I have just finished writing three articles on helps for writing an autobiography: Getting Started, Autobiography Characteristics, and the importance of writing your autobiography.

I failed to mention the most important thing: to write.

Just start writing. That’s the most important thing.

Don’t get caught up on the mechanics. Those will come as you write.

Write.

But what should you write about?

Write about anything:

• The time you forgot your lines just before your cue in your theatrical debut.
• Your first boyfriend or girlfriend.
• Your favorite high school teacher.
• Your best friend.
• Your favorite ice cream flavor.
• The number of times you’ve been in the hospital.
• About your kids.
• Why you prefer Best Foods Mayonnaise to Kraft Mayonnaise.
• How you met your husband.
• What you do for a living.
• Your family vacations

Just start writing. Things will fall into place.

The prospect of writing, unfortunately, paralyzes most people. The way they teach writing in school, with a focus on rules, stifles creativity.

Of course, you have to have rules. Otherwise, all writing would be incoherent. But rules are meant to be broken. The truth is that most writers break rules consistently in their works.

Write as you speak. People often tell me that I write like I speak. This is a good thing because my personality can shine through.

Don’t worry about spelling things correctly. If you’re writing on the computer, the spelling checker will pick up most of your mistakes. If you’re writing in a journal or a piece of paper, just keep writing. If you’re writing ideas that you will transfer to an autobiography later, don’t fret over misspellings. You can catch them later.

At first, you’re just writing for you. Don’t pretend like someone is reading over your shoulder. You will feel inhibited and insecure. Don’t do it.

Writer after writer will tell you that you have to be willing to write a poor first draft. It’s true. The words will flow more freely. You can change things later.

If you’re planning on writing only one draft, who cares. Be you. Put yourself into it. Readers will forgive spelling and grammatical mistakes if they can sense honesty and personality in the writing. This is especially true in an autobiography or other personal writing.

If you go blank, make a list. (I touch more on this in a subsequent article.) Lists are magical.

Lists will give you ideas. Even as you start lists, thoughts will cascade like a waterfall. You won’t struggle for ideas.

Get started. Write now. You can do it.

My Turning Points

1. My first high school play
2. Car accident
3. LDS Mission
4. Getting married
5. Dropping out of college
6. Having kids
7. Jumping out of Corporate America.
8. Going back to school.

The list seems short but it represents the perspective changing events of my life.

Brilliant, I know.

I brainstormed the following list:

• Major events
• Life changing events
• Perspective changing events
• Places lived
• Parents
• Siblings
• Ancestors
• School names
• Friends
• People I’ve known
• People who’ve made an impact on me.
• Teachers
  • Teachers comments about me
• Stories from school
• Kisses
• Pets
• Songs
• Music listened to
  • Music memories
• Vacations
• Jobs
• Hobbies
• Cousins
• Musical instruments played
• Girlfriends
• Crushes
• Sports
• Clubs
• Plays I was in
• Foods I like/dislike
• Children
• Near death experiences
• Churches/Wards attended
• Temple experiences
• TV shows
• Movies
• Internet sites
• School classes
• Wife
• Turning points
• Enemies
• Heroes
• Radio stations
  • Radio personalities
• Hospital visits
• Surgeries
• Broken bones
• Stitches
• Holidays
• Lessons learned in life
  • Marital
  • Family
  • School
  • Business
• Accomplishments
• Changes I’ve noticed in my lifetime
• Hairstyles
• Cars
• Toys
• Beliefs
• Values
• Dating
• Places
• Favorites
  • Food
  • Music
  • Movies
  • Etc.
• Hangout places
• Weekend activities
• Traditions

________________________

Added: (Thanks alejna!)

• childhood fantasies
• other abandoned dreams
• dreams
• nightmares
• fears

________________________

Of course this list is not all inclusive. I’m sure that there are plenty of things I missed. Please comment with ideas or what you think of this list.

Want to learn more:

• How to Start an Autobiography
  
• Autobiography Characteristics
• Benjamin Franklin Autobiography: 7 Reasons He Wrote His Story – This article is especially helpful in determining your own reasons for writing your autobiography.
• If You Don’t Write Your Autobiography, Nobody Will!
• Fill-in-the-blank autobiography – A fantastic tool for getting started.