on by millions of people worldwide. It’s no surprise to see multiple biographies on him, but why does this particular cover stand out? Well, first of all it uses a powerful image of Jobs, one that looks as if it were taken mid-speech, maybe even at a lecture of some kind. It gives the cover the illusion of movement, something that will capture attention whether someone is looking at it head on or only sees it from the corner of their eye. Secondly, the huge orange block in the middle of the cover makes it impossible not to see this book. Orange in itself is an unusual color, not seen very often and so when it is used, the human eyes pick up on it quicker. The word inside this orange box adds to the attention grabbing capability of the cover, playing on a well-known merchandise name associate specifically with the person of interest, and twisted to not only show familiarity with this person, but to show how important they were. The word “icon” is not thrown around lightly, after all. And then of course there is the little tidbit of subtitle that really pushes the book to the reader, adding that little bit of intrigue to get them to pick it up and buy: “The greatest second act in the history of business” is pretty hard to ignore, making it a great final piece to the success of this cover.

This is just an incredible book cover that not only grabs the attention of the potential reader, but really gives tribute to the person whose life unfolds through the pages within. The photo is intense yet laid back, showing Dylan with his guitar and looking off into the distance. The sepia tone gives age to the picture, taking people back visually before taking them back mentally. Even the font of the words adds to the overall effect, looking almost as if they were actually written in a carefree hand instead of typed on a computer, and adding to the carefree feel of the entire cover. For fans and non fans alike, this cover is sure to grab onto their attention and not let go, not until they at least take a closer look.

Not every biography is going to be about a well-known person that any passerby is going to recognize, either by face or by name. In fact there are thousands of biographies out there that are catered to a specific group of people, to better inform the select few that have an interest in a certain individual. Not every bio is about rock stars, movie stars or great historical figures, but that doesn’t mean that other biographies have any less importance. It only means that their covers have to work twice as hard if they want to really be seen. This cover is a great example, as Patrick Troughton is likely not a very popular name among most people. So in order to gain the attention of those that aren’t familiar, the cover designer has created something that really leaps out and snatches the attention of those passing by. The man on the front, playing some kind of instrument is only the centerpiece of an extraordinary cover. He is surrounded in a slight, almost angel-like aura that actually sends out piercing bits of light in a few directions. Behind him is a strange diamond design that almost looks archaic, maybe even symbolic. In order to find out exactly what it is, the reader is just going to have to look a little closer, maybe read a few pages. Then it is the author’s job to keep the attention that the cover has so successfully gotten.

About the Author

CJ grew up admiring books. His family owned a small bookstore throughout his early childhood, and he would spend weekends flipping through book after book, always sure to read the ones that looked the most interesting. Not much has changed since then, except now some of those interesting books he picks off the shelf were designed by his company!

How To Write an Autobiography 2024 (Tips, Templates, & Guide)

Your life story has value, merit, and significance. You want to share it with the world, but maybe you don’t know how .

Here’s how to write an autobiography:

Write an autobiography by creating a list of the most important moments, people, and places in your life. Gather photos, videos, letters, and notes about these experiences. Then, use an outline, templates, sentence starters, and questions to help you write your autobiography .

In this article, you are going to learn the fastest method for writing your autobiography.

We are going to cover everything you need to know with examples and a free, downloadable, done-for-you template.

What Is an Autobiography?

Table of Contents

Before you can write an autobiography, you must first know the definition.

An autobiography is the story of your life, written by you. It covers the full span of your life (at least, up until now), hitting on the most significant moments, people and events.

When you write your autobiography, you write an intimate account of your life.

What Should I Include In an Autobiography?

If you are scratching your head, baffled about what to include in your autobiography, you are not alone.

After all, a big part of how to write an autobiography is knowing what to put in and what to leave out of your life story. Do you focus on every detail?

Every person? Won’t your autobiography be too long?

A good way to think about how to write an autobiography is to use the Movie Trailer Method.

What do movie trailers include?

• High emotional moments
• The big events
• The most important characters

When you plan, organize, and write your autobiography, keep the Movie Trailer Method in mind. You can even watch a bunch of free movie trailers on YouTube for examples of how to write an autobiography using the Movie Trailer Method.

When wondering what to include in your autobiography, focus on what would make the cut for a movie trailer of your life:

• Most important people (like family, friends, mentors, coaches, etc.)
• Significant events (like your origin story, vacations, graduations, life turning points, life lessons)
• Emotional moments (When you were homeless, when you battled a life-threatening condition, or when you fell in love)
• Drama or suspense (Did you make it into Harvard? Did your first surgery go well? Did your baby survive?)

Autobiography Structure Secrets

Like any compelling story, a well-structured autobiography often follows a pattern that creates a logical flow and captures readers’ attention.

Traditionally, autobiographies begin with early memories, detailing the writer’s childhood, family background, and the events or people that shaped their formative years.

From here, the narrative typically progresses chronologically, covering major life events like schooling, friendships, challenges, achievements, career milestones, and personal relationships.

It’s essential to weave these events with introspective insights.

This allows readers to understand not just the what, but also the why behind the author’s choices and experiences.

Towards the end, an effective autobiography often includes reflections on lessons learned, changes in perspective over time, and the wisdom acquired along life’s journey.

Example of the Structure:

• Introduction: A gripping event or anecdote that gives readers a hint of what to expect. It could be a pivotal moment or challenge that defines the essence of the story.
• Childhood and Early Memories: Recounting family dynamics, birthplace, cultural background, and memorable incidents from early years.
• Adolescence and Discovering Identity: Experiences during teenage years, challenges faced, friendships formed, and personal evolutions.
• Pursuits and Passions: Describing education, early career choices, or any particular hobby or skill that played a significant role in the author’s life.
• Major Life Events and Challenges: Chronicles of marriage, parenthood, career shifts, or any significant setbacks and how they were overcome.
• Achievements and Milestones: Celebrating major accomplishments and recounting the journey to achieving them.
• Reflections and Wisdom: Sharing life lessons, changes in beliefs or values over time, and offering insights gained from lived experiences.
• Conclusion: Summarizing the journey, contemplating on the present state, and sharing hopes or aspirations for the future.

How To Write an Autobiography Quickly: Strategies & Templates

Want the quickest way to organize and write your autobiography in record time? You can literally write your autobiography in 7 days or less with this method.

The secret is to use done-for-you templates.

I have personally designed and collected a series of templates to take you from a blank page to a fully complete Autobiography. I call this the How to Write an Autobiography Blueprint.

And it’s completely free to download right from this article. 🙂

In the How to Write an Autobiography Blueprint, you get:

• The Autobiography Questions Template
• The Autobiography Brainstorm Templates
• The Autobiography Outline Template

Here is an image of it so that you know exactly what you get when you download it:

How To Write an Autobiography: Step-by-Step

When you sit down to write an autobiography, it’s helpful to have a step-by-step blueprint to follow.

You already have the done-for-you templates that you can use to organize and write an autobiography faster than ever before. Now here’s a complete step-by-step guide on how to maximize your template.

• Brainstorm Ideas
• Order your sections (from medium to high interest)
• Order the ideas in each section (from medium to high interest)
• Write three questions to answer in each section
• Choose a starter sentence
• Complete a title template
• Write each section of your by completing the starter sentence and answering all three questions

Brainstorm Your Autobiography

The first step in writing your autobiography is to brainstorm.

Give yourself time and space to write down the most significant people, events, lessons, and experiences in your life. The templates in the How to Write an Autobiography Blueprint provide sections for you to write down your brainstormed ideas.

This will help you organize your ideas into what will become the major sections of your book.

These will be:

• Y our most significant events and experiences.
• The people who impacted you the most.
• The challenges you have overcome.
• Your achievements and successes.
• The lessons you have learned.

The “other” sections on the second page of the Brainstorm template is for creating your own sections or to give you more space for the sections I provided in case you run out of space.

As I brainstorm, I find asking myself specific questions really activates my imagination.

So I have compiled a list of compelling questions to help you get ideas down on paper or on your screen.

Order Your Sections (From Medium to High Interest)

The next step is to order your main sections.

The main sections are the five (or more) sections from your Brainstorm templates (Significant events, significant people, life lessons, challenges, successes, other, etc). This order will become the outline and chapters for your book.

How do you decide what comes first, second or third?

I recommend placing the sections in order of interest. Ask yourself, “What’s the most fascinating part of my life?”

If it’s a person, then write the name of that section (Significant People) on the last line in the How to Write an Autobiography Outline Template. If it’s an experience, place the name of that section (Significant Events) on the last line.

For example, if you met the Pope, you might want to end with that nugget from your life. If you spent three weeks lost at sea and survived on a desert island by spearfishing, that is your ending point.

Then complete the Outline by placing the remaining sections in order of interest. You can work your way backward from high interest to medium interest.

If you are wondering why I say “medium to high interest” instead of “low to high interest” it is because there should be no “low interest” parts of your autobiography.

But wait, what if you met the Pope AND spent three weeks lost at sea? How do you choose which one comes first or last?

First of all, I want to read this book! Second, when in doubt, default to chronological order. Whatever event happened first, start there.

Here is an example of how it might look:

Order The Ideas in Each Section (From Medium To High Interest)

Now, organize the ideas inside of each section. Again, order the ideas from medium to high interest).

Within your “Significant People” section, decide who you want to talk about first, second, third, etc. You can organize by chronological order (who you met first) but I recommend building to the most interesting or most significant person.

This creates a more compelling read.

Keep in mind that the most significant person might not be the most well-known, most famous, or most popular. The most significant person might be your family member, friend, partner, or child.

It comes down to who shaped your life the most.

