I am thinking about writing a book about my life. but don't know where to start any ideas
Replies
Hello Sharron,
You must have a reason for thinking that your autobiography would be of interest to a certain readership; otherwise you wouldn't be writing it. What's the hook? What's the thing that stands out about your life story that makes it writeable and readable? Was there a single pivotal point in your life in which you changed direction, or found your calling, or went from being just one of a crowd to being someone different, special? What makes your childhood important to your readers?
You need to be able to answer all these questions before you start. Above all, you have to ask yourself why? Why am I writing this? What's the purpose of putting my life on paper for others to examine in detail?
Clearly you have that purpose in mind, and only you know whether there is sufficient content to make a book out of it; but to ask strangers where to start, when we don't know you or anything about you, is like asking how long is a piece of string! As in any story, just write it. Somewhere along the way you will realise where your first chapter should begin, (and I suggest not a simple line from 'I was born' up to the present), but for now, you need to write down anecdotes, episodes, crucial moments, whatever comes to mind. You can sort it out and reject the unnecessary later. Get your story onto paper and then juggle with it. Sort through the family photo albums, too - you'll need pictures, if only for inspiration. Good luck.
You can start with where you are today and then you can go all the way back to where you have started your journey, your childhood.
Or you can start with the most important decision you had ever taken,
Or if you have some title in your mind, it means you know the way you want to present yourself(your biography) and i think that would be a nice point to start your journey with.
Hello Sharron,
You must have a reason for thinking that your autobiography would be of interest to a certain readership; otherwise you wouldn't be writing it. What's the hook? What's the thing that stands out about your life story that makes it writeable and readable? Was there a single pivotal point in your life in which you changed direction, or found your calling, or went from being just one of a crowd to being someone different, special? What makes your childhood important to your readers?
You need to be able to answer all these questions before you start. Above all, you have to ask yourself why? Why am I writing this? What's the purpose of putting my life on paper for others to examine in detail?
Clearly you have that purpose in mind, and only you know whether there is sufficient content to make a book out of it; but to ask strangers where to start, when we don't know you or anything about you, is like asking how long is a piece of string! As in any story, just write it. Somewhere along the way you will realise where your first chapter should begin, (and I suggest not a simple line from 'I was born' up to the present), but for now, you need to write down anecdotes, episodes, crucial moments, whatever comes to mind. You can sort it out and reject the unnecessary later. Get your story onto paper and then juggle with it. Sort through the family photo albums, too - you'll need pictures, if only for inspiration. Good luck.
Hi Sharron,
You can start with where you are today and then you can go all the way back to where you have started your journey, your childhood.
Or you can start with the most important decision you had ever taken,
Or if you have some title in your mind, it means you know the way you want to present yourself(your biography) and i think that would be a nice point to start your journey with.
Hope it helped.
All the best.
Hi lucy all of my life as far back from when I was a child up to the present. yes your answer was very helpful. thankyou.