How To Write A Biography
How To Write A Biography
A biography is simply the story of a life. Biographies can be just a few sentences long, or they can fill an
entire book—or two.
Very short biographies tell the basic facts of someone's life and importance.
Longer biographies include that basic information of course, with a lot more detail, but they also
tell a good story.
Biographies analyze and interpret the events in a person's life. They try to find connections, explain the
meaning of unexpected actions or mysteries, and make arguments about the significance of the person's
accomplishments or life activities. Biographies are usually about famous, or infamous people, but a
biography of an ordinary person can tell us a lot about a particular time and place. They are often about
historical figures, but they can also be about people still living.
Many biographies are written in chronological order. Some group time periods around a major theme
(such as "early adversity" or "ambition and achievement" ). Still others focus on specific topics or
accomplishments.
Biographers use primary and secondary sources: