The Five Traits of an Autobiography
Autobiography Characteristics can be a little difficult to nail down. The best way to think about autobiography characteristics is to figure out what gives your story character.
Once you've chosen the appropriate way your story, you'll need to remember five autobiography values to assure yourself that what you capture is an accurate reflection of the life you lived. Remember these five values:
1. Don't lie to your audience (yourself or others)
Everyone believes he's honest. Trouble is that we all tend to exaggerate our lives. Choose honesty from the get-go. Your audience will appreciate and you will respect yourself in the morning.
2. Find Your Voice
We all experience times in our lives when we would rather be someone else. Now is not the time to try and be someone else. You want to preserve an accurate reflection of your personality.
Don't fall into the trap of wanting to sound like someone else. Just be yourself!
3. Let the Audience Know Your Why
Of course, you should have a why. This makes it easier to continue with the writing. It also lets your audience in on your reasons. You can explicitly express it, or you can let it show through in between the lines of what you write.
In his famous autobiography, Benjamin Franklin stated 11 reasons for recording his life:
He liked reading about his own ancestors.
He thinks that his son (and others) will enjoy reading his autobiography.
He wants to tell his rags-to-riches story.
He wants to explain how he succeeded and found happiness.
He examines his life for anything he would do differently.
He can't live again. But he can see his life again through his writing.
He would like for his story to persist.
He wants to indulge himself.
He wants to express God's involvement in his life.
Even through his success, he realizes that it could be taken from him at anytime.
Perhaps one of Benjamin Frankin's reasons struck a nerve with you. If one did, use it. If not, be sure to find your Why. This is one of the most important of the autobiography characteristics. You'll need it to work through the slow times.
4. Know Your Audience
While writing an autobiography can be a very personal experience, it's important to know that unless you destroy your work, someone will probably read it someday. Know this. Think about what you want that person to know. For Benjamin Franklin, he addressed his son. But beyond his son, Benjamin Franklin looked to a much wider audience. And he succeeded. His autobiography is one of the most read autobiographies in the world.
Who will you write for? Your son? Your daughter? Your grandkids?
5. Know Where Your Headed
How have the events in your life led you to where you are in life? Maybe your autobiography will demonstrate how your life was shaped. Or maybe you want your autobiography to just be a collection of stories. There are many directions to choose from - choose one!
The Characteristics summed up:
1. Don't lie to your audience (yourself or others)
2. Let You Shine Through
3. Find Your Why
4. Know Who You're Writing For
5. Choose a Direction
If you include these Autobiography Characteristics, you will write a successful autobiography, no matter what final form it takes.
Go out and create your story!
See our article on Starting an Autobiography . Robert Brady's Autobiography Workshop is a fantastic tool for writing an autobiography .
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