How do you write a self biography?

Answer 1

That would be an autobiography. When you write autobiography, you can make your own rules. Your life story is your own; write it whatever way makes sense to you.

If it's for a personal statement for a college application (as the question category suggests), probably with a word limit, one good idea is to find a theme or pattern that you can use to organize it. For instance, one applicant who was interested in social work wrote about how community service had always been a part of his life because his parents were activists; he used this thread to relate incidents from his life. It was no accident that it tied into his stated interest in furthering his education.

Another applicant was heading for a psychology degree. She wrote about how people had helped her at key points in her life and how this experience had shaped her interest in her future study.

The key is selectivity. You can't tell everything. Along with basic facts, you want to pick out some things that paint a picture of you with some depth and dimensions and show you as an attractive candidate for admission. Choosing some theme or thread that runs through your life can help you tell the story without trying to cram in a record of everything you ever did.

I agree an autobiography may be written in any style the writer chooses and doesn't necessarily have to follow a strict chronological standard. It is the writer's expression of his or her perception of their life and how they experienced it.

I don't agree with the seeming cool detachment applied to an autobiographies description as stated above. It is referred to as a tool used to further an education or a career (Although they may well lend to both positively). Writing an autobiography necessarily involves studying the life you have lived and trying to capture it as it was affected at various times of your life. If you can capture perceptions you had as a child and compare them to ones you had as a teen, then as young adults and then as middle age and on, a pattern will emerge enabling the audience can "see" how you changed over time. With clear descriptions of your life experiences and circumstances, why your perceptions evolved as they did.

Since not all people writing autobiographies aren't celebrities or well known people, having a strong purpose for writing your story is helpful. Who is your audience? What are you trying to share and why? An autobiography can be used to inspire, teach, cause laughter or or describe dark, melodramatic events. What does the writer hope his/her audience will gain from the description of their life?

If you don't consider yourself, your life and life changes with an eye on responsibility to delivering something of interest or value to the reading audience, you are writing a journal's description of yourself and your life. This is absolutely a valuable piece of work. The art of knowing your self is challenging and provides clarity of vision you may not attain other wise. In this case the writing helps the writer.

Answer 2

When writing a self-biography, start by outlining key events in your life, such as education, career, and personal milestones. Include your achievements, experiences, and values that have shaped you. Be authentic, concise, and reflective in sharing your journey in a compelling and engaging way.