Derivative Autobiographies

How to Use the Writings of a Famous Figure as a Template

Apr 24, 2008 Dulcinea Norton-Smith

Using someone else's autobiography or biography as a template can be a great source of inspiration and structure.

Many writers decide to write an autobiography but on sitting down to begin have no idea where to start. After research and brainstorming has been done an unusual but effective way to plan an autobiography is to steal someone else's life! Not as plagiarism or lies but as a template.

Creating an Autobiography Template

The first step is for the writer to choose a famous figure whose biography or autobiography they have enjoyed. After doing this is is a series of easy steps to create a template.

Step One

• Whether an old favourite or a new find skim read the book of choice
• Write each of the major events as a title on a clean sheet of paper. Use a new page for each title
• Under each title write the minor events which link each major event to the next
• Was there a theme running through the book? If so make a note of that too

Step Two

• Try to link the major and minor events to your own life. Rewrite a notable battle as your divorce, rewrite a major political triumph as the day you began a new career, rewrite a public sex scandal shaming as the day after you embarrassed yourself at an office party.
• Write your life fitting under each title and covering the minor themes

Step Three

• Begin writing from scratch now with a good base to start from and guide to how the autobiography will read. Try to keep some of the colour and feel of the book used as a template
• Once finished reread to check it does not feel like an unbelievable patchwork of events.

Why Use Someone Else's Book as a Template

This is not a method for everyone but if struggling to structure an autobiography it is a good way to get focused. One benefit is that the book can be as exciting or mundane as the writer chooses (dependant upon whose biography/ autobiography is chosen for the template). Another is that the book being used as a template is already tried and tested and judged as successful enough to reach publication. A final benefit is that if the writer longs to write their autobiography but is scared their life will be just too boring for anyone to want to read about this method can help make even the most mundane struggles seem interesting.

Final Warning About Plagiarism

Make sure that the final product is in no way copied from the original work used as a template. This is a method to help create a structured and new approach to writing not a legitimate way to steal someone else's work.

The copyright of the article Derivative Autobiographies in Writing Memoirs is owned by Dulcinea Norton-Smith. Permission to republish Derivative Autobiographies in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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