Posted on Mar 3, 2017 in Editorial.
We have compiled a to-do list that will make writing an autobiography much easier
Read our tips and start your life story today.
- A little preparation and forethought will make writing your autobiography a quicker and more efficient task – and reduce the risk of leaving something out.
- Decide on the era you want to cover – will it be all your life or will you be restricted to a specific period, such as childhood or working days?
- Think about how you wish to structure your book – do you want it to be purely chronological with all aspects of your life during certain years included or do you want it to be structured according to topic?
- If you wish to include something about your family history, draw up a family tree as far as you are able, adding short background notes where relevant.
- Make a list of events you wish to cover, adding dates if possible.
- Under every event, jot down any thoughts that come to mind in relation to it.
- Create a list of the main people who have featured in your life.
- Under each name, record any special memories relating to that person.
- Writing a list of decades can help you think about things that have happened to you at certain times in your life.
- Make a list of schools you attended; add the names of any teachers you recall and note any specific memories.
- Create a CV covering your work life, recording anything of note (including people you met, worked for etc) in each role.
- If you have travelled, list the countries visited, adding any relevant experiences or observations.
- Make a list of any random thoughts and events that you may wish to include, even though you might be uncertain as to where ‒ or if ‒ they will appear in your life story.
- Note anything that you wish to check on or query ‒ you might want to clarify dates, names, places, sequence of events etc with other people, for example.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help ‒ others can assist by jogging the memory or offering opinions on what you should and shouldn’t include.
- A word of warning: always bear in mind that you should be wary of including anything that is likely to upset other people, invade a person’s privacy or damage their reputation.
You’re now ready to get started
With these steps complete, you’re now ready to get started on creating a written record of your life, that lasting legacy to pass on to your family and friends ‒ and if you feel you can’t manage that task unaided, our team at LifeTime Memoirs will be happy to offer you all the support you need to achieve your goal, from words and images to design and typesetting, plus we will even get your books printed for you.
– Halima, LifeTime Memoirs Editor –