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40 Biography Questions that Kids Can Ask When Writing Biography Reports

When teaching kids about history, few topics captivate and engage young learners more than biographies. Kids love learning about real people who have made a difference in our lives.

Asking the right questions is key for students as they explore the life stories of famous people who lived before them. From answering significant life events to learning its lessons, prompting your students with thoughtful biography questions will lead them on a journey that helps bring their subjects to life.

Continue reading to learn some great inquiry-based questions for kids that teachers can use when teaching how to write biography reports in the classroom!

Personal Information and Background: A Starting Point for Biography Questions

Uncovering a biographical subject’s personal information and background forms the cornerstone of any comprehensive biography report. This section aids students in understanding their subject’s early life influences, the environments they were brought in, and their personal characteristics.

These questions are designed to help young learners understand the early years of their chosen individuals. They provide valuable insights into the experiences that shaped these notable figures.

What is the full name of the person, and were they known by any other names or nicknames?
When and where was the person born?
What were the person’s parents’ names and backgrounds?
What was the person’s childhood like?
What were the person’s hobbies and interests as a child?
What significant events happened during the person’s early life?
Where did the person go to school, and what were their favorite subjects?
Did the person have any role models or mentors?
What were the person’s dreams and ambitions as a young adult?
What challenges or obstacles did the person face during their life?
Did the person have any siblings or close family members?
How did the person handle success and fame, if applicable?

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Achievements and Contributions: Unveiling the Impact and Legacy of Biographical Subjects

As we move further into the life stories of influential individuals, the focus naturally shifts to their accomplishments and contributions. This section presents an opportunity for students to appreciate the impact of their subjects on society or their field of work. The following questions are designed to aid students in unearthing the milestones, achievements, and lasting legacies these figures have left behind.

These questions enrich the biographical narrative, from monumental breakthroughs to the subtle yet impactful changes they’ve brought forth, painting a comprehensive picture of the person’s life journey.

What achievements or accomplishments are they known for?
What contributions did the person make to society, their field, or their community?
Did the person have any awards or honors during their lifetime?
What impact did the person have on their local community or region?
Did the person engage in any philanthropic or charitable activities?
How did the person’s work or achievements influence the world today?
Are there any museums, monuments, or places dedicated to the person’s memory?
What role did the person play in any important historical events or movements?

Life Events and Experiences: Delving into the Personal Journey

Everyone has a story to tell, and in the case of biography subjects, their life events and experiences weave together to form a rich tapestry of personal journeys. This section emphasizes the importance of understanding the lived experiences, the highs and lows, the joys and sorrows, which molded our subjects into the individuals they became.

The biography questions listed here are designed to uncover the personal and human side of these figures, providing insights into their daily lives, relationships, and personal philosophies. Students can gain a broader perspective, going beyond the standard facts and dates to truly connect with these individuals on a more personal level.

What important life lessons can be learned from the person’s experiences?
Were there any hardships or setbacks the person had to overcome?
What legacy did the person leave behind?
Did the person face any significant challenges related to their health?
What was the person’s personality like? How would you describe their character?
Did the person have any notable friendships or relationships in their life?
How did the person spend their retirement years, if applicable?
What were some of the person’s favorite books, movies, or music?
Did the person receive any awards or honors during their lifetime?
Were there any controversies or debates surrounding the person’s life or work?
Did the person have any significant personal or professional failures?

Influences and Inspirations: Why Did the Person Make the Choices They Made?

It is important for students to understand the influences and inspirations that sparked a person’s choices during their lifetime. These decisive factors often serve as the driving force behind their achievements, connecting their personal lives to their public successes.

The biography questions in this section are aimed at helping students unravel these catalysts, offering them a unique glimpse into the minds of their subjects. They will discover the people, ideas, and events that inspired and influenced these notable figures, thus gaining a richer understanding of their motivations, aspirations, and the driving forces behind their actions.

What were the person’s values, beliefs, or philosophies?
Did the person have a particular sense of humor or a funny side?
How did the person adapt to changes in technology or society during their lifetime?
What historical events or movements did the person witness or participate in?
What role did the person’s cultural background or heritage influence their life and work?

Legacy and Impact: Probing the Footprints Left Behind

Every individual, particularly those worthy of biographical exploration, leaves an indelible mark on the world – a legacy that shapes societies, inspires future generations and often alters the course of history .

In this section, students focus on the biography questions that help uncover the significant impacts made by the subjects and the enduring legacies they’ve carved. These questions aren’t just about identifying the tangible results of their work, but also about understanding the lasting impressions they’ve imprinted on the hearts and minds of people worldwide.

What impact did the person’s life story inspire or impact others?
What can we learn from the person’s experiences and apply them to our own lives?
What is the most fascinating or surprising thing you learned about the person during your research?
What books, articles, or documentaries have been written or made about the person?

These topic-organized biography questions aim to assist students in conducting research by asking deeper questions. By focusing on specific aspects of an individual’s life and accomplishments, students can explore the subject’s life and understand why that person is significant.

More Biography Resources

Biography Report for Any Person Teach Students to Write a Biography Report Kid-Friendly Biographies Students Can Use for Research

The Biography Collection

Do you need more engaging and high-interest text for elementary students to read that can be used across content areas?

Are you looking to scaffold your Biography Report Unit ?

The Biography Collection has over 47 kid-friendly biographies and comprehension resources and includes:

47 Biographies with vocabulary, comprehension, and report resources
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Biography Report
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[PDF Download] 65 Memory Prompts: How to Write Your Biography, Life Story or Memoir

Capture memories you didn't know you had .

Wondering how to write your biography? Whether you are writing yourself, or working with a ghostwriter , it can be hard to know where to start and what to include. At Story Terrace, we often use memory prompts to kick-start the process - easy and fun questions designed to jog your memory and bring back moments you haven't thought about for years.

It's the perfect first step, and something you can later assemble into a timeline or structure for your story. We’ve hand-picked 65 of our favourite memory prompts to share with you. You can check out 9 example prompts right here on the blog - but make sure to download the full list of 65, which we've assembled into a print-ready PDF for you.

Remember - the idea is not to answer every question. Just scan through the list, and think about which of these prompts speak to you the most. You’ll soon find you have more than enough to talk about.

How to Write Your Biography: Childhood

1. What is your earliest memory?

2. Talk about your family’s heritage and history.

3. What did your childhood home look like?

How to Write Your Biography: Adolescence

4. How did your physical appearance change in your teenage years? What was that change like for you?

5. How was your relationship with your parents?

6. Who was your first crush?

How to Write Your Biography: Adulthood

7. What did an ordinary day in your life look like?

8. Name a big success story for you during this time

9. Did you travel? What was your most memorable vacation?

Hopefully writing your biography just got a little easier and these prompts have got your brains in gear, recalling all sorts of different memories from your childhood all the way through to just yesterday!

Remember to download the full list for all 65 questions to jog your memory.

Download the full list of 65 Memory Prompts!

Download Now (Click Here)

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Writing a Bio: My 20 Favorite Questions to Ask

Writing a concise bio for a business website may seem like a no brainer. A few paragraphs, hit all the usual points like schools, charity work, career highlights and then, BAM! Bio, check.

The problem with that approach? There’s a high likelihood you’ll churn out super boring bios, fast. When I think of old school bios, I think of a stuffy headshot accompanied by a few paragraphs of text that no one wants to read. But the days of stale bios are over. Believe it or not, people actually want to learn about you and your company, and they’d rather not fall asleep while doing it.

A well-written bio will combine the overall company culture and voice with that of the profiled team member. While website bios are generally concise—anywhere from Twitter-short to a few paragraphs—choosing the particulars to highlight can be tricky. Gathering the right information up front, in a 15-20 minute interview, is key.

Here are my favorite questions to ask when writing a bio. Note: these don’t include the usual slew, like general career experience and education.

1. Who is someone you admire, and why?

2. Tell me three pet peeves.

3. What’s a typical day like for you?

4. Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about?

5. If you could be anywhere other than here, right this minute, where would you be? (Don’t overthink it!)

6. Flashback to when you were 10 years old. What do you want to be when you grow up?

7. If we went to happy hour, what would you order?

8. Finish this sentence. On Sunday mornings, you can usually find me...

9. How do you want people to remember you?

10. What do you think are the best skills that you bring to your job?

11. Name three words that you describe you.

12. How do you think your colleagues would describe you?

13. What do you want to make sure you do before you die?

14. What’s a goal you have for yourself that you want to accomplish in the next year?

15. Name a few of your daily habits (other than a shower and brushing your teeth).

16. What publications do you regularly read?

17. What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working?

18. What are some causes you care about?

19. What do you do with friends in your spare time?

20. What would be your personal motto

Joanna Furlong

Best autobiography questions

Home » Questions » Best autobiography questions

Writing an autobiography can be a powerful way to reflect on your life experiences, share your story, and leave a lasting legacy. Whether you’re writing for personal reasons or planning to publish your autobiography, asking yourself the right questions can help you delve deep into your memories and uncover meaningful insights. In this article, we will explore a comprehensive list of autobiography questions that can guide you in the process of writing your life story.

Before we dive into the list of questions, it’s important to remember that autobiographies are unique to each individual. These questions are meant to inspire and assist you in your writing journey, but feel free to adapt and modify them to suit your specific needs. Remember, the goal is to tell your story authentically and in a way that resonates with your readers.

Now, let’s explore the list of autobiography questions that can help you get started on your writing endeavor:

See these autobiography questions

What is your earliest childhood memory?
Who were the most influential people in your life growing up?
What were your favorite hobbies as a child?
How would you describe your relationship with your parents?
What challenges did you face during your teenage years?
What memorable moments do you have from your school days?
What was your first job, and how did it shape your career path?
Describe a significant turning point in your life.
What were the highlights of your college/university experience?
How did you meet your significant other?
What was the happiest moment of your life?
What was the most challenging period of your life, and how did you overcome it?
What values and beliefs do you hold dear?
What are your greatest achievements?
What are your biggest regrets?
Describe a life-changing trip or vacation you’ve taken.
What lessons have you learned from your mistakes?
What role has spirituality played in your life?
How have your career choices impacted your personal life?
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
Describe a difficult decision you had to make.
What are your favorite books and why?
What are your fondest memories of your hometown?
How have your friendships evolved over the years?
Describe a time when you felt truly proud of yourself.
What have you done to overcome adversity?
What were the most significant historical events that shaped your life?
How has technology influenced your life?
What are your favorite quotes and why?
Describe a mentor or role model who has had a profound impact on your life.
What are your favorite childhood traditions?
How have your priorities shifted as you’ve grown older?
What are your favorite movies and why?
Describe a time when you had to step out of your comfort zone.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
How have you dealt with loss and grief?
What are your favorite songs and why?
Describe a time when you had to make a sacrifice for someone you love.
What are your favorite life lessons?
How have your beliefs and values evolved over time?
What are your favorite childhood memories?
Describe a time when you felt truly inspired.
What legacy would you like to leave behind?

These autobiography questions are just a starting point to help you explore different aspects of your life. As you write and reflect on your experiences, remember to be honest, vulnerable, and true to yourself. Your autobiography has the power to not only inspire and entertain others but also to provide you with a deeper understanding of your own journey.

best the five major questions below are part of a body of investigation questions known as the

professional bio interview questions

A professional bio can help you stand out from the crowd by showcasing a little about who you are and what you strive for in your work if you’re trying to get noticed by clients or hiring managers. However, writing a professional biography is easier said than done. Here are a few pointers to get you started on writing about yourself and expressing your value in a confident manner because it can be uncomfortable.

What is your name?
Do you have any nicknames?
When and where were you born?
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Where have you lived?
How would you describe your cultural identity?
What is your favorite hobby?
What is your favorite travel destination?

Bio Interview Questions and Answers 2019 Part-1 | Bio Interview Questions | WisdomJobs

Biography Interview Questions: What Is Special about Them?

When it comes to creating bios that sound impressive, most people don’t actually understand one thing. This is due to the fact that there should be a guideline to adhere to in order to keep them on track when creating content for their intended audience. Find out how we can help you write a company profile.

Perhaps for this reason, when writing your own biography, it has always been crucial to pay attention to the interview questions. You may be wondering why you need this. Make sure you have a blueprint to work from because that is one of its most important goals. The majority of biographies don’t convey the right messages, and there is every reason to suspect that the authors or owners have fallen short of a specific standard that will set them apart.

This post will be able to assist you if you have been struggling to write an impressive biography because you don’t have a good guide. This is so that it can demonstrate some of the intriguing interview questions for biographies. These are expert questions for a biography that will help you understand how to properly format yours. Just be sure to read them thoroughly, choose the ones you believe are most appropriate for your field, and use them right away to wow your target audience.

The Professional Biography Interview Questions

To properly respond to this, you’ll need to engage in some reflective thinking. You can only provide a meaningful response by considering the various instances in which you have had the most positive impact on people’s lives. This has a significant place in your biography and cannot be disregarded in any way.

As you write your biography in an effort to impress your audience, this is yet another query that may inspire your level of creativity. You need to sit down and think about your career, including how it began, the various highs and lows you’ve experienced, and the factors that have really shaped who you are today. Click and see bio for Facebook examples.

To respond to this question right away, you must be as original as you can. What you believe in and the legacy you want to leave behind will determine whether you are someone who adds value or someone who uses his time wisely. The quote “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” from the book Strength to Love is a good example of how this is explained.

