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On how to write a Biography: Here's a list of 8 things to get you started.
1. A Biography is the life story of someone other than yourself. For yourself, it is called an Auto-Biography.
2. Ask yourself why you want to write one. This is assuming that you already have someone in mind. Specifically, what about this will be fun for you? What will be your obstacles?
3. Start small just for practice. This can be done by selecting a child you know well such as your own or a relatives child.
4. Get a 6x9 type of file box and white 6x9 file cards. The cards will have lines on one side. Use the lined side as the front side. Carry the cards with you and write on them anytime you remember something about that person. This is also a good way to use up lost moments when waiting in line or on a long elevator ride. These cards will also make it easier to organize and rearrange segments of the biography. For example, if you're writing about Aunt Jessie and you remember when she cut your sister's hair like a boys', write it on that card. Nothing else goes there. If you want to attach (by paper clip) a related photo, then go ahead.
5. Decide the main organization of the whole project. Will you be using dates, ages, events, or places as the main skeleton? For example, in my auto-biography, I couldn't remember what age or grade I was in when a girl scout mom kidnapped me. But I did remember where I lived.
In fact, in most cases I could only remember for sure where I lived during each event that I wanted to record. So, in the top right hand corner of each of my index cards, I have written the location. In the upper left hand corner, I have listed the event. Thus, my cards are primarily organized by location. Each tab is labeled with the location.
6. Browse through some biography books on celebrities. Was this interesting? Were you really motivated to actually read the text? Think about the design of your book and what you want to communicate about this person. Don't be afraid to be creative.
7. The basic ingredients of a biography includes: Stories, genealogy and photos. If you want to start from when they were a baby, show a progression of age in groups of stories (highlights) for an adult. For someone who's still a child, then it can be more detailed.
Highlights or details can be presented in text or conversational form. They can be in the form of charts. Or they can be presented in pictures like a collage.
8. Bringing the data, pictures and possibly some mementos together is the next step. By now, some decisions would've been made about the presentation you're going to use. The data on the index cards should be matched with pictures from that time frame according to your whim.
If you haven't ever done any scrapbooking at this point, don't worry. This is your ball of wax to do what you want with it. But if you're wanting to spiff this up and give it a special window dressing, browse through some scrapbooking magazines at a bookstore. Look for scapbooking classes, search the net or ask friends what they know about the topic. Scrapbooking is about presentation and show-casing of photos, people and events.
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