Writing a bio, or telling a person's life story, can be a fun challenge. You may have to write one for a school assignment or decide to do it for personal pleasure. Once you have chosen the subject, do some research to gather as much information as possible; then launched into the drafting of the biography; finally, review and correct the text until you are fully satisfied with the result.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Doing Research on the Subject
Step 1. Ask the subject for their permission
Before starting your research, make sure the person you want to write about agrees. If you have her permission, you will have the assurance that she is willing to share information about her life and it will be much easier to write the bio.
- If he doesn't give his consent, you'd better choose a different subject: if you decide to publish the bio without his permission, he could sue you.
- Obviously, the authorization problem does not arise if the subject you have chosen is no longer alive.
Step 2. Look for sources
They can be books, letters, photographs, newspapers, magazines, websites, diaries, videos, interviews, existing biographies or even autobiographies of the person himself. Look for them in bookstores or on the internet; read as much as you can about the subject and take note of any relevant information you come across.
You could make a list of questions to help you establish search criteria; for example: "What interests me about this person? Why is it important for others to know their life story? What can I say about them again? What else would I like to know?"
Step 3. Do interviews
This will breathe life into your work - the people you interview can tell you stories that you would never find in books. Talk to both the protagonist of the biography and the people close to him, such as his spouse, friends, colleagues, relatives, and so on. You can interview them in person, over the phone or by email.
- If you decide to do it in person, record the interviews on a tape recorder or on your computer or mobile phone.
- You may need to interview the same person multiple times to get all the material you need.
Step 4. Visit the places that were important to the protagonist
To really connect with his story, spend time in places that have meaning for him; you could visit the house or neighborhood where he lived in childhood, the place where he works (or worked) or the places where he loves (or loved) to spend his free time.
You should also go and visit places where he has made important decisions or where his life has taken a decisive turn. Being physically there can help you better understand how they felt and tell their experiences more convincingly
Step 5. Study its context
Consider the time in which the person grew up, the history of the places where he lived, everything that happened around him: do some research on the economic, political and cultural situation of that period and read articles on news events in the area where he lived or worked.
Ask yourself, "What were the social norms? What was happening politically and economically? What influence did the social and political context have on this person?"
Step 6. Make a chronology of events
To better organize your research, create a timeline of the protagonist's entire life, starting from his birth. Draw a long line on a sheet of paper and divide it into the different stages of his life, entering as much information as possible. Highlight key moments or events and write important dates, places and names.
You can also add historical events that have had a strong impact on the person (for example, a war that involved his country at a time in his life)
Part 2 of 3: Writing the Biography
Step 1. Follow a chronological order
Use the timeline you have drawn to structure the biography: start from the birth of the protagonist, narrating his childhood; he then moves on to adolescence and his adult life; if he is still alive, he talks about the last phase of his life; if not, give information about his death.
You may want to focus on certain phases of his life rather than others; describe them always going in chronological order
Step 2. Establish an underlying thesis
It may be helpful to have a central idea around which to develop the biography. Make sure the entire text references that idea.
For example, you might decide to focus on the person's role in the social movements of the 1960s. You will then need to make sure that the entire content of the biography relates to this theme
Step 3. Insert flashbacks
The flashback, or analessi, consists in going back in the narrative, recounting an event preceding the point reached by the story. For example, you could start by writing about a present moment and then move on to a scene from the protagonist's past; or you could alternate chapters, setting one in the present and one in the past.
- The flashbacks should be as vivid and detailed as all the other scenes. Use notes taken during research and interviews to narrate the person's past in the most realistic way possible.
- For example, once you get to the description of his death, you could insert a flashback to the best memory of his childhood.
Step 4. Focus on the most important events
They can include marriages, births or deaths that have marked the life of the protagonist. They can also consist of milestones such as his first business success or the first event he attended. Emphasize key moments in her life so that the reader can fully understand what was important to that person and what impact this has had on the world around her.
For example, you could focus on the achievements he has achieved in social movements, devoting an entire section to his contribution and participation in important events that took place in the city where he lived
Step 5. Find a common thread
Look for similarities between events or moments in his life and notice recurring expressions or situations.
For example, let's say you have noticed that often in the course of his life, the person has had to work hard to overcome adversity and fight against forces greater than him: this could be the central theme of the biography
Step 6. Express your views on the subject
As a biographer, you play a role in his life story. Don't be afraid to write what you think. Reflect on what you have learned in the course of your research and comment on it.
For example, you might point out a parallel between the person's participation in the movements of the 1960s and your interest in social justice. You could also praise her for her commitment and the positive impact she has had on society
Part 3 of 3: Refining the Biography
Step 1. Show the bio to other people
Once you've finished writing the draft, show it to friends, fellow students, or teachers for feedback. Ask if the text is understandable and fluent. Listen to their opinions so you can improve your work.
Make changes based on the opinions you receive. Do not hesitate to correct or even cut parts to adapt the text to the needs of the readers
Step 2. Reread the bio
Check that spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct. Circle all punctuation marks to better control them. Read the text backwards to find any spelling and grammar errors.
A bio full of mistakes would only discourage the reader and get you a bad grade if it's a school assignment
Step 3. Mention all sources you use
Biographies typically draw a lot of information from various sources, such as books, articles and interviews. Be sure to indicate any sources you have drawn from, whether you are quoting it verbatim or not. You can make citations within the text, in footnotes or in a list of endnotes.
If the bio is an assignment you have been assigned, you may need to use a specific citation style (e.g. MLA, APA, or Chicago) depending on the teacher's preference
Advice
- Be careful when posting private or embarrassing information, especially if the subject isn't a celebrity. You could violate his right to privacy.
- Make sure you have sources to support what you write about the person's life. Posting false claims can lead to a libel complaint. If it is your opinion, make it clear that it is your personal judgment and not a fact (although of course you can back up your opinion with facts).