So, if your “significant people list” includes your dad, a famous social media influencer, and Mike Tyson, your dad might come last because he had the biggest significance in your life.

Write Three Questions to Answer in Each Section

Ok, you’ve done the heavy lifting already. You have the major sections organized and outlined.

Next on your autobiography to-do list is to choose and write down three questions you are going to answer in each section. You can write your questions down in the provided “boxes” for each section on the template outline (or on another piece of paper.

This is easier than it might seem.

Simply choose one of the sample autobiography questions below or create your own:

• Why did I choose this person/event?
• What does this person/event mean to me?
• How did I meet this person?
• Where did it happen?
• When did it happen?
• Why did it happen?
• How did it happen?
• What is the most interesting part?
• How did I feel about this person or event?
• How do I feel now?
• Why does this person or event matters to me?
• How did this person or event change my life?
• What is the most challenging part?
• How did I fail?
• How did I succeed?
• What did I learn?

Questions are the perfect way to write quickly and clearly. I LOVE writing to questions. It’s how I write these blog posts and articles.

Choose a Starter Sentence

Sometimes the hardest part of any project is knowing how to start.

Even though we know we can always go back and edit our beginnings, so many of us become paralyzed with indecision at the starting gate.

That’s why I provided sample starter sentences in your How to Write an Autobiography Blueprint.

Here are the story starters:

• I began writing this book when…
• Of all the experiences in my life, this one was the most…
• I’ve been a…
• My name is…
• Growing up in…
• It wasn’t even a…
• It all started when…
• I first…
• I was born…

Keep in mind that you do not need to begin your book with one of these story starters. I provide them simply to get you going.

The key is to not get bogged down in this, or any, part of writing your autobiography. Get organized and then get writing.

Complete a Title Template

At the top of the How to Write an Autobiography Outline is a place for you to write your book title.

Some authors struggle forever with a title. And that’s ok. What’s not ok is getting stuck. What’s not ok is if coming up with your title prevents you from finishing your book.

So, I provided a few title templates to help juice your creativity.

Just like the story starters, you do not need to use these title templates, but you certainly can. All you need to do is fill in the title templates below and then write your favorite one (for now) at the top of your outline. Presto! You have your working title.

You can always go back and change it later.

How to Write an Autobiography Title templates:

• [Your Name]: [Phrase or Tag Line]
• The [Your Last Name] Files
• Born [Activity]: A [Career]’s Life
• The Perfect [Noun]: The Remarkable Life of [Your Name]

Examples using the Templates:

• Christopher Kokoski: Blog Until You Drop
• The Kokoski Files
• Born Writing: A Blogger’s Life
• The Perfect Freelancer: The Remarkable Life of Christopher Kokoski

Write Your Autobiography

You have your outline. You have your title, templates, and sentence starters. All that is left to do is write your autobiography.

However, you can use tools like Jasper AI and a few other cool tricks to craft the most riveting book possible.

This is the easy way to remarkable writing.

Check out this short video that goes over the basics of how to write an autobiography:

How To Write an Autobiography (All the Best Tips)

Now that you are poised and ready to dash out your first draft, keep the following pro tips in mind:

• Be vulnerable. The best autobiographies share flaws, faults, foibles, and faux pas. Let readers in on the real you.
• Skip the boring parts. There is no need to detail every meal, car ride, or a gripping trip to the grocery store. Unless you ran into the Russian Mafia near the vegetables or the grocery store is perched on the side of a mountain above the jungles of Brazil.
• Keep your autobiography character-driven . This is the story of YOU!
• Be kind to others (or don’t). When writing about others in your story, keep in mind that there may be fallout or backlash from your book.
• Consider a theme: Many autobiographies are organized by theme. A perfect example is Becoming . Each section of the book includes “becoming” in the title. Themes connect and elevate each part of the autobiography.
• Write your story in vignettes (or scenes). Each vignette is a mini-story with a beginning, middle, and end. Each vignette builds. Each vignette should be described in rich sensory language that shows the reader the experience instead of telling the reader about the experience. Each vignette is immersive, immediate, and intimate.
• Include snippets of dialogue. Use quotation marks just like in fiction. Show the dialogue in brief back-and-forth tennis matches of conversation. Remember to leave the boring parts out!
• Choose a consistent tone. Some autobiographies are funny like Bossy Pants by Tina Fey. Others are serious such as Open by Andre Agassi. Your story (like most stories) will likely include a mix of emotions but choose an overall tone and stick with it.
• Don’t chronicle, captivate . Always think about how to make each section, each chapter, each page, each paragraph, and each sentence more compelling. You want to tell the truth, but HOW you tell the truth is up to you. Create suspense, conflict, and mystery. Let drama linger until it becomes uncomfortable. Don’t solve problems quickly or take away tension right away.

How Do I Format an Autobiography?

Most autobiographies are written in the first person (using the pronouns I, me, we, and us).

Your autobiography is written about you so write as yourself instead of pretending to be writing about someone else.

Most autobiographies are also written in chronological order, from birth right up to your current age, with all the boring parts left out. That doesn’t mean you can’t play around with the timeline.

Sometimes it’s more interesting to start at a high moment, backtrack to the beginning and show how you got to that high moment.

Whatever format you choose, be intentional, and make the choice based on making the most compelling experience possible for your readers.

How Long Should an Autobiography Be?

There are no rules to how long an autobiography should be but a rough guideline is to aim for between 200 and 400 pages.

This will keep your book in line with what most readers expect for books in general, and will help get your book traditionally published or help with marketing your self-published book.

How To Write a Short Autobiography

You write a short autobiography the same way that you write a long autobiography.

You simply leave more out of the story.

You cut everything down to the bones. Or you choose a slice of your life as you do in a memoir. This often means limiting the people in your book, reducing the events and experiences, and shrinking your story to a few pivotal moments in your life.

How To Start an Autobiography

The truth is that you can start your autobiography in any number of ways.

Here are four common ways to begin an autobiography.

• Start at the beginning (of your life, career or relationship, etc.)
• Start at a high moment of drama or interest.
• Start at the end of the story and work backward
• Start with why you wrote the book.

Good Autobiography Titles

If you are still stuck on titling your autobiography, consider going to Amazon to browse published works. You can even just Google “autobiographies.”

When you read the titles of 10, 20, or 50 other autobiographies, you will start to see patterns or get ideas for your own titles. (HINT: the title templates in the Autobiography Blueprint were reverse-engineered from popular published books.

Also, check out the titles of the full autobiography examples below that I have included right here in this article.

Types of Autobiographies

There are several different kinds of autobiographies.

Each one requires a similar but slightly nuanced approach to write effectively. The lessons in this article will serve as a great starting point.

Autobiography Types:

• Autobiography for School
• Autobiography Novel
• Autobiography for a Job
• Short Autobiography
• Autobiography for Kids

Therefore, there is actually not just one way to write an autobiography.

Memoir vs. Autobiography: Are They The Same?

It’s common to feel confused about a memoir and an autobiography. I used to think they were the same thing.

But, nope, they’re not.

They are pretty similar, which is the reason for all the confusion. A memoir is the story of one part of your life. An autobiography is the story of your full life (up until now).

What Is the Difference Between an Autobiography and a Biography?

An autobiography is when you write about your own life. A biography, on the other hand, is when you write the story of someone else’s life.

So, if I write a book about the life of the President, that’s a biography.

If the President writes a story about his or her own life, that’s an autobiography.

What Not To Include In an Autobiography

Autobiographies are meant to be a snapshot of our lives that we can share with others, but there are some things that are best left out.

Here are three things you should avoid including in your autobiography:

1) Anything That Readers Will Skip

Your life may not be filled with non-stop excitement, but that doesn’t mean you need to include every mundane detail in your autobiography.

Stick to the highlights and leave out the low points.

2) Character Attacks on Others

It’s okay to discuss conflicts you’ve had with others, but don’t use your autobiography as a platform to attack someone’s character.

Keep it civil and focus on your own experiences and how they’ve affected you.

3) Skipping Highlights

Just because something embarrassing or painful happened to you doesn’t mean you should gloss over it in your autobiography.

These are the moments that shape us and make us who we are today, so don’t skip past them just because they’re uncomfortable.

By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your autobiography is interesting, honest, and engaging.

How To Write an Autobiography: Autobiography Examples

I have always found examples to be extremely instructive. Especially complete examples of finished products. In this case, books.

Below you will find examples of published autobiographies for adults and for kids. These examples will guide you, motivate you and inspire you to complete your own life story.

They are listed here as examples, not as endorsements, although I think they are all very good.

The point is that you don’t have to agree with anything written in the books to learn from them.

Autobiography Examples for Adults

• A Promised Land (Autobiography of Barack Obama)
• If You Ask Me: (And of Course You Won’t) (Betty White)
• It’s a Long Story: My Life (Willie Nelson)
• Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography (Rob Lowe)
• Becoming (Michelle Obama)

Autobiography Examples for Kids

• This Kid Can Fly: It’s About Ability (NOT Disability) (Aaron Philips)
• Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid (Mikaila Ulmer)

Final Thoughts: How To Write An Autobiography

Thank you for reading my article on How to Write an Autobiography.

Now that you know all of the secrets to write your book, you may want to get it published, market it, and continue to upskill yourself as an author.

In that case, read these posts next:

• Can Anyone Write A Book And Get It Published?
• The Best Writing Books For Beginners 2022 (My 10 Favorites)
• Why Do Writers Hate Adverbs? (The Final Answer)
• How To Write a Manifesto: 20 Ultimate Game-Changing Tips

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A Guide on How to Write a Biography Book About Yourself

• December 22, 2023

Writing a biography book about yourself is a deeply personal and introspective journey. It’s not just about narrating events from your life; it’s about delving into the depths of your experiences, challenges, triumphs, and growth. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore every aspect of crafting your own biography, ensuring it is not only engaging and impactful but also optimized for search engines. Let’s embark on this literary adventure, starting with the fundamental step of defining your purpose.

