Author: Mariam Noronha
Are you one of those people who have always marveled at the lives of the rich and famous? Have you secretly dreamt of unraveling the mystique of the persona of a celebrity? Then here’s how you could bring out the biographer in you.
Let us begin with what you need to become a biographer
- A keen interest in people and their lives
- An interest in research
- A flair for history that will help you trace the history, how and why of the person you want to write about
- Good writing skills coupled with interviewing and networking skills to tap the right sources
You can now begin the process of writing by:
Picking the person you want to write about. Before you begin scouring libraries and book stores to check for biographies of that person which may have already been written make sure you pick somebody who you share something with. For instance business writers could chronicle the tale of a business tycoon while fashion designers may do better justice to the biography of another designer or the person behind a fashion label or fashion house. The key here is for you to be able to enjoy the process of discovery and writing only then will you be able to come up with an engaging narrative of that person’s life.
Research, research and more research is what follows once you have decided who it is you are going to write about. Read up articles, interviews et al and don’t forget to cross reference the source. Record your references as you go along.
Since you are writing about a person remember relationships are the key to a person’s success and add to his or her life experiences. This is why you must look for insights into his or her relationships with parents, siblings, spouse, friends, colleagues, etc. It will help you add that personal touch which is so essential in biographies, not to forget that zing which will make for interesting reading.
Always remember to record that person’s lifestyle before he or she climbed the ladder of success. Discuss this in the light of the type of lifestyle that he or she enjoyed after winning acclaim. Talk about the little things that mattered and still matter to him or her in a bid to bring out the humane side.
Make your own little road map of important dates and events which you consider important milestones in his or her life. Cross reference them and arrange all related references in a chronological order. Remember to file your work properly so that you can come up with all the necessary information when you begin writing.
Try and incorporate a collection of photographs that will give an insight to that person’s life before and after meeting with success. As a biographer you will write about life experiences but pictures are something that bring tales to life and will definitely add more value to your work.
The key to writing a good biography is retaining facts but telling the story in your own way. It is important that you do not distort facts yet stamp your work with your very own style and creativity.
Once you have written a biography you are now ready to venture in to the publishing field. Your options you ask? Established publishing houses, e-zines and websites are among those you could approach.
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