An autobiography? Why?

Good morning world! As I sit here with my morning cup of cafe (that's Spanish for coffee) and multi-grain toast & avocado I'm thinking ...an autobiography? really? why?

You see since I'm on the final stages of the book being published, it's time to write a short autobiography for the backcover. To top that off, I'll have to choose a picture. Hmm... a picture, yeah that's what I really have time for. Maybe I should finish this cup of coffee because I detect some "less than positive" vibes about this subject right now. The illustrator, Demitrius Bullock, will also have one written and as for his picture, he has already picked his out. I kind of helped him choose. It's pretty awesome, it's a cartoon version of himself.

So just to get started what's the difference between a biography and an autobiography? In simple terms, an autobiography is a story about a person written by the same person. The narratiave is writen in a first-person account and sometimes the story can be highly personalized. Autobiographies sometimes include pictures about the person's events or even any public media about herself.

A Biography, on the other hand, is the story of someone's life but it is written by someone else that studied that person's life. I'm pretty sure that will be hard to do in my case since I'm not famous or anything close to that. These type of narratives normally have accurate history about the person's life and makes reflection about the time and place in which the person's events happened. So there you have it, a quick look at those differences. You're probably wondering why I broke that down, well believe it or not, people have asked me to share a biography about myself, for a podcast, etc. I thought if they read this then they'd know. Since they have other guests, it would definitely help them in the long run. Sharing is caring.

You might not think you wouldn't have a need for an autobiography, but here are some of the reasons I think you might:

Share your message with the world- maybe you have a story to tell, I did.

Come to terms with your past- sometimes people make mistakes (if we are talking about me, then that would be a guarantee); writing down your own story about your own trials and tribulations can be therapeutic and inspirational to others, as well as yourself.

Financial gain- If you are famous, your autobiography could be worth something.

Share your knowledge- If you have specific knowledge you've acquired along the way, then you could share it in a story about yourself.

In my book, "3,585 Miles to be an American Girl" I share my story of migrating to the United States as a little girl. My journey has impacted my life and I wanted to share it with the world. I chose to write a children's realistic fiction book about my first year. My autobiography will not be a book, instead it will be a paragraph or two about my life and experiences. It will be printed on the back of the book along with a picture of myself.

So how exactly does one go about writing an autobiorgraphy?

1. It's a story about you by you, so always write in the first person. Start with an engaging sentence to introduce yourself. Maybe add a little about your parents. If where you were born is of significance to who you are then write about that too.

2. Write your story. Include critical events that occurred that shaped who you are.

3. Next write about your credentials, education, of specific traits that set you apart from others. Highlight any areas that are recognizable strengths.

4. Conclude the autobiography with a paragraph about your current situation. Discuss where you live. Include information about children, pets, hobbies, interests and your professional status. If relevant, discuss your goals and what you are currently striving to accomplish in life.

I guess this means I better get to it. So wish me luck!