Writing About a Person’s Life BiographyAutobiography Personal Narrative Memoir

Biography History of a lifetime – Must cover entire life History of a lifetime – Must cover entire life Most important facts and events of someone’s life Most important facts and events of someone’s life Contains anecdotes, memories, trips and cherished moments Contains anecdotes, memories, trips and cherished moments Is about another person Is about another person

Autobiography Who you are in life – Based on facts and research! Who you are in life – Based on facts and research! What life means to you – Your feelings, both past and present What life means to you – Your feelings, both past and present What your outlook on the future is – Usually based on one event What your outlook on the future is – Usually based on one event Written by same person that it is about Written by same person that it is about

Personal Narrative Focus is on a particular event in a person/writer’s life Focus is on a particular event in a person/writer’s life 1 st person 1 st person Uses diction and sensory details to express emotions that place the reader in the personal experience Uses diction and sensory details to express emotions that place the reader in the personal experience

Memoir Autobiographical writing Autobiographical writing Captures certain highlights or meaningful moments in one’s past Captures certain highlights or meaningful moments in one’s past Contemplation of the meaning of that event at the time of the writing of the memoir Contemplation of the meaning of that event at the time of the writing of the memoir Much more emotional and connects the writer to someone or something that had an impact on his/her life Much more emotional and connects the writer to someone or something that had an impact on his/her life

Characteristics of the Memoir Form Focus on a brief period of time or series of related events Focus on a brief period of time or series of related events Narrative structure (storytelling elements like setting, plot, imagery, characterization, foreshadowing/flashback, and irony and symbolism Narrative structure (storytelling elements like setting, plot, imagery, characterization, foreshadowing/flashback, and irony and symbolism Retrospective Retrospective Fictional quality Fictional quality Higher emotional level/more personal reconstruction of the events and their impact Higher emotional level/more personal reconstruction of the events and their impact

Memoirs – Another perspective Explores an event or series of related events that remain lodged in memory Explores an event or series of related events that remain lodged in memory Describes the events and then shows, either directly or indirectly why they are significant Describes the events and then shows, either directly or indirectly why they are significant WHY do you STILL remember them? WHY do you STILL remember them? Focused in time –events of story do not cover an entire life Focused in time –events of story do not cover an entire life Focuses on problem/conflict and its resolution and why the resolution is significant in your life Focuses on problem/conflict and its resolution and why the resolution is significant in your life

How we will write a memoir Relationship between the writer and a particular person, place, animal, object or experience Relationship between the writer and a particular person, place, animal, object or experience Explain the significance of the relationship Explain the significance of the relationship Leave reader with one impression Leave reader with one impression Limited to a particular phase, time period, place or recurring behavior Limited to a particular phase, time period, place or recurring behavior Make the subject of the memoir come alive Make the subject of the memoir come alive Maintain a first person point of view Maintain a first person point of view Use dialogue to bring characters and important moments to life Use dialogue to bring characters and important moments to life