Writing
Writing About Your Life: Ideas To Help You Get Started
Writing about your life seems like an easy endeavor until you find yourself unable to begin. Where’s the starting point? Will anyone want to read your story? Why write about your life at all? Whether you’re writing a memoir or an autobiography, you should treat it as more than a journal. The process will involve more preparation and research than simply finding a notebook, pen, and a good writing spot and writing whatever comes to mind.
![Writing about your life](jpg/ah-resources-writingaboutyourlife.jpg)
To get started, you must lend structure to your brainstorming session by thinking of aspects of your life like an actual story: the characters, settings, events, and so on. You may write down these details, type them out, or record them with a voice recorder—whichever allows you to simply ramble for now.
Use the following guide questions to make sure you have a productive brainstorming session.
Characters
- Family
- Friends
Describe your family members: their defining physical traits, mannerisms, favorite color, favorite food, favorite outfits. Talk about your relationships with them. How have they influenced your life? (Yes, pets are family too.) What are some of your favorite memories and things to do together? What are tough times that you’ve been through with or because of them? Is there one family member that stands out for you?
How did you meet your friends? What brings you together? What has tested or strengthened your friendship?
Settings
- Places you’ve lived in
- Places you’ve visited
- Workplaces
What makes a place feel like home? What are the things that you like and don’t like about it?
How often do you travel? Are there places you like to return to? Places you’ll be avoiding from now on? Is there a place that has affected you in a profound way?
What kind of work do you do? Is it your dream job? What do you like and not like about a workplace? What is your relationship with your boss and your workmates like?
Life Stages
- Childhood
- Your earliest memories
- Stories passed down by older family members
- Your memories of family gatherings, holidays, and traditions
- Adolescence
- Rites of passage
- First love
- Goals you set for yourself
- Early/middle adulthood
- Your career achievements, setbacks, and highlights
- Highlights of your courtships
- The highs and lows of marriage
- Lessons learned from parenthood
- Late Adulthood
- Grandparenthood
- Retirement
Events
- Pivotal moments
- Important dates in history
- Unusual encounters
Has something happened to you that changed the course of your life? What successes have you celebrated? What crises have you weathered?
Did you ever find yourself in the middle of history being made? What was it like?
Ever met your heroes? Bumped into a celebrity? Had a brush with the supernatural?
Interests
- Do you play or follow any sports? Who are your role models?
- What kind of literature do you read? Who are your favorite authors? Which author or work has inspired you to become an author yourself?
- What are your favorite films? What music do you listen to?
- Who are your favorite artists? Do you make art yourself? What inspires you to make art? How often do you experience creative blocks and how do you overcome them?
- Do you have a hobby? What does it involve? Is there a community for it? How long have you been doing it?
Ideology
- What do you believe in? What’s your spiritual community like?
- Did your earliest religious or spiritual beliefs follow you into adulthood? What changed, and how?
- What are your philosophies?
More Resources
As the words accumulate, themes will emerge and help you shape your notes into a more cohesive work.
You’ll also get into the habit of describing people, places, and experiences with as much detail as possible.
Writing
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Five Reasons Less is More When It Comes to Beating Writer’s Block
A Short History of Life Writing
Common Writing Mistakes You Should Avoid
The Dos and Don'ts of Writing the Author Bio of Your Self-Published Book
The Difficult Things: Writing About Pain, Grief, and Hardship
Writing About Your Life: Ideas To Help You Get Started
An Editor's Guide to Producing a Compelling Romance Novel
Why You Should Have a Professional Edit Your Work
Mastering the Art of Self-Editing: Essential Tips for Self-Published Authors
The Importance of Professional Editing: Elevating Your Self-Published Book
Unleashing Your Inner Author: Overcoming Writer's Block
The Do's and Don'ts of Self-Editing Your Manuscript
Publishing
Five Self-Publishing Do’s and Don’ts
The Benefits of Self-Publishing
The It’s a Team Effort: How Publishing With Us Works
How To Publish Your Book in Five Easy Steps
Four Common Self-Publishing Roadblocks and How to Overcome Them
Five Tips for a Professional Cover Design
From Brainstorming to Publishing
A Beginner's Guide to Navigating Publishing Services
Book Cover Design: How to Make Your Book Stand Out
DIY Self-Publishing vs. Supported Self-Publishing: What's Right for You?
Self-Publishing a Book in 8 Steps
10 Autobiographies That Will Inspire You
Navigating The Top 8 Book Distributor Services: Pros and Cons
The Ultimate Guide to Self-Publishing
Demystifying Self-Publishing: How to Turn Your Book Dreams into Reality
Designing Eye-Catching Book Covers: A Guide for Self-Publishers
Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing: Making an Informed Decision
Navigating the World of Print-on-Demand: A Primer for Self-Publishers
Distribution Options for Self-Published Authors: Reaching Your Target Audience
Self-Publishing on a Budget: Cost-Effective Tips for Authors
“Mind the gap”: Lessons Learned from Self-Published Authors
Setting Yourself Up for Success: 5 Essential Tips for Self-Publishing
Self-Publishing Platforms: 5 Things to Consider When Making Your Choice
Book Cover Design 101: Creating an Eye-Catching Book Cover
Book Cover Design: How “Founder's Syndrome” Impacts Your Success
From Blog to Book: Turning Your Online Content into a Publication
Overcoming Self-Doubt as a Self-Published Author: Boosting Confidence and Motivation
Marketing
Precision Marketing: Define, Learn, and Create Your Target Audience
Build a Platform: Don’t Overlook Direct Sales
The Perfect Pitch: 5 Ways to Pitch Your Self-Published Book
Joining Book Festivals: 5 Ways To Maximize Your Appearance
10 Reasons Self-Published Authors Should Promote Their Books
10 Reasons Why Authors Should Still Send Press Releases
7 Reasons Why Self-Published Authors Should Go Print Too
A Beginner's Guide to Self-Publishing Success
Marketing Strategies for Self-Published Authors: Getting Your Book Noticed
8 Tips for Establishing Your Author Brand
Unleashing Your Book's Potential: Building Your Audience like a Startup
The Art of Writing Compelling Book Descriptions
Harnessing the Power of Social Media: Marketing Strategies for Self-Published Books
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