biography book outline

How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps (The Non-Boring Way!)

Compelling biographies help us better connect with others while fostering empathy and understanding. Discover the steps to write one that captivates your audience!

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Have you ever been captivated by someone’s life story? From the ancient tales of great conquerors to the modern accounts of influential figures, biographies have enchanted readers and viewers for centuries. 

The stories of real people’s lives not only entertain and educate but also provide a unique window into the human experience. In fact, according to research 1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8796048/ , human stories like biographies can help us better connect with others while fostering empathy and understanding.

In this article, let’s dive into how to write a compelling biography, from the research phase to delivery.

What Are the Key Elements of a Biography?

The key elements of a well-written biography bring characters to life. They include thorough research, relevant interviews, clear structure, captivating prose, compelling themes, and a balance between objectivity and empathy. 

• Thorough research: Helps create an accurate portrayal of your subject
• Relevant interviews: Insights help provide a deeper understanding of your subject
• Clear structure: Helps you outline your ideas for a compelling narrative
• Captivating prose: Provides descriptive language to paint a picture of your subject
• Compelling themes: Showcases the motivations and desires behind your subject
• A balance between objectivity and empathy: Keeps biases in check and allows your subject to shine for who they are

As you develop your biography, remember that these stories hold an enduring appeal because they offer people an opportunity to explore the depths of the human psyche, unravel extraordinary accomplishments, and discover the vulnerabilities and triumphs of individuals who have left their mark on the world. 

Here are the topics a biography typically covers:

• Early life and background : Provide context about the subject’s upbringing, family, and cultural influences.
• Achievements and milestones: Highlight notable accomplishments, contributions, and significant events throughout their life.
• Challenges and struggles: Explore the obstacles they faced, the lessons learned, and how they overcame adversity.
• Personal characteristics: Describe their personality traits, values, beliefs, and motivations that shaped their actions and decisions.
• Impact and legacy: Discuss the lasting influence and contributions of the subject, both during their lifetime and beyond.

Ready to start crafting your biography? Find greater success with this helpful goal-setting resource!

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Let’s look at the six key elements of a well-written biography more closely and the steps you can follow to develop your own.

How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps Using Key Elements

Choose your presentation format.

Presenting your biography can take on various forms, the most traditional being written form. The basis for this article assumes you’re writing a conventional biography; however, this foundation can also help you create a multimedia presentation or website as well. 

Consider these various formats to present your biography:

• Traditional Written Biographies: This classic approach provides a comprehensive account of a person’s life through the written word. Traditional biographies can be published in print or ebooks , allowing readers to engage deeply with the subject’s story.
• Multimedia Presentations: In the digital age, multimedia presentations offer a dynamic way to present biographies. Incorporate audio, video, photographs, and interactive elements to enhance the audience’s experience.
• Online Platforms: Online platforms, such as blogs or dedicated biography websites, provide accessible avenues for sharing biographies. They allow for easy updates, reader engagement, and the incorporation of multimedia elements. 

Choose your subject and conduct research

To create a vivid and accurate portrayal of a person’s life, conduct extensive research. Dive into archives, read letters, examine diaries, explore photographs, and immerse yourself in the historical and cultural context surrounding your subject. This will help you unearth the small details that breathe life into your biography. 

Whether you’re writing a biography about a historical figure, contemporary icon, or everyday individual, you’ll want to consider the different factors to focus on. Here are some examples of three types of individuals and the kind of research that will be most helpful.

• Historical Figures: When writing about historical figures, immerse yourself in their era. Understand the social, political, and cultural forces that shaped their lives. I recommend visiting your local library and connecting with a research librarian for support. Otherwise, other tools for historical research include Google Scholar. Analyze primary sources and multiple perspectives to present a well-rounded account.
• Contemporary Icons: Biographies of modern icons offer a chance to delve into their ongoing impact. Conduct interviews or gather insights from their close associates to understand their present-day influence. Stay current with the latest developments, and be prepared to update your work as the subject’s story unfolds.
• Everyday Individuals: Biographies need not be reserved for the famous. Every day individuals possess stories that can be just as compelling. Uncover the extraordinary within the ordinary, highlighting the struggles, triumphs, and personal growth of individuals who might otherwise remain unsung.
• Yourself! Want to write a biography on yourself? Autobiographies are a great way to explore who you are. Get ready to do some serious self-reflection with the steps below.

Pro Tip: Compile your research digitally using helpful cloud filings systems like Google Drive , OneDrive , or Dropbox . Organize your files by category, including information about their youth, family, achievements, and life lessons. You may also choose to write down research references or collect paper clippings on note cards, categorizing your physical files of research along the way.

Develop compelling themes and motifs 

Identify overarching themes or motifs that emerge from the subject’s life. These could be resilience, ambition, love, or societal change. Weave these elements into the narrative, highlighting their significance and impact on the person’s journey. Here are some examples:

• Overcoming Adversity: These biographies feature perseverance, resilience, and determination. Examples include Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, and Malala Yousafzai.
• Pursuit of Excellence: These biographies highlight people who have worked tirelessly to achieve their goals. Examples include Steve Jobs, Serena Williams, and Michael Jordan.
• Quest for Knowledge: These biographies focus on the curiosity that led to significant contributions to our world. Examples include Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Charles Darwin.
• Personal Transformation: These biographies explore a change in beliefs, values, or priorities. Examples include Malcolm X, Oprah Winfrey, and Maya Angelou.
• Legacy and Impact: These biographies examine a body of work that made a lasting contribution to society. Examples include Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, and Mahatma Gandhi.

Conduct relevant interviews 

Whenever possible, seek firsthand accounts from those who knew or interacted with the subject. Conduct interviews with family members, friends, colleagues, or experts in the field. Their insights and anecdotes can provide a deeper understanding of the person’s character and experiences.

When conducting interviews for a biography, consider the following tips to ensure a productive and insightful conversation:

• Familiarize yourself with the interviewee’s background and accomplishments.
• Develop a list of well-thought-out questions that cover key aspects of their lives and experiences, including questions about your subject’s youth, family, achievements, and life transitions or struggles.
• Begin the interview by establishing a comfortable and friendly atmosphere to put the interviewee at ease.
• Show genuine interest in their story and listen actively to their responses.
• Ask open-ended questions encouraging detailed and reflective responses.
• Avoid yes/no questions and ask for their insights, memories, and personal perspectives.
• Some topics you might consider for your questions include early life, achievements, challenges, motivations, values, relationships, lessons learned, and advice.
• Pay close attention to the interviewee’s answers, body language, and tone of voice.
• Ask follow-up questions to clarify or delve deeper into specific topics.
• Show empathy and understanding, creating a safe space for the interviewee to share personal or sensitive information.
• Remain flexible during the interview, allowing the conversation to flow naturally.
• Be prepared to deviate from your prepared questions if unexpected but relevant topics arise.
• Respect the interviewee’s boundaries and be mindful of any topics they may not wish to discuss.
• Take thorough and organized notes during the interview to capture important details.
• Consider recording the interview (with permission) to ensure accurate quotes and references.
• Ask for permission to follow up with additional questions or for clarification.
• Doing a biography on yourself? Ask yourself deep questions to harvest new stories and anecdotes.

Remember, the goal of the interview is to gather valuable information and personal perspectives that will contribute to the authenticity and depth of your biography. Approach the interview process with sensitivity, respect, and genuine curiosity about the interviewee’s life and experiences.

Develop a clear structure

Outline your biography, ensuring a logical and engaging narrative flow. Consider the chronological order, significant milestones, and turning points in the subject’s life. Organize your gathered information to capture the essence of their journey while maintaining a compelling rhythm throughout. 

A good outline for a biography can vary depending on the specific subject and the desired structure of the narrative. However, here’s a general outline that can serve as a starting point:

A. Introduction

a) Hook or engaging opening to capture the reader’s attention

b) Background information (birthplace, date, family, etc.)

c) A brief overview of the subject’s significance or why they are worth exploring

B. Early Life and Background

a) Childhood and upbringing

b) Influences, such as family, education, or cultural factors

c) Formative experiences or events that shaped the subject’s character or interests

C. Major Achievements and Milestones

a) A chronological exploration of the subject’s notable accomplishments, contributions, or milestones

b) Focus on key moments or achievements that highlight their impact or significance.

c) Provide context and details to paint a vivid picture of their achievements

D. Challenges and Obstacles

a) Discussion of the challenges, setbacks, or adversities the subject encountered

b) How they overcame obstacles or grew through difficult experiences

c) Insights into their resilience, determination, or problem-solving abilities

E. Personal Life and Relationships

a) Exploration of the subject’s relationships, such as family, friends, or romantic partners

b) Insights into their personal joys, struggles, or transformative experiences

c) How their personal life intersected with their professional or public achievements

F. Legacy and Impact

a) Examination of the subject’s lasting influence, contributions, or impact on society

b) Discuss how their work or actions continue to resonate or shape the world today

c) Reflection on their legacy and the lessons we can learn from their life story

G. Conclusion

a) Summarize the key aspects of the subject’s life and their significance

b) Provide a final reflection or insight on their overall journey or impact

c) Leave the reader with a lasting impression or call to action

Pro Tip: Looking for help drafting an outline to get you started? Use free tools like ChatGPT to jumpstart your outline by putting in a prompt request like, “Write an outline for a biography about X, including any relevant details on the subject that should be included.”