Defining Your Purpose

Before you put pen to paper, it’s crucial to understand why you want to write your biography. Are you aiming to inspire others, share life lessons, or simply preserve your memories for future generations? Defining your purpose will shape the tone, style, and content of your book, making it resonate deeply with your readers. This clarity of purpose will guide you throughout your writing journey, ensuring your narrative remains focused and impactful.

Navigating the Journey of Self-Biography

Navigating the intricate paths of self-biography requires introspection and honesty. It’s not just a recollection of events; it’s a profound exploration of your identity, values, and beliefs. As you embark on this journey, you will encounter challenges and triumphs, moments of self-discovery, and reflections that will shape your narrative. Embrace this journey with an open heart and mind, and your biography will undoubtedly reflect the authenticity of your experiences.

1. Getting Started

Once your purpose is defined, the next step is to identify your target audience. Who are you writing for? Understanding your audience helps you tailor your story to meet their expectations and resonate with their emotions. Whether it’s young adults seeking inspiration or history enthusiasts intrigued by personal narratives, knowing your audience guides your writing style, language, and the themes you choose to explore.

Setting Clear Objectives

Set clear objectives for your biography. Are you aiming for a chronological retelling of your life, or do you intend to focus on specific themes and experiences? Establishing these objectives provides a roadmap for your writing, helping you stay organized and ensuring your narrative remains coherent and engaging.

Gathering Essential Materials

Collecting essential materials is akin to gathering the raw ingredients for a culinary masterpiece. These materials include photographs, letters, diaries, and other memorabilia that provide a tangible connection to your past. These artifacts not only enrich your narrative but also serve as visual aids, immersing readers in the world you are describing. Use these materials strategically, weaving them into your story to enhance the reader’s experience.

2. Choosing Your Narrative Approach

Your narrative approach is the lens through which readers will perceive your story. You have several options: first-person perspective, where you narrate your experiences directly; third-person perspective, where an external narrator tells your story; or a blend of both, allowing for a multifaceted exploration of your life. Each approach offers unique advantages, shaping the reader’s connection with your narrative. Choose the one that aligns with your purpose and resonates with your audience.

First-Person Perspective

Writing in the first person provides an intimate and immersive experience for the reader. It allows them to step into your shoes, experiencing the events and emotions firsthand. This approach creates a strong sense of empathy, making it ideal for personal and emotional narratives. When adopting the first-person perspective, focus on authenticity, capturing your voice, emotions, and thought processes with vivid detail.

Third-Person Perspective

In contrast, the third-person perspective provides a degree of detachment, allowing for a more objective portrayal of your life. This approach is often used for biographies that aim to analyze your life from an outsider’s perspective. It offers a broader view, enabling you to explore societal, cultural, or historical contexts that influenced your experiences. When employing the third-person perspective, maintain a balance between objectivity and empathy, ensuring your story remains engaging and relatable.

Blending Perspectives for Impact

For a nuanced and impactful narrative, consider blending perspectives. Combining the first-person account with an external narrator’s viewpoint offers the best of both worlds. You can share your innermost thoughts and emotions while providing an objective analysis of your life. This approach adds depth and complexity to your story, captivating readers and inviting them into the intricate layers of your experiences.

3. Crafting Your Personal Story

With your narrative approach in place, it’s time to delve into the heart of your biography: your personal story. This section focuses on shaping your early life, highlighting milestones and transformative events, and discussing the challenges and triumphs that defined your journey.

Writing Your Early Life

Begin your biography by painting a vivid picture of your early life. Describe the environment, family dynamics, and cultural influences that shaped your upbringing. Share anecdotes, memories, and experiences that had a profound impact on your character and values. Engage the reader’s senses, allowing them to smell, taste, hear, and feel the world you inhabited during your formative years.

Highlighting Milestones and Transformative Events

Milestones and transformative events are the cornerstones of your narrative. These moments define your character, marking significant turning points in your life. Whether it’s a personal achievement, a relationship, an epiphany, or a tragedy, these events shape your identity and provide a compelling arc to your story. Dive deep into the emotions you experienced during these moments, allowing readers to empathize with your joys, sorrows, and personal growth.

Discussing Challenges and Triumphs

Life is a journey of challenges and triumphs, and your biography should reflect this reality. Be candid about the obstacles you faced, whether they were internal struggles, societal pressures, or external adversities. Describe how these challenges tested your resilience, leading to personal growth and transformation. Balance these narratives with stories of triumph, showcasing your determination, perseverance, and the lessons you learned along the way.

4. Character Development

In a self-biography, you are not only the protagonist but also the storyteller. As the author, your task is to portray yourself and the people in your life with depth and authenticity. This section explores the art of character development, emphasizing relatability and the role of dialogue in bringing your characters to life.

Portraying Yourself and Others

When portraying yourself, be honest and vulnerable. Acknowledge your flaws, fears, and insecurities, as these elements make you relatable and genuine. Balance self-reflection with self-compassion, allowing readers to see your growth and resilience in the face of challenges. When depicting others, whether family, friends, or mentors, capture their unique personalities, quirks, and contributions to your journey. Humanize them, showcasing the impact they had on your life and the dynamics of your relationships.

Building Relatable Characters

Relatability is the key to connecting with your readers. Regardless of the differences in life experiences, emotions are universal. Readers should empathize with your characters, seeing aspects of themselves reflected in your narrative. To achieve this, focus on the shared human experiences—love, loss, joy, and pain. Describe emotions in vivid detail, allowing readers to feel the depth of your experiences. By creating relatable characters, you forge an emotional bond with your audience, drawing them into your story on a profound level.

The Role of Dialogue

Dialogue is a powerful tool for character development. It adds authenticity to your narrative, allowing characters to express their thoughts, emotions, and unique voices. When incorporating dialogue, pay attention to natural speech patterns and nuances of language. Use dialogue to reveal your characters’ personalities, relationships, and conflicts. Engage readers in conversations that are meaningful and revealing, shedding light on the dynamics between you and others. Well-crafted dialogue enhances the realism of your story, immersing readers in the world you’ve created.

5. Structuring Your Biography

The structure of your biography determines how your story unfolds. Whether you choose a chronological order or a thematic structure, your decision impacts the pacing, flow, and emotional impact of your narrative. This section explores the pros and cons of different structures and offers guidance on creating engaging chapters that balance plot and personal growth.

Chronological Order vs. Thematic Structure

Chronological order presents events in the order they occurred, offering a clear timeline of your life. This structure provides a logical and easy-to-follow narrative, allowing readers to witness your growth and development over time. It’s particularly effective for autobiographies, as it mirrors the natural progression of life events. However, be mindful of monotony; ensure your narrative doesn’t become a mere recitation of facts. Infuse each event with emotion, reflection, and context, making it relevant to the overarching themes of your biography.

Thematic structure, on the other hand, organizes your narrative around specific themes or topics. This approach allows you to delve deeply into key aspects of your life, exploring related events and experiences in a cohesive manner. Thematic biographies offer flexibility, enabling you to focus on the themes that are most significant to your story. However, maintaining a coherent flow can be challenging. To overcome this, establish clear connections between themes, weaving them together with transitions and reflections. Each thematic chapter should contribute to the overall narrative arc, revealing different facets of your personality, challenges, and growth.

Creating Engaging Chapters

Regardless of the chosen structure, each chapter of your biography should be engaging and purposeful. Begin each chapter with a compelling hook, drawing readers into the story. This could be a moment of suspense, a thought-provoking question, or a poignant reflection. The opening sets the tone for the chapter, capturing the reader’s attention and curiosity. As the chapter unfolds, maintain a balance between storytelling and introspection. Blend descriptive narrative with reflective insights, allowing readers to experience the events while understanding their significance to your personal growth.

Balancing Plot and Personal Growth

Your biography is not just a sequence of events; it’s a narrative of personal growth and transformation. Balancing plot-driven elements with introspective insights is crucial. While events provide the external framework, your internal journey—emotions, thoughts, and reflections—forms the heart of your story. Strive for a harmonious blend of external events and internal revelations. For every plot point, delve into its emotional impact, exploring how it shaped your beliefs, values, and perspectives. By balancing plot and personal growth, you create a dynamic and enriching narrative that resonates deeply with readers.

6. Research and Fact-Checking

Accurate and reliable information forms the foundation of your biography. Thorough research and meticulous fact-checking are essential to ensure the credibility of your narrative. This section provides guidelines on sourcing information, fact-checking techniques, and ethical considerations to uphold the integrity of your work.

Sourcing Reliable Information

When researching your life events, rely on credible sources. This could include personal documents, official records, interviews with key figures, and historical archives. Verify the authenticity of each source, cross-referencing information to ensure accuracy. For events involving other people, such as family members or friends, consider their perspectives and experiences. Multiple viewpoints add depth to your narrative, presenting a holistic picture of the events in question. Respect the privacy and consent of individuals involved, seeking permission before including their stories in your biography.

Fact-Checking Techniques

Fact-checking is a meticulous process that involves verifying the accuracy of details, dates, names, and events mentioned in your biography. Create a comprehensive list of all factual claims made in your narrative and cross-check each detail with reliable sources. Fact-checking tools and databases can aid in confirming historical events and figures. Additionally, consult experts or historians for specialized knowledge, ensuring the authenticity of specific topics. Be thorough in your fact-checking, leaving no room for inaccuracies that could compromise the credibility of your work.

