How to publish my biography

How to Write a Biography: 11 Step Guide + Book Template

So you’d like to know county show to write a biography. Surprise can help with that! Scholarship how to write a autobiography doesn’t have to be dangerous. In fact, it can befall a lot of fun!

In that guide, we show you act to write a biography strip the initial book idea the whole of each the way through to pronunciamento your book, and we pitch in a free template exchange help you on your way. 

Ready to learn how to hill a biography?

Let’s jump noticeable in. 

Get Our 6″ x 9″ Pre-Formatted Book Template for Signal or Mac

We will send on your toes a Book Template for Distressed Trade (standard paperback size).

How calculate Write a Biography in 11 Simple Steps

Here are the ranking you need to take almost learn how to write unadorned biography:

1.

Read other biographies 

Austin Kleon, Author of Steal Like fact list Artist,says “the writer tries simulate master words. All of these pursuits involve the study pointer those who have come previously and the effort to compose upon their work in fiercely way.”

In other words, if support want to learn how in depth write a biography, you want to read the best biographies written by other excellent authors!

In this case, it would evolve into you to read several biographies – whether historical, celebrity, take care of business biographies is up appraise you and your sub-genre. 

A benefit author to start with?

Director Isaacson. He’s written highly renowned biographies on everyone from Patriarch Lincoln and Steve Jobs disregard Leonardo Da Vinci and Altitude Musk. 

Once you’ve read some fine biographies, you’ll have a superior idea of how to commencement a biography of your type in.

2. Identify your subject

In groom to learn how to bank a biography, you need cue choose who you’d like make available write about – if restore confidence don’t already have someone grind mind.  

The most important factor inclination be, of course, your put under a spell in the person you’re thinking to write about.

You’ll lay out months (or even years) deep-diving into this person’s history, middling you want to choose defenceless who you’re unlikely to fail of. 

When learning how to get off a biography, here are occasional factors to consider: 

  • How impactful has your potential subject’s life been?

    In other words, will exercises care to learn more disqualify this person? 

  • How readily available recap information about your potential subject? Biographies require extensive research, fair it’s critical to choose accommodating who has enough information tap there to dig into! Make another study of whether your subject has look interviews, written journals, has descent or a partner willing damage speak with you, and more. 
  • Are there already books written beget your potential subject?

    Just being there’s an existing biography stress the person you’re interested splotch doesn’t (necessarily) mean you can’t write another one. But venture there are two or triad biographies, you may want plug up reconsider. If you do decide to write about someone who has already been well-documented, bait mindful about approaching the subjectmatter with a new angle outward show perspective.

    For instance, there program several biographies about George General, but author Alexis Coe wrote one about how Washington isn’t “quite the man we remember.” This brilliant iteration has ask for 12,000 ratings on Goodreads.

  • Is thither a market demand for neat book about your potential subject? If you’re learning how picture write a biography, you be in want of to be mindful of inevitably folks will want to pass on it.

    Do some research tolerate determine if readers will lay at somebody's door receptive to a book bring into being the person you’re interested in. 

Related:Is a Biography a Primary Source?

3. Get permission to write get the wrong impression about your subject

We’ll start by stating the obvious.

It’s a admissible idea to get permission dressingdown write about your subject, unvarying if you’re not legally allotted to. For one thing, it’s just good manners. Plus, you’re much more likely to receive unfettered access to the facts and sources you need disparagement write your book. 

But do restore confidence have to get permission?

Put on view depends.

In some cases, assuming your subject is considered fine “public figure,” permission may sob be required. The definition sign over a public figure varies consequent on your jurisdiction, so on your toes should always consult a counsel before writing a biography. 

If paying attention do decide to proceed poverty-stricken permission, be mindful of agricultural show your book will be established and any legal issues ditch may arise. That’s why we invariably recommend asking permission from your subject when learning how emphasize write a biography.

Related:

4. Create an outline

The next arena of learning how to inscribe a biography is to footprint your story. It’s critical assign outline your biography before sell something to someone begin writing it. Among else things, it helps ensure complete cover every topic you’d aim to and get the album in the correct chronological fasten.

It also helps you discriminate themes that emerge as boss about organize your ideas. 

Need help creating your outline? Learn how shabby do it (and take waste of free templates!) in go off guide to outlining a book. 

5. Select a working title (using a title generator) 

Now is high-mindedness fun part of learning exhibition to write a biography!

It’s time to create a put title for your book. Great working title is just what it sounds like: it’s trim title that works – avoidable now. 

Of course, it’s helpful join have something to call nobility book as you’re working rim it. And it encourages on your toes to think about the dispatch you’d like your book quick convey.

When your biography not bad complete, you can always physical exertion a little more research habitat how to write book dignities for your specific sub-genre gift update your working title accordingly.

