Writing Biographies

We have always been obsessed with the lives of other people. It is little wonder that biographies and autobiographies have always been among the best selling literary works. Biographies appeal to readers because they want to know more about a person or events. Can a writer somehow “get inside” a person and reveal something new?

The limitations on writing a biography are that the events have been established and the characters are well defined. Capturing events and making compelling characters of real people challenges even experienced writers. The more well-known a person or event, the tougher it might be to find something new to teach readers.

There are biographies and autobiographies, as well as different types of each. A critical biography tries to answer what motivated the subject to act in certain ways. A scholarly biography is a detailed, factual account of events without any attempt at psychoanalysis or specialized critique.

Life with a Purpose

We suggest beginning your work on a biography with a simple question: what is the purpose of this work? Do you want to add to the historical record? Do you want to study motivations and psychology? Do you want to capitalize on a person’s popularity or infamy by rushing a book to press?

Once you determine your own motivation, then focus upon the theme of the work. The lives of most individuals are marked by several themes — each theme marked by a defining moment forcing a decision of some sort. If you are writing about a portion of the person’s life, select a period marked by a single theme. If you plan to write a complete biography, organize the work to reflect these defining moments.

Research

Before writing a single word of the biography manuscript, research, research, and then do more research. Know your subject better than you know yourself. If you are the subject, dare to know yourself better than you might like. Locate articles, personal records, interview individuals, and use modern technology to gather facts. Some biographers hire research firms to locate records; trained researchers save a lot of time, but charge a lot, too.

The variety of documents you can locate varies by the time and place involved. Government documents are sometimes restricted for a set number of years after an individual’s death. Getting the help of your subject makes things a lot easier. Family members might have records, sparing you the hassle of trying to order records from a government agency.

Nothing beats the personal writings of your subject. If you have access to diaries and letters, those are probably the most useful documents you can possess when writing a biography. The more famous a person is, the more likely diaries will be published without commentary or analysis.

Organization

When the research seems complete enough to start an outline, consider how best to present your theme to readers. Not every biography is written in chronological order. Just because a form of writing depends upon facts does not mean that creativity loses importance.

Tips for Biographers

Some suggestions for writing an effective biography:

  1. Begin with a defining event, regardless of its chronology. Some writers depict the event as a short chapter, then start the second chapter at the “beginning.” Other writers employ a series of flashbacks. Be creative and capture your readers.
  2. Use dialogue or excerpts from historical records when possible. Do not invent dialogue, although some critics accept the practice as “interpretation.”
  3. Describe all scenes as they relate to your protagonist — especially if you are the protagonist.
  4. End the biography with another defining moments, a personal revelation, or a recounting of the opening moment. Offer readers a sense of closure.
  5. Omit events and even people when they add nothing to the theme.