Ethical Considerations

Ethical considerations are paramount when writing a biography, especially when it involves sensitive or controversial topics. Respect the privacy and dignity of individuals mentioned in your narrative, refraining from divulging private information without consent. If your biography involves living persons, obtain their permission before including their stories or experiences. Be mindful of cultural sensitivities, avoiding stereotypes or biases that could perpetuate harmful narratives. Ethical writing fosters trust with your readers, demonstrating your commitment to integrity and respect for the individuals portrayed in your biography.

7. Writing Style and Tone

The writing style and tone of your biography influence how readers perceive your story. Choosing the right tone, incorporating descriptive language, and honing your writing style are essential aspects of creating a captivating and immersive reading experience.

Choosing the Right Tone

The tone of your biography sets the mood and emotional atmosphere of your narrative. Consider the themes and messages you want to convey. Will your tone be reflective and introspective, inviting readers into your inner thoughts? Or will it be inspirational and motivational, encouraging readers to overcome challenges and embrace personal growth? Tailor your tone to align with your purpose and audience. Consistency in tone creates a cohesive reading experience, allowing readers to engage with your narrative on a deeper level.

Incorporating Descriptive Language

Descriptive language is the palette with which you paint vivid images in the minds of your readers. Engage the senses, describing sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures with rich detail. Create immersive settings that transport readers to specific moments in your life. Use metaphors, similes, and sensory imagery to evoke emotions and enhance the reader’s connection with your experiences. Balance descriptive passages with introspective insights, allowing readers to both visualize the scenes and understand their significance to your personal growth.

Honing Your Writing Style

Your writing style is your unique voice as an author. It reflects your personality, perspective, and creativity. Experiment with different styles, exploring various narrative techniques, sentence structures, and literary devices. Whether you prefer a lyrical prose, a straightforward narrative, or a blend of poetic and pragmatic language, find a style that resonates with your voice. Consistency in your writing style fosters a sense of familiarity for readers, immersing them in your story while appreciating your distinct authorial voice.

8. Editing and Proofreading

Writing the initial draft of your biography is just the beginning. The editing and proofreading process is where your narrative truly comes to life. This section explores self-editing strategies, seeking feedback, and the importance of professional editing in refining your manuscript.

Self-Editing Strategies

Self-editing is the first step in refining your manuscript. Begin by reviewing your work with a critical eye, focusing on clarity, coherence, and consistency. Check for grammatical errors, punctuation issues, and awkward phrasing. Assess the flow of your narrative, ensuring smooth transitions between paragraphs and chapters. Trim unnecessary details and repetitions, keeping the narrative concise and focused. Pay attention to the pacing, balancing slower, reflective moments with faster-paced, engaging scenes. Self-editing allows you to polish your manuscript before seeking external feedback.

Seeking Feedback

External feedback is invaluable in gaining perspective on your work. Share your manuscript with beta readers, writing groups, or trusted friends and family members. Encourage them to provide honest feedback on the overall structure, pacing, character development, and emotional impact of your narrative. Constructive criticism helps you identify strengths and weaknesses, guiding your revisions. Be open to feedback, considering different viewpoints and suggestions. As the author, you are deeply immersed in your story, making external feedback essential in identifying areas that may require further refinement.

The Importance of Professional Editing

Professional editing is a crucial investment in the quality of your biography. A professional editor provides expert insights, addressing issues related to grammar, syntax, consistency, and narrative flow. They offer constructive feedback on character development, plot coherence, and emotional resonance. Additionally, an editor ensures your biography adheres to publishing standards and guidelines. Whether you choose a developmental editor, copy editor, or proofreader, their expertise elevates the overall quality of your manuscript. A polished, professionally edited biography enhances your credibility as an author, making your work more appealing to readers and publishers alike.

9. Adding Depth with Reflection

Reflection is the soul of your biography. It adds depth, introspection, and meaning to your narrative. This section explores the importance of analyzing personal growth, the self-discovery inherent in writing, and offering insightful reflections that resonate with readers.

Analyzing Personal Growth

Your biography is not just a chronicle of events; it’s a profound exploration of personal growth and self-discovery. Reflect on your experiences, analyzing how each event shaped your beliefs, values, and perspectives. Delve into moments of transformation, examining the lessons learned and the insights gained. Be introspective, exploring your emotional responses, challenges faced, and the resilience that carried you through. Analyzing personal growth adds authenticity to your narrative, allowing readers to witness your evolution as an individual.

Self-Discovery in Writing

Writing your biography is a transformative journey in itself. As you delve into your past, you uncover hidden facets of yourself, gaining new insights and perspectives. Embrace this process of self-discovery, allowing it to enrich your narrative. Be open to confronting vulnerabilities and embracing your authentic self. Writing becomes a cathartic experience, enabling you to heal old wounds, reconcile past conflicts, and find closure. This self-discovery permeates your narrative, infusing it with genuine emotions and a profound sense of authenticity.

Offering Insight to Readers

While your biography is a personal story, it also offers universal insights to readers. Share the wisdom gained from your experiences, offering valuable life lessons and perspectives that resonate beyond the pages of your book. Your insights can inspire, motivate, and guide readers facing similar challenges. Be generous with your wisdom, offering practical advice, philosophical reflections, and emotional support. By offering insight, you create a meaningful connection with readers, transforming your biography into a source of inspiration and empowerment.

10. Balancing Honesty and Privacy

Balancing honesty and privacy is a delicate task in writing a biography, especially when it involves personal or sensitive details. This section explores the nuances of sharing personal information, protecting sensitive data, and striking the right balance between transparency and privacy.

Sharing Personal Details

Honesty is the cornerstone of any autobiography. Readers expect authenticity, a genuine portrayal of your experiences, emotions, and perspectives. Share personal details that are relevant to your story and contribute to your personal growth. Be open about your challenges, fears, and vulnerabilities, as these elements humanize you and make your narrative relatable. When sharing intimate details, focus on their significance to your personal development, allowing readers to empathize with your experiences.

Protecting Sensitive Information

While honesty is crucial, it’s equally important to protect sensitive information, respecting the privacy of yourself and others. Evaluate the impact of sharing specific details on yourself, your family, and individuals involved in your narrative. Exercise discretion, omitting details that could harm relationships or invade personal boundaries. When mentioning others, obtain their consent before divulging private information. Create a safe space for yourself and your loved ones, ensuring your biography is both candid and respectful.

Striking the Right Balance

Striking the right balance between honesty and privacy requires discernment and empathy. Consider the potential consequences of sharing sensitive information, weighing the benefits against the potential harm. Reflect on your intentions, ensuring your narrative aims to inspire and enlighten rather than sensationalize or harm. Consult with individuals mentioned in your biography, discussing the extent to which their stories will be shared. By approaching the balance with sensitivity and respect, you maintain the integrity of your narrative while honoring the privacy of yourself and others.

11. Showcasing Your Personality

Your personality is a vital element that infuses life into your biography. Injecting humor and wit, revealing vulnerability, and captivating the reader with your unique voice are techniques that showcase your personality and create a memorable reading experience.

Injecting Humor and Wit

Humor and wit add lightness to your narrative, making it engaging and enjoyable for readers. Infuse your biography with anecdotes, amusing incidents, or witty observations from your life. Humor can serve as a coping mechanism during challenging times, highlighting your resilience and perspective. Use humor judiciously, ensuring it enhances the narrative without diminishing the significance of serious events. A well-timed joke or a clever turn of phrase can captivate readers, drawing them closer to your personality.

Revealing Vulnerability

Vulnerability is a powerful tool in connecting with readers on a deep emotional level. Sharing your vulnerabilities—your fears, insecurities, and moments of self-doubt—makes you relatable and endearing. It humanizes you, allowing readers to empathize with your struggles and triumphs. Be candid about your fears and failures, demonstrating the courage it took to overcome them. Vulnerability fosters intimacy, inviting readers to share in your emotional journey and creating a profound bond between author and audience.

Captivating the Reader

Captivating the reader requires more than a compelling plot; it demands a captivating personality. Your unique voice, perspective, and quirks are what make your biography distinctive. Use descriptive language to paint a vivid picture of your experiences. Engage the reader’s emotions, eliciting laughter, empathy, and introspection. Be genuine, allowing your true self to shine through your words. Captivate readers with your authenticity, inviting them to embark on a personal and meaningful journey through the pages of your biography.

12. The Art of Storytelling

Storytelling is the essence of your biography. Craft compelling beginnings that grab the reader’s attention, build suspense and interest throughout the narrative, and create memorable endings that leave a lasting impression. Mastering the art of storytelling ensures your biography resonates with readers long after they have turned the final page.

Crafting Compelling Beginnings

The beginning of your biography is your opportunity to captivate readers from the first sentence. Craft a compelling opening that intrigues, surprises, or challenges the reader’s expectations. Start with a moment of significance, an intriguing question, or a vivid description that immerses readers in your world. A strong beginning sets the tone for the entire narrative, enticing readers to explore further. Consider starting with a pivotal moment from your life, a reflective insight, or a powerful quote that encapsulates the essence of your story. Whatever approach you choose, ensure it piques the reader’s curiosity and compels them to read on.

Building Suspense and Interest

Maintaining suspense and interest throughout your biography keeps readers engaged and invested in your story. Introduce conflicts, challenges, and obstacles that create tension and anticipation. Allow the narrative to unfold organically, revealing information gradually and strategically. Use foreshadowing to hint at future events, sparking curiosity and encouraging readers to uncover the mysteries within your story. Intersperse moments of reflection and introspection with dynamic, action-driven scenes, maintaining a balance between emotional depth and narrative momentum. By building suspense and interest, you ensure readers remain captivated, eagerly turning pages to discover the next twist in your story.

