I have written several articles on some of the mechanics of writing an autobiography.
I failed to mention the most important thing: to write.
Start now.
Your writing will improve as you write.
Put pen to paper.
But what should you write about?
The choices are infinite:
The time you forgot your lines just before your cue in your theatrical debut.
What's your favorite movie? Why?
Favorite T.V. Show. Ed? Simpsons? ER? Emeril? 24 (Everyone in my family thinks this is the best show ever made)?
Who did you sit next to in homeroom? What was that person like? Were you friends?
Lessons learned. Life's short, do something worthwhile. Work stinks, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Life's a crap sandwich and everyday you have to take a bite.
Your first car. For me, it was a VW Bug. Rust and primer. But the babes loved it.
About your kids.
Why you prefer Best Foods Mayonnaise to Kraft Mayonnaise.
First kiss. Who was it with? Was it a double dare? Was it a first love?
Talents. Do you play piano? Can you paint? Whistle really well?
There's a starter list. Get going.
Sadly, a lot of folks don't write because they're embarrassed by their perceived lack of writing skills. They're afraid of the rules.
Rules help us understand each other. However, rules are meant to be bent, right? Besides, you have all of the skills that you need to get started.
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.
Is spelling not your forte? I used to be a great speller. The word processor has broken me of that habit. I rely on the spell checker to keep me straight.
Write for you first. Don't put an imaginary proofreader on your shoulder.
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. Look at the list above. I'm sure ideas have already started.