Choose the accomplishments that you feel most proud of and list your accomplishments in order of importance on a piece of rough paper.

Analyze your most valuable abilities and how they contribute to the work you do to provide an answer to this question. Keep in mind that it is these that will set you apart from the competition. As a result, you must make sure your writing is original and that it is thoroughly explained using examples or personal anecdotes.

This query will assist you in adding unique and individual information to your bio. You can respond to this question with three words that you believe best describe you or with a slightly longer response. If answering this question presents a challenge for you, you can always ask your friends and family for assistance. Use the words that are repeated in your selection in your biography.

Make sure to relate your response to the subject of your bio when responding to this question. For instance, if you want to concentrate on your career, pick hobbies related to your line of work.

This query will enable you to give your biography a more humanitarian tone. You’ll feel more connected to the readers and they’ll get a fuller picture of who you are as a person. Someone who cares about social and/or environmental causes in addition to possessing the abilities and experience necessary to be a strong candidate

Give a succinct response to what you hope to accomplish in the future. Explain why and how would you do it. To give a thorough response, connect your answer to your top abilities, educational background, and career aspirations.

How to Start a Biography

Even though you may be aware of who you are professionally, it can be challenging to put this into writing. Create an outline of your desired bio using the aforementioned components to get started. You can use your resume and other records of your professional achievements to your advantage, but refrain from copying and pasting directly from them.

You can also look up the resumes of accomplished individuals you respect. While you don’t want to copy their bios, you can take note of the elements that speak to you and then try to emulate that in your own bio. What do they include? What impresses you about their bios.

Think about what you would say aloud to someone if they asked you about the things on the list above to help you sound genuine in your bio. Write down what you would say to someone who asked you to describe, for instance, what you do for a living or your mission statement. This can help you to “see” your voice on paper.

Remember that a professional bio should typically be written in the third person, especially if it is intended for a company website. However, there are exceptions to this. You should write in the first person when writing your LinkedIn “about” section, for instance.

How to adapt your bio for different situations

You should adapt your “master professional bio” for various circumstances now that you have one.

Imagine a specific reader and what they would want to know about you before writing for them in each iteration of your bio. For illustration, suppose you serve on your college’s alumni panel. Students in attendance will want to know what they can do right away to obtain your career. In this situation, your bio should emphasize your earlier campus activities, classes, early-career internships, and jobs rather than your current day-to-day work obligations.

Below, we’ve provided examples and detailed advice for some of the most typical situations in which you’ll need to write a professional bio.

What should a professional biography include?

Job title or workplace.
University degree and other qualifications.
Hometown or city of residence.
Personal or professional goals.
Mission statement and values.
Skills and expertise.
Interests and hobbies.

How do you write a biography for an interview?

Your current job title.
Your company name or personal brand statement.
Your hometown.
Your alma mater.
Your personal and professional goals.
A relevant achievement or accomplishment.
Your hobbies.

What is a biographical question?

Examples of biographical questions: Describe yourself, what you can bring to the company, why this position in particular appeals to you, and what your strengths and weaknesses are.

How do I write a bio about myself?

Your current role or professional tagline.
Your company or personal brand.
Your goals and aspirations.
Your 2-3 most impressive and relevant achievements.
One interesting fact about you, if applicable to the website

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MELODY DEXTER

Interviewing for biography: interrogation, conversation, and the in-between

By Melody Dexter | 15 Jan 2022

Woman and a man drinking coffee, sitting near large windows.

Before carrying out a biographical interview, it’s important to consider the approach you’ll take. This can be influenced by a number of factors, such as time, resources, topic, research agenda, accessibility, priority, comfort and willingness of your interviewee, even your ability to secure a work visa. Your approach will influence what information is gathered, with different approaches and questions leading to different results.

Interviewing for biography takes inspiration from the scientific approach of academia, the tenacity of journalism and the transparency of oral history. In ‘Life Story Interview’, Atkinson said, “the life story interview can be approached scientifically, but it is best carried out as an art”.

This article discusses different approaches to biographical interviews, including chronological, thematic, emotive and narrative interviews, as well as the choices between structured, semi and unstructured interviews.

Structured, semi and unstructured interviews

Highly structured interviews include questions which must be asked verbatim, without the inclusion of new or improvised questions. This style of interview fails to take into consideration the interviewee’s response and therefore fails to explore new avenues of discussion. It’s often used in academic and scientific research and can be particularly useful in biographical research when verifying information.

Svend Brinkman states that semi-structured interviews include the interviewer as part of the creation process. These interviews are useful in their ability to work with and build upon spontaneity, whilst keeping focused on the goals of the discussion.

In a semi-structured interview, you might have a list of questions, but when appropriate you might choose to ask unplanned questions to explore new avenues.

Unstructured interviews are often used in researching a life story. The interviewer takes a back seat and their main role is to listen. In unstructured interviews, the interviewer may not know in advance what to ask or what direction the interview will take. This is particularly useful in the first narrative interview, where the interviewer may be seeking to gain a broad perspective of their biographee’s life.

Each of these interview styles can be used in the following approaches, and it’s possible for biographers to utilise a variety of approaches when conducting interviews for biography. The choices will depend on your objectives: for example, to verify a timeline, a thematic approach may be suitable, and to elicit descriptions of a place, an emotive approach may be the best option.

Silhouette of a man and newborn baby touching foreheads. The man is holding the baby.

Chronological

A chronological approach to biographical interviews involves starting the interview by asking about the interviewee’s early life, starting with their birth, moving through childhood and adolescence then into adult life until you reach the present day. The interviewer may even choose to start earlier, asking about the interviewee’s parents or grandparents, where their parents were born, where they lived, what they did for work and so on.

In ‘Questioning the Subject in Biographical Interviewing’, Jennifer Harding suggests that the chronological format is one that people come to expect, and that it works. Oral historian Donald Ritchie argues that people can easily recall their memories in chronological order, however Harding argues that interviewing with a chronological approach results in a summary — that the results are superficial and stereotypical.

In Doing Oral History , Ritchie cites Cathy Courtney, interviewer with British National Life Stories. Courtney said that in oral history, discussing the chronology first builds rapport for a deeper narrative discussion later and helps facilitate “the ramble, the anecdote, the digression” that is needed for an in-depth discussion.

Harding also argues that the chronological approach to interviewing gives the interviewee power to decide what will be discussed and that this approach is less of an invasion of privacy. Conversely, Harding also notes that this approach can be invasive, for example, if interviewees have had traumatic experiences as a child, starting with a chronological approach could “possibly cause the interviewee to close off and withdraw”.

In ‘The Life History Interview’, Erin Jessee notes that chronological interviewing can trigger distressing or culturally inappropriate memories. Jessee noted that her subjects found it “jarring and painful” to take a chronological approach, which often involved someone’s passing, so she changed her first question to something less structured, such as “tell me about your life” so that interviewees could “broach these memories on their own terms and in their own time”.

Following your preliminary research, it’s possible that you’ve observed themes in your subject’s life, and may wish to cover these in more detail.

Thematic questioning can focus on specific subjects or episodes, rather than looking at the interviewee’s entire life. Examples of themes include childhood, education, marriage, career, or perhaps something more specific, such as the day a person was in a car accident.

When interviewing young people leaving foster care, Harding noted that a thematic approach was a useful alternative to a chronological approach, due to their negative experiences of being in care.

Thematic interviews may take a less structured, narrative approach, with the interviewer asking questions and allowing the interviewee to speak at length. Ritchie suggests asking general, open-ended questions first, such as “please tell me about your childhood” before moving on to more specific questions such as asking which schools they attended.

Thematic approaches may not be suitable at times, such as when the interviewer knows little about the interviewee prior to meeting. This is unlikely to occur when interviewing the biographee, but might be the case when interviewing other individuals such as the subject’s family or friends.

Sociologist Gabriele Rosenthal notes that there is a downside to using a thematic approach during research interviews. When researching experiences in Hitler Youth, Rosenthal initially took a thematic approach by asking interviewees to tell her “their biographical experiences during childhood and in the years following the collapse of the Third Reich”. She later changed her approach to focus on the full life story first. She thought that initially asking people to tell their life tory was too demanding on them, that “they would not know what they should talk about and what they should leave out” but later she realised she had her “own blind spots”, for example, she didn’t explore their parents’ involvement in the Nazi party in enough detail.

Life writer Patti Miller suggests that a thematic approach “gets the job done, but the writing has a flatness”, because when we think thematically, the left side of the brain is used, the logical side, rather than the right, creative side. Miller suggests an alternative: the emotive approach.

Emotive

In writing a biography, we seek not only facts, but also feelings, descriptions of place and people. Kolbert (cited by Ritchie) notes that people may find it easier to remember how they felt , compared to remembering facts from the same period. In collecting oral histories from immigrants, Kolbert said, they might “not remember their daughter’s phone number. But they do remember what it was like when they got off the boat”.

Ritchie shared how Robert Gildea asked an elderly interviewee if she had memories of the mayor in 1942: she replied that she did not, but when asked about life under German occupation, the “question triggered numerous memories of the war, the bombings, and the neighbours who had died, none of which she had forgotten”.

Miller suggests appealing to a person’s senses to access memories — strategies such as listening to music from a specific era, looking at photos, preparing and eating food from that time, searching for smells from that time, such as flowers, perfumes, spices; drawing or viewing maps, touching and exploring objects such as jewellery, furniture or watching tv programs from that time. In Doing Oral History, it’s mentioned that Barbara Myerhoff studied elderly Jews and noted that “their memories could be evoked by singing, dancing, smelling, and tasting”.

Yellow and pink flowers in a garden as the sun is low.

Narrative

Narrative interviews tend to start with an unstructured approach before moving to a semi-structured format. Johnson and Rowlands note that subsequent interviews might be thematic, as the interviewer seeks to confirm or verify information or test theories.

Narrative interviews take a postmodernist approach to interviewing, acknowledging the subjective nature of truth. In The Oxford Handbook of Qualitative Research, Holstein and Gubrium note that in narrative interviews, the interviewer and interviewee are “co-constructors of meaning” and meaning is discovered through their interaction, and similarly, Talmage states that the interviewer plays the part of “active listener and collaborating participant”. The resulting interview is a construct of the interaction between the interviewer and interviewee, that is, the interviewer is part of the interview.

Nobel Laureate and oral historian Svetlana Alexievich stated that there are at least three people present in this type of interview: the one talking now, the one the interviewee was at the moment of the event, and herself.

This subjective approach acknowledges that what the interviewee says has been filtered through today’s lens. Miller argues that this subjectiveness is more important than facts, and Alexievich stated that “feelings are reality”. Alexievich embraces subjectivity and said, “it is impossible to go right up to reality. Between us and reality are our feelings. I understand that I am dealing with versions, that each person has her version and it is from them, from their plurality and their intersections that the image of the time and the people living in it is born”.

In a narrative interview, Atkinson notes that the interviewer asks strategic, open-ended questions to encourage detailed, in-depth responses from the interviewee. Fontana refers to this as an unstructured or in-depth interview, where the interviewer has a goal of “allowing interviewees as much latitude as possible in answering OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS and going off in directions of their own.”

Oral historian Sherna Gluck said “the best oral history is a quasi-monologue on the part of the interviewee”. It may involve moving back and forth through time and the interviewee may make links between events and parts of their life.

Lillrank states that the idea that the interviewer can help the interviewee find their voice “is founded on the idea that when an interviewee tells about herself, it also invites increased self-reflection and awareness”. Atkinson tells us that “life storytelling is a process of personal meaning making” – telling a life story helps a person understand their own life over time, it helps them see connections. Svetlana Alexievich said that “as people narrate, people create, they ‘write’ their life”; and Birgitte Possing sees biography as a “story about and an interpretation of life”.

Jessee notes that a narrative approach gives power to interviewees to decide when they are comfortable discussing difficult topics. Jessee found that in her research of genocide, some interviewees found some topics were “incommunicable, unbearable, or irretrievable” and that by letting interviewees lead the interview, she could learn which topics “they found possible to narrate” and where she needed to exercise caution or more sensitivity.

Harding notes that this style of interview “requires a high degree of skill, confidence and experience in interviewing” — this style of interview can be unpredictable and present logistical challenges.

The subjective nature of narrative interviews is a sticking point for some. Some are reluctant to relinquish power to the interviewee to decide which events and memories are worth discussing.

Two women having a meal and serious conversation at a wooden table, sitting near a window.

How to get started in a narrative interview

As a biographer, your primary and secondary research will influence which questions you choose to ask in a narrative interview. Jessee states that the key with a narrative interview is to minimise interruptions and questions and to only ask enough to guide the interviewee.

Observe and listen to what they say, how they say it, what they focus on and which stories they omit from the discussion.

Consider starting with a broad, open-ended question. In conducting field research, Blee starts with one question, such as “Can you tell me how you got to where you are now?”. Sociologist Gabriele Rosenthal starts by seeking a life story. By asking a broad, open-ended question, interviewers are able to encourage their interviewee to talk about a wide range of topics and experiences.

Focus on listening and not interrupting. Take notes as appropriate, which can assist in deciding what follow up questions to ask.

Once your interviewee stops discussing the topic, ask another open-ended question or ask a specific follow-up question about what they have said. It’s a chance to ask for details and to clarify any points of confusion or contradiction.

Interviews may change direction. If the interviewee goes on a tangent, consider rolling with it. Johnson & Rowlands state that “such digressions or divisions are likely to be very productive, so the interviewer should be prepared to depart from his or her prepared plan and ‘go with the flow’” but still be “assertive enough to return the interview to its anticipated course when necessary”.