Crafting Memorable Endings

The ending of your biography is as crucial as the beginning. Craft a memorable conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Reflect on the overarching themes of your narrative, offering insights and resolutions that resonate on a profound level. Tie up loose ends, providing closure to the story arcs and character journeys. End with a powerful message, a poignant reflection, or a thought-provoking question that lingers in the reader’s mind. A well-crafted ending creates a sense of fulfillment, leaving readers with a sense of satisfaction and contemplation. Consider the emotional impact you want to leave on your readers, crafting an ending that resonates with the themes and messages of your biography.

13. Designing Your Book

The design of your book plays a crucial role in enhancing the reader’s experience. From cover design to formatting and illustrations, thoughtful design elements contribute to the visual appeal and readability of your biography.

Cover Design

Your book cover is the first impression readers have of your biography. Design a visually striking and thematically relevant cover that captures the essence of your story. Consider the use of colors, typography, and imagery that evoke the mood and themes of your narrative. A well-designed cover attracts attention, conveying the genre and tone of your biography. Collaborate with a professional graphic designer to create a visually appealing cover that entices readers and reflects the spirit of your story.

Formatting and Layout

Interior formatting and layout impact the readability of your biography. Choose legible fonts and font sizes for the body text, headings, and subheadings. Pay attention to spacing, margins, and alignment to create a clean and professional layout. Consistent formatting enhances the reader’s experience, allowing them to focus on the content without distractions. Incorporate chapter breaks, page numbers, and headers for a structured and organized presentation. Ensure the formatting is consistent across digital and print versions of your book, providing a seamless reading experience for readers.

Illustrations and Photographs

Illustrations and photographs add visual interest to your biography, providing readers with a visual connection to your story. Include relevant photographs, illustrations, or artwork that complement the themes and events described in your narrative. Images of significant locations, people, or objects enhance the reader’s understanding of your experiences. Ensure the quality and resolution of images are suitable for print or digital formats. Caption each image with descriptive text, providing context and relevance to the narrative. Thoughtfully chosen illustrations and photographs enhance the overall aesthetics of your biography, enriching the reader’s visual experience.

14. Publishing and Distribution

Publishing and distributing your biography are essential steps in sharing your story with the world. This section explores the options of traditional vs. self-publishing, strategies for marketing your biography, and reaching your target audience effectively.

Traditional vs. Self-Publishing

Consider the publishing route that aligns with your goals, budget, and creative control. Traditional publishing involves submitting your manuscript to literary agents or publishing houses, who handle the editing, design, printing, and distribution processes. While traditional publishing offers wider distribution and marketing support, it often involves a competitive selection process and longer timelines.

Self-publishing provides authors with greater control over the publishing process. You can choose independent publishing platforms, such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or other self-publishing services, to publish your biography. Self-publishing allows for creative freedom in cover design, formatting, and pricing. Authors retain the rights to their work and receive higher royalties per sale. However, self-publishing requires active marketing efforts and a strategic approach to reach your target audience effectively.

Marketing Your Biography

Effective marketing is essential to reach a wider audience and generate interest in your biography. Develop a marketing plan that includes online and offline strategies. Utilize social media platforms, author websites, and blogging to create an online presence. Engage with readers through author interviews, guest posts, and book reviews. Leverage email newsletters to connect with your audience and provide updates about your biography. Consider organizing book launch events, author signings, and virtual readings to promote your work locally and globally.

Reaching Your Target Audience

Identifying and reaching your target audience is key to the success of your biography. Research your readership demographics, interests, and preferences. Tailor your marketing efforts to appeal to your specific audience. If your biography addresses themes such as personal growth, overcoming adversity, or inspirational stories, target readers interested in self-help, memoirs , or motivational literature. Utilize keywords, tags, and categories relevant to your genre when publishing online to enhance discoverability. Engage with book clubs, reading groups, and online communities related to your niche. Building a strong author-reader connection ensures your biography resonates with the right audience, fostering positive reviews, word-of-mouth recommendations, and long-term readership.

15. Conclusion

Writing a biography book about yourself is a transformative and rewarding endeavor. It’s not just about documenting events; it’s about sharing your journey, your wisdom, and your essence with the world. As you celebrate the accomplishment of completing your biography, you are not only leaving a lasting legacy for future generations but also inspiring others to embrace their stories and embark on their writing journeys.

Embrace the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the personal growth achieved during this process. Your biography is a testament to your resilience, courage, and authenticity. It is a gift to the world, inviting readers into the depths of your experiences and the wisdom gained along the way.

As you reflect on your writing journey, consider the impact your biography may have on others. Your story has the power to inspire, motivate, and transform lives. Celebrate the connections made with readers who resonate with your narrative. Acknowledge the voices you have touched and the hearts you have moved with your words.

In this conclusion, take a moment to acknowledge your growth as a writer and an individual. Recognize the strength it took to share your vulnerabilities, the courage to confront your challenges, and the wisdom to offer insights to others. Your biography is not just a book; it is a legacy—an indelible mark left on the literary landscape.

As you close this chapter of your writing journey, consider the next steps in your creative endeavors. Whether it’s exploring new genres, writing sequels, or embarking on entirely different projects, your experience in writing a biography has equipped you with valuable skills, resilience, and passion. Embrace the endless possibilities that await in your writing journey, knowing that your unique voice will continue to inspire and enrich the lives of readers around the world.

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How to Outline a Biography

Last Updated: July 4, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Stephanie Wong Ken, MFA . Stephanie Wong Ken is a writer based in Canada. Stephanie's writing has appeared in Joyland, Catapult, Pithead Chapel, Cosmonaut's Avenue, and other publications. She holds an MFA in Fiction and Creative Writing from Portland State University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 51,366 times.

Writing a biography can seem daunting, as you are trying to explore the entirety of someone's life on the page. The key to writing a good biography is outlining it before you dive in. A strong, detailed outline will work through key events chronologically. To outline a biography, start by discussing early life and childhood. Then, go into adulthood and current life, or later life and death if the person is no longer alive.

Discussing Early Life and Childhood

• For example, you may write, “RuPaul Andre Charles, born November 17, 1960 in San Diego, California.”

• For example, you may write, “RuPaul's mother, Ernestine Charles, was from Louisiana. RuPaul's father was Irving Charles. They divorced in 1967.”

• For example, you may write, “RuPaul grew up in San Diego, California and moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his sister when he was 15.”

• For example, you may write, “At 15 years old, RuPaul attended a performing arts school in Atlanta. After he graduated, he focused on his budding stage career, opting not to attend college.”

• For example, you may write about the person's experience with abuse at the hands of a parent. Or you may mention that the person struggled with a learning disability in middle school that would go undiagnosed until later in their life.

Outlining Adulthood

• For example, you may write, “Martha Graham went to Brown University from 1967-1981, majoring in dance. She worked under famous dancers and choreographers in the performance industry at Brown. She graduated with honors.”

• For example, you may write, “Martha Graham met choreographer Dash Nam in a dance class at Brown. They became romantic and professional partners, collaborating on a number of early performances. Nam would later play a major role in Graham's performing company in New York City.”

• For example, you may write, “Martha Graham worked as a bartender while at Brown to support herself. She then created performances for a small stipend until she was able to open her own performing company in 1987 with the help of Dash Nam.”

• For example, you may write, “Martha Graham was rejected from several major dance companies and was unemployed for several years. In frustration, Graham decided to open her own dance company and studio, using funds from friends and colleagues. It later became the premier dance company in America.”

Detailing Current Life and Impact

• For example, you may write, “RuPaul currently resides on a ranch in Wyoming with his partner of twenty years, Australian painter George LeBar. He continues to produce several successful television shows and is a continued advocate for the LGBTQ community.”

• For example, you may write, “In her later life, Graham fell into a depression and battled alcohol addiction. She died in 1991 at the age of 96 from pneumonia. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Northern New Mexico.”

• You can also include your own opinions about the person's overall life. You may include a short section on the impact the person had, or continues to have, on you.
• For example, you may write about how the person influenced a generation of artists or how the person impacted the way we view technology in the 21st century.

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-biography.html
• ↑ https://www.apsu.edu/writingcenter/writing-resources/Biography-Outline.pdf
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-bio/

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Free Editable Biography Templates

Design a free creative biography template. engage your students to discover the power of synthesis and learn about the lives of famous authors..

Customize  Biography templates online . Use Edit.org to customize your biographies for schools, bookstores, and libraries. Create biographies about characters from a novel quickly and in a structured way.

Customize professional Bio examples online

At Edit.org, we have created a collection of editable biography templates that can be used by students, writers, journalists, and anyone who needs to create a biography of famous people, whether they are scientists, athletes, politicians, or singers. They contain predefined sections and fields that you can fill in as easily as in a Word document, including:

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Get spectacular designs for your biography! Use it in a school, magazine, or website . You can also use it in your bookstore, library, or cultural center .

Using our template library will save you time since you won't have to start from scratch as you will have a predefined structure. Create didactic activities in your classroom and organize biographical information in a clearer and more coherent way. Just select one of the templates we offer in this article or the final cascade, customize it with your educational proposals, and print it in high resolution.

Our biographies can be adapted to your needs . You can also use them as a page for a memory book or a resume .

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• Save your work in our free cloud in case you want to make changes later (so you won't have to start from scratch).
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That's it, you're done!

Why is it a good idea to make a Biography as a school activity?

