What Are the Differences Between Biography and Autobiography?
What Are the Differences Between Biography and Autobiography?
Both autobiographies and biographies are records of real-life experiences, but there is a significant distinction between them. Autobiographies are centered around the author's own life, while the subject of a biography is someone other than the author. In essence, an autobiography can be described as a self-biography. The work of a biographer is usually broader and requires in-depth research into the life that forms the subject of the book. An autobiographer does not carry the same responsibility regarding the events they write about. They may only need to verify dates and stories to accurately correlate relevant details. The differences between biography and autobiography can be listed as follows (5):
- Biography is a non-fictional work that objectively narrates a person's life. Autobiography, on the other hand, has a subjective narrative.
- Autobiographies are often written in the first-person narrative because they are written from the author's perspective. Biographies are typically written in the third person.
- Biographies can be found in written form, but they can also be produced in different formats such as films.
- Biographies can focus not only on an individual's life but also on groups of people.
- Biography writers utilize various research sources, including interviews, letters, diaries, photographs, essays, reference books, and newspapers.
- Biography can be written about a deceased individual.
What to Consider When Writing an Autobiography?
Exploring the process of writing an autobiography can be a subject of investigation in itself. However, it can be said that the process should include the following steps (4,6):
- Firstly, you need to determine your reason for writing. You should find out what messages you want to convey in the story and what features of your story are worth sharing with a broad audience.
- You can start by creating an autobiographical outline. Your narrative should contain information about your upbringing, significant life moments, mentors who influenced you, and stories of success and failure.
- It is recommended to start with the sections that come easily and are enjoyable to write about initially because sometimes the hardest part is starting.
- After preparing the initial draft and writing the first chapters, you can begin to create the entire outline with the momentum of this motivation.
- Taking breaks and distancing yourself from your work from time to time can help you develop new perspectives when you come back.
- You can prepare several comprehensive drafts and continue to review the draft until you reach the one that makes you feel the best.
- Getting support from a trusted family member, friend, or professional editor for final edits is crucial for the final result.
There are some essential elements that you need to include in your autobiography. Your autobiography should include your ancestral history, significant experiences, turning points in your life, detailed memories from your career, your responses to failures, and unique, non-cliché choices for a title. It is important to always stick to the first-person narrative for a more intimate feel.
Examples of Autobiographies
Autobiographies have been popular examples of life stories in literature and thought for many years, including life stories that inspire people. Some examples of autobiographies that have a strong impact on readers are as follows (7,8):
"The Diary of Anne Frank": Written between 1942 and 1944, "The Diary of Anne Frank" consists of the diary entries of Anne Frank, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl, and her family while they were in hiding from the Nazis for two years. The book is considered one of the best autobiographies of all time.
"Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom": Nelson Mandela's autobiography tells the life story of South Africa's first post-apartheid president. Mandela, one of the most iconic world leaders of the 20th century, began writing the book in prison in 1975, and it was published in 2004.
"Malcolm X - The Autobiography of Malcolm X": "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" is a non-fiction memoir written by American human rights activist Malcolm X in collaboration with writer Alex Haley, published in 1965. It had a profound impact on the black political and artistic movements of the 1960s and 1970s.
"Bob Dylan - Chronicles: Volume One": Bob Dylan's autobiography presents a unique narrative of his extraordinary music career, beginning with his arrival in New York in the early 1960s. The book is structured like a diary and offers an intimate look into the artist's motivation and creativity.
SOURCES:
https://www.writerwiki.com (5)
https://www.kitapyurdu.com (8)
MORE:
What Is Autobiography? Characteristics and Examples of Autobiographies