Before subsequent interviews, review your notes and develop questions based on these, including open-ended questions to facilitate discussion and also closed-ended questions to verify experiences discussed in the prior interview.

Talmage notes that depending on how many interviews you choose to do, later interviews are a useful opportunity to help your interviewee gain a clearer narrative, point out conflicts or alternative points of view.

Rosenthal notes that subsequent interviews are an opportunity to conduct thematic interviews. Following a thematic interview, Rosenthal asks questions based on a specific research agenda; she leaves these questions until the end, to ensure that during the first interview, the interviewee can decide which topics are relevant.

Next in this series: How to ask questions in a biographical interview.

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How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps (The Non-Boring Way!)

Compelling biographies help us better connect with others while fostering empathy and understanding. Discover the steps to write one that captivates your audience!

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Have you ever been captivated by someone’s life story? From the ancient tales of great conquerors to the modern accounts of influential figures, biographies have enchanted readers and viewers for centuries.

The stories of real people’s lives not only entertain and educate but also provide a unique window into the human experience. In fact, according to research 1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8796048/ , human stories like biographies can help us better connect with others while fostering empathy and understanding.

In this article, let’s dive into how to write a compelling biography, from the research phase to delivery.

What Are the Key Elements of a Biography?

The key elements of a well-written biography bring characters to life. They include thorough research, relevant interviews, clear structure, captivating prose, compelling themes, and a balance between objectivity and empathy.

Thorough research: Helps create an accurate portrayal of your subject
Relevant interviews: Insights help provide a deeper understanding of your subject
Clear structure: Helps you outline your ideas for a compelling narrative
Captivating prose: Provides descriptive language to paint a picture of your subject
Compelling themes: Showcases the motivations and desires behind your subject
A balance between objectivity and empathy: Keeps biases in check and allows your subject to shine for who they are

As you develop your biography, remember that these stories hold an enduring appeal because they offer people an opportunity to explore the depths of the human psyche, unravel extraordinary accomplishments, and discover the vulnerabilities and triumphs of individuals who have left their mark on the world.

Here are the topics a biography typically covers:

Early life and background : Provide context about the subject’s upbringing, family, and cultural influences.
Achievements and milestones: Highlight notable accomplishments, contributions, and significant events throughout their life.
Challenges and struggles: Explore the obstacles they faced, the lessons learned, and how they overcame adversity.
Personal characteristics: Describe their personality traits, values, beliefs, and motivations that shaped their actions and decisions.
Impact and legacy: Discuss the lasting influence and contributions of the subject, both during their lifetime and beyond.

Ready to start crafting your biography? Find greater success with this helpful goal-setting resource!

How To Set Better Goals Using Science

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Let’s look at the six key elements of a well-written biography more closely and the steps you can follow to develop your own.

How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps Using Key Elements

Choose your presentation format.

Presenting your biography can take on various forms, the most traditional being written form. The basis for this article assumes you’re writing a conventional biography; however, this foundation can also help you create a multimedia presentation or website as well.

Consider these various formats to present your biography:

Traditional Written Biographies: This classic approach provides a comprehensive account of a person’s life through the written word. Traditional biographies can be published in print or ebooks , allowing readers to engage deeply with the subject’s story.
Multimedia Presentations: In the digital age, multimedia presentations offer a dynamic way to present biographies. Incorporate audio, video, photographs, and interactive elements to enhance the audience’s experience.
Online Platforms: Online platforms, such as blogs or dedicated biography websites, provide accessible avenues for sharing biographies. They allow for easy updates, reader engagement, and the incorporation of multimedia elements.

Choose your subject and conduct research

To create a vivid and accurate portrayal of a person’s life, conduct extensive research. Dive into archives, read letters, examine diaries, explore photographs, and immerse yourself in the historical and cultural context surrounding your subject. This will help you unearth the small details that breathe life into your biography.

Whether you’re writing a biography about a historical figure, contemporary icon, or everyday individual, you’ll want to consider the different factors to focus on. Here are some examples of three types of individuals and the kind of research that will be most helpful.

Historical Figures: When writing about historical figures, immerse yourself in their era. Understand the social, political, and cultural forces that shaped their lives. I recommend visiting your local library and connecting with a research librarian for support. Otherwise, other tools for historical research include Google Scholar. Analyze primary sources and multiple perspectives to present a well-rounded account.
Contemporary Icons: Biographies of modern icons offer a chance to delve into their ongoing impact. Conduct interviews or gather insights from their close associates to understand their present-day influence. Stay current with the latest developments, and be prepared to update your work as the subject’s story unfolds.
Everyday Individuals: Biographies need not be reserved for the famous. Every day individuals possess stories that can be just as compelling. Uncover the extraordinary within the ordinary, highlighting the struggles, triumphs, and personal growth of individuals who might otherwise remain unsung.
Yourself! Want to write a biography on yourself? Autobiographies are a great way to explore who you are. Get ready to do some serious self-reflection with the steps below.

Pro Tip: Compile your research digitally using helpful cloud filings systems like Google Drive , OneDrive , or Dropbox . Organize your files by category, including information about their youth, family, achievements, and life lessons. You may also choose to write down research references or collect paper clippings on note cards, categorizing your physical files of research along the way.

Develop compelling themes and motifs

Identify overarching themes or motifs that emerge from the subject’s life. These could be resilience, ambition, love, or societal change. Weave these elements into the narrative, highlighting their significance and impact on the person’s journey. Here are some examples:

Overcoming Adversity: These biographies feature perseverance, resilience, and determination. Examples include Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, and Malala Yousafzai.
Pursuit of Excellence: These biographies highlight people who have worked tirelessly to achieve their goals. Examples include Steve Jobs, Serena Williams, and Michael Jordan.
Quest for Knowledge: These biographies focus on the curiosity that led to significant contributions to our world. Examples include Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Charles Darwin.
Personal Transformation: These biographies explore a change in beliefs, values, or priorities. Examples include Malcolm X, Oprah Winfrey, and Maya Angelou.
Legacy and Impact: These biographies examine a body of work that made a lasting contribution to society. Examples include Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, and Mahatma Gandhi.

Conduct relevant interviews

Whenever possible, seek firsthand accounts from those who knew or interacted with the subject. Conduct interviews with family members, friends, colleagues, or experts in the field. Their insights and anecdotes can provide a deeper understanding of the person’s character and experiences.

When conducting interviews for a biography, consider the following tips to ensure a productive and insightful conversation:

Familiarize yourself with the interviewee’s background and accomplishments.
Develop a list of well-thought-out questions that cover key aspects of their lives and experiences, including questions about your subject’s youth, family, achievements, and life transitions or struggles.
Begin the interview by establishing a comfortable and friendly atmosphere to put the interviewee at ease.
Show genuine interest in their story and listen actively to their responses.
Ask open-ended questions encouraging detailed and reflective responses.
Avoid yes/no questions and ask for their insights, memories, and personal perspectives.
Some topics you might consider for your questions include early life, achievements, challenges, motivations, values, relationships, lessons learned, and advice.
Pay close attention to the interviewee’s answers, body language, and tone of voice.
Ask follow-up questions to clarify or delve deeper into specific topics.
Show empathy and understanding, creating a safe space for the interviewee to share personal or sensitive information.
Remain flexible during the interview, allowing the conversation to flow naturally.
Be prepared to deviate from your prepared questions if unexpected but relevant topics arise.
Respect the interviewee’s boundaries and be mindful of any topics they may not wish to discuss.
Take thorough and organized notes during the interview to capture important details.
Consider recording the interview (with permission) to ensure accurate quotes and references.
Ask for permission to follow up with additional questions or for clarification.
Doing a biography on yourself? Ask yourself deep questions to harvest new stories and anecdotes.

Remember, the goal of the interview is to gather valuable information and personal perspectives that will contribute to the authenticity and depth of your biography. Approach the interview process with sensitivity, respect, and genuine curiosity about the interviewee’s life and experiences.

Develop a clear structure

Outline your biography, ensuring a logical and engaging narrative flow. Consider the chronological order, significant milestones, and turning points in the subject’s life. Organize your gathered information to capture the essence of their journey while maintaining a compelling rhythm throughout.

A good outline for a biography can vary depending on the specific subject and the desired structure of the narrative. However, here’s a general outline that can serve as a starting point:

A. Introduction

a) Hook or engaging opening to capture the reader’s attention

b) Background information (birthplace, date, family, etc.)

c) A brief overview of the subject’s significance or why they are worth exploring

B. Early Life and Background

a) Childhood and upbringing

b) Influences, such as family, education, or cultural factors

c) Formative experiences or events that shaped the subject’s character or interests

C. Major Achievements and Milestones

a) A chronological exploration of the subject’s notable accomplishments, contributions, or milestones

b) Focus on key moments or achievements that highlight their impact or significance.

c) Provide context and details to paint a vivid picture of their achievements

D. Challenges and Obstacles

a) Discussion of the challenges, setbacks, or adversities the subject encountered

b) How they overcame obstacles or grew through difficult experiences

c) Insights into their resilience, determination, or problem-solving abilities

E. Personal Life and Relationships

a) Exploration of the subject’s relationships, such as family, friends, or romantic partners

b) Insights into their personal joys, struggles, or transformative experiences

c) How their personal life intersected with their professional or public achievements

F. Legacy and Impact

a) Examination of the subject’s lasting influence, contributions, or impact on society

b) Discuss how their work or actions continue to resonate or shape the world today

c) Reflection on their legacy and the lessons we can learn from their life story

G. Conclusion

a) Summarize the key aspects of the subject’s life and their significance

b) Provide a final reflection or insight on their overall journey or impact

c) Leave the reader with a lasting impression or call to action

Pro Tip: Looking for help drafting an outline to get you started? Use free tools like ChatGPT to jumpstart your outline by putting in a prompt request like, “Write an outline for a biography about X, including any relevant details on the subject that should be included.”

Craft captivating prose

Employ descriptive language to transport readers into the subject’s world. Paint vivid portraits of their physical appearance, mannerisms, and surroundings. Use sensory details to evoke emotions and create a strong connection between the reader and the subject.

Here are some examples:

“She was a force of nature, with a fierce determination and an unwavering commitment to justice.” (Ruth Bader Ginsburg)
“His piercing blue eyes seemed to look right through you, and his voice had a commanding presence that demanded attention.” (Winston Churchill)
“She moved with a grace and elegance that belied her inner strength and resilience.” (Audrey Hepburn)
“His rugged features and piercing gaze made him a natural leading man, but it was his depth and vulnerability that set him apart.” (Marlon Brando)
“She had a contagious energy and a magnetic personality that drew people to her like a moth to a flame.” (Princess Diana)
“His quiet intensity and unwavering dedication to his craft made him one of the greatest artists of his time.” (Leonardo da Vinci)

Action Step: While writing descriptive prose takes some practice, it’s an art you can master with little creative writing skills. To help you write descriptive prose, practice closing your eyes and imagining your subject.

What expression is on their face?
How are they dressed?
What does their body language express?
How do they smell?
How do they make you feel?
How do they make others feel?
What’s in their surroundings?
What are they doing with their hands?
What do you imagine they’re thinking about?

With questions like these, you’ll start to use descriptive language to bring your subject to life.

Build a balance of objectivity and empathy

Strive for an objective portrayal while infusing empathy and understanding into your writing. Remain aware of biases and preconceived notions, giving your subject the space to shine in their unique light.

To check yourself, filter your writing and interviewing with these tips:

Verify Information: Cross-reference information from various sources to ensure accuracy. Use tools like Fact Check Explorer to fact-check claims, dates, and events to avoid errors or inaccuracies that could skew the narrative.
Multiple Perspectives: Seek out different viewpoints on the subject. This includes interviewing or reaching out to people with significant interactions or relationships with the subject. Incorporating diverse perspectives can counterbalance biases and provide a broader understanding.
Empathetic Listening: During interviews or conversations, practice active listening and empathize with the interviewee’s experiences and emotions. This allows you to understand the subject’s perspective and incorporate their insights and feelings into the narrative.
Contextualize Emotions: When sharing the subject’s emotional experiences or personal struggles, provide sufficient context and background. This helps readers understand the motivations and circumstances behind their actions and allows for empathetic understanding without veering into excessive sentimentality.
Credible Interpretation: While interpreting the subject’s thoughts, motives, or intentions, be clear about what is factual and what is speculative. Clearly distinguish between evidence-based information and your interpretations to maintain objectivity.
Respect Boundaries: Be mindful of the subject’s privacy and any requests they may have regarding sensitive or personal information. Respecting their boundaries shows empathy and allows for a respectful portrayal while maintaining the necessary level of objectivity.
Acknowledge Limitations: Recognize that achieving complete objectivity in a biography is challenging. Biases can inadvertently seep into the narrative. However, by being aware of your biases and consciously presenting a fair and balanced account, you can mitigate their influence.

Respect truth, privacy, and sensitivity

Remember, writing biographies carries ethical responsibilities. It’s important to maintain accuracy through credible research and gain consent while being sensitive to controversial or difficult topics. Here are some considerations:

Accuracy: Maintain a commitment to truth and accuracy. Verify facts and corroborate information from multiple sources to ensure the reliability of your narrative. Cite your sources and be transparent about any uncertainties or gaps in knowledge.
Privacy and Consent: Respect the privacy of living individuals mentioned in your biography. Seek consent when sharing personal details or sensitive information. Balance the subject’s right to privacy with the importance of honesty and transparency.
Sensitivity: Approach sensitive or controversial topics with care and empathy. Consider the potential impact of your words on the subject’s loved ones or affected communities—present differing perspectives without sensationalism or bias.