Craft captivating prose

Employ descriptive language to transport readers into the subject’s world. Paint vivid portraits of their physical appearance, mannerisms, and surroundings. Use sensory details to evoke emotions and create a strong connection between the reader and the subject. 

Here are some examples:

• “She was a force of nature, with a fierce determination and an unwavering commitment to justice.” (Ruth Bader Ginsburg)
• “His piercing blue eyes seemed to look right through you, and his voice had a commanding presence that demanded attention.” (Winston Churchill)
• “She moved with a grace and elegance that belied her inner strength and resilience.” (Audrey Hepburn)
• “His rugged features and piercing gaze made him a natural leading man, but it was his depth and vulnerability that set him apart.” (Marlon Brando)
• “She had a contagious energy and a magnetic personality that drew people to her like a moth to a flame.” (Princess Diana)
• “His quiet intensity and unwavering dedication to his craft made him one of the greatest artists of his time.” (Leonardo da Vinci)

Action Step: While writing descriptive prose takes some practice, it’s an art you can master with little creative writing skills. To help you write descriptive prose, practice closing your eyes and imagining your subject. 

• What expression is on their face? 
• How are they dressed? 
• What does their body language express? 
• How do they smell? 
• How do they make you feel? 
• How do they make others feel? 
• What’s in their surroundings? 
• What are they doing with their hands? 
• What do you imagine they’re thinking about? 

With questions like these, you’ll start to use descriptive language to bring your subject to life.

Build a balance of objectivity and empathy

Strive for an objective portrayal while infusing empathy and understanding into your writing. Remain aware of biases and preconceived notions, giving your subject the space to shine in their unique light. 

To check yourself, filter your writing and interviewing with these tips:

• Verify Information: Cross-reference information from various sources to ensure accuracy. Use tools like Fact Check Explorer to fact-check claims, dates, and events to avoid errors or inaccuracies that could skew the narrative. 
• Multiple Perspectives: Seek out different viewpoints on the subject. This includes interviewing or reaching out to people with significant interactions or relationships with the subject. Incorporating diverse perspectives can counterbalance biases and provide a broader understanding.
• Empathetic Listening: During interviews or conversations, practice active listening and empathize with the interviewee’s experiences and emotions. This allows you to understand the subject’s perspective and incorporate their insights and feelings into the narrative.
• Contextualize Emotions: When sharing the subject’s emotional experiences or personal struggles, provide sufficient context and background. This helps readers understand the motivations and circumstances behind their actions and allows for empathetic understanding without veering into excessive sentimentality.
• Credible Interpretation: While interpreting the subject’s thoughts, motives, or intentions, be clear about what is factual and what is speculative. Clearly distinguish between evidence-based information and your interpretations to maintain objectivity.
• Respect Boundaries: Be mindful of the subject’s privacy and any requests they may have regarding sensitive or personal information. Respecting their boundaries shows empathy and allows for a respectful portrayal while maintaining the necessary level of objectivity.
• Acknowledge Limitations: Recognize that achieving complete objectivity in a biography is challenging. Biases can inadvertently seep into the narrative. However, by being aware of your biases and consciously presenting a fair and balanced account, you can mitigate their influence.

Respect truth, privacy, and sensitivity

Remember, writing biographies carries ethical responsibilities. It’s important to maintain accuracy through credible research and gain consent while being sensitive to controversial or difficult topics. Here are some considerations:

• Accuracy: Maintain a commitment to truth and accuracy. Verify facts and corroborate information from multiple sources to ensure the reliability of your narrative. Cite your sources and be transparent about any uncertainties or gaps in knowledge.
• Privacy and Consent: Respect the privacy of living individuals mentioned in your biography. Seek consent when sharing personal details or sensitive information. Balance the subject’s right to privacy with the importance of honesty and transparency.
• Sensitivity: Approach sensitive or controversial topics with care and empathy. Consider the potential impact of your words on the subject’s loved ones or affected communities—present differing perspectives without sensationalism or bias.

Writing a Biography FAQs

The length of a biography can vary greatly, depending on the subject and the depth of exploration. Some biographies span a few hundred pages, while others extend to multiple volumes. Focus on capturing the subject’s life’s essence rather than strictly adhering to a predetermined length.

Some common mistakes to avoid when writing a biography include the following: Lack of thorough research or reliance on a single source. Inaccurate or misleading information. Excessive personal bias or projection onto the subject. Neglecting to verify facts or failing to cite sources. Poor organization or a disjointed narrative flow. Neglecting to balance objectivity with empathy. Overloading the biography with irrelevant details or digressions. Failing to respect privacy or ethical considerations.

While chronological order is commonly used in biographies, it is not required. Some biographers employ a thematic approach or explore specific periods or events in the subject’s life. Experiment with different structures to find the most engaging way to tell your subject’s story.

The purpose of writing a biography is to capture and share an individual’s life story. Biographies provide insights into a person’s experiences, achievements, and challenges, offering readers inspiration, knowledge, and understanding. They preserve the legacy of individuals, contribute to historical records, and celebrate the diversity of human lives.

When choosing a subject for your biography, consider someone who inspires you, interests you, or has significantly impacted society. It could be a historical figure, a contemporary icon, or even an everyday individual with a remarkable story. Choose a subject with sufficient available information, access to primary sources or interviews, and a narrative that resonates with you and potential readers.

Key elements to include in a biography are: Early life and background: Provide context about the subject’s upbringing, family, and cultural influences. Achievements and milestones: Highlight notable accomplishments, contributions, and significant events throughout their life. Challenges and struggles: Explore the obstacles they faced, the lessons learned, and how they overcame adversity. Personal characteristics: Describe their personality traits, values, beliefs, and motivations that shaped their actions and decisions. Impact and legacy: Discuss the lasting influence and contributions of the subject, both during their lifetime and beyond.

Including personal anecdotes can add depth and humanize the subject of your biography. However, be selective and ensure that the stories are relevant, contribute to understanding the person’s character or experiences, and align with the overall narrative. Balancing personal anecdotes with factual information is critical to maintaining accuracy and credibility.

Conducting research for a biography involves exploring a variety of sources. Start with primary sources such as personal papers, letters, journals, and interviews with the subject or people who knew them. Secondary sources such as books, articles, and academic papers provide additional context and perspectives. Online databases, archives, libraries, and museums are valuable resources for finding relevant information.

Consult a wide range of sources to ensure a comprehensive and accurate biography. Primary sources, such as personal documents, letters, diaries, and interviews, offer firsthand accounts and unique insights. Secondary sources provide broader context and analysis, including books, articles, scholarly works, and historical records. Remember to evaluate the credibility and reliability of your sources critically.

Organize the information in your biography logically and engagingly. Consider using a chronological structure, starting with the subject’s early life and progressing through significant events and milestones. Alternatively, adopt a thematic approach, grouping related information based on themes or significant aspects of their life. Use clear headings, subheadings, and transitions to guide readers through the narrative flow.

Writing Biographies Key Takeaways

In summary, take note of these ideas and tips before you start writing your biography:

• Biographies hold enduring appeal, offering a glimpse into the human experience across time.
• Thorough research, interviews, and captivating prose are essential for crafting compelling biographies.
• Ethical considerations, such as accuracy, privacy, and sensitivity, are crucial when writing about real people’s lives.
• Choose subjects that genuinely inspire and resonate with you.
• Immerse yourself in the subject’s world to understand their motivations and challenges.
• Develop strong research skills and utilize a wide range of sources.
• Craft a compelling narrative that engages readers from the very first page.
• Seek feedback from trusted sources to refine your writing and storytelling abilities.
• Continuously explore new biographies to broaden your understanding of different styles and approaches.
• Embrace the unique voice and perspective you bring to the storytelling process.

Writing a biography book? Check out this helpful article, How to Write a Book: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Start Writing !