There are many reasons, but here are the 4 main ones:

• Researching someone's life and gathering information about their accomplishments, personal and professional challenges, as well as their contributions, will help students develop research skills and curiosity .
• Working on a biography improves writing skills, organization of ideas, and structuring information in a clear and coherent manner.
• Promotes critical thinking : students will learn to analyze different aspects of a public figure's life and develop their objective thinking about that person, history, and society in general. It also promotes empathy.
• Learn about the lives of influential people in different fields , such as science, politics, or art, and understand how their contributions have affected the world at large.

In short, doing a biography as a school activity is a great idea! It encourages research and understanding towards different life experiences and perspectives.

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Using Edit.org's online editor is easy! You don't need any design skills to create the best biographies for chronological, topical, or historical figures .

In just a few seconds, you can have your perfect template ready to share with your students or to help you write your bestseller and create new characters for your crime novel. Each template's visual result is designed to be professional, clear, and, above all, useful .

Create the best biographies with our free and intuitive editor in an easy, fast, and structured way. Use the best editable biography templates to gather information for your journalistic, literary, or research projects.

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Customizable Character Bio examples

• Inspiration

Biography designs

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Tom Cruise: The Last Movie Star.

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The contest holder had an idea in mind regarding the style and visuals they wanted for the cover. I tried to come up with a concept that was modern, but not a typical business-style layout. I was looking for the fresh approach. I found imagery that related to the restaurant in question and was able to blend together the idea into a design that was uncluttered and direct.

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Little Big Steps

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Book cover "Sor Juana my beloved"

Treading Water

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Life's Great Adventure

My initial idea was a lot different than this one. Although the client liked my initial design however he wanted a design which contains a desert and a mountain. It's a pretty simple design with modern typography and creative use of images made this design very pleasant to look at. Great collaboration is always the key and CH was very keen on making this design as perfect as it can be. Here is the full cover http://bit.ly/2w5HHRJ

Our Little Secret

The Alpha Way

Design available for purchase. I can change the photo, color theme, title, subtitle, author name. Invite me 1 to 1 project (I'll give you special price, and unlimited revision) package : Full cover (front, back and spine), mock up, pdf file

Rebel Devil

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Book Cover Proposal. Do you want a design like this? Just contact me through 1-to-1 projects, here at 99D.

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Book Cover Sail Free

The book is a biography of business coach Steve Long from Canada, the book contains his story as a business person, a boat builder, world sailor. The photo used was provided by Steve Long . The boat appears that it was built by him . Then added a layer with a map and the title on the horizon, an invitation to adventure and to read the book .

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Book cover idea for EL LUIYI

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Book Cover Design - A Monarch in Winter

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Cover for “The Self-Actualization of Ayn Rand” by Roman Gelperin

Das ist ein Wunder“ sagte mein Arzt

Ich habe in meinem Buch meine Erfolgsgeschichte erzählt. Mein Arzt sagte, dass keine Therapie mehr bei mir möglich ist. Trotzdem hatte ich nicht aufgegeben und nach ca. 4-5 Jahren habe ich wieder all meine Haare zurückbekommen, so dass mir mein neuer Arzt sagte: Das ist ein Wunder. In mein Buch erzähle ich sowohl meine eigene Heilungsgeschichte als auch, was man konkret machen soll, falls man unter derselben Krankheit oder Haarausfall leidet.

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3 Family History Book Ideas (and How to Create Them)

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In this article:

Photo Books

Narrative Books

Family History Books

Are you the keeper of your family’s history? If so, you’ve likely amassed binders full of records and documents, and discovered fascinating family stories in the process. You’ve spent considerable time building a family tree that spans multiple generations. Perhaps you’ve inherited photos, scrapbooks or keepsakes that bring the past to life. If you’re lucky, you may even have an ancestor’s diary, family Bible or handwritten letters.

These are wonderful treasures to possess, but they bring with them a certain sense of responsibility. As your genealogy collection and knowledge grow, you may wonder how best to share your discoveries—and how to preserve your work for future generations.

One of the best ways to do both is with a family history book. A book organizes and preserves what you’ve learned in a reader-friendly format. It’s easy to give as a gift, take to reunions, donate to libraries, and pass down to the next generation. Better yet, web-based programs now make it easy to design a beautiful, affordable book. You choose a project type, upload materials, drag-and-drop your photos and insert text. You can even save your book to update as you discover more about your family history.

Three popular types of DIY-genealogy volumes are:

• photo books
• narrative books
• family history books

We’ll show you options for each and share a step-by-step tutorial for a sample project. We’ll leave you full of ideas and inspiration for creating exactly the book you want.

1. Photo Books

Photo books are simple to create, and their versatility lends them to an endless array of projects. Since they’re based around images, you don’t need much accompanying text. All you really need to get started is a set of pictures—or things you can scan or take pictures of—that go together. Printed in full color on glossy paper, these relatively inexpensive books make wonderful keepsakes and gifts.

Photo books are ideal for a single subject or focus: one person or couple, one place, one event or one collection (such as Great-grandma’s recipes). Think about the photos you’d like to share and preserve, and how they might be presented together in a book. Or if you have a story you’d like to tell, look for images to illustrate it. Consider your audience. Who might read the book? What are they likely to find interesting and engaging?

Some ideas you might consider for a family history photo book include:

• Biographical sketch: photos of an ancestor and his family, the place(s) they lived, and historical records, along with biographical details and anecdotes
• Memoir: photos of a parent, grandparent or other relative, with text drawn from personal memories or interviews
• Historical family album: old photos and ephemera (paper products such as tickets and funeral cards), with identifying captions
• “Our family:” photos and brief descriptions of living family members, perhaps back through grandparents or great-grandparents, ideal for giving to a child
• Family reunion: photos from one or more family gatherings, with identifying captions
• Ancestral hometown: photos from a place where ancestors lived, perhaps enhanced with maps and antique postcards
• Home history: photos of a family home or cottage enjoyed by multiple generations over the years, with notes or quotations about what it means to people
• Scrapbook or album reproduction: digital scans of the pages of an old scrapbook or photo album, with an introduction about the book and descriptive notes or captions
• Recipe collection: digital scans of handwritten family recipes, perhaps with photos of favorite foods and a family chef’s utensils or dishes
• Heirloom collection: digital images of family heirlooms and keepsakes, with descriptions of their origins and how they’ve been passed down.

Once you have a book idea in mind, gather the materials to be included. Scan old pictures, scrapbook pages, recipe cards and other items. As you scan, give images descriptive names and group them together in a folder on your computer desktop. This way, you can easily find them later.

Next, write an introduction, description, short story or other text for your book in a word processing program. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect—you’ll have plenty of opportunities to refine it. Writing helps you focus your thoughts, gives you ideas about how to present the material and prepares you to copy and paste into your book template.

Photo Book Makers

You can choose from several online photo book publishing websites. They all essentially work the same way, but each has its own ready-made themes or templates, page designs, and embellishments. Printing costs depend on the size of the book, number of pages and cover type. I generally recommend choosing an easy-to-handle (and fit on a bookshelf) size such as 8×11, 11×8 or 10×10 inches. Some of my favorite photo book websites are:

• Blurb : Build your book using one of the ready-made layouts or download the free design software to create your own.
• Mixbook : Among the 84 family-oriented design themes are memoir, cookbook, reunion and family history.
• MyCanvas : Design options include reunion scrapbook, vintage album and recipe book designs. This site can import images from your Ancestry.com  family tree.
• Shutterfly : You’ll see dozens of customizable themes, such as family memories, reunion, a life’s story, family ancestry and recipes.
• Snapfish : Again, you can choose from a variety of sizes and family-based themes. After you’ve gathered your photos and selected a web publisher, creating a photo book is fairly simple and straightforward.

Most sites have tutorials and offer sample layouts to give you ideas. Typically, you’ll follow this procedure:

• Upload your images to the website.
• Select a design theme or template.
• Place your photos in the template, resizing and rearranging as desired.
• Adjust backgrounds and layouts, if desired.
• Add text by typing or pasting it into the spaces provided.
• Proofread, edit, and preview.
• Place your order. Within a few weeks, you should receive a beautiful, full-color book in the mail. By that time, you may already have an idea in mind for your next project. And now that you’re familiar with the website and how it works, the book will be even easier to create.

2. Narrative Books

Perhaps you’re short on photos, but have a lot of information to share about a family or individual. You may have already written a story. In that case, a more traditional, text-based book might suit your needs better. Narrative books allow you to tell more complex or in-depth stories. They can include a few illustrations, but the emphasis is on the writing rather than the images.

Narrative books are usually printed in a standard book size, such as 6×9, 8×10 or 8.5×11 inches. Depending how much you want to spend, you can publish in black and white or full color on a variety of paper types. You’ll design your own cover and select paperback or hardback. Some narrative books you might put together include:

• Ancestor biography: Portray an ancestor’s life set within the historical context of the time and place in which he or she lived.
• Numbered genealogy: This is a traditional family history identifying all the known descendants of an ancestral couple. To help readers cross-reference with pedigree charts and keep track of who belongs in which branch, it uses a numbering system such as Ahnentafel or Register .
• Family origins: Select a family central to your research and tell the story of their life, migration and origins.
• Annotated journal, diary or letters: Share transcriptions of an ancestor’s writings, enhanced with notes on family background and historical events.
• Creative nonfiction: This type of narrative provides a historically accurate account of an ancestor or family using literary elements such as plot, characterization and theme to tell a meaningful, engaging story.

Whatever kind of narrative you have in mind, it’s best to write and edit your manuscript in a word processing program before you begin the book-making process. All the services listed below let you upload a finished document or PDF file.

Narrative book online publishers

Most offer samples of books you can browse, and some have video tutorials:

Blurb : You have several print options, and converting to an ebook is available. Use free desktop software called Bookwright to design and customize layouts. You can sell books through Blurb or other distributors.