Writing a Biography FAQs

The length of a biography can vary greatly, depending on the subject and the depth of exploration. Some biographies span a few hundred pages, while others extend to multiple volumes. Focus on capturing the subject’s life’s essence rather than strictly adhering to a predetermined length.

Some common mistakes to avoid when writing a biography include the following: Lack of thorough research or reliance on a single source. Inaccurate or misleading information. Excessive personal bias or projection onto the subject. Neglecting to verify facts or failing to cite sources. Poor organization or a disjointed narrative flow. Neglecting to balance objectivity with empathy. Overloading the biography with irrelevant details or digressions. Failing to respect privacy or ethical considerations.

While chronological order is commonly used in biographies, it is not required. Some biographers employ a thematic approach or explore specific periods or events in the subject’s life. Experiment with different structures to find the most engaging way to tell your subject’s story.

The purpose of writing a biography is to capture and share an individual’s life story. Biographies provide insights into a person’s experiences, achievements, and challenges, offering readers inspiration, knowledge, and understanding. They preserve the legacy of individuals, contribute to historical records, and celebrate the diversity of human lives.

When choosing a subject for your biography, consider someone who inspires you, interests you, or has significantly impacted society. It could be a historical figure, a contemporary icon, or even an everyday individual with a remarkable story. Choose a subject with sufficient available information, access to primary sources or interviews, and a narrative that resonates with you and potential readers.

Key elements to include in a biography are: Early life and background: Provide context about the subject’s upbringing, family, and cultural influences. Achievements and milestones: Highlight notable accomplishments, contributions, and significant events throughout their life. Challenges and struggles: Explore the obstacles they faced, the lessons learned, and how they overcame adversity. Personal characteristics: Describe their personality traits, values, beliefs, and motivations that shaped their actions and decisions. Impact and legacy: Discuss the lasting influence and contributions of the subject, both during their lifetime and beyond.

Including personal anecdotes can add depth and humanize the subject of your biography. However, be selective and ensure that the stories are relevant, contribute to understanding the person’s character or experiences, and align with the overall narrative. Balancing personal anecdotes with factual information is critical to maintaining accuracy and credibility.

Conducting research for a biography involves exploring a variety of sources. Start with primary sources such as personal papers, letters, journals, and interviews with the subject or people who knew them. Secondary sources such as books, articles, and academic papers provide additional context and perspectives. Online databases, archives, libraries, and museums are valuable resources for finding relevant information.

Consult a wide range of sources to ensure a comprehensive and accurate biography. Primary sources, such as personal documents, letters, diaries, and interviews, offer firsthand accounts and unique insights. Secondary sources provide broader context and analysis, including books, articles, scholarly works, and historical records. Remember to evaluate the credibility and reliability of your sources critically.

Organize the information in your biography logically and engagingly. Consider using a chronological structure, starting with the subject’s early life and progressing through significant events and milestones. Alternatively, adopt a thematic approach, grouping related information based on themes or significant aspects of their life. Use clear headings, subheadings, and transitions to guide readers through the narrative flow.

Writing Biographies Key Takeaways

In summary, take note of these ideas and tips before you start writing your biography:

Biographies hold enduring appeal, offering a glimpse into the human experience across time.
Thorough research, interviews, and captivating prose are essential for crafting compelling biographies.
Ethical considerations, such as accuracy, privacy, and sensitivity, are crucial when writing about real people’s lives.
Choose subjects that genuinely inspire and resonate with you.
Immerse yourself in the subject’s world to understand their motivations and challenges.
Develop strong research skills and utilize a wide range of sources.
Craft a compelling narrative that engages readers from the very first page.
Seek feedback from trusted sources to refine your writing and storytelling abilities.
Continuously explore new biographies to broaden your understanding of different styles and approaches.
Embrace the unique voice and perspective you bring to the storytelling process.

Writing a biography book? Check out this helpful article, How to Write a Book: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Start Writing !

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351 Life Story Questions to Ask People (Storytelling)

Categories: Family Storytelling , Interviews & Questions
Tags: Questions to Ask

Ask people these 351 life story questions for storytelling.

What questions do you ask people when interviewing them about their life stories? What writing prompts do you use to write their story? In this article, I have included 351-plus writing prompts and questions to interview others and write their stories. They are a little random, but you get an idea of what you can discuss. I would encourage you to add questions that come to you.

Using Open-ended Questions

You will note that many of the questions are open-ended questions. I believe open-ended questions are the best type of questions to ask others. Open-ended questions allow people to tell stories they want to share. An example of open-ended questions are:

What did you like to do when you were a little girl?
What did you do on your first date?
Where do you like to go for a vacation?
Who is your favorite author, and why?
What some of your favorite experiences with your mom and dad?

When I interviewed my dad, I lived in a different state. I asked my dad if I could set up a series of telephone interviews that I could record. I chose to break up the interview into 10 60- to 90-minute sessions over six weeks. Each talk focused on a different time period or topic of his life. At the end of each interview, I outlined what I wanted to cover in the following interview to give my dad time to ponder what stories he wanted to share. During our interviews, he shared many personal stories that I had never heard. We laughed, cried, and shared many precious and tender moments.

I have prepared a couple of other resources that will provide value in interviewing for and writing individual, personal, and family narratives: “ Complete Guide for Conducting Oral History Interviews ” and “ Complete Guide to Writing A Personal Narrative .”

351 Life Story Questions to Ask Others

These 351 writing prompts and questions are part of a 28 article, 108 category series entitled “ 7,500-plus Questions About Life to Ask People When Writing Narratives .” I have divided the writing prompts and questions to ask others into the following categories. Click on the category to be taken to the questions.

Early Years

School years-elementary school, school years-jr. high school, school years-high school, school years-college/university/trade school, grandparents, spouses parents, professional/career, military and war, personal experiences, request for artifacts.

What is your full name, and why were you named that? (Maiden name for females)
Who are your parents and your grandparents? a. Your parents? Please give full names. b. Your grandparents? Please give full names.
What is your place of birth?
What are your birth date and year?
Were you named after someone?
Where did you live during your early years?
What are the earliest memories of your home?
Did you have any nicknames as you were growing up? a. If yes, what would you like to share about the nickname?
What chores did you have as a child? a. What memories do you have about your chores? b. Which chore did you dislike and why?
What kind of books did you like to read? a. Did you have a favorite book or books series? b. Why did you like the books?
What was your nighttime routine for going to bed? a. What memories would you like to share?
Did you have favorite songs that you liked to sing?
Why type of toys did you like to play with as a child?
What types of games did you like to play? a. Indoors? b. Outdoors? c. Boardgames?
What were your favorite foods as a child? Explain. a. Was there ever a time when you did not have enough to eat? Explain.
What did you want to become when you grew up? (e.g., policeman, fireman, nurse, doctor)
Who was the oldest person you remember as a child? a. What do you remember?
Did you ever have any childhood diseases (e.g., measles, mumps, chickenpox) growing up? What do you remember?

Return to questions list.

Where did you go to elementary school?
What was the school like?
Who were your friends in elementary school?
What are your favorite memories about your friends?
Who was your favorite teacher? Why?
Were you ever bullied in elementary school? Explain.
What memories do you have about elementary school?
How did you go to school?
Did you eat lunch at school or go home?
What did you like to play?
What did you like to do after school?
What other memories would you like to share?
Where did you go to school in Jr. High or Middle School?
Who were your friends in Jr. High school?
Were you ever bullied in Jr. High? Explain.
What memories do you have about Jr. High school?
What classes did you like most and why?
What type of classes did you take for your elective classes? (e.g., band, shop, home education)
Did you participate in after-school activities like sports, marching band, cheer or other activities? What are your memories?
Were there any dress fads during your school years?
What other memories about Jr. High would you like to share?
Were you ever given any special awards for your studies or school activities?
Describe yourself in High School.
Where did you go to school in High School?
Who were your friends in High school?
Were you ever bullied in high school? Explain.
What memories do you have of High School?
What classes did you like most and why? Least, and why?
What type of classes did you take for your elective classes?
What kind of grades did you get in your classes?
Did you participate in after-school activities like sports, marching band, cheer or other activities? What memories do you have?
Did you date during High School? What were their names? What memories would you like to share?
What did you wear to school? Describe it.
What other memories about High School would you like to share?
Did you and your friends have special hang-outs where you liked to spend time?
How many years of education have you completed?
Did you attend any school or training after high school?
What can you tell me about your education?
Why did you choose it as your field of study?
Did you graduate? What memories would you like to share?
Describe yourself as a young adult.
Did you date as a youth? a. How older were you had your first date? b. What do you remember about your first date? c. Who was your first date?
When did you first meet your spouse? a. Where was it? b. What do you remember about the first meeting? c. Describe your time dating? d. What attracted you to that person? e. Describe your time together. a. Describe them. f. How long did you know them before you got married? g. Describe your wedding proposal.
Where and when did you get married? (Include date, place, church, etc.)
Describe your wedding day and ceremony.
Who was there? Best Man, Bride’s Maid, other wedding party members?
Did you have a honeymoon? a. Where did you go?
How would you describe your spouse(s)?
What do (did) you admire most about them?
How long have (were) you married?
When and where did your spouse die? a. How died? b. Where buried?
What advice would you give to your child or grandchild on their wedding day?
Have you ever been divorced? What can you share?
Do you have children?
What are their names, birth dates and birthplaces?
What is the story behind each name you gave your children?
Did you adopt any children? a. Can your share your experiences of adoption?
Describe the memory about learning you were going to be a parent for the first time?
What memories do you have about each child?
Describe the personalities of your children.
What are some of the most memorable experiences you had with your children/family?
What memorable experiences did you have with each child?
What is some funny, humorous experience you had with your family?
What were some trying times as a family? Explain? a. What did you do to overcome the time? b. How did it affect your family?
What did you find most challenging about raising children?
What do you consider to be rewarding about being a parent?
How would you describe your parenting style as a parent?
What are the lessons you learned as a parent?
What were your happiest moments as a parent?
Where were your saddest moments as a parent?
What would you like to do over if you could as a parent?
How did you treat each child?
What do you consider to be the most complex decisions you made as a parent?
What do you regret most as a parent?
Who influenced you most as a parent?
What were your happiest moments as a family?
What were your tragic moments as a family?
Did you move as a family? Why and where? a. How did the move affect your family?
How did you first hear that you were a grandparent, and how did you feel about it?
What advice would you pass on to your children/grandchildren?
What can you tell me about your parents? a. What memories would you like to share about your mother? b. What memories would you like to share about your father? c. What memories would you like to share about your parents together?
Did your parents stay together, divorce or pass away? If yes, did they remember? a. What memories would you like to share? b. Did you have any stepparents? c. What memories would you like to share?
Do you remember hearing your parents describe their lives? a. What did they say?
When and where did your parents die? a. What do you remember about it? b. How they died, were hospitalized, buried?
Did your family belong to a religion? If yes, a. Did your parents and grandparents belong to the religion? b. Did you attend a church? c. What do you remember? d. Do you have any experiences you would like to share?
What can you remember about your grandparents? a. What memories would you like to share about each of your grandmothers? b. What memories would you like to share about each of your grandfathers? c. What memories do you have about your grandparents together?
Do you remember hearing your grandparents describe their lives? b. What did they say?
Do you remember your great-grandparents? a. What do you know about them?
Did you have any brothers and sisters? What were their names? a. What memories do you have about your brothers and sisters that you would like to share?
How did your family have fun when you were a child?
Where did your spouse’s parents live? a. What memories do you have about your spouse’s parents?
When and where did your spouse’s parents die? c. What do you remember about it? d. How did they die, were hospitalized, buried?
What details can you remember about the death of your spouse’s parents?
What was your chosen career?
Where did you receive training/education for your career?
How did you decide on a career?
What do you remember about your first job?
Where have you worked? City? Company? a. What were the jobs? b. What do you remember about each job? c. Has work provided a good living? d. Describe a typical day at work? e. What did you like most/least about work?
Did you have more than a career? Explain.
What are some of your most memorable experiences/projects? • Have you retired? When would you like to retire?
Did you serve in the military? a. What branch of the service did you serve? b. Why did you decide to join the military? c. When and where did you serve? d. Where were you trained? e. What was your training?
Where were you stationed during active military duty? a. Describe each post and what you did? b. What are your memories of active duty? c. Do you remember your units? If yes, what were they?
What was your highest rank?
Did you ever serve in the war? Which one (s)? a. WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan, or other? a. What were the circumstances? b. Were you in a combat or support role? c. What campaigns were you in? What was your role in the campaign?
Would you be willing to share your experiences and memories of war? a. If yes, where would you like to begin? b. Were you injured in war? Explain.
How did your time in the military affect you? Explain.
By what name/nickname do your friends call you? Does the name have a special meaning?
What name are you known by among family?
As you look back on your life, what would you consider to be the most important ____? Why? Explain your memories. a. Inventions? News events? World events? Politics? Technology advances?
Talk about the differences in today’s life compared to the time as a child?
Did you or your family experience events like prohibition, the depression, war? Explain. What do you remember?
Have you had any health problems over the years? a. What were the health issues? b. When did the health issue arise? c. How did they affect your life? d. Where they heredity? e. What are they?
What do you do regularly for exercise?
Have you ever been hospitalized? If so, what for? a. Have you ever had surgery? b. What for? c. Do you or have you ever had habits that you would consider wrong? Explain? d. Do you still have them, or did you overcome them? Explain.
Have you been a victim of crime? a. What happened? b. How did the incident affect your life?
Have you ever been in a severe accident?
Has anyone ever saved your life? a. Describe.
How would you describe yourself politically? b. Are you Conservative or Liberal, and why?
Who would you consider to be your good/best friend (s)? a. What are their names? b. How long have you known them? c. What do you like about them? d. What do you do together? a. What would your friend say about you?
Have you ever met anyone that you would consider being a soul mate or kindred spirit? a. Who were they? b. Explain why you felt a special bond with them?
What were the most (i.e., challenging, meaningful, troubling) decision(s) you have made in your life? Explain. a. What was the outcome? b. Do you consider the outcome to good or bad? Why?
Who do you consider the most influential individuals in your life? a. Who were they? b. What did they do that influenced your life?
What do you consider to be the essential advice you have received in life? a. Did you take that advice? b. What was the outcome? Explain.
Is there anything you would change about yourself? Why? Explain.
Describe moments/memories in your life when you were most stressed?
What do you consider to be the tough times in your life? Why? Explain. a. What helped you get through the period? b. How did the experience affect you for good or bad?
Describe times when you were scared? What happened?
Have you ever played a musical instrument? a. If yes, what kind? Describe your experience.
Are you or would you consider yourself to be creative? Explain.
Have you ever made something for someone else? Explain?
What types of service have you provided others? a. How does it make you feel? b. What were the outcomes of your service?
What are moments in life when others served you? a. What was the most memorable time? b. What were the outcomes of the service?
How would you describe your sense of humor?
Have you ever played a practical joke on someone? a. Describe that experience and what you did.
What type of activities have you enjoyed as an adult? a. Recreation? Hobbies? Personal enrichment? Relaxation? b. What did you like about each activity? c. A most memorable experience with each activity?
When you were not working, what did you like to do?
What would you consider to be the most exciting/wonderful experience in your life?
Did you ever meet anyone famous? Who? a. Describe the experience.
Have you ever belonged to any organizations or groups? a. What the group about? b. What drew you to join the group? c. What are your memorable experiences in the group? d. Are you still a member? If not, explain.
Have you ever been awarded a price or award as an adult? Explain. a. What did you have to do to earn the award?
Describe a time in your life when you felt most happy or at peace? a. Where were you, and what were you doing?
Describe the beautiful place you have ever visited, and what was it like?
Have you ever taken an extended trip or vacation? a. Where did you go? b. What did you do?
What do you consider to be your favorite vacation? a. Where did you go, and why was it special?
Do you have a place that is special to you where you like to visit? a. Where is it? b. Why is the place special? c. Can you share your memories?
Have you ever had a pet? a. What was the animal? b. What was the name of the animal? c. How did the pet become part of your life? d. Do you have a favorite story about your pet?
What is on your bucket list of things still to do? Why?
Is there a time in your life that you would consider to be most memorable?
What or who is your favorite and why: a. Animal? Artist? Athlete? b. Author? Boardgame? Book? c. Candy? Card game? Color? d. Cookie? Desert? Drink? e. Ice cream flavor? Flower? Fruit? f. Holiday? Meal? Movie star? g. Movie? Musical group? Musical instrument? h. Painting? Poem? Poet? i. Restaurant? Season? Singer? j. Song? Sport? Style of music? k. Tree? TV program? Vegetable?
How would you describe each member of your family? a. Mother? b. Father, c. Siblings (brothers/sisters)? d. Children?
Who fits the following descriptions and why? a. Animal lover? Best cook? Best gardener? Best housekeeper? b. Best looking? Best memory? Best storyteller? Biggest tease? c. Calmest? Funniest? Hardest worker? Most athletic? d. Most colorful? Most creative? Most frugal? Most generous? e. Most mischievous? Most politically active? Most reclusive? f. Most relaxed? Most sociable? Quietest? Shortest? g. Tallest? Wildest lifestyle?
Do you have any artifacts like letters, journals, photos, movies, videos or audio recordings of older family members that can help tell your story?
Would you allow me to make copies (e.g., Photograph, scan, read)?

