There is more to a biography than just chronological compilation of one’s life and deeds and it takes an extraordinary effort to realize and unleash the importance of not-so-ordinary lives. Writing a biography is a huge onus that deserves verity and variety of facts to burgeon. However, all facts and no fun can make a biography look like an insipid montage of one’s life, barely making an impression with the readers. No matter how momentous or exciting one’s life and achievements may be, nothing can defeat the aim of writing a biography more than an irresponsible, inaccurate, overly emphasizing or overly lagging interpretation of the subject. It is extremely important to intertwine your writing with a blend of facts and a touch of creativity. It is hard for a biographer to keep aloof from his subject and hence it shouldn’t surprise the audience to find a part of the writer in the writing. If you are an aspiring biographer looking forward to pen the lifetime of your idol or a person who makes difference to you, a quick check through the following tips will equip you to take on your venture head on. Read on to master the art.
Tips For Writing A Biography
- Writing a biography entails a good deal of appreciation of your subject and a whole lot of responsibility on your part. Thus, it is best to begin your endeavor with a deeper, better understanding of your theme. Choose your subject with care and interest and then go on to carry out a profound research on his/her life, lineage, accomplishments, societal or historical significance, etc. Jot down the inquisitions that would fascinate you and your readers and then delve deep to explore more on it. Remember as a writer, the onus of putting up an honest and reliable account of your subject lies on you. So get your facts right before you make a plunge!
- Penning a biography can be an enlightening evolution for many writers, more so if the subject of your choice is a living legend, in his/her own rights. You can either interview the person and his many acquaintances or choose to read any available literature on his/her life and deeds to get the big picture. You can also resort to internet, videos, journals or existing memorabilia for a better understanding of your subject. The bottom line is to do your R&D before you venture out with your pen.
- Once you are equipped with all the facts, the next big step is to intertwine the available information into a single thread. You can’t afford to have any misgivings on your subject. So, sieve your facts well, expurgate impertinent facts and then go on to connect the missing links to make sense.
- The next step is to coordinate the facts to create a fascinating sketch of your subject. You don’t necessarily have to go chronological with your facts and accounts. Just put in the jumble, journals, writings, memories, milestones, anecdotes and attention-grabbing facts and intertwine it with an interesting story. You can add more life to your writing by lacing it with interesting facts, trivia, timeline and more.
- The most crucial part of writing is always editing. Once you have put up the biography in order, take a careful look through your work to check spellings, grammar, syntax, punctuation, organization and more. Read it many times to spot errors and make possible desirable changes.