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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Posted on Jun 30, 2023

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

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Dario Villirilli

Editor-in-Chief of the Reedsy blog, Dario is a graduate of Mälardalen University. As a freelance writer, he has written for many esteemed outlets aimed at writers. A traveler at heart, he can be found roaming the world and working from his laptop.

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.

FREE RESOURCE

Biography Outline Template

Craft a satisfying story arc for your biography with our free template.

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 development 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 the middle of the action  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 publish your own  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 edit your own 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 applications , 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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24 Biography Templates and Examples (Word | PDF | Google Docs)

Biographies serve as a fascinating lens into the lives of individuals, ranging from influential family members and historical figures to renowned personalities. Whether you’re a student, an aspiring writer, or someone captivated by the art of telling a life story , grasping the essential elements of a biography is vital. Writing a biography goes beyond compiling facts; it involves crafting a narrative that educates and inspires your readers. This guide provides you with practical steps, style advice, and, importantly, biography templates to assist you in structuring your work effectively. With these resources, you can start to create biographies that not only inform but also captivate your audience. Are you ready to capture the essence of a life story in words? Let’s delve into the fundamentals of crafting a compelling and memorable biography.

Biography Templates & Examples

Aesthetic Biography Template

An Aesthetic Biography Template is a carefully designed layout that allows individuals to present their personal and professional information in an organized and visually appealing manner. The template provided in the previous response offers a structured format for users to showcase their educational background, work experience, skills, and personal interests. This format is particularly useful for creating a compelling narrative of one's life and achievements, making it ideal for applications, personal websites, or professional profiles. The inclusion of sample data guides users on how to effectively fill out each section, ensuring clarity and coherence in presenting their unique story.

Short Biography Template

A Short Biography template is a structured format for summarizing an individual's personal, educational, and professional background. It offers a concise yet informative way to present one's achievements, skills, and experiences. The template provided above is designed to capture a wide range of details, from basic personal information to career highlights and skills. It is versatile and can be tailored to suit different situations, whether for a professional profile, a speaker introduction, or a personal website. The inclusion of sample data in the brackets makes it user-friendly, allowing for easy customization. This template serves as a useful starting point for anyone looking to create a clear and engaging biography.

Professional Biography Template

A Professional Bio Template is a structured format designed to aid individuals in crafting a succinct and engaging biography that highlights their career achievements, skills, and personal qualities. This template helps users efficiently organize and present their professional story, ensuring that key elements like career milestones, skills, and personal interests are effectively communicated. This assists in creating a compelling bio that resonates with various audiences, such as potential employers or networking contacts, enhancing their professional presence and impact.

Personal Biography Template

A personal biography template is a structured outline designed to guide individuals in documenting their life stories, achievements, and experiences. It provides a framework to organize personal details in a coherent and engaging manner. This template, created in our prior response, can assist users by simplifying the process of writing their biography. It offers a clear structure, ensuring that key aspects of one's life are highlighted effectively. This can be particularly useful for creating professional bios, personal introductions, or for preserving personal history.

You can explore more free biography templates and examples in the collection at Highfile . This resource offers a diverse range of templates suitable for various needs, whether for professional, personal, or academic purposes.

What Is a Biography?

A biography is an in-depth narrative of someone’s life, written by another person. It encompasses more than just basic facts like birthplace and education. A biography delves into the subject’s personal experiences, significant life events, and the influences that shaped their character and achievements. It’s not just a timeline of events; a biography weaves these details into a compelling story, offering insights into the individual’s motivations and impacts. The aim is to present a well-rounded portrait that is both informative and engaging, allowing readers to understand and empathize with the subject’s journey. A biography, in essence, is a vivid window into another person’s life experience, capturing their unique contributions and the essence of their existence.

Fun Fact: Did you know that one of the earliest biographies ever recorded was about an ancient Egyptian official named Ptahhotep around 2400 BC? This ancient biography was not written in a book but carved on the walls of his tomb, depicting his life and achievements. This highlights how the art of biography writing has been significant throughout human history, evolving from ancient carvings to modern digital formats!

Essential Elements of a Biography Template

Crafting a professional biography involves creating a concise yet comprehensive summary of your career objectives, current position, and notable achievements. This type of bio is ideally suited for professional networking platforms like LinkedIn or AngelList, where a more detailed and career-focused narrative is expected compared to the brief bios often seen on other social media sites.

Key Components to Include in Your Professional Biography:

• Your Name : Clearly state your full name at the beginning.
• Personal Brand or Company Affiliation : Mention your business or the brand you represent.
• Professional Tagline or Current Role : Include your current job title or a tagline that encapsulates your professional essence.
• Career Aspirations : Briefly outline your career goals or what you aim to achieve professionally.
• Unique Personal Fact : Share an interesting personal detail that sets you apart.
• Top Achievements : Highlight two or three significant accomplishments relevant to your professional trajectory.

While primarily professional in tone, don’t hesitate to weave in personal elements like a favorite book or hobby. This adds a human touch, making your bio more relatable and engaging. Remember, a well-rounded biography balances professional accomplishments with personal insights, creating a holistic view of you as both a professional and an individual.

How to Write a Biography

Writing a compelling biography requires a structured approach. Follow these steps to create an engaging and informative biography:

• Choose a Subject : Select a person whose life story is interesting and impactful. Consider whether their contributions or experiences have the potential to inspire or connect with your audience.
• Obtain Permission : If your subject is alive, obtaining their consent is crucial, as it involves discussing personal details. For deceased or public figures, ensure all information is factual to avoid legal issues.
• Conduct Thorough Research : Gather information from primary sources like interviews, letters, and personal accounts for an authentic portrayal. Complement these with secondary sources like documentaries and articles for additional context.
• Formulate a Thesis : In the opening section, clearly state what the reader will learn from the biography. This thesis sets the stage for the narrative to unfold.
• Organize Chronologically : Structure the biography in a timeline format, presenting events in the order they occurred. This helps in maintaining a clear narrative flow.
• Incorporate Flashbacks : Skillfully use flashbacks to provide context or highlight significant past events, enriching the narrative without overloading it with background details.
• Inject Personal Insight : While sticking to factual information, don’t shy away from adding your own perspective on the subject’s achievements and their societal impact. This adds depth and personal touch to the biography.

A good biography balances factual accuracy with narrative flair, bringing the subject’s story to life in a way that resonates with the readers.

Tips on Writing a Biography

Crafting a biography requires a blend of accuracy, creativity, and attention to detail. Here are some essential tips to guide you in writing an effective biography:

• Write in Third Person : Use the third person perspective for a professional and objective tone.
• Inject Humor Appropriately : While maintaining professionalism, subtle humor can make the biography more engaging and relatable.
• Be Mindful of Length : Keep an eye on the word count. A biography should be comprehensive yet concise enough to hold the reader’s interest.
• Narrate a Story, Not Just Facts : Instead of listing events, weave them into a compelling narrative to make the biography more interesting and readable.
• Include Relevant Links : Provide links to your work, projects, or publications to offer readers additional context and evidence of your achievements.
• Provide Contact Information : Make it easy for readers to reach you by including up-to-date contact details.
• Edit Thoroughly : Ensure your biography is free of errors and well-polished. Comprehensive editing enhances readability and professionalism.
• Keep it Concise : Aim for brevity while ensuring all critical information is included. A succinct biography is often more impactful and memorable.

Important Note: Before diving into our FAQs, it’s crucial to remember that while a biography aims to be factual and accurate, it also requires a respectful approach, especially when dealing with sensitive aspects of a person’s life. As a biographer, your responsibility extends beyond mere storytelling; it involves ethical considerations, such as respecting privacy and presenting information in a manner that is fair and considerate to the subject and their family. Keep this in mind as you explore the frequently asked questions and embark on your journey of writing a biography.

For online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter, a three-sentence bio should be concise yet informative. It should briefly introduce you, focusing on key aspects: Your Name : Start with your full name. Your Current Role : Mention your profession or the role you’re known for. A Notable Achievement or Personal Touch : Include a significant accomplishment or a unique personal detail (like a hobby or goal). This format ensures your bio is succinct but covers essential details.

A personal biography is a brief narrative focusing on your professional life, used for job searches or on professional platforms like LinkedIn. It’s slightly more detailed than a social media bio and should include: Your Name Personal Brand or Company : If applicable. Professional Tagline or Current Role Two or Three Key Achievements : Choose the most relevant and impressive ones. While primarily professional, feel free to add a personal detail like a hobby or favorite book to give a glimpse of your personality.