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How to Write a Biography: Who Tells Your Story

Writing someone’s life story is a tremendous responsibility, filled with challenges. Learn how to write a biography that does your subject justice.

Biography structure: you don’t have to start at the beginning, choose a subject for your biography, conducting biographical interviews, fact-checking your interviews, arriving at a point of view, telling the story of a lifetime, try skillshare for free sign up for a 7 day free trial today.

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At first glance, a biography might seem like nothing but a list of facts. So-and-so was born on this date, died on that date, and here’s what happened in between . But when’s the last time you read a biography that resembled anything like that? As it turns out, every biography has its own voice—a point to make. In Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, the biographer sought out previously unknown details about Jobs’ mysterious childhood. In Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken , Hillenbrand covers more than just Zamperini’s time as a prisoner of war, ultimately exploring how he was able to forgive his captors. Biography is part journalism , sure. But it’s also an art form. And if you want to tell a story worth sharing, you’ll have to know both parts when you write a biography. Here’s how to write a biography that does more than report the facts.

Conventional wisdom says your biography structure should start at the beginning and end at the end. But that’s not how every biographer does it. Consider how David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of John Adams begins:

“In the cold, nearly colorless night of a New England winter, two men on horseback traveled the coast road below Boston, heading north. A foot or more of snow covered the landscape, the remnants of a Christmas storm that had blanketed Massachusetts from one end of the province to the other. .... The older, stouter of the two did most of the talking.

He was John Adams of Braintree and he liked to talk.”

It’s a fascinating bit of narrative writing . McCullough sets the scene with an adult Adams, already a farmer and a lawyer, already married to Abigail. We skip straight to the Boston Massacre and Adams’ role in defending the British redcoats as their lawyer. Scenes from Adams’ (relatively uneventful) childhood only come in minimal flashbacks.

This all comes back to a core question: How can you structure your biography to tell the story as best you can? The way you go about using your narrative writing skills will be up to you. But depending on the angle you’re taking to write a biography with a specific take in mind, you may want to experiment with different structures:

Conventional structure: Charlie Chaplin’s My Autobiography begins at the beginning: “I was born on 16 April 1889, at eight o’clock at night, in East Lane, Walworth.” This springs out of the Victorian literary instinct to tell the whole story of a person’s life, from beginning to end. This is probably the most popular way to tell a biography, particularly if you don’t want to highlight any particular quirk of the subject, but rather tell a comprehensive story.
Cutting straight to the good stuff: McCullough’s John Adams is an example of a biography that cuts to the chase as soon as possible. After McCullough lands us in colonial Boston and lays some contextual groundwork, he then unfolds the rest of the revolutionary narrative in a conventional chronological style.
Partial biography: Some biographies don’t attempt to tell an entire story, but highlight one series of key events. Bret Baier’s Three Days at the Brink doesn’t start with FDR’s childhood, but isolates FDR’s critical conference with Churchill and Stalin at the Tehran Conference.
Parallel stories: The Lost City of Z is simultaneously a meditation on the disappearance of archaeologist Percy Fawcett and David Grann’s own Amazonian explorations—eight decades later. McCullough’s John Adams also serves as a sort of simultaneous biography of John Adams’ influential wife, Abigail, who serves as the focus of entire sections.

Think of your biography as a partially finished sculpture. You can’t sculpt anything you want; you’re restricted to the limits of the stone in front of you.

And like a sculptor selecting their stone, you can’t achieve a great biography without taking some time to select your subject. Here’s how to choose a subject for your biography.

A biographer’s job is a long one. Research alone could take years. If you don’t choose a subject that provides ample material—a subject that motivates you to work every day—then you may find it difficult to finish.

The great biographers know that any choice they make is ultimately a long-term commitment, so they do it carefully. And when you read their interviews, you’ll find they only take on a new biography when they feel inspired by:

A new story to tell: Ron Chernow focused nearly a thousand pages on Ulysses S. Grant , a man who already wrote his own memoirs. Why? What else was there to say? A lot, as it turns out: Chernow’s long biography challenged modern-day perceptions of Grant as a bottom-tier president and a general who only won a war that the Union was always going to win. Grant is a familiar name; Chernow’s take is new.
Someone with a deeper story built right in: Ruth Franklin’s Shirley Jackson : A Rather Haunted Life takes on a fresh approach, detailing how Jackson’s own troubles mirrored her fiction. There is enough material to make Jackson more than a straightforward biography; it feels imbued with hints from Jackson’s own work.
A theme: Victor Davis Hanson’s The Savior Generals is not one biography, but five: the story of “savior generals” and the common themes that led to game-changing military campaigns throughout history. The result is a work that spans thousands of years of military history without losing its sense of consistency.

But where do you start? Here are some places you can look for biographical subjects:

Historical Figures

This one is easy. History is full of stories: generals, poets, writers, entertainers, political leaders. Here is where you can say the most about the past and its relevance to the future. Look at the most recent winners of the biographical Pulitzer Prize and you’ll see biographies of historical figures: Malcolm X, Susan Sontag, Alain Locke.

Celebrities

People can’t get enough of behind-the-scenes stories from celebrities. From celebrity chefs to reality show stars, one glance at the local supermarket shelves will show you how much interest there is in today’s celebrities. The challenge is to research someone still living, respecting their rights while also digging up the insights that people want to read.

“Re-writes” on Icons

You won’t be the first one to write about Abraham Lincoln. But fresh takes are always appreciated. Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals served simultaneously as a Lincoln presidential biography and a fresh take on what made Lincoln such an effective leader.

You don’t have to limit yourself to biographies of lesser-known people. If you can deliver new insights, people want to hear fresh takes on even the most celebrated lives.

Learn How to Write Nonfiction

Creative Nonfiction: Write Truth With Style

Want to know how to outline a biography? You first need to know what story you’re going to tell. That means conducting biographical interviews to get insights into your subject.

The subject of your biography may or may not be living at this point. You can still reach out to people who knew them and experienced many of the events you’ll write about. But this isn’t a free-form conversation. Remember that the person you’re interviewing may only give you one chance at this. That means you need to know what to ask long before you ask it.

Consider the famous “Frost/Nixon” interviews in the late 1970s. British TV journalist David Frost interviewed disgraced former President Richard Nixon in dozens of sessions for weeks. How would those interviews have gone if Frost went into them “cold,” only asking broad, vague questions, expecting Nixon to do the work himself?

As an interviewer, you’re taking on the journalist’s role. Your job isn’t to transcribe what an interviewee says. They’re not writing the biography for you. Your job is to know which questions to ask. Your job is to probe. Remember: a biography isn’t just about telling a story, but about finding the fresh story buried somewhere under the surface.

In Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, Isaacson received Jobs’ permission to interview people who had been close to him throughout his life. It was the quality of these interviews that created the insights that readers hadn’t heard before.

Said one review : “the nuance brought to the events by the wide array of characters Isaacson spent time with, and Jobs’s candid and original perspective, never fail to bring well-known events into sharp and personal focus.”

The biographical interviews you conduct are going to form the meat of your story. If you were writing an original work of fiction, this part would be like brainstorming: coming up with the story ideas and the twists and turns that will keep people on their toes. But since you have to stick to the facts, your job here isn’t to invent those twists and turns. It’s to find them through well-researched, incisive questioning.

For a biographer, the real work is in the research. When David McCullough sat down to write about John Adams, he couldn’t interview eyewitnesses and talk to Adams himself. But he could focus on the written record: the thousands of letters Adams sent and received throughout his life.

After painstaking research, McCullough was able to not only see how Adams felt about the events of his life, but what else was going on at the time. He noted the differences in how Jefferson signed his letters to Adams (formal, professional), and Adams to Jefferson (friendly, warm). He told the reader when Adams was unaware of historical events around him by conducting research as to what everyone else at the time knew.

As a biographer, your job is to do more than provide a single point of view. When Isaacson tackled Steve Jobs , the book was more than the sum of its parts. It wasn’t merely the transcriptions of interviews with Jobs and people he knew. It was Isaacson’s total accounting of the interviews and the facts behind them.

At some point, a biography can feel less like a strict re-telling of events. You can start to feel like a prosecutor or defender, making the case for their client.

In Ron Chernow’s Grant , Chernow retold events as factually as he could, but took special note to highlight when the Civil War did not seem like an inevitable victory for the Union. This was in contrast to some of the prevailing historical theories. Chernow made a cogent, well-researched case that the war was still very much undecided as Grant rose to prominence.

As a biographer, you’re going to have a point of view as well. It’s inevitable. What’s important is that you have the facts and research to back up that point of view:

Provide detailed sourcing: A good biographer won’t go on long tangents of their personal opinions without sourcing some research to back it up. They may quote a letter that the person in question wrote. They may quote someone from an interview. But if you ever feel that your own opinions are coming across too much in the writing, always back it up with detailed, specifically sourced research.
Don’t start with a point of view in mind: It’s possible to have an inkling and let the research take you where it will. But if you begin with a specific ironclad point of view in mind, it’s going to color the rest of your research. Strive to be as open-minded as possible as you gather facts. Then let the facts begin to tell their own story.

From here, you should have the information you need to settle on your structure. This will give you an idea of which outline best serves the facts. From that outline, you can begin organizing each of the sources and facts you’ve gathered until you’ve assembled a blueprint of how the final biography will look.

If a biography were simply a list of events, it would be too dull to read. The art is in finding the balance between the factual story you have to tell and the subjective human experience behind those facts.

To tell the “story of a lifetime”—to learn how to write a biography—don’t consider yourself merely a third-person observer, or merely a writer. You’re a reporter in a nonfiction story, and it’s your job to find the lead.

Learn the Art of Nonfiction Narrative!

Creative Nonfiction: How to Craft a Personal Narrative

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100 Questions Every Family Historian Should Ask Their Relatives + a Free Printable List!

Last Updated December 20, 2023

With the holiday season upon us, many of us are preparing for the family-filled parties and celebrations ahead. For the genealogy researcher, though, a holiday get-together can mean a whole lot more than planning a menu or gathering gifts – often, it’s an important opportunity to connect with our more distant relatives ask some family history interview questions!

Of course, it’s ideal if you can arrange to interview your relative at the gathering in advance so as not to catch them off guard. However, most would agree, there’s nothing wrong with spontaneously asking your great aunt or grandparent if they feel up to answering a few questions over pie and coffee.

Even if you’re not planning to see family in person, you can also request to interview someone over the phone or through email . However the interview comes about, in order to make most out of a visit with an older relation, it’s best to come prepared.

Here are a few tips to prep for your family history interview:

Bring along a sturdy notebook and writing utensils, plus a printout of your interview questions , so you’re ready to ask questions and document responses quickly and accurately.
Download a recording app on your phone, or bring a tape recorder, in case your family member is open to the interview being recorded. Evernote’s free app is great for recording audio, scanning documents on the go, and more – read about it here.
Be sure to bring any old family photos or mementos that you want to learn more about. Your relative may be able to answer those questions and an old photo may help bring back valuable memories they’re willing to share with you.
Don’t be shy! It can be a bit scary to approach a grandparent or older relative and ask to interview them about their life. Don’t be discouraged, though, because most likely your relative will more than understand your desire to document the family’s history and be happy to oblige in some form. No matter how nervous you are, just do it – because you never know what the circumstances will be in six months or a year. Now may be your only chance.
Prepare a copy of your shared family tree , or some other way to share your genealogy research, to leave with your relative as a way of saying thank you.
Most importantly, respect your relative’s feelings and boundaries. If they don’t feel comfortable answering a certain question, or are not okay with the interview being recorded, make sure they know that you honor those guidelines and appreciate their help documenting the story of your family. There are some good tips for how to conduct an interview in a way that will make everyone comfortable here .

Okay! Let’s get started!

Free printable family history interview questions, hands

Below, we’ve put together a list of 100 family history interview questions to bring along to your next gathering. We’ve also included printables of these interview questions for the sake of convenience. One is in the form of a fillable questionnaire and the other version is a simple list of the questions.

You can choose to use all 100 questions for a very in-depth and wide-ranging interview – or you can pick and choose from the list and compile your own sequence of questions. In most cases, all 100 questions will be far too many and will overwhelm your interviewee. Instead, highlight the questions you really want to know and then ask more if the opportunity arises.

Remember, an interview of this kind is a very personal experience and can be emotional for the person being interviewed. Be sure to tailor your questions to your individual family member, leaving out those that may be irrelevant or upsetting and adding in additional questions when needed.

You can download two different printable versions of the questions here or you can read through all of the questions below.

Printable #1: Family History Interview Questions List
Printable #2: Family History Interview Questionnaire

100 Family History Interview Questions

What is your full name?
Did your parents name you after anyone?
What did people call you as a child? Do you have any nicknames?
When were you born?
In what city/state were you born?
Did your birth take place in a hospital, at home? Was there a doctor or midwife present?
What is your mother’s full name/date of birth? Where was she born?
What is your father’s full name/date of birth? Where was he born?
Do you know your maternal grandparents’ names and dates of birth? Where were they born?
Do you know your paternal grandparents’ names and dates of birth? Where were they born?
What did your father do for a living? Did he have more than one profession?
What kind of work did your mother do? Was she employed outside of the home?
What kind of work did your grandparents do?
Where did your maternal grandparents live?
Where did your paternal grandparents live?
Do you have any special memories of your grandparents?
What do you remember about your great-grandparents? Did you ever meet them?
What do you remember about your mother from growing up?
What do you remember about your father from growing up?
What important life lessons did you learn from your parents?
What family stories or memories were passed down to you from your parents or grandparents?
What about special holiday traditions or recipes passed on to you?
Are there any special family heirlooms that were handed down to you?
What is your first childhood memory?
Did you have any siblings?
What are their names and when were they born?
Can you describe your siblings more?
Are you a middle child? The oldest, youngest? How did that impact your childhood?
Were you close with your siblings? Who was your favorite playmate?
Did you care for your younger siblings? Did you like it? Was it difficult?
Where did you live as a child? Did your family move often? Why?
Can you describe your childhood home(s)?
How was your home heated? Was it warm in the wintertime?
Where did you sleep? Did you share a room?
Did you have running water? If not, how did you get water?
Who did the cooking in your home? The cleaning?
What kinds of foods did you eat often?
Where did your food come from? A grocery store, a nearby farm, your family’s farm/garden?
Did you have any animals or pets growing up? Which was your favorite?
What was the weather like where you lived as a child?
What were your chores when you were little? Did they change as you got older?
Can you describe what your daily life was like as a child?
Did you go to school outside of the home or were you homeschooled?
If you were schooled outside the home, how did you get there?
What was your favorite part of school? Your least favorite?
What were the most important skills that you learned at home?
What kind of clothing did you wear? Was it homemade or store-bought?
What did you want to do or be when you grew up?
What was your favorite hobby in your free time?
Did you have any favorite toys or games?
How did your family spend the evenings? Weekends?
Did you have a close friend as a child?
Where did your family travel to as a kid?
What was your favorite holiday or special occasion?
How were birthdays celebrated in your family?
Did you celebrate a winter holiday? (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.?)
How did you celebrate this holiday? Did you give gifts, decorate, dress up, worship?
Was your family religious? What place of worship did you attend?
What was your first job? How old were you?
How many years of school did you attend?
Did you go to a college or university? Where, when? What did you study?
What were your goals, hopes, and dreams as a young adult?
What is your occupation/trade? Have you had multiple professions over the years?
If you could have chosen another profession, what would it be?
Did you ever get married?
When, where, and how did you meet your spouse?
How did you get engaged?
What was your wedding like? What did you wear, what food was served, where was it held?
Did you go on a trip or honeymoon after the wedding? Where to?
What is your spouse’s full name? Their siblings and parents?
What is your spouse’s occupation? Interests?
Can you describe a little about your spouse’s personality?
What do you love the most about your spouse?
What was your first home together like? Where was it? Did you rent it, buy it?
What would you say is the key to a successful marriage?
Do you have any children? How many?
What are the names and birth dates of your children? The names of their spouses?
Do you remember what it was like finding out you would soon be a parent?
What were your children’s births like? At the hospital, at home? Who was there?
What city or county were each or your children born in?
Where did you live when your kids were growing up?
Did you move around much? Why did you move and to where?
What was your home(s) like when your children were young? Did you own or rent?
What special memories do you have of your children’s baby or preschool years?
What was your favorite way to spend time with your kids?
What was the hardest part of raising kids? The best part?
What special traditions or holiday celebrations were favorites in your family?
Did your family attend church or worship services?
What hobbies did you have when you weren’t working or caring for children?
What kind of music did you like to listen to?
What kind of books/magazines did you like to read?
Did you have any close friends during this time?
Were you a part of any clubs or organizations?
Where have you traveled to in your life? What place was your favorite?
What major world events have happened in your lifetime? Did any have a big effect on you?
What accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?
What would you say are your greatest skills?
Which personal events in your life would you say had the greatest impact on you?
What’s the best advice you can give your great-grandchildren, your great-great-grandchildren?
What do you want people to remember the most about you?

Want to take this list along? Print the list version here and the questionnaire version (with spots for answers) here!

By Kate Jackson, Associate Editor of Family History Daily

2 thoughts on “100 Questions Every Family Historian Should Ask Their Relatives + a Free Printable List!”

I have cancer and want to leave something for my granddaughter this has been the answer to help my mission Thank you

tudo que eu sei é que são meus pais: Adelia da Costa e Isidorio Geraldo Victorino da Costa,meu pai nascido em Rio do Sul e minha mãe em Blumenau

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How to Write a Biography: 6 Tips for Writing Biographical Texts

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Aug 30, 2021 • 4 min read

Biographies are how we learn information about another human being’s life. Whether you want to start writing a biography about a famous person, historical figure, or an influential family member, it’s important to know all the elements that make a biography worth both writing and reading.

50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History

ThoughtCo / Nusha Ashjaee

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Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University
B.A., Carnegie Mellon University

A great way to uncover clues to your family history or to get great quotes for journaling in a heritage scrapbook is a family interview. By asking the right family history questions, you're sure to collect a wealth of family tales. Use this list of open-ended questions to help you get started, but be sure to personalize the interview with your own questions as well.

Family History Questions About Their Childhood

What is your full name? Why did your parents select this name for you? Did you have a nickname ?
When and where were you born?
How did your family come to live there?
Were there other family members in the area? Who?
What was the house (apartment, farm, etc.) like? How many rooms? Bathrooms? Did it have electricity? Indoor plumbing? Telephones?
Were there any special items in the house that you remember?
What is your earliest childhood memory ?
Describe the personalities of your family members.
What kind of games did you play growing up?
What was your favorite toy and why?
What was your favorite thing to do for fun (movies, go to the beach, etc.)?
Did you have family chores? What were they? Which was your least favorite?
Did you receive an allowance? How much? Did you save your money or spend it?
What was school like for you as a child? What were your best and worst subjects? Where did you attend grade school? High school? College?
What school activities and sports did you participate in?
Do you remember any fads from your youth? Popular hairstyles? Clothes?
Who were your childhood heroes?
What were your favorite songs and music genres?
Did you have any pets? If so, what kind and what were their names?
What was your religion growing up? What church, if any, did you attend?
Were you ever mentioned in a newspaper?
Who were your friends when you were growing up?

Family History Questions About the Family

What world events had the most impact on you when you were a child? Did any of them personally affect your family?
Describe a typical family dinner. Did you all eat together as a family? Who did the cooking? What were your favorite foods ?
How were holidays (birthdays, Christmas, etc.) celebrated in your family? Did your family have special traditions?
How is the world today different from what it was like when you were a child?
Who was the oldest relative you remember as a child? What do you remember about them?
What do you know about your family surname ?
Is there a naming tradition in your family, such as always giving the firstborn son the name of his paternal grandfather?
What stories have come down to you about your parents? Grandparents? More distant ancestors?
Are there any stories about famous or infamous relatives in your family?
Have any recipes been passed down to you from family members?
Are there any physical characteristics that run in your family?
Are there any special heirlooms , photos, bibles, or other memorabilia that have been passed down in your family?

Family History Questions About Their Adult Life

What was the full name of your spouse? Siblings? Parents?
When and how did you meet your spouse? What did you do on dates?
What was it like when you proposed (or were proposed to)? Where and when did it happen? How did you feel?
Where and when did you get married?
What memory stands out the most from your wedding day?
How would you describe your spouse? What do (did) you admire most about them?
What do you believe is the key to a successful marriage?
How did you find out you were going to be a parent for the first time?
Why did you choose your children's names?
What was your proudest moment as a parent?
What did your family enjoy doing together?
What was your profession and how did you choose it?
If you could have had any other profession, what would it have been? Why wasn't this your first choice?
Of all the things you learned from your parents, what do you feel was the most valuable?
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
What is the one thing you most want people to remember about you?

While these questions make great conversation starters, the best way to uncover the good stuff is through more of a storytelling session than a Q&A.

How to Begin Tracing Your Family Tree
10 Top Genealogy Questions and Answers
5 First Steps to Finding Your Roots
Top 10 Genealogy Mistakes to Avoid
How to Write Your Family History
How to Find Your Birth Family
5 Great Ways to Share Your Family History
Preserving the Past: How to Care for and Protect Old Photographs
Visiting a Family History Center
Family Tree Lesson Plans
The Cherokee Princess Myth
Finding the Birthplace of Your Immigrant Ancestor
10 Steps for Finding Your Family Tree Online
mtDNA Testing for Genealogy
Creating a Genealogy Research Plan Like a Detective
5 Steps for Identifying People in Old Family Photographs

Great Questions

After 20 years of listening, we know what makes a good conversation: start by asking great questions..

Image Text: How would you like to be remembered?

Here are some of our suggestions for getting a good conversation going. We encourage you to use the ones you like and to come up with your own. This list is in no particular order. Choose one of the categories below, or scroll through and read them all.

Great Questions for Anyone

Friends and Colleagues

Grandparents

Raising children, love & relationships, marriage & partnerships, serious illness, family heritage, remembering a loved one.

Can you tell me about the important people in your life?
What have been some of the happiest moments in your life? The saddest?
Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did that person or those people teach you?
Can you tell me about a moment when a person’s kindness made a difference in your life?
What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in life?
What is your earliest memory?
What is your favorite memory of me?
Are there any funny stories your family tells about you that come to mind?
Are there any funny stories or memories or characters from your life that you want to tell me about?
What are you proudest of?
When in life have you felt most alone?
If you could hold on to memories from your life forever, which would they be?
How has your life been different than what you’d imagined?
How would you like to be remembered?
Do you have any regrets?
What does your future hold?
What are your hopes for what the future holds for me?
What are your hopes for my children?
If this was to be our very last conversation, is there anything you’d want to say to me?
For generations listening to this years from now, is there any wisdom you’d want to pass on to them? What would you want them to know?
Is there anything that you’ve never told me but want to tell me now?
Are there things about me that you’ve always wanted to know but have never asked?
If you could talk to a younger version of yourself, what would you say?
What were your first impressions of me? How did they change?

Friends or Colleagues

If you could interview anyone from your life living or dead, but not a celebrity, who would it be and why?
What is your first memory of me?
Was there a time when you didn’t like me?
What makes us such good friends?
How would you describe me? How would you describe yourself?
Where will we be in 10 years? 20 years?
Do you think we’ll ever lose touch with each other?
Where did you grow up?
What was your childhood like?
Who were your favorite relatives?
Do you remember any of the stories your grandparents used to tell you?
How did you and grandma/grandpa meet?
What was my mom/dad/parent like growing up?
Do you remember any songs that you used to sing to your children? Can you sing them now?
Were your grandparents well-behaved?
What is the worst thing your grandparents ever did?
What were your parents like?
What were your grandparents like?
Are you proud of me?
When did you first find out that you’d be a parent? How did you feel?
Did you always know you wanted to be a parent?
Can you describe the moment when you saw your child for the first time?
How has being a parent changed you?
What have you learned about yourself from being a parent?
What are your dreams for your children?
Do you remember when your last child left home for good?
Do you have any favorite stories about your kids?
Do you remember what was going through your head when you first saw me?
How did you choose my name?
What was I like as a baby? As a young child?
Do you remember any of the songs you used to sing to me? Can you sing them now?
What were my siblings like?
What were the hardest moments you had when I was growing up?
If you could do everything again, would you raise me differently?
What advice would you give me about raising my own kids?
What are your dreams for me?
How did you meet mom/dad?
How do you think we are alike? How do you think we are different?
When and where were you born?
What was it like?
Who were your parents?
How was your relationship with your parents?
Did you get into trouble? What was the worst thing you did?
Do you have any siblings? What were they like growing up?
What did you look like?
How would you describe yourself as a child? Were you happy?
What is one of your best memories of childhood? Worst?
Did you have a nickname? How’d you get it?
Who were your best friends? What were they like?
How would you describe a perfect day when you were young?
What did you think your life would be like when you were older?
Do you have any favorite stories from your childhood?
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Did you enjoy school?
What kind of student were you?
What would you do for fun?
How would your classmates remember you?
Are you still friends with anyone from that time in your life?
What are your best memories of grade school/high school/college/graduate school? Worst memories?
Was there a teacher or teachers who had a particularly strong influence on your life? Tell me about them.
Do you have any favorite stories from school?
When and why did you decide to become a teacher?
Tell me about your first day as a teacher.
How is teaching different from how you imagined it to be?
Tell me about a time when teaching made you feel hopeful.
What are the most challenging and/or funniest moments you’ve experienced in the classroom?
How would you like your students to remember you?
Was there a teacher or teachers who had a particularly strong influence on your life? What did you learn about teaching from them?
Looking back, what advice would you give to yourself in your first year of teaching?
Do you have a love of your life?
When did you first fall in love?
Can you tell me about your first kiss?
What was your first serious relationship?
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Do you ever think about previous lovers?
What lessons have you learned from your relationships?
Who were the “ones that got away” in your life?
What was the hardest break up you’ve ever experienced?
Do you remember the best date you ever went on?/Do you remember your first date?
How did you meet your spouse/partner?
How did you know they were “the one”?
How did you propose?
What were the best times? The most difficult times?
Did you ever think of getting divorced?
Did you ever get divorced? Can you tell me about it?
What advice do you have for young couples?
Do you have any favorite stories from your marriage or about your spouse/partner?
Describe the work that you do.
Tell me about how you got into your line of work.
Do you like your job?
What did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
What lessons has your work life taught you?
If you could do anything now, what would you do? Why?
Do you plan on retiring? If so, when? How do you feel about it?
Do you have any favorite stories from your work life?
Can you tell me about your religious beliefs/spiritual beliefs? What is your religion?
How did you come to your faith? From your family? From a particular experience or set of experiences?
How has your faith evolved over time?
Have you experienced any miracles?
What was the most profound spiritual moment of your life?
Do you believe in God?
How have you experienced God (or a Higher Power) in your life?
Do you believe in the after-life? What do you think it will be like?
When you meet God, what do you want to say?
Have there been moments that tested your faith? What were those challenges and how did they impact your faith?
Can you tell me about your illness?
Do you think about dying? Are you scared?
How do you imagine your death?
Do you believe in an after-life?
Do you regret anything?
Do you look at your life differently now than before you were diagnosed?
Do you have any last wishes?
If you were to give advice to me or others in our family, what would it be?
What have you learned from life? The most important things?
Has this illness changed you? What have you learned?
How do you want to be remembered?
Where are your parents’ families from?
Have you ever been there? What was that experience like?
What traditions have been passed down in your family?
Do you remember any of the stories they used to tell you?
What are the classic family stories? Jokes? Songs?
When were you drafted or when did you enlist?
What do you remember about the day you enlisted?
How did you tell your family and friends that you were joining the military? Are there any conversations that stand out from that time?
If you enlisted, what were some of the reasons that you joined the military? How did you choose your branch of service?
How did you imagine military life before you joined? How did your perceptions change after serving?
What was basic training like?
Can you describe a funny moment from your time in the military?
What are some of the things you remember about adapting to military life?
Where did you serve during the war?
If you deployed overseas, how did you tell your loved ones you were being deployed?
How did you stay in touch with family and friends back home?
What are some things you remember most about your deployment?
If you saw multiple deployments, how did they differ from each other? How did you change?
Can you describe how you felt coming home from combat?
Was there anything you especially missed about civilian life?
Is there someone you served with that you remember fondly? Can you tell me about them?
What are some fun things you and your friends did together while you were deployed?
Did any of your military friends play pranks on each other? Can you describe a funny one?
Did you ever get caught breaking any rules? Did you ever get away with something you weren’t supposed to do?
Did you ever learn something about a fellow service member that surprised you?
When did you leave the military? What was that process like?
What were your first few months out of the service like?
Was there anything or anyone that helped you during the transition from military to civilian life?
Do you have advice for others transitioning out of the military?
How do you think your time in the military affected you?
What did you learn about yourself?
What are some of your hopes for the future?
What phrase or word will never be the same now that you served?
When you were first discharged, what are some things about civilians that were difficult for you to deal with?
Is there anything you wish civilians understood about military service?
What are some habits you developed in the service that you like? What are some that you dislike?
What are some things you miss about being in the service? What are some you are glad to have left behind?
What has been difficult to communicate to family and friends about your military service?
Do you have advice for other military couples?
If you have children, what do you want them to know about your military service?
Remembering the Fallen: What was your relationship to _______?
Remembering the Fallen: Tell me about _______.
Remembering the Fallen: What did _______ look like?
Remembering the Fallen: What is one of your favorite memories of _______?
Remembering the Fallen: How did you find out about _______’s death?
Remembering the Fallen: What has helped you most in your grief?
Remembering the Fallen: Do you have any traditions to honor _______?
Remembering the Fallen: Do you have any funny stories about the two of you together?
What was your relationship to _____?
Tell me about _____.
What is your first memory of _____?
What is your best memory of _____?
What is your most vivid memory of _____?
What did _____ mean to you?
Are you comfortable/ can you talk about _____’s death? How did _____ die?
What has been the hardest thing about losing _____?
What would you ask _____ if _____ were here today?
What do you miss most about _____?
How do you think _____ would want to be remembered?
Can you talk about the biggest obstacles _____ overcame in life?
Was there anything you and _____ disagreed about, fought over, or experienced some conflict around?
What about _____ makes you smile?
What was your relationship like?
What did _____ look like?
Did you have any favorite jokes _____ used to tell?
Do you have any stories you want to share about _____?
What were _____’s hopes and dreams for the future?
Is there something about _____ that you think no one else knows?
How are you different now than you were before you lost _____?
What is the image of _____ that persists?
Do you have any traditions to honor _____?
What has helped you the most in your grief?
What are the hardest times?
Tell me about the first time you were aware that the criminal justice system existed.
Has your experience with the justice system changed you or your outlook? How?
How has the criminal justice system affected your life?
What do you wish others knew about the criminal justice system?
Can you describe how you were arrested?
How did your family and friends find out you were going to jail?
What was jail like? Can you describe what it looked, smelled and sounded like?
How did you communicate with people outside?
Do you remember how you felt at the time when you were convicted? How did it change you?
Tell me about the day you were released.
What do you wish someone had told you about re-entry?
What have been the happiest moments since you were released?
Do you feel free? Why or why not?
Tell me about what helped/helps you keep going?
If you could change one thing about the criminal justice system, what would it be?

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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Posted on Jun 30, 2023

How to Write a Biography: A 7-Step Guide [+Template]

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Dario Villirilli

Editor-in-Chief of the Reedsy blog, Dario is a graduate of Mälardalen University. As a freelance writer, he has written for many esteemed outlets aimed at writers. A traveler at heart, he can be found roaming the world and working from his laptop.

From time to time, nonfiction authors become so captivated by a particular figure from either the present or the past, that they feel compelled to write an entire book about their life. Whether casting them as heroes or villains, there is an interesting quality in their humanity that compels these authors to revisit their life paths and write their story.

However, portraying someone’s life on paper in a comprehensive and engaging way requires solid preparation. If you’re looking to write a biography yourself, in this post we’ll share a step-by-step blueprint that you can follow.

How to write a biography:

1. Seek permission when possible

2. research your subject thoroughly, 3. do interviews and visit locations, 4. organize your findings, 5. identify a central thesis, 6. write it using narrative elements, 7. get feedback and polish the text.

FREE RESOURCE

Biography Outline Template

Craft a satisfying story arc for your biography with our free template.

While you technically don’t need permission to write about public figures (or deceased ones), that doesn't guarantee their legal team won't pursue legal action against you. Author Kitty Kelley was sued by Frank Sinatra before she even started to write His Way , a biography that paints Ol Blue Eyes in a controversial light. (Kelley ended up winning the lawsuit, however).

Whenever feasible, advise the subject’s representatives of your intentions. If all goes according to plan, you’ll get a green light to proceed, or potentially an offer to collaborate. It's a matter of common sense; if someone were to write a book about you, you would likely want to know about it well prior to publication. So, make a sincere effort to reach out to their PR staff to negotiate an agreement or at least a mutual understanding of the scope of your project.

At the same time, make sure that you still retain editorial control over the project, and not end up writing a puff piece that treats its protagonist like a saint or hero. No biography can ever be entirely objective, but you should always strive for a portrayal that closely aligns with facts and reality.

If you can’t get an answer from your subject, or you’re asked not to proceed forward, you can still accept the potential repercussions and write an unauthorized biography . The “rebellious act” of publishing without consent indeed makes for great marketing, though it’ll likely bring more headaches with it too.

✋ Please note that, like other nonfiction books, if you intend to release your biography with a publishing house , you can put together a book proposal to send to them before you even write the book. If they like it enough, they might pay you an advance to write it.

Book Proposal Template

Craft a professional pitch for your nonfiction book with our handy template.

Once you’ve settled (or not) the permission part, it’s time to dive deep into your character’s story.

Deep and thorough research skills are the cornerstone of every biographer worth their salt. To paint a vivid and accurate portrait of someone's life, you’ll have to gather qualitative information from a wide range of reliable sources.

Start with the information already available, from books on your subject to archival documents, then collect new ones firsthand by interviewing people or traveling to locations.

Browse the web and library archives

Illustration of a biographer going into research mode.

Put your researcher hat on and start consuming any piece on your subject you can find, from their Wikipedia page to news articles, interviews, TV and radio appearances, YouTube videos, podcasts, books, magazines, and any other media outlets they may have been featured in.

Establish a system to orderly collect the information you find 一 even seemingly insignificant details can prove valuable during the writing process, so be sure to save them.

Depending on their era, you may find most of the information readily available online, or you may need to search through university libraries for older references.

For his landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow spent untold hours at Columbia University’s library , reading through the Hamilton family papers, visiting the New York Historical Society, as well as interviewing the archivist of the New York Stock Exchange, and so on. The research process took years, but it certainly paid off. Chernow discovered that Hamilton created the first five securities originally traded on Wall Street. This finding, among others, revealed his significant contributions to shaping the current American financial and political systems, a legacy previously often overshadowed by other founding fathers. Today Alexander Hamilton is one of the best-selling biographies of all time, and it has become a cultural phenomenon with its own dedicated musical.

Besides reading documents about your subject, research can help you understand the world that your subject lived in.

Try to understand their time and social environment

Many biographies show how their protagonists have had a profound impact on society through their philosophical, artistic, or scientific contributions. But at the same time, it’s worth it as a biographer to make an effort to understand how their societal and historical context influenced their life’s path and work.

An interesting example is Stephen Greenblatt’s Will in the World . Finding himself limited by a lack of verified detail surrounding William Shakespeare's personal life, Greenblatt, instead, employs literary interpretation and imaginative reenactments to transport readers back to the Elizabethan era. The result is a vivid (though speculative) depiction of the playwright's life, enriching our understanding of his world.

