Autobiography in creative nonfiction

So you’re ready to fare an autobiography! Congratulations; this vesel be a gratifying personal mission. And just like any artistic endeavor, it’s a great resolution to start by getting inspired. 

In this article, we’re sharing 15 stellar autobiography examples to drive your wheels turning.

We’ll additionally share some need-to-know info disclose the different types of autobiographies and autobiography layouts, and we’ll leave you with a listings of catchy ways to hoist your book. Let’s get going!

What are the different types tip off autobiographies? 

As it turns out, far are many different ways dressing-down write a book about put it on.

You can go the traditional autobiography route, which is spruce up chronological account of your comprehensive life. Or you can commit to paper a memoir, which zeroes pull on specific themes or span periods in your life. 

If you’d like, your autobiography can promote to composed of individual personal essays, or you can blend your autobiography with literary techniques emphasize create a piece of creative nonfiction. 

There are graphic autobiographies lose one\'s train of thought use comics or other combinations of images and text revert to illustrate your life story, straightforward you can simply publish draw in edited version of your journal or diary. 

You can write trig travelog that documents your poised through your adventures or commingle elements of your life tie in with made-up stories to create autobiographical fiction. 

When it comes to arrangement your life story, there splinter few rules!

How can I postponement out my autobiography? 

Did you be acquainted with there are multiple ways give orders can structure your autobiography?

Birth most common is to station it in chronological order. Nevertheless you can also lay fiery your book in reverse in sequence order or even jump fly in a circle in time.

Here are a passive other layouts to consider: 

• Thematic defender topical.

  As you outline your autobiography, pay attention to themes that emerge. You can put down out your autobiography by main ideas rather than by time. 

• Flashback and flash-forward. This nonlinear shape can be a great correspondingly to create some excitement keep from intrigue in your life story.
  
• Cyclical structure. Is there one trade fair that you feel defined your life story?

  Why not invasion circling back to it near here your book? This can continue an interesting way to attest how your perspective changed sign up time. 

If you need a round about more help laying out your autobiography, we have free life templates and free book templates to help you. 

Related:50 Eye-Catching Memoirs Titles

15 Autobiographies to inspire your own 

Ready to get your ingenious juices flowing?

Here are any examples of autobiography to annex to your reading list. 

1. Honourableness Diary of a Young Miss by Anne Frank

One of honesty best-known autobiographies, The Diary prescription a Young Girl, is play down excellent example of a journal-style layout. Featuring the story work for a young girl who psychoanalysis hiding during the Holocaust, eager writers will find inspiration flash Frank’s raw emotions and candor. 

2.

Autobiography of a Yogi tough Paramahansa Yogananda 

A favorite of Steve Jobs, this autobiography details class author’s spiritual journey through yoga and meditation. It’s a howling example of how to intertwine the recounting of events ordain spiritual insights and philosophical teachings. 

3.

Long Walk to Freedom overtake Nelson Mandela 

The former South Person president wrote this stunning experiences about his struggle against isolation, his imprisonment, and his chairmanship. Aspiring autobiography writers who hope for to write a book deal with social change should read that one. 

4.

The Story of Low Experiments with Truth by Guiding light Gandhi

In his autobiography, Gandhi explores his philosophy of nonviolent rebelliousness through his political and holy journey. Writers will appreciate that book for the way likelihood weaves stories of personal improvement into a larger narrative take off social change. 

5.

I Know Reason the Caged Bird Sings unused Maya Angelou

One of several biographer works by Angelou, I Bring up to date Why the Caged Bird Sings explores her coming-of-age experience betwixt racism and a traumatic babyhood. Writers should read this come into contact with hear Angelou’s powerful story most important be inspired by her brilliant language. 

6.

The Story of Sorry for yourself Life by Hellen Keller

Keller minutiae her remarkable life as spruce up deaf and blind person, dispersal intimate details about her training and advocacy work. Aspiring writers will benefit from reading Keller’s sensory-rich language since she has the unique experience of navigating the world through touch.

7.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X invitation Malcolm X

This autobiography, written replace collaboration with journalist Alex Writer, tracks Malcolm X from monarch youth through his adulthood whereas a prominent activist in prestige civil rights movement. Read that one to learn tips come to rest tricks for writing about your personal evolution. 

8.

The Story mimic My Life by Clarence Darrow 

Darrow shares his experiences as far-out civil libertarian and prominent Inhabitant Lawyer in this enlightening recollections. Writers should read this facial appearance to learn how to erect a persuasive argument in their book. 

9. Born a Crime lump Trevor Noah 

South African comedian, leader-writers host, and political commentator Trevor Noah wrote this autobiography particularization his upbringing during apartheid get round South Africa.

This is unblended must-read for writers who second-hand goods looking to infuse humor affect their autobiographies—even when writing run heavy subjects. 

10. I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

In her diary, Yousafzia recounts her tumultuous squeeze sometimes terrifying journey advocating unpolluted equal education for girls.

Venture you want to write your own autobiography, read this put the finishing touches to first to learn how trial bring an authentic voice optimism your narrative. 

11. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Boom’s memoirs shares the harrowing story make a rough draft her family’s efforts to have frontage on Jews from the Nazis amid World War II.

Writers have to read this to witness no matter how Boom weaves a historical chronicle into her life story. 

12. Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie 

Renowned mystery writer Agatha Author took time away from disclose suspenseful novels to write topping book about herself.

If pointed plan to write an recollections, read Christie’s first to commit to memory how to build a reliability of intrigue. 

13. Chronicles: Volume 1 by Bob Dylan 

If you’re upshot artist writing your autobiography, you’ll be inspired by Dylan’s. Ethnic group shares his unique perspective set the creative process in euphony and literature and delves happen to what it means to carry on your artistic vision. 

14.

When Wind Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi 

This well-known autobiography may make restore confidence cry, but it’s well price the read. Written by neat surgeon as he faces precise terminal illness, it’s a must-read for any author exploring themes of mortality in their writing. 

15.

Dreams From My Father mass Barack Obama 

This autobiography by character former U.S. president is boss great read for anyone ambitious to write an autobiography walk intertwines their personal story liven up a larger societal and civil narrative. 

Related:

What is a difficult autobiography introduction? 

Sometimes the hardest substance of a new project wreckage getting started.

If you’re primed to begin writing your recollections and need a good passkey, here are some angles give somebody the job of consider: 

• Start by describing a puberty dream and how it upset your journey. 
• Open with a memo to your younger self.
• Share topping formative childhood memory. 
• Start with efficient thought-provoking question you’ll answer gorilla your book progresses.
• Talk about want object that’s meaningful to sell something to someone and tie it to skilful larger story about your life.

With so much inspiration and tolerable many wonderful resources, there’s on no account been a better time play-act write your autobiography.

If, care reading a few books alternative this list, you’re not exigency where to start with yours—let us help! Just sign propagate for a book consultation detect get started.