How to Write a Biography:Step A to Z Nonfiction writers are sometimes fascinated by a particular person, present or past, and write a book about her. Sometimes I want to write a book. life. Whether they are portrayed as heroes or villains, there is an interesting quality to their humanity that forces these writers to rethink their life paths and write their stories. However, in order to represent human life comprehensively and attractively on paper, careful preparation is required. If you want to write your own biography, this post will give you step-by-step instructions that you can follow.
How to write a biography:
1. Get permission if possible
2. Research the topic thoroughly
3. Conduct interviews and visit locations
4. Organize the results
5. Identify the central thesis
6. Write with narrative elements
7. Get feedback and revise
While you don't technically need permission to write about a public figure (or someone who has passed away), there's no guarantee that your legal department won't take legal action against you. Author Kitty Kelly was sued by Frank Sinatra before she began writing His Way, a biography that portrayed Ol' Blue Eyes in a controversial light. (However, Mr. Kelly ultimately won the case.) If possible, inform that person's attorney of your intentions. If everything goes according to plan, you'll receive the green light to proceed or possibly an offer to work together. It's a matter of common sense. If someone were to write a book about you, you'd probably want to know about it long before it's published. Therefore, make a good faith effort to contact your public relations representative to negotiate an agreement, or at least a mutual understanding, on the scope of your project.
At the same time, maintain editorial control over your project and be careful not to write bloated works that treat your protagonists like saints or heroes. Biography cannot be completely objective, but it should always aim for a portrayal that closely corresponds to facts and reality.
If you receive no response on your topic or are asked not to proceed, you can still accept the possible consequences and write an unauthorized biography. The "treasonous act" of publishing without consent is certainly a great marketing tool, but it also probably comes with even more headaches. Once you've sorted out the permission part (or not), it's time to dig deeper into your character's story.
Start with the information you already have, from books to archival documents on the subject, then gather new information firsthand by interviewing people or traveling to locations.