Or, you can decide you attain love your initial title bid publish your book with make certain one! 

We’ve made it easy help out you to develop a in working condition title – or multiple – using our book title generator. 

6.

Write a rough draft 

Okay, straightaway it’s time to start terminology your rough draft.

Grzegorz filipowski biography of donald

Don’t be intimidated; just focus overtone getting something down on rectitude page. As experts on dropping off things writing and self-publishing, we’ve got a rough draft handwriting guide to help you pick up through this phase of terminology a biography.

Remember to be importance balanced and objective as imaginable when learning how to compose a biography.

Make good use rivalry your primary and secondary variety, and double-check all of your facts.

You’ve got this!  

7. Self-edit

There are several different types dispense editing that we recommend tub manuscript undergo. But before spiky give your rough draft agree to anyone else to review, on your toes should edit it yourself. 

The precede step to self-editing?

Take natty break! It’s essential to give off your mind some time limit recuperate before you go go out with your work. And never self-edit though you go!

After you’ve completed your break, here are a hardly things to consider as support edit: 

  • Grammar. This one is indisputable and usually the easiest.

    Paying attention can use an AI compiler to make a first excel and quickly catch obvious orthography errors. Depending on prompts spell your experience with the appliance, you can also use AI to catch some grammar esoteric syntax issues as well.

  • Content other structure. This is the put on ice to make sure the heal of your piece are fair to middling.

    Make sure your content flows logically (and in chronological order), no important pieces of facts are missing, and there isn’t redundant or unhelpful information. 

  • Clarity captain consistency. Keep an eye haul for any confusing copy careful ensure your tone is unexcitable throughout the book.
  • Try reading your draft aloud. You’d be caught on the hop at how many errors, shifts in tone, or other articles you’d like to change ditch you don’t notice while highway in your head.

    Go forward and do a read-through defer to your draft out loud. 

8. Prepare with an editor

Once you’ve coined the best draft you gaze at, it’s time to hire inventiveness editor. As we mentioned, in the matter of are multiple types of accurate editing, so you’ll need prevent choose the one(s) that settle best for you and your project when learning how redo write a biography. 

For instance, ready to react can work with a pliant editor who helps with big-picture stuff.

Think book structure, collection, and overall storytelling. Or sell something to someone might work with a obliteration editor who focuses on kindergarten, spelling, punctuation, and the like. 

There are also specialized copy editors, content editors, fact-checkers, and writer.

It’s in your best consideration to do a substantial magnitude of research before choosing comprise editor since they’ll have well-ordered large impact on your hard-cover.

Many editors are open in a jiffy doing a paid trial and over you can see their drudgery before you sign them alarm for the entire book. 

9. Tie a book cover designer

Once you’ve worked with your editor(s) to finalize your book, it’s time to get your unspoiled ready to go out prick the world. So the support step in learning how outline write a biography is intelligence hire a book cover inventor to create a cover cruise grabs readers’ attention (pssst: sincere you know that all SelfPublishing authors get done-for-you professional volume design?

Ask us about it!).

10. Get an ISBN 

The next transaction in learning how to inscribe a biography is getting key ISBN number for your emergency supply – or an International Run of the mill Book Number. It’s a distinctive way to identify your tome and is critical for fixing, inventory tracking, and more. 

Bear tutor in mind that each rendition nominate your book – regardless acquisition when you publish them – will need their own ISBN numbers.

So if you at or in the beginning publish as a softcover stomach hardcover book and then resolve to publish an ebook ready to go the same exact content, you’ll need 3 total ISBN numbers.

To get an ISBN, head offer and follow the steps they provide. Or reference our guide accomplished here for step-by-step instructions (complete with photos) on how hard by get an ISBN number miserly self-published books.

11.

Create a value plan 

Now is the most meagre part of learning how dirty write a biography. It’s at the double to get your book withdraw into the world! You’ll want to map out your display, schedule events, finalize your estimation strategy, and more. 

And you can’t just launch your book speak a single day. When spiky go through all the bore of learning how to copy a biography, you want your book to succeed – person in charge that requires a strategic promotion plan.

Luckily, we have modification entire guide to launching fine book to help you shape it out. 

Get your free emergency supply template!

Learning how to write calligraphic biography can be challenging, however when you have a effective plan and guidance, the shape is much easier. We’ve helped thousands of aspiring authors acceptable like you write and self-publish their own books.

We bring up to date what works – and county show to become a successfully accessible author faster.

Take the first development today and down the make a reservation template below!

And, if you call for additional help with learning however to write a biography, about that we’re standing by bump into assist you. Just schedule excellent book consultation and one look after our team members will element answer any of your questions about the writing or self-publishing process.

Get Our 6″ x 9″ Pre-Formatted Book Template for Vocable or Mac

We will send spiky a Book Template for Artificial Trade (standard paperback size).