Bookemon : Choose from a few different book types and use the Quick & Easy document uploader or All-in-One Book Builder software. Books sell through Bookemon.

Lulu : Choose among multiple sizes, papers and bindings. The Lulu Cover Wizard will help you design your cover. You may sell through the site and other distributors, and ebook conversion is available.

Stories to Tell : This company isn’t a DIY online publisher in the sense of the above services. Instead, it offers assistance with editing, design and publishing decisions, especially for biographies, memoirs and family histories.

Once all the writing, formatting and design elements are done, you’ll no doubt be eager to see your finished book in print. In addition to ordering copies as gifts, consider purchasing extras to donate to genealogy libraries, repositories where you’ve researched, and libraries in your ancestors’ hometown. The more widely your work is distributed, the more likely it is to reach relatives who want it, now or in the future.

3. Family History Books

If the process of writing and creating a narrative book seems a bit daunting, but you envision more than a photo book, a third option hits a sweet spot between the two.

MyCanvas offers family history book templates that integrate genealogical records, family group pages, timelines and pedigree charts with text and images. The publisher, Alexander’s, partners with subscription genealogy site Ancestry.com. If you have an Ancestry Member Tree, MyCanvas will import the information, document images and source citations from your tree directly into your project. This saves time you might otherwise spend entering and formatting data. (You don’t have to have an Ancestry account to use MyCanvas, though.) MyCanvas is web-based, so you don’t need to download software.

You can choose from four types of family history books:

• Standard book: This book traces the ancestry of a person, working back through time. It’s ideal for showing the origins of a family or for birthday, graduation, new baby or holiday gifts.
• Combination book: This option illustrates the ancestors and descendants of one couple, great for anniversaries, holiday and family reunions.
• Descendant tree book: Working forward through time, this book documents descendants of an ancestral couple. This is great for family reunions.
• Descendant list book: This book is similar to the above descendant tree book, but it emphasizes text over photos. Consider it for large reunions or donating to libraries.

You can choose from several cover types (which you can change later in the process). Once you’ve made a selection, MyCanvas gives you the option to either connect with your Ancestry user name, or to build a book with blank templates. MyCanvas generates pedigree charts, family group pages, ancestor timelines and record pages from your Ancestry family tree. You also can add text and pictures, add themed or blank pages anywhere in the book, and rearrange pages. Most of the MyCanvas tools are fairly intuitive, but before you begin, you may want to watch the site tutorials under the Support tab. You also can watch the free video course “ MyCanvas: Creating Family History Keepsakes ”.

One final tip applies to any type of project you create: These days, it’s tempting not to print things when it’s so easy and inexpensive to share digitally. But it’s still important to print copies of your family history book for the sake of longevity. Print withstands the test of time. Your printed book never become inaccessible due to changing software, websites, digital media or operating systems—or because no one remembers what website has your saved project.

Family History Photo Book Example

By Diane Haddad

I did a family history photo book last year for my dad’s Christmas present. I think he liked it!

This kind of project can be big and time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some things I did to make my dad’s photo book a manageable project:

1. I decided on a narrow focus.

I chose to focus my family history photo gift book on my dad’s dad as a young man. Our family didn’t know much about his early life, and my research uncovered some interesting stories. For example, his academic achievements and participation in school activities were frequently featured in the local papers where he grew up in a state orphanage.

Had I decided to cover his entire family or his whole life, the project would’ve been a lot more complicated. Not that I couldn’t do this (and I hope to one day!), I’d just need to be able to devote the time.

2. I chose select photos and records to feature.

The book could’ve been 100 pages long, if I’d included every newspaper tidbit and genealogy record I’ve found. In deciding what to include and what to leave out, my priorities were:

• Things with photos, which included a few newspaper articles and college yearbook pages he appeared on.
• Items illustrating surprising or unknown aspects of my grandfather’s personality. For example, one article described how he jokingly ran as “Josephine” in the university’s Texas Sweetheart election (and nearly won).
• Records that explain life events, such as his mother’s divorce filing and the application for his admission to the orphanage.

A few other photos to show important places, such as the orphanage and the (now well-known) bakery where my grandfather worked.

I included source information under each record image. In the narrative, I used information from records I didn’t include pictures of.

3. Summed things up with a timeline/map combo.

In addition to helping me with the chronology of my grandfather’s life, it helped me organize the book. In creating the timeline, I looked through my records, newspaper articles and family papers. I composed the narrative as I did that.

4. My own copy of the book is the draft.

I’m a big believer that at least once, you need to see your work in the same format as your readers will. That’s why we view a printed proof of Family Tree Magazine before it goes to press.

I proofread my photo book carefully online, but when my printed book arrived, I still noticed a few typos and inconsistencies. (No doubt not looking at the book while waiting for it to arrive also helped!) So I marked them, fixed them online, and ordered another copy for my dad’s gift.

5. I gave myself plenty of time.

I started on my book in early October, working on it after the kids went to bed. I finished it just in time for Christmas. You might have more time to dedicate to your book, but if you haven’t started yet, I recommend doing it soon!

Four ways to make your family history book more engaging

Family history books are great projects for sharing family history. Once you’ve got all the essentials of your photo book planned out, take your project to the next level with these ideas for how to make your photo book even more engaging.

1. Tell your ancestor’s story with fewer words: You may not have 60,000 words to write about your ancestors, and that’s okay. There are plenty of stories that can be captured in a lot less. The key is to incorporate photos and documents, such as certificates, recipes, old letters…anything that helps tell the story. You’ll discover that with key visual elements, it’s not hard to fill up pages!

2. Put a unique spin on the tale: How a story is told and who is telling it can add a unique flavor to a story, so it’s worth putting your own spin on the tale. You can share your own memory of the ancestor you’re documenting, or show the origins of a family tradition and how your family has evolved over time. Are you inspired by your great-grandparents love story or journey to America? Tell how their legacy continues to shine through the generations.

Plus, if you are giving this as a gift to another family member, you’ll be giving a one-of-a-kind gift that you can guarantee they won’t get from anyone else!

3. Enrich the story with historical details: What was in the news at the time your ancestor lived? What local or global events were affecting them? Even if your ancestor wasn’t a soldier during a war, they might have had to deal with rationing or changes in their job. Add historical details through copies of old letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs of their hometown at the time.

4. Create a timeline or pedigree chart: Of course, if you’re working with your family history, a pedigree chart is the perfect way to add a visual element to your photo book. But if you want another stunning way to add a visual graphic to your photo book, add a timeline! Timelines can serve as a decorative element in your book while illustrating the key moments in your subject’s story.

Last updated: November 2021

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POSTED ON Jan 3, 2024

Written by Angelica Hartgers

Do you need a book template to get started writing your book? If so, you’ll want to download one before you start typing up your manuscript. This will save you a ton of wasted effort and formatting issues later on!

Whether you're writing a fiction book or a nonfiction book , you'll want to start writing as quickly as possible to reach your goal of becoming an author .

A book template can help you do just that by saving you time from having to set up your own book file. Once your book is written and it's time for you to find a book editor , the template will come in handy since it’ll already be in a common format for you to start the book production and publishing process. 

Even better – the templates listed in this article are absolutely free. Since self-publishing costs come out of the author's own pocket, it's important to save money where you can, so that you can use that budget to hire professional editors and cover designers .

Please note that several of the sites listed in this article offer book production services. We will not be reviewing the quality of the services provided by these sites, and are not providing any endorsement for working with these companies. In this article, we will simply list the best free book template resources that self-published authors can utilize as they write.

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This blog on book templates will cover:

Why and how to use a book template.

There are many reasons why you should use a book template to write your book.

Using a book template is beneficial as it provides a structured framework and streamlines your writing process. Templates can guide you in organizing content, maintaining consistency, and ensuring a logical flow to your writing. They help establish a cohesive style, and save you SO much time and effort in formatting.

But even if you wanted to use a book template…how would you use one?

Every author has their preference on writing tools, and one that continues to top the chart is Microsoft Word. 

It’s your standard word processor, and while it seems basic, it’s super versatile and easy to use. 

If you don’t need fancy book-writing software , or are just getting started as an author on a low budget, Microsoft Word may be your best bet for implementing your book template. It’s readily available, user-friendly, and has all the nuts and bolts you need (including a powerful editor). 

Not everyone wants to fuss with setting up a book template in Word, and some want more variety in templates to choose from. If this is the case for you, consider downloading a pre-made book template for Word.

There are several sites that offer free downloadable templates, and they are already set up and formatted specifically for writing a book . You can download the template, open it in Word, and get straight to writing!

9 free book templates to try

Here are our favorite free book templates for you to consider during your writing process:

1. Free fiction & nonfiction templates from self-publishing school

If you're writing a book and need a template to help you organize your chapters, content, and format, then we have just the template for you! In fact, we have a template for nonfiction books , and a template for fiction books , so you can choose which one suits your needs best.

2. Kdp free paperback manuscript templates

For a basic manuscript template, use these free book layout templates from Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). 

If you plan to publish your eBook to KDP, these templates will work just fine. They are available in all of the standard book sizes. 

Download blank templates, or pre-filled templates with sample content, if you want to have an overall example of how a book will appear with the template. 

If you need a book template for Word in a language other than English, these templates will be helpful as they are available in a variety of different languages. 

Once you download the files, a .zip folder will appear on your computer. Once you unzip the file, you will then see zipped folders for each language.

You can unzip the folder in the language you need, which will give you access to the various sized book templates.

3. BookBaby free book template

With several different sizes to choose from, BookBaby offers a variety of book layout templates depending on the type of book you are writing. 

