Writing autobiography and biography

Autobiographies are sometimes confused with memoirs because both are written in the first person and contain details of the subject's life.

Key differences between an autobiography and a memoir:

• Memoirs explore a specific period of a person's life.
• Autobiographies provide an account of the person's life from their earliest years up to the time of writing.

1. Written in chronological order.
2. Uses time connectives such as before, then, after that, and finally.
3. Uses the names of real people and events and is specific about times, dates, and places.
4. Includes personal memories and specific details and descriptions.
5. Reflects how both positive and negative experiences shaped the author.
6. Provides insights into the thoughts, feelings, actions, and hopes of the author.
7. May include some relevant photographs.
8. Usually ends with a commentary on life, reflections on significant events, and hopes/plans for the future.

A biography is an account of someone's life written by another person. It can be short (basic life facts and importance) or long (detailed account).

• Short biographies provide a brief overview of a person's life and their significance.
• Long biographies go into more detail about the person's life and experiences.

When writing a biography:

• You may need to write a biography of a famous person, a close friend, or a relative.
• It's important to know which details to include and what to leave out. Many lives have interesting bits of information, but you should focus on the most relevant and significant details.