In a work-related bio, focus on aspects directly relevant to your professional life. This might be more detailed, including your career journey, key skills, and notable projects or roles you’ve held. Personal anecdotes or interests can be included if they relate to your professional persona or add value to your professional story. Remember, the context dictates the bio’s content and tone. Tailor it to suit the platform and the audience you are addressing.

When choosing a subject, consider individuals whose life stories are not only interesting but also have the potential to inspire or educate others. Look for unique experiences, significant achievements, or challenges they’ve overcome. Public figures, historical personalities, or even unsung heroes in your community can make excellent subjects.

Begin with an engaging opening that captures the essence of your subject’s life. This could be a pivotal moment, a significant achievement, or an anecdote that reflects their character. Starting with something compelling draws readers in and sets the tone for the biography.

Effective research methods include conducting interviews with people who know the subject well, reviewing primary documents like letters or diaries, and consulting reputable secondary sources for historical context. Online archives, libraries, and specialized databases are also valuable resources.

To maintain objectivity, present facts without bias, and avoid letting personal opinions color the narrative. Acknowledge different perspectives on the subject’s life, especially in controversial or unclear aspects. Being fair and balanced is key to a trustworthy biography.

Yes, you can write a biography about a family member. However, it’s important to balance personal insights with objective storytelling. Ensure you have enough distance to present their story truthfully and respect their privacy and perspective.

Approach sensitive topics with care and respect. Verify the accuracy of such information and consider its relevance to the overall story. Be mindful of the impact this could have on the subject and their family, especially if they are still living.

The length of a biography depends on the depth of the subject’s life story and the intended audience. Some biographies are short, focusing on key events, while others are comprehensive, covering the subject’s life in detail. Tailor the length to suit the story’s complexity and readers’ expectations.

Final Thoughts

Crafting a biography requires a thoughtful blend of accuracy and creativity to captivate and engage your readers. By focusing on these essential elements and following the outlined steps, you can transform a simple life story into a compelling narrative that holds the reader’s interest from start to finish. Whether you’ve always wanted to write a biography or are just beginning to explore this genre, this guide provides a solid foundation to embark on your biographical writing journey. Remember, a well-written biography not only informs but also inspires, offering a deeper understanding of the subject’s life and legacy.

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Fortnite’s next Marvel season features a whole lot of Doctor Doom

Japan will apply foreign trade regulations to chipmaking equipment, which will require foreign investors to give prior notice when conducting direct investment (bloomberg), ask hn: why are ai generated images so shiny/glossy, the drugmaker that hopes to legalize mdma is cutting 75% of its staff after the fda rejected the drug, a practitioner’s guide to testing and running gpu clusters, l’oreal disputes late trademark renewal over ‘nkd’ brand, with which they’ve coexisted for years, hot summer threatens efficacy of mail-order medications, css grid areas, today’s nyt strands hints, answers and help for aug. 16, #166, today’s wordle hints, answer and help for aug. 16, #1154, how to outline a biography: 12 steps.

Introduction:

A well-structured biography is an excellent way to capture the story of someone’s life. An effective outline ensures that your biography is engaging, accurate, and organized. In this article, we will walk you through 12 steps to create a comprehensive outline for your biography.

Step 1: Choose Your Subject

The first step in outlining a biography is selecting the individual whose life story you want to chronicle. Consider their impact on society, personal achievements, and the level of public interest in their life.

Step 2: Set a Purpose

Determine the goal of your biography. Is it to educate, entertain, or inspire? Having a clear purpose will guide you throughout the writing process.

Step 3: Gather Information

Start researching your subject’s life. Collect data from various sources such as books, articles, interviews, and documentaries. Be thorough in your research and verify the credibility of your sources.

Step 4: Create a Timeline

Creating a timeline of important events in your subject’s life will help you identify patterns and significant moments. This will be useful when structuring and organizing your biography.

Step 5: Identify Themes

Analyze your research and pinpoint common themes or patterns in your subject’s life. These themes can help create a cohesive narrative for your biography.

Step 6: Determine the Structure

Decide how you want to structure your biography. Will it follow a chronological order, or will it focus on specific aspects of their life? Selecting a structure will simplify the writing process.

Step 7: Decide on Tone and Style

Create a consistent tone and style throughout your text – whether it’s formal, informal, conversational or academic. This will help engage readers and contribute to the overall flow of the biography.

Step 8: Outline an Introduction

Introduce your subject along with their accomplishments, significance, and the biography’s purpose in the introduction. Don’t be afraid to reveal some intriguing aspects of their life to hook the readers.

Step 9: Create Chapter Outlines

Breakdown your biography into chapters or sections, and outline the main points for each. This will help you maintain focus and make it easier to transition between different aspects of your subject’s life.

Step 10: Add Supporting Details

Present anecdotes, quotes, or lesser-known facts to support your main points. These details will engage readers and provide a richer portrayal of your subject’s life.

Step 11: Develop a Conclusion

Summarize your subject’s life and emphasize their lasting impact on the world. Remind readers why they should care about your subject and how their achievements have shaped society.

Step 12: Edit and Revise

Once you’ve completed your outline, review it for cohesiveness, accuracy, and flow. Revise your outline as needed until it provides a solid foundation for your biography.

Conclusion:

An engaging biography starts with a comprehensive outline. By following these twelve steps, you can create an organized and compelling biography that captures both the essence and the impact of your subject’s life story. Happy writing!

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Book Outline: How to Outline a Book in 6 Steps [Template Included]

Book outlines are crucial when writing a book, so it’s important to learn how to outline a book in the most effective way for your readers.

A book outline is the foundation for an organized writing process. It should precede your first rough draft and can be used as a roadmap for your entire book-writing process.

No matter how skilled you are as a writer, you’ve no doubt experienced the dreaded blank page syndrome, or “writer’s block” as it’s commonly referred to.

From aspiring authors to professional novelists, writing a book is challenging.

You know how daunting of a task it can be to string together a fluid sequence of words that accurately conveys a thought or concept. 

But you don’t know how to outline a book or novel the right way.

In this post, you’ll discover how to create a book outline that will help you start, and finish, writing your book.

Need A Nonfiction Book Outline?

This Book Outline Guide Will Cover:

What is a book outline.

A book outline is a structured document that plans out and sequences the information that your story will include. It is a wireframe or skeleton of your book, and will be used as the roadmap during your writing process.

Your book’s outline is an agenda, or roadmap, that includes the main points or events that you will write about in your book. 

It’s not uncommon to use a map (or GPS) when we go on holiday. And certainly, if we want to build a house, we use a blueprint. In football, the coach puts together a game plan. All of these make the actual task easier (sometimes it makes the task possible ).

Writing an outline for your book serves the same purpose – it is a guide that you can follow to write your book.

A book outline will essentially be the same concept for both fiction and nonfiction books, but the outline format and style will vary on the genre.

• A fiction novel will include important storytelling aspects such as structure, plot, scenes, and characters.
• A nonfiction book will include important information aspects such as topic clusters, concepts, and intentional information architecture.

Do You Need A Book Outline To Write a Book?

Without an outline, it will take a lot longer to finish your book, and it may hinder the book’s quality and reader experience. You may not need a book outline, but it will certainly help you write faster and with better quality.

Think of a book outline as a writer’s plan. When you outline a novel or book, you are creating a plan or roadmap of your book’s contents. 

To outline or not to outline? Is it more difficult to write a book without an outline? Are there benefits to outlining a book?

These are just some of the questions you may have. But there is not one answer, and certainly not one way on how to outline a novel. 

“I always have a basic plot outline, but I like to leave some things to be decided while I write.” J.K. rowling

Many successful authors know not to underestimate the power of a book’s outline. Not only does it help in writing an organized book with clear direction, but it also helps fight writer’s block when you’re stumbling your way through a work-in-progress. 

A good book outline changes and develops as you write. 

And there really is not one single way to outline a book. Sure, a book template is great to use, and there are models to follow, but every outline is different.

Book Outline Examples

Let’s take a quick look at some examples of famous authors who learned how to write a book outline that fit their needs, and then went on to write and publish them successfully.

Below is the handwritten outline of novelist James Salter:

You may be familiar with this image of J.K. Rowling’s plot lines of the Harry Potter books…

Famous outliners (or plotters) include John Grisham, J.K. Rowling, and R.L. Stine, to name a few.

Reasons To Outline Your Book

The biggest benefit of learning how to write a book outline is that your outline can help you start, and finish your book .

It can make your process towards becoming an author easier, and more clear – with fewer detours and frustrations along the way during your writing process. 

Here are some benefits to outline your book: 

• Write quickly. With a book outline, you know exactly what you have to write about next.
• Intentional structure . Although an outline is equally applicable to nonfiction and fiction, an outline can help you create a solid structure for your novel. This can result in a better quality piece of literature.
• Overcome blank page syndrome . With an outline, the dreaded blank page is not as daunting as it could be. When you sit down to write, you will be able to kickstart your writing with an outline.
• Prevent writer’s block. Again, having an outline can help you eliminate writer’s block because you open your outline, and there you have the next piece to start writing. It’s like jump-starting the brain.
• Push through the sagging middle . If you’re writing a novel, you no doubt are familiar with the uphill battle of writing the sagging middle. With a carefully structured outline, this becomes easier.
• First draft . K.M. Weiland, in her book Outlining Your Novel , says: “In many ways, an extensive outline is a first draft.”

To write a nonfiction book without an outline, is an invitation to stress and frustration (and it may likely result in a sub-standard book). 

To write a fiction novel without an outline is a bit more acceptable because it’s more of a creative process. But you should still have an idea of your book’s starting and ending points to avoid writer’s block and overwhelm – especially if you’re a first-time author .

In the Introduction of K.M. Weiland’s book, Outlining Your Novel , she offers the following: “Outlining has transformed my own writing process from hit-and-miss creativity to a reliable process of story craft. Outlining allows me to ride the waves of my story with utter confidence , channeling the art into the craft to produce solid stories. And the best part about outlining? It’s entirely learnable.” 

Free Book Outline Templates

A book outline template can make it super easy to get started writing your outline.

For FICTION, you can download the free template here.

For NONFICTION, you can download the free template here.

If you’re ready to get started, we have ready-made templates just for you.

Select your genre, and get a completed book outline that’s ready for you to plug in your book ideas. 

Use this outline template tool as a starting point to write your book’s outline. It’s yours to adjust as needed!

How To Outline A Book: Your Step-By-Step Guide

There is no single right way to outline a book . What works for you, may not work for another writer, and vice versa. 

Don’t feel like you have to follow a rigid set of rules to craft your outline and get started writing your book. But, your book outline should have the basics covered.

It’s perfectly fine to start with a loose structure and develop your outline as you go. 

So, how do you write an outline for a book?

1. Start with a one-line idea

Begin with a one-line idea. Write one sentence to summarize your book’s “big picture” idea. Although it sounds easy, summarizing the whole of your book in one single sentence can force you to strip away your ideas into one essential premise. 

2. Brainstorm the 5 Ws

Do a brain dump. Brainstorm the main components of your book’s idea . A mindmap or bubble map is a popular method for this step. I start by drawing a bubble in the center of the sheet (usually with the chapter number and/or title), and then asking the 5W + H (Who, What, When, Why, Where, and How) questions in individual bubbles. I add snippets in between the bubbles as well. 

When you start your outline, begin by asking the 5W + H questions:

• What? What is the concept, topic, or idea?
• Where? Where does this concept, topic, or idea, apply? Maybe it’s an event or a context situation.
• Why? Why does this matter?
• Who? Who is this for, or who is involved?
• When? Is there a concept of time involved?
• How? If applicable, ask yourself: “How will this happen?”

Working through your outline, asking and answering these basic questions, you will likely find yourself. building a story. So, when you sit down to actually write your book, it will develop and grow almost magically. Give it a try.

If you’re writing nonfiction, the value of questions is indispensable…

• What information do you want to share in your book?
• Who is your reader: beginner, intermediate, advanced?
• Why does your reader want to know the information in your book?
• What does your reader want to learn by reading your book?

If you’re writing fiction, questions can also help…

• If my antagonist does that, how will my protagonist react?
• How can I get my protagonist out of that jam?
• Use “What if?” in different scenarios.

3. Determine your setting

Whether you’re writing a novel or a nonfiction book, you need to decide where the series of events will take place. The setting helps to immerse your reader in your story, so think of the sights, smells, and sounds that would draw your readers into the setting with you.

If this is a novel, you can create fantastical laws of physics or new systems of government. If it’s a memoir, describe your childhood home or first office down to the last detail.

Do research if you need to.

4. Decide on the order of events

Once you have your setting and have answered the main questions surrounding your story, it’s time to set the order of events. Where should your story start? What will the conclusion be? And how will you get from one place to another? Whether you are designing a hero’s journey, a dual-timeline story with flashbacks, or the trials to becoming a successful businessperson, you need to have a clear story arc to guide your reader smoothly through your chapters. Move sections of your plot around as needed until it feels clear.

5. Lay out the character’s arc

The character arc is the transformation your protagonist makes from the start to the end of the story. If this is a memoir, you will highlight the growth you made as a result of your challenges and experiences. If this is a novel, how will your character start and end up and why? How do the events of the story impact and shape them?

6. Hash out the details

Narrow in on the essential details.

Now that you have the premise of your book’s idea, and you’ve had a chance to brainstorm all of your ideas, it’s time to get organized with the specifics.

Organize your book’s main points, and add in any specific details that you will have to touch on in each point.

It’s important to note that the above steps are a loose starting point for any standard book idea. To really hone in and follow a book outline strategy, you need to know which type of book you are writing, since the outline can vary greatly depending on this.

Are you writing a novel, based on fiction, or are you writing a nonfiction book?

Let’s take a look at the next two sections to determine the process for each.

How To Outline A Novel

A novel is based on fiction or imagination – it is not based on real life. If you are writing a fictitious narrative, then you need to create a novel outline.

Fiction and nonfiction books are very different, and while the steps to create an outline of a book can be similar, they are pretty different based on the book’s genre.

Learn how to outline a novel well, and you will improve your storytelling and reader experience tremendously.

The purpose of a novel is to entertain, and your book’s outline needs to be created with that in mind.

You are telling a story in a novel, and a well-structured book outline will help you create a roadmap to tell that story well.

Note: If you’re writing a memoir , your memoir outline will most likely resemble more of a fiction structure than that of a nonfiction structure.

Here are the steps to outline a novel:

• Write your idea out. What’s your book’s big picture? This is the premise of your story; it’s the “big idea.” Try to write your idea into as few sentences as possible, preferably one. You’ll have a chance to get into the granular details later.  
• Answer the 5 W’s (Who, What, When, Where, Why). Get clear on the essentials of your story. This will help guide you in determining how to create your book’s outline framework, and will also help you identify any major “holes” that you might have missed.
• Use a book outline framework or template. Choose a template to work with as a starting point, then make any adjustments as you see fit and start plugging in your content.
• Create your plot. Start with a beginning, middle, and end. It’s perfectly fine if you don’t have a clear idea of every event in your book. You can flesh it out as you go, but you should have an idea of the starting and ending point, at the least. 
• Add characters. Now that you have a plot, it’s time to include your characters . This is important because it helps you identify any supplemental characters you hadn’t yet thought of. It also helps you chart out your protagonist’s purpose and hero’s journey . 
• Plug in scenes. With a starting point for your plot, and an idea of which characters are needed, you can start plugging in the major scenes that will help tell your story. 

How To Outline A Nonfiction Book

If you plan to write a nonfiction book, then you need to know how to create an outline for a nonfiction book.

While the process is similar to the fiction outline steps, it’s also very different, because of the differing structure.

Think about it: A nonfiction book is likely based on facts and real life, whereas a fiction book is based on imagination.

The purpose of a nonfiction book is typically to educate or inform, so you need a book outline that is structured to that purpose.

Here are the steps to outline a nonfiction book:

• Write out your idea. Write your big book idea out in one to three sentences. 
• Identify the purpose of your book. Think about the 5 Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) questions specifically in terms of the problem your non-fiction book is solving, or what purpose your book serves. 
• Choose your book structure. Many nonfiction books follow a specific structure. Is it a problem and solution structure? Maybe it’s a compare and contrast, or a chronological structure? If you’re having trouble deciding, go back to your purpose. 
• Use a book outline template. Start with a template, and fill in the details of your book as you go. 
• Add your main points as chapters. Brainstorm the main points your book will discuss to convey the topic you’re writing about. Then, add these main points as chapters. 
• Structure individual chapters with details. Once you have your main points mapped out as chapters, you can add the specific points or details that you will write about in each chapter.
• Write an outline for each chapter. Once you have your overall outline completed, you can hone in and continue developing it by creating an outline for each chapter.

Effective Strategies For Book Outlining

There are a lot of strategies and frameworks when it comes to writing a book outline. There are some effective ways to outline a novel or nonfiction book, and many authors find success using popular book outlining strategies. 

Let’s dive into some book outlining strategies that you can consider for your own book outline. Just be sure to make tweaks to any process that you see fit for your specific needs and writing process. 

