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Writing an autobiography can be a rewarding way to record your life's achievements and story. Autobiographies can come in many forms, be it a video or audio recording, a written journal or diary, or simply a photo album chronicling each year of your life. Most autobiographies are written either in a story form such as a book recording significant dates and events, or worksheet form. Below you will find different worksheets or forms to help you get started on writing your own autobiography. These forms can be used to help jog your memory of past events or as a method of recording events as they happen. Why use a form or worksheet to record your autobiography? Sitting in front of a blank piece of paper, trying to write your history can be quite daunting. Given this task, most people draw a blank or find it difficult to recall the details of specific event. Given a template or set of questions, it is easier to focus on one event at a time writing a fuller, developed autobiography. |
What should be included in an Autobiography?
Although your autobiography is about you, it should include all the people around you as well. Include your parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, friends and other relatives that have affected your life story. This includes details of all the people around you that have affected your life both good and bad. A template can provide questions or other prompts that help spark memories you might not have thought about that can and should be included in your life story.
How to get started writing your autobiography
There are many different ways to start writing your autobiography. Writing out answers to a list of topics or ideas will help generate ideas and jog your memory of past events.
Sample Autobiography Topic List
Create an Autobiographical Timeline
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Another technique that may help you get started on your autobiography is to create a timeline of the events in your life. Using a timeline to outline the events in your life is a great way to remind yourself of significant events. Simply start with the year you were born, recording anything you can remember for each year afterwards. Don't worry if you can't remember everything, you can always go back and enter events as your remember. Remember to include milestones such as: |
Use the example autobiography timeline chart on this page to help get started writing your own autobiography timeline.
Recall and record Walk-through Memories
A walk-through memory is a memory you recall by imagining yourself in the memory, walking through the locations of the memory. For example, recalling your grandparents' home and what is was like to walk through the front door, what you would see on the walls, in the living room, etc. This exercise can help you recall events that occurred in these places. Use the Walk-Through Memories worksheet as another exercise to help write your autobiography.
Additional Autobiography Topics