From standard book sizes to niche-specific sizing options, you’ll want to be clear on which type of book template size you need for your story. 

The common standard sizing for most printed books is the US Trade 6” x 9” which is listed under the Interior Text Templates category. 

Once you find the correct size for your book, you can download the free template by clicking the orange “Download” button underneath the corresponding size. 

The .zip file will then download to your computer, and it contains the template file. Once you unzip the file, you can then open the Word book template (it will be the file that ends in “.doc”). 

If you need additional instructions, BookBaby offers some helpful information in the “Using Our Templates” section. You can check out their specifications, and even download their Book Printing Preparation Checklist PDF. 

4. DiggyPOD free book template for Word

A book printing company, DiggyPOD offers free book templates for your book interior and exterior . While the sizes offered aren’t as extensive as some, you can find the most common sizes for book printing available. 

If you’re just getting started with writing your book, download the interior template. If you’ve already written your book, you can use the resources on the page to create your own template for your typed manuscript. 

5. DIYBookFormats free templates 

This site offers five free minimal book layout templates that you can use with a variety of programs, Word included.

These templates offer different designs, not just your standard text and format options. While you can access five templates for free, any additional access to other styles will have to be purchased.

You’ll also have to do some extra clicking and typing to access these manuscript templates (unlike some of the other sites listed in this article).

The free templates are a gated offer, which means you will have to provide your email address . Then, the templates will be sent directly to your inbox. 

Once you download the .zip file, you’ll want to unzip it. Then, you can open the folder for each styled template, and select the file you need. If you are using Word, you’ll want to click on the .doc or .docx file, depending on which Word version you are using.

The site also provides some helpful tutorial videos on how to format your book in Microsoft Word if you want to skip the template and do it all yourself. 

6. 48HrBooks Word templates

This site offers four of the most common standard book sizing options available – no email required. Perfect for use if you haven’t started typing your story yet, these Microsoft Word book manuscript templates are straight and to the point. 

To begin your download, look under the “Free Book Templates” heading, and scroll down to the “Inside Pages” option. You can then click on the book icon for the corresponding size you need, and the file will begin downloading automatically.

If you need further instructions, there is also a handy PDF that you can download with more info. 

7. BookPrintingUK template generator

Featuring an easy-to-use design, this responsive template generator is great if you know the specifics of your book’s layout, such as binding and size. 

You can start by selecting which program you are using to write your book, and Microsoft Word is the first option you can select. You’ll need to know the document type needed, the book option, template size, color (if applicable), and orientation to generate your template. 

One thing to note is that this site is for UK book printing, so it will be UK sizing. However, you can always look up the US equivalent with a quick Google search, if needed.

8. Used to Tech free Word book template

A simple, clean design, this free Word book template is specifically for the standard 6” x 9” book , which is the most common book size for printed paperbacks. 

To download, you’ll need to scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Download” button. This will prompt the download of the .zip file to start automatically. 

Unzip the file, then select the file that ends in “.docx” or, if you need to, you can download the .pdf file. 

This template for Word features a minimal design, and is free – no email required! 

9. Book template outline generator

If you need a done-for-you book outline to fill in your book's contents into, consider using a pre-made outline for your nonfiction or fiction book.

This is not a print-ready format for your book, but an actual outline to organize your manuscript.

Use this Book Outline Generator to select your genre and immediately get access to a complete outline – all you need to do is add your content!

Once you choose your book type and generate an outline, you'll get access to a done-for-you template in Google Docs . You then follow the steps in the document to get started.

Can I write a book in Microsoft Word?

Yes, you can write a book in Microsoft Word, and it may even help you write your book faster and increase your writing focus, since you can save time formatting and setting up your book layout. You can write a book in Word by downloading a free book template, either by using the standard book template Word offers, or by setting up your own (which is more time-consuming).

Because Word is a flexible word-processing system, you can simply use a template within Word, and start typing your book directly onto the page.

Even if you don't use a template, you can still write a book using Microsoft Word – just be aware that you may have to spend more time formatting your book when it's time to publish it.

How to write a book in Microsoft Word

To write a book in Microsoft Word, simply download a free book template, open the file, and start typing your manuscript into the template. 

You’ll want to be sure that you download a template that is formatted specifically for Word, and all of the sites listed in this article offer Word templates. 

Once your template is downloaded, you can then open it on your computer, and make any modifications as needed. 

Then, you can start typing your manuscript directly into your Word template. That’s it! 

You don’t need a fancy template to start with ; you can simply make do with the free templates that are available for download on these sites. However, if you want to purchase a template, there are some paid book templates that you can buy if you choose to. 

Here are the steps to write a book in Microsoft Word:

Step One: Download a Microsoft Word book template (more instructions on this below)

Step Two: Open Microsoft Word on your computer and click “File” then navigate to “Open.” Select your template file.

Step Three: Your file will open and appear on the screen. You can now start typing your text directly into Word.

Step Four: Click “Save” often throughout your writing process, and before you exit the Word application.

Does Word have a book template?

Yes, Microsoft Word offers several templates within the application, including book templates to choose from. Different sizes and formats are offered, depending on the type of book you are writing.

All of the available templates are customizable and editable, which means you can tailor them to fit any specific requirements you need for your book.

To access the standard book template in Word, follow these steps:

• After opening Microsoft Word, click “File” and then “New.”
• Double click “Books” folder icon in the “Available Templates” section.
• Double click “Other Books” folder icon.
• Browse through the available templates and select one that best fits your needs and book type.
• Customize your book template settings as needed.
• Start removing the placeholder text and typing your own book information directly in the document.
• Click “Save” any time you make changes and before closing the Word application.

How do I make a book template in Word?

If you prefer to make a template in Word that is customized to fit your specific writing needs, then there's an easy way to do this, too.

Microsoft Word is a versatile word-processing tool that's relatively easy to learn and super customizable. You can make a variety of projects, including a template for books.

The key is to start simple with one of the pre-made templates in Word, then format and customize the book layout to fit your needs.

Please keep in mind that depending on the Microsoft Word version your computer or laptop has, the step-by-step instructions may vary, since older or newer versions may have different menu items, names, or placements.

Here are the steps to make a book template in Word:

• Open the Microsoft Word program or application.
• Click “File,” then “New.”
• Go to Layout and click on “Page Setup” . Note: Depending on your Word version, you may have to click the launch icon to the left of Page Setup (it looks like a square with an arrow).
• Click “Margins.”
• Click “Custom Margins.”
• Click “Mirror Margins.”
• Enter the margin values you need. For standard book margin values, enter the following: Top & Bottom: .5, Inside: .8, Outside: .5, Gutter: 0.
• Click “Portrait” under Orientation.
• Click “Whole Document” under Apply To.
• Click on the Paper tab.
• Adjust the values to match the height and width of your book's printed paper size. If you do not know these yet, you can adjust them later.
• Click “Save.”

How many Microsoft Word pages equal a book page?

As you start writing in your template, you can easily track the word count. But, that doesn't necessarily tell you how many actual “book pages” you have typed up.

Depending on how you like to track your progress, it might be helpful to know how many Microsoft Word pages equal a book page. While this will vary depending on your book's genre and writing style (some authors are more wordy than others), there is a rough ballpark range you can use.

Determine what your book’s word count goal should be

First, we recommend determining how many words your book should be. You can use this Word & Page Count Calculator to calculate how many words you should aim for as you write your book. It calculates the word count depending on your book's type, genre, and audience.

Use the Word Count Tool in Microsoft Word

As you write, it's important to keep track of how many actual words you are writing. Word has an easy tool that makes it super simple to keep count, and it updates in real-time.

Again, depending on your version of Word, there may be a different way to access the Word Count tool, but you can play around with it a bit – it almost always will be in the “Tool” menu.

Here's how to track your book's word count in Word:

In your Word document, click “Tools” from the top menu toolbar.

Click “Word Count.”

A small window will appear with the total number of words.

Determine how many Word pages equals one book age

Once you have determined your writing word count goal, and know how to easily track how many words you've written using the Word Count tool, the next step is to figure out how many Word pages equal one book page.

To do this, you will first need to understand that there will not be a direct correlation. In other words, there isn't an easy, super accurate answer. The reason for this is because it will depend on your finished book's page size.

A standard US paperback novel is typically printed as a 6″ x 9″ book, but it can be printed in a variety of other sizes depending on your book size.

Your book page in Word will be the standard paper size of 8.5″ x 11″. Therefore, the variance in size between the Word book template and your finalized printed book means there isn't an exact equivalence.

Generally, a paperback novel in the standard print size can contain about 250-300 words per page. In Microsoft Word, one page in the standard size and 12-point font will be about 500-550 words per page.

So, a rough estimate is that 2 paperback printed pages will equal 1 Microsoft Word page, more or less. Please note that this is a very rough estimate, with several variables involved.

The only way to find an exact correlation is to set your Word document up to be the same size as your finalized printed book.

So, you could set your Word document up to be 6″ x 9″. However, there will still be some variance due to margins, printed text size and typeface, paragraphs, etc.

The best thing is to just go by your desired Word count and worry about the printed pages later. Focus on getting your story out, and the rest will follow suit once you get there!

Start typing your manuscript into the book template

Once you find your perfect Microsoft Word book manuscript template, you’ll be ready to start typing up your book. 

Achieve your writing goals by committing to writing each and every day. Find a fellow author friend to make yourself accountable, or attend a writing conference to drive urgency for your writing career.

Once your manuscript is typed and self-edited, you can start the editing, formatting, and production process to get your book published and into the hands of readers. If you need any help along the way, the team at selfpublishing.com is here to help you from ideation to book launch.

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