A mindmap can be done with software or with paper and pen.  It’s a brain dump at its core – as you think of an item or point, you add it to your mindmap. This can be a few words, a line, a sentence, or whatever you need to get the basic idea down.

The first round of mindmapping is all about speed; get your idea out of your head into your mindmap. You can set a timer, and start mindmapping by allowing your thoughts and ideas to freely flow out of your head and into a visual scheme.  Mindmapping is one of the best ways to outline a book.

This is similar to the mindmap; the difference is that a bubblemap is usually done on paper or a whiteboard. The same principles apply as with a mindmap: get the ideas out of your head onto paper (or whiteboard). You may find that doing this on paper (or a whiteboard), you’ll be able to get the ideas out of your head quicker. You can scratch out, add, and move items: it’s your outline, and you do it as you want to.

Below is an example bubble outline for a chapter in my forthcoming book (as you can see, it looks similar to a mindmap).

Scrivener Outline

Scrivener is a popular paid book-writing software used by many expert authors. To create an outline in Scrivener , you would use the Corkboard tool. This is an electronic version of using 3×5 flashcards, and the benefit of doing this in Scrivener is that all your “cards” are safely in one place.

The Corkboard in Scrivener is a neat tool to outline your book. Author Becky Levine uses Scrivener and says: “I create a text file/note for each scene in the story.”

Below are example notes on the corkboard in Scrivener…

If you’re not familiar with Scrivener, and are looking for a free alternative, consider using Notion . It’s not strictly a writing software, but it allows you to work in a similar way.

One-liner Outline

This is a quick and easy way to start your outline. Either in your word processor of choice, or with pen and paper, jot down root ideas. These can be questions, phrases, sentences, or whatever it takes to get the idea down on paper (or screen) as quickly as possible.

Chapter by Chapter

Usually, when you outline your whole book, it will be from a 30,000-foot view. After the book outline, it’s a good idea to then outline it chapter by chapter. You can use any of the methods offered here to outline your chapters. The idea behind this is to drill down into the details of each chapter, so you can write each chapter more efficiently.

Post-it Notes

If you have the space, using Post-it notes is a great way to outline a book. This video by Pat Flynn is a great example of how to use Post-it notes to outline. 

Storyboard Outline

If you are more of a visual person, you can use a storyboard to outline your book. Here is a step-by-step video on how to outline a book.

Snowflake Method

Bestselling author Randy Ingermanson created the Snowflake Method . In his book, How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method , he offers 10 steps on writing a first draft. 

“The Snowflake Method is nothing more nor less than the method that works best for me in writing fiction. If you can use it to guide your creativity as you write a powerful story, then I’ll be thrilled.” – Randy Ingermanson

Book Outline Tips

If you’re still struggling to get started, or finish, your outline, we have four best practice book outline tips for you:

• Ask more questions. Questions are your most valuable asset to create an outline for your book. Start with the basic, What? Why? When? Where? Who? And How?
• Refer to similar books. If you’re stuck with getting started, look at the Table of Contents of books in your niche. Do not plagiarize, but use them as ideas. Ask yourself these questions: Where can you add your unique angle? Can you add something more, or different?
• Leave blanks & skip over. If you can’t hash out a particular detail, or have a gap in your outline, don’t pressure yourself to fill the gap. Instead, skip it and leave it blank. It will come to you as you start writing!
• Be flexible. Don’t be rigid with your book outline. The best outlines are those that can be adapted and tweaked on the go. The outline is just a starting point, but it’s up to you to refine as you write.

Don’t feel rushed to get your outline done. And always remember your outline is not cast in stone – you can change it how many times you want to. Investing time in writing a detailed outline will save you time when you write your book.

“The outline is 95 percent of the book. Then I sit down and write, and that’s the easy part.” Jeffery Deaver

Don’t lock yourself into just one type of outline. Try different types, and feel free to mix and match.

Outlining Software

Over the past decade, a number of companies have entered the market with software for writers . A few of them specifically help authors with outlining novels.

Most of these tools were made by authors, for authors, so they can be extremely useful. However, they will cost money and they do have a learning curve. That’s why we offer the free templates in a simple word processor you’re already familiar with and know how to use.

If you are interested in a more robust software for outlining, we have written reviews on many of them, including but not limited to:

• Novel Factory

If you’d like to see more novel writing software , you can read this article. Otherwise, it’s time to get started with your outline!

Ready to write your book outline?  

If you’re just starting out on your writing journey, give book outlining a try. 

It may just enable you to progress forward and avoid the hurdles of the blank page, writer’s block, and other stumbling blocks.

Remember the sage advice of Winnie the Pooh…

“Organization is what you do before you do it, so when you do it, it’s not all messed up.” – Winnie the Pooh

And if you’re feeling stuck by this whole book writing and publishing process , consider a self-publishing course where you can be guided through the ins and outs of the entire book writing and publishing process.

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How to Write a Biography

Last Updated: May 28, 2024 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 1,875,263 times.

Writing a biography can be a fun challenge, where you are sharing the story of someone’s life with readers. You may need to write a biography for a class or decide to write one as a personal project. Once you have identified the subject of the biography, do your research so you know as much about them as possible. Then, dive into the writing of the biography and revising it until it is at its finest.

Researching Your Subject

• If the subject does not give you permission to write the biography, you may want to choose a different subject. If you decide to publish the biography without the subject’s permission, you may be susceptible to legal action by the subject.
• If the subject is no longer alive, you obviously do not need to ask permission to write about them.

• You may create research questions to help focus your research of the subject, such as, What do I find interesting about the subject? Why is this subject important to readers? What can I say that is new about the subject? What would I like to learn more about?

• For in person interviews, record them with a tape recorder or a voice recorder on your computer or phone.
• You may need to interview the subject and others several times to get the material you need.

• You may also want to visit areas where the subject made a major decision or breakthrough in their life. Being physically in the area can give you a sense of how the subject might have felt and help you write their experiences more effectively.

• When researching the time period ask yourself: What were the social norms of that time? What was going on economically and politically? How did the social and political climate affect the subject?

• You may also include historical events or moments that affected the subject on the timeline. For example, maybe there was a conflict or civil war that happened during the person’s life that affected their life.

Writing the Biography

• You may end up focusing on particular areas of the person’s life. If you do this, work through a particular period in the person’s life chronologically.

• For example, you may have a thesis statement about focusing on how the person impacted the civil rights movement in America in the 1970s. You can then make sure all your content relates back to this thesis.

• Flashbacks should feel as detailed and real as present day scenes. Use your research notes and interviews with the subject to get a good sense of their past for the flashbacks.
• For example, you may jump from the person’s death in the present to a flashback to their favorite childhood memory.

• For example, you may focus on the person’s accomplishments in the civil rights movement. You may write a whole section about their contributions and participation in major civil rights marches in their hometown.

• For example, you may notice that the person’s life is patterned with moments of adversity, where the person worked hard and fought against larger forces. You can then use the theme of overcoming adversity in the biography.

• For example, you may note how you see parallels in the person’s life during the civil rights movement with your own interests in social justice. You may also commend the person for their hard work and positive impact on society.

Polishing the Biography

• Revise the biography based on feedback from others. Do not be afraid to cut or edit down the biography to suit the needs of your readers.

• Having a biography riddled with spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors can turn off your readers and result in a poor grade if you are handing in the text for a class.

• If the biography is for a class, use MLA , APA , or Chicago Style citations based on the preferences of your instructor.

Biography Help

Community Q&A

• Be careful when publishing private or embarrassing information, especially if the person is not a celebrity. You may violate their "Right of Privacy" or equivalent. Thanks Helpful 31 Not Helpful 5
• Have the sources to back up your statements about the subject's life. Untruthful written statements can lead to litigation. If it is your opinion, be clear that it is such and not fact (although you can support your opinion with facts). Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 15

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-biography.html
• ↑ https://au.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-bio
• ↑ https://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/3-tips-for-writing-successful-flashbacks
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-bio/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://www.plagiarism.org/article/how-do-i-cite-sources

About This Article

Before you write a biography, gather as much information about the subject that you can from sources like newspaper articles, interviews, photos, existing biographies, and anything else you can find. Write the story of that person’s life, including as much supporting detail as you can, including information about the place and time where the person lived. Focus on major events and milestones in their life, including historical events, marriage, children, and events which would shape their path later in life. For tips from our reviewer on proofreading the biography and citing your sources, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How To Outline A Book [Free Outline Template]

Learn how to outline a book in seven easy steps. Don’t rush off and write a book yet! Wait a moment, and explore your book idea in detail. Is it interesting enough? Will there be any gaps in the plot? Can my readers understand it? You won’t know the answers to these questions unless you create a book outline. Whether you’re writing a picture book or a novel, a book outline can definitely help structure your ideas, so they make sense to you and your readers.

What Is A Book Outline

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A book outline provides a list of events in a novel. This list of events includes the beginning, middle and end of a story. It can also include character overviews, plot twists and information about major conflicts. The purpose of a book outline is to help you structure your ideas in a logical format that makes sense to readers. Book outlines can also be called blueprints or plans, as these documents all help organise your ideas.

There are many different types of book outlines that authors use when planning or outlining their stories. The most popular method, you may have learned at school is the story mountain . A typical story mountain breaks your idea down into five parts. These different parts add structure to your idea, making it easier to write your first draft. Another technique used by authors is the snowflake method . This method takes a simple idea and keeps on adding to it until it forms an outline or even a basic draft of your story.

Of course, there are many other ways to outline your book, such as mind-mapping, scene lists, timelines, the three-act structure and even jotting down notes in a notebook. There is no formal method or technique for outlining books – Just do whatever you’re most comfortable with. And if you’re not sure where to begging, then this post will show you how to outline a book in seven, simple steps. Keep on reading!

How To Outline A Book in 7 Steps

The book outlining process is a very important step in story writing. Here are seven steps to outline your novel or story:

In at least one or two sentences summarise your story idea . It is essential that you summarise your idea in the fewest words possible. This way you can strip away any unnecessary or irrelevant ideas. If you can’t come up with an idea, then take a look at this guide on how to come up with good story ideas . Here are some examples of one-sentence summaries:

•  A shy girl embarks on a journey to be an award-winning rapper.
• An extraterrestrial lifeform comes to Earth in search of an ancient artefact. 
• A retired detective is forced to return to work when his daughter is murdered.  

Your story may have one main setting, along with multiple sub-settings. The main setting is normally the overall mood of the story. While the sub-settings are specific locations and time periods. In this step, you should first provide a short summary of the main setting. Then you can list out any sub-settings if relevant. Here is an example to help you:

• Idea Summary: A shy girl embarks on a journey to be an award-winning rapper.
• Main Setting: Quiet, boring, humble beginnings to exciting, wild and reckless moments.
• Sub-Settings: Quiet small town of Brecon in Wales. Dark, dingy club in London, High-class experience at the Royal Albert Hall. World travel to popular music venues in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Dubai, Bangkok and Barcelona.

Make a list of all the main characters in your story. This includes your hero, sidekicks and any bad guys or villains. For each character, you can create a short profile summary to describe their personality and role in the story. Here’s an example based on our previous story idea:

• Sonia Thomas [Main Character]: Very shy, rarely speaks. She recently left high school with few qualifications. She has a unique quirk: Whenever she gets into an argument or disagrees with someone she starts rapping about the subject. At first, she feels embarrassed, and like a ‘freak. But then as the story goes on she finds more and more confidence in herself and her talent.

Every story has some sort of conflict. This conflict could internal, within the main character themself, or from external forces or characters. Most novels have one major conflict, and a set of smaller, minor conflicts. Your task here is to list and briefly describe the key conflicts you plan to have in your story. Here is an example:

• Major Conflict: Internal conflict – Sonia is scared of leaving her home village. She has never left this village in her whole life and hates changes. She just wants to pass through life invisible. But deep down inside, a voice is shouting out for attention on a global scale. 
• Minor conflict #1: Sonia’s parents are constantly comparing her to other girls her age. This leads to an argument between these characters.
• Minor conflict #2: A boy Sonia had a crush on at school makes fun of her unique talent to rap during arguing.

Take everything you learned so far about your idea, and summarise the beginning. In just one paragraph, write down how the story will start. Avoid going into the major conflict, just introduce the main characters and the setting. Here is our example beginning summary:

• Beginning Summary: The location of Brecon in Wales will be described in detail as a quiet, humble village. Sonia, the main character will be introduced along with both her parents who are sheep farmers. An argument between mother and daughter shows that her mother is ashamed of her daughter. Their relationship has been broken ever since Sonia’s sister passed away. Sonia’s one passion in life is rap music, this is demonstrated by the items in her bedroom. Sonia’s dialogue at the beginning is limited to basic answers, such as ‘yes’, ‘maybe’ and shrugs.

Flash forward in your mind to where your story will end. How to imagine it ending? Will it be a happy, sad or cliffhanger ending? Now in just one paragraph summarise the ending of your story. Here is our example ending summary:

• Ending Summary: Sonia is shown in the future 5 years from the beginning of the story. She is dating a childhood friend. They are both far from home, it an apartment in New York. Sonia gets a phone call from a music agent who asks her when she will be free to collaborate with a very famous rapper. The story ends here, leaving the reader with a warm feeling that Sonia’s new life is just about to begin.

With a better understanding of your idea, you can now list out the key events or moments in the story. This step can be very overwhelming, but to keep things simple, just focus on the beginning, middle and ending events. From there you should be able to list out more and more scenes in your story. You could even use a free storyboard template to organise your scenes. Here is an example of our scene list:

• Scene #1: A group of farmers are herding sheep on a farm.
• Scene #2: Marbella shouts her daughter’s name, Sonia from a small kitchen.
• Scene #3 : Sonia is locked inside her bedroom with some loud hip-hop tunes playing in her headphones.
• Scene #4: An angry Marbella comes running up the stairs mumbling to herself about her useless daughter. She starts banging on her daughter’s bedroom door.
• Scene #5: Sonia finally hears something and runs to open the bedroom door.

By following the seven steps above, you should have a detailed book outline. Now you can use this book outline to help draft your story. 

A book outline turns a complicated story idea into a well-structured plan. Simply put, without an outline, you could be jumping between multiple ideas and end up with a draft that makes little sense. But having a good structure isn’t the only benefit. Here are some benefits of creating a book outline:

• Quicker draft writing: A detailed outline shows exactly how to begin and start writing your draft story. Whenever you’re stuck, just go back to your outline and see your next steps listed.
• Overcome writer’s block : Writer’s block is all about lacking motivation, or even inspiration to keep on writing. An outline makes the process of writing a novel feel less cumbersome or heavy-loaded. With all the key scenes summarised you can simply just add more detail to start forming your draft story.
• Avoid gaps and missing information: An outline highlights any gaps or areas of research needed. This makes for a better story, as you have researched every key element to make sure it makes sense and connects with each other.
• Logical structure: An idea on its own can go so many different ways. An outline helps you stay focused on the true moral of your story, without getting sidetracked with unnecessary pieces of information.
• Better plot twists: When you have a complete understanding of your story, you can easily add in twists that keep your reader hooked. And even switch out certain scenes for ones that might be more exciting.
• Clearer ideas: Book outlines help you visualise a story better by writing key elements down. This helps writers see the end goal much more clearly. Instead of messing about, or being stuck at the beginning.

There are many benefits to creating a book outline. The biggest benefit relates to story structure. This makes the outlining process crucial for every writer.

Here are some book outline examples to inspire your novel outlining process.

• A story mountain outline for Red Riding Hood:

• 2 page summary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone using the Snowflake method:

• A basic mind map for the story of Cinderella:

Of course, you don’t need to follow a formal, well-noted structure. Bullet points, notes and sketches are also brilliant ways of outlining your novel.

Using our seven steps above, we have created this free book outline template. The purpose of this template is to help you expand your story idea into a fully developed story plot and outline. Simply print this template out and fill it out for your own story idea:

Common Questions About Story Outlines

Book outlines can be confusing. We searched the internet and found the following commonly asked questions about book outlines.

The 7 steps to outline a novel include:

• Write down your idea
• Describe the setting
• Make a list of characters
• List your conflicts
• Summarise the beginning
• Summarise the ending
• Make a scene list

Each of these steps has been explained in detail above.

The quickest way to outline your book is by breaking it down into smaller parts. There are a number of different ways to break down a story idea. The best way is to consider the different story elements, which include characters, settings, plot, conflict, resolution and theme. If you break down your idea into these different categories, you’ll find it a lot faster and easier to outline a novel, no matter how long it is.

To outline a book means to plan or map out the key events in the book. The book outline is like the skeleton of a story. Without it, your story would just be a bunch of ideas with no structure or cohesion. When you outline a novel, you are essentially noting down the important elements of it, such as characters, conflict and plot.

To outline a story step-by-step you need to begin with a story idea. From there you can expand on the details to create a complete outline. You can break down the outlining process in the following steps:

We have explained each of these steps in the section above.

The book outlining process can take hours, days, weeks or months. This all depends on the size of your novel. If you’re writing a short picture book, then the book outline could take as little as a few hours. However, if you’re writing a big novel with 15 to 18 chapters then the whole outlining process could take months. You could even break this process down by outlining each chapter, which may be more manageable. In this case, outlining a chapter may take around a day or two. Check out our chapter book creator to write your own novel online.

If you still have a question about the book outlining process, let us know in the comments below. And we’ll happily answer those for you!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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• A Complete Guide on How to Write and Publish a Biography?
• Self Publishing Guide

Biographies are an intimate gateway into the lives of remarkable individuals, allowing us to glimpse their journeys, struggles, and triumphs. Whether you’re passionate about chronicling the lives of historical figures, celebrities, or even your own family members, writing and publishing a biography can be an incredibly fulfilling endeavour. In this comprehensive guide, we will take you through the process of crafting a compelling biography and navigating the intricacies of getting it published

How to write a Biography?

Understanding the Essence of Biography

A biography is more than a mere chronicle of events; it is an exploration of a person’s essence. It delves beyond dates and facts, seeking to understand the motivations, influences, and emotions that shaped the subject’s journey. A successful biography captures the person’s unique voice, experiences, and significance within a broader context.

Brainstorming: Laying the Foundation

Brainstorming  is a crucial first step in the biography-writing process. It involves gathering ideas, themes, and angles that will guide your narrative. Here’s how to approach it:

• Select your subject : Choosing your subject is the foundation of your biography. Opt for someone whose life story resonates with you, whether they’re a historical luminary, a contemporary influencer, or even someone close to your heart. A captivating subject ensures that your enthusiasm will translate into a compelling narrative that engages readers.
• Research : Preliminary research is your roadmap to understanding your subject’s life journey. Delve into existing literature, articles, and documentaries to gain a grasp of their background, accomplishments, and pivotal moments. This initial exploration will guide you towards key events and themes that deserve further exploration in your biography.
• Identify Themes : Thematic exploration provides depth and structure to your biography. Reflect on the recurring patterns or motifs that define your subject’s life. Is their story marked by resilience in the face of adversity, innovation in their field, or a profound impact on society? Defining these themes will guide the narrative’s direction, adding cohesion and resonance.
• Gather Primary Sources : Primary sources are the treasure trove of your biography. Seek out personal letters, diaries, and interviews that provide direct insights into your subject’s thoughts, emotions, and experiences. These firsthand accounts offer authenticity and intimacy, enabling you to craft a vivid and authentic portrayal of their life journey.
• Structured Approach : Creating a structured outline lays the foundation for a coherent biography. Decide whether to adopt a chronological or thematic framework. A chronological order follows the subject’s life events in sequence, providing a clear timeline. A thematic approach groups events based on recurring themes or significant life stages, enabling a deeper exploration of the subject’s character and journey. This structure guides your writing, ensuring a logical flow that engages readers and highlights the most impactful moments of the subject’s life.
• Opening Impact : An attention-grabbing introduction sets the tone for your biography. Start with a hook that intrigues readers—a pivotal event, a thought-provoking quote, or an anecdote that encapsulates the subject’s essence. This initial impact draws readers in, sparking their curiosity and compelling them to delve deeper into the narrative. A compelling opening establishes an emotional connection and primes readers for the journey ahead, ensuring they are invested in discovering the subject’s story.
• Captivating Details : Vivid details breathe life into your biography, immersing readers in the subject’s world. Describe their surroundings, relationships, and experiences with sensory imagery. Transport readers to a specific time and place, allowing them to visualise and empathise with the subject’s journey. Sensory details—such as sights, sounds, smells, and textures—create a rich and immersive reading experience. These details not only evoke emotions but also establish a strong connection between readers and the subject’s experiences.
• Balanced Perspective : A balanced portrayal adds depth and authenticity to your biography. Present the subject’s achievements and successes alongside their challenges and vulnerabilities. Humanise them by showcasing their personal qualities, flaws, and growth over time. This multi-dimensional perspective resonates with readers, making the subject relatable and real. Highlighting both triumphs and struggles creates a genuine emotional connection, allowing readers to root for the subject’s successes while understanding the complexity of their journey.

Examples of biographical narratives:

• Historical Figure : Mahatma Gandhi: In “The Story of My Experiments with Truth,” Gandhi provides an intimate account of his life, revealing his transformation from a hesitant lawyer to a global advocate for nonviolent resistance. His narrative showcases personal growth, inner struggles, and dedication to social change.
• Contemporary Icon :  Steve Jobs: In Walter Isaacson’s  “Steve Jobs,” the biography delves into the complexities of Jobs’ character, exploring his visionary leadership, innovative mindset, and personal challenges. The narrative captures Jobs’ creative genius and his influence on technology and design.
• Personal Biography : Maya Angelou’s autobiographical series, starting with “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” recounts her tumultuous life journey from childhood to adulthood. Her narrative confronts racism, trauma, and personal triumphs, resonating with readers through its candidness and resilience.

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How to publish a Biography?

Traditional Publishing : This route involves submitting your manuscript to literary agents or publishing houses. If your manuscript is accepted, the publishing house handles editing, design, distribution, and marketing. While traditional publishing offers broader reach and industry expertise, securing a deal can be competitive and time-consuming.

Self-Publishing : Self-publishing empowers you to retain creative control and publish your biography independently. You can use platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or other self-publishing services. This option provides flexibility and faster publication, but it also demands that you take on responsibilities such as editing, design, and marketing.

Polishing your manuscript

Regardless of your chosen publishing path, your manuscript should be polished and refined. Proofread for grammar, spelling, and coherence. Consider enlisting a professional editor to provide objective feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Professional editing and design

For self-publishing, investing in professional editing and design is crucial. An eye-catching book cover and a well-formatted interior enhance the book’s visual appeal and ensure a seamless reading experience. Design elements must align with the tone and content of the biography.

Marketing and Promotion

Promoting your biography is essential for reaching your target audience and generating interest. Here are effective strategies to consider:

• Author Website : Crafting an author website provides a central hub for readers to learn about you and your biography. Showcase your background, writing journey, and other works. Dedicate sections to your biography, offering insights into the narrative, your motivations, and the journey of creating it. Include a contact page, allowing readers to reach out and fostering a direct connection that can deepen their engagement with your work.
• Social Media : Leveraging social media amplifies your biography’s visibility and engages a wider audience. Share captivating snippets from your biography, behind-the-scenes glimpses into your writing process, and personal anecdotes that resonate with readers. Consistent updates on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn create a dynamic online presence, fostering reader interaction and building a dedicated community around your work.
• Book Launch Events : Organising book launch events is a dynamic way to introduce your biography to the world. Host virtual gatherings or in-person meetups, inviting friends, family, local bookstores, and potential readers. Engage with your audience through readings, Q&A sessions, and personal anecdotes that offer insights into your writing journey. These events create excitement, generate buzz, and establish personal connections that enhance your biography’s visibility.
• Collaborate with Bloggers : Collaborating with book bloggers and influencers exposes your biography to a wider audience. Reach out to bloggers who align with your genre and target readership. Offer them copies of your biography for honest reviews and features. Positive reviews from trusted sources carry weight and can significantly influence potential readers’ decisions to explore your work. Partnering with bloggers extends your biography’s reach and enhances its credibility within the literary community.

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Engaging with readers not only promotes your biography but also establishes a deeper connection. Consider these engagement strategies:

• Book Clubs : Join or initiate book clubs that discuss your biography. Engaging in meaningful conversations about your work can lead to greater insights and reader loyalty.
• Reader Feedback : Encourage readers to provide feedback through social media, email, or author websites. Listening to your audience can inform your future writing endeavours.

Successful Examples of Published Biographies

• “Becoming” by Michelle Obama : Michelle Obama’s autobiographical masterpiece was traditionally published by Crown Publishing Group. The memoir offers readers a glimpse into her life as the first African-American First Lady of the United States, sharing her personal journey, values, and experiences.
• “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson : Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs was traditionally published by Simon & Schuster. The meticulously researched work captures Jobs’ entrepreneurial spirit, creative genius, and complex personality.
• Self-Published Success : “Educated” by Tara Westover: Tara Westover’s memoir “Educated” was self-published and later picked up by Random House. The powerful story of her journey from a survivalist family to earning a PhD resonated with readers, making it a New York Times bestseller.

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Biography Outline Template For Elementary Students

Download this Biography Outline Template For Elementary Students Design in Word, PDF, Apple Pages Format. Easily Editable, Printable, Downloadable.

This Biography Outline Template for Elementary Students is perfect for primary school children to place their information in a understandable and clear manner. Just edit the texts and content of this file before printing. This free to download file can be used in MS Word and Mac Pages.

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