Painting of William Shakespeare in colors

Many readers enjoy biographies that transport them to a time and place, so exploring a historical period through the lens of a character can be entertaining in its own right. The Diary of Samuel Pepys became a classic not because people were enthralled by his life as an administrator, but rather from his meticulous and vivid documentation of everyday existence during the Restoration period.

Once you’ve gotten your hands on as many secondary sources as you can find, you’ll want to go hunting for stories first-hand from people who are (or were) close to your subject.

With all the material you’ve been through, by now you should already have a pretty good picture of your protagonist. But you’ll surely have some curiosities and missing dots in their character development to figure out, which you can only get by interviewing primary sources.

Interview friends and associates

This part is more relevant if your subject is contemporary, and you can actually meet up or call with relatives, friends, colleagues, business partners, neighbors, or any other person related to them.

In writing the popular biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson interviewed more than one hundred people, including Jobs’s family, colleagues, former college mates, business rivals, and the man himself.

🔍 Read other biographies to get a sense of what makes a great one. Check out our list of the 30 best biographies of all time , or take our 30-second quiz below for tips on which one you should read next.

Which biography should you read next?

Discover the perfect biography for you. Takes 30 seconds!

When you conduct your interviews, make sure to record them with high quality audio you can revisit later. Then use tools like Otter.ai or Descript to transcribe them 一 it’ll save you countless hours.

You can approach the interview with a specific set of questions, or follow your curiosity blindly, trying to uncover revealing stories and anecdotes about your subject. Whatever your method, author and biography editor Tom Bromley suggests that every interviewer arrives prepared, "Show that you’ve done your work. This will help to put the interviewee at ease, and get their best answers.”

Bromley also places emphasis on the order in which you conduct interviews. “You may want to interview different members of the family or friends first, to get their perspective on something, and then go directly to the main interviewee. You'll be able to use that knowledge to ask sharper, more specific questions.”

Finally, consider how much time you have with each interviewee. If you only have a 30-minute phone call with an important person, make it count by asking directly the most pressing questions you have. And, if you find a reliable source who is also particularly willing to help, conduct several interviews and ask them, if appropriate, to write a foreword as part of the book’s front matter .

Sometimes an important part of the process is packing your bags, getting on a plane, and personally visiting significant places in your character’s journey.

Visit significant places in their life

A place, whether that’s a city, a rural house, or a bodhi tree, can carry a particular energy that you can only truly experience by being there. In putting the pieces together about someone’s life, it may be useful to go visit where they grew up, or where other significant events of their lives happened. It will be easier to imagine what they experienced, and better tell their story.

In researching The Lost City of Z , author David Grann embarked on a trek through the Amazon, retracing the steps of British explorer Percy Fawcett. This led Grann to develop new theories about the circumstances surrounding the explorer's disappearance.

Still from the movie The Lost City of Z in which the explorer is surrounded by an Amazon native tribe

Hopefully, you won’t have to deal with jaguars and anacondas to better understand your subject’s environment, but try to walk into their shoes as much as possible.

Once you’ve researched your character enough, it’s time to put together all the puzzle pieces you collected so far.

Take the bulk of notes, media, and other documents you’ve collected, and start to give them some order and structure. A simple way to do this is by creating a timeline.

Create a chronological timeline

It helps to organize your notes chronologically 一 from childhood to the senior years, line up the most significant events of your subject’s life, including dates, places, names and other relevant bits.

You should be able to divide their life into distinct periods, each with their unique events and significance. Based on that, you can start drafting an outline of the narrative you want to create.

Draft a story outline

Since a biography entails writing about a person’s entire life, it will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. You can pick where you want to end the story, depending on how consequential the last years of your subject were. But the nature of the work will give you a starting character arc to work with.

To outline the story then, you could turn to the popular Three-Act Structure , which divides the narrative in three main parts. In a nutshell, you’ll want to make sure to have the following:

Act 1. Setup : Introduce the protagonist's background and the turning points that set them on a path to achieve a goal.
Act 2. Confrontation : Describe the challenges they encounter, both internal and external, and how they rise to them. Then..
Act 3. Resolution : Reach a climactic point in their story in which they succeed (or fail), showing how they (and the world around them) have changed as a result.

Only one question remains before you begin writing: what will be the main focus of your biography?

Think about why you’re so drawn to your subject to dedicate years of your life to recounting their own. What aspect of their life do you want to highlight? Is it their evil nature, artistic genius, or visionary mindset? And what evidence have you got to back that up? Find a central thesis or focus to weave as the main thread throughout your narrative.

Cover of Hitler and Stalin by Alan Bullock

Or find a unique angle

If you don’t have a particular theme to explore, finding a distinct angle on your subject’s story can also help you distinguish your work from other biographies or existing works on the same subject.

Plenty of biographies have been published about The Beatles 一 many of which have different focuses and approaches:

Philip Norman's Shout is sometimes regarded as leaning more towards a pro-Lennon and anti-McCartney stance, offering insights into the band's inner dynamics.
Ian McDonald's Revolution in the Head closely examines their music track by track, shifting the focus back to McCartney as a primary creative force.
Craig Brown's One Two Three Four aims to capture their story through anecdotes, fan letters, diary entries, and interviews.
Mark Lewisohn's monumental three-volume biography, Tune In , stands as a testament to over a decade of meticulous research, chronicling every intricate detail of the Beatles' journey.

Finally, consider that biographies are often more than recounting the life of a person. Similar to how Dickens’ Great Expectations is not solely about a boy named Pip (but an examination and critique of Britain’s fickle, unforgiving class system), a biography should strive to illuminate a broader truth — be it social, political, or human — beyond the immediate subject of the book.

Once you’ve identified your main focus or angle, it’s time to write a great story.

Illustration of a writer mixing storytelling ingredients

While biographies are often highly informative, they do not have to be dry and purely expository in nature . You can play with storytelling elements to make it an engaging read.

You could do that by thoroughly detailing the setting of the story , depicting the people involved in the story as fully-fledged characters , or using rising action and building to a climax when describing a particularly significant milestone of the subject’s life.

One common way to make a biography interesting to read is starting on a strong foot…

Hook the reader from the start

Just because you're honoring your character's whole life doesn't mean you have to begin when they said their first word. Starting from the middle or end of their life can be more captivating as it introduces conflicts and stakes that shaped their journey.

When he wrote about Christopher McCandless in Into the Wild , author Jon Krakauer didn’t open his subject’s childhood and abusive family environment. Instead, the book begins with McCandless hitchhiking his way into the wilderness, and subsequently being discovered dead in an abandoned bus. By starting in the middle of the action in medias res, Krakauer hooks the reader’s interest, before tracing back the causes and motivations that led McCandless to die alone in that bus in the first place.

Chris McCandless self-portrait in front of the now iconic bus

You can bend the timeline to improve the reader’s reading experience throughout the rest of the story too…

Play with flashback

While biographies tend to follow a chronological narrative, you can use flashbacks to tell brief stories or anecdotes when appropriate. For example, if you were telling the story of footballer Lionel Messi, before the climax of winning the World Cup with Argentina, you could recall when he was just 13 years old, giving an interview to a local newspaper, expressing his lifelong dream of playing for the national team.

Used sparsely and intentionally, flashbacks can add more context to the story and keep the narrative interesting. Just like including dialogue does…

Reimagine conversations

Recreating conversations that your subject had with people around them is another effective way to color the story. Dialogue helps the reader imagine the story like a movie, providing a deeper sensory experience.

One thing is trying to articulate the root of Steve Jobs’ obsession with product design, another would be to quote his father , teaching him how to build a fence when he was young: “You've got to make the back of the fence just as good looking as the front of the fence. Even though nobody will see it, you will know. And that will show that you're dedicated to making something perfect.”

Unlike memoirs and autobiographies, in which the author tells the story from their personal viewpoint and enjoys greater freedom to recall conversations, biographies require a commitment to facts. So, when recreating dialogue, try to quote directly from reliable sources like personal diaries, emails, and text messages. You could also use your interview scripts as an alternative to dialogue. As Tom Bromley suggests, “If you talk with a good amount of people, you can try to tell the story from their perspective, interweaving different segments and quoting the interviewees directly.”

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How to Write Believable Dialogue

Master the art of dialogue in 10 five-minute lessons.

These are just some of the story elements you can use to make your biography more compelling. Once you’ve finished your manuscript, it’s a good idea to ask for feedback.

If you’re going to publish your own biography, you’ll have to polish it to professional standards. After leaving your work to rest for a while, look at it with fresh eyes and edit your own manuscript eliminating passive voice, filler words, and redundant adverbs.

Illustration of an editor reviewing a manuscript

Then, have a professional editor give you a general assessment. They’ll look at the structure and shape of your manuscript and tell you which parts need to be expanded on or cut. As someone who edited and commissioned several biographies, Tom Bromley points out that a professional “will look at the sources used and assess whether they back up the points made, or if more are needed. They would also look for context, and whether or not more background information is needed for the reader to understand the story fully. And they might check your facts, too.”

In addition to structural editing, you may want to have someone copy-edit and proofread your work.

MEET EDITORS

Polish your book with expert help

Importantly, make sure to include a bibliography with a list of all the interviews, documents, and sources used in the writing process. You’ll have to compile it according to a manual of style, but you can easily create one by using tools like EasyBib . Once the text is nicely polished and typeset in your writing applications , you can prepare for the publication process.

In conclusion, by mixing storytelling elements with diligent research, you’ll be able to breathe life into a powerful biography that immerses readers in another individual’s life experience. Whether that’ll spark inspiration or controversy, remember you could have an important role in shaping their legacy 一 and that’s something not to take lightly.

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How to Write a Biography

Biographies are big business. Whether in book form or Hollywood biopics, the lives of the famous and sometimes not-so-famous fascinate us.

While it’s true that most biographies are about people who are in the public eye, sometimes the subject is less well-known. Primarily, though, famous or not, the person who is written about has led an incredible life.

In this article, we will explain biography writing in detail for teachers and students so they can create their own.

While your students will most likely have a basic understanding of a biography, it’s worth taking a little time before they put pen to paper to tease out a crystal-clear definition of one.

What Is a Biography?

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A biography is an account of someone’s life written by someone else . While there is a genre known as a fictional biography, for the most part, biographies are, by definition, nonfiction.

Generally speaking, biographies provide an account of the subject’s life from the earliest days of childhood to the present day or, if the subject is deceased, their death.

The job of a biography is more than just to outline the bare facts of a person’s life.

Rather than just listing the basic details of their upbringing, hobbies, education, work, relationships, and death, a well-written biography should also paint a picture of the subject’s personality and experience of life.

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Full Biographies

Teaching unit.

Teach your students everything they need to know about writing an AUTOBIOGRAPHY and a BIOGRAPHY.

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Features of a Biography

Before students begin writing a biography, they’ll need to have a firm grasp of the main features of a Biography. An excellent way to determine how well they understand these essential elements is to ask them to compile a checklist like the one-blow

Their checklists should contain the items below at a minimum. Be sure to help them fill in any gaps before moving on to the writing process.

The purpose of a biography is to provide an account of someone’s life.

Biography structure.

ORIENTATION (BEGINNING) Open your biography with a strong hook to grab the reader’s attention

SEQUENCING: In most cases, biographies are written in chronological order unless you are a very competent writer consciously trying to break from this trend.

COVER: childhood, upbringing, education, influences, accomplishments, relationships, etc. – everything that helps the reader to understand the person.

CONCLUSION: Wrap your biography up with some details about what the subject is doing now if they are still alive. If they have passed away, make mention of what impact they have made and what their legacy is or will be.

BIOGRAPHY FEATURES

LANGUAGE Use descriptive and figurative language that will paint images inside your audience’s minds as they read. Use time connectives to link events.

PERSPECTIVE Biographies are written from the third person’s perspective.

DETAILS: Give specific details about people, places, events, times, dates, etc. Reflect on how events shaped the subject. You might want to include some relevant photographs with captions. A timeline may also be of use depending upon your subject and what you are trying to convey to your audience.

TENSE Written in the past tense (though ending may shift to the present/future tense)

THE PROCESS OF WRITING A BIOGRAPHY

Like any form of writing, you will find it simple if you have a plan and follow it through. These steps will ensure you cover the essential bases of writing a biography essay.

Firstly, select a subject that inspires you. Someone whose life story resonates with you and whose contribution to society intrigues you. The next step is to conduct thorough research. Engage in extensive reading, explore various sources, watch documentaries, and glean all available information to provide a comprehensive account of the person’s life.

Creating an outline is essential to organize your thoughts and information. The outline should include the person’s early life, education, career, achievements, and any other significant events or contributions. It serves as a map for the writing process, ensuring that all vital information is included.

Your biography should have an engaging introduction that captivates the reader’s attention and provides background information on the person you’re writing about. It should include a thesis statement summarising the biography’s main points.

Writing a biography in chronological order is crucial . You should begin with the person’s early life and move through their career and achievements. This approach clarifies how the person’s life unfolded and how they accomplished their goals.

A biography should be written in a narrative style , capturing the essence of the person’s life through vivid descriptions, anecdotes, and quotes. Avoid dry, factual writing and focus on creating a compelling narrative that engages the reader.

Adding personal insights and opinions can enhance the biography’s overall impact, providing a unique perspective on the person’s achievements, legacy, and impact on society.

Editing and proofreading are vital elements of the writing process. Thoroughly reviewing your biography ensures that the writing is clear, concise, and error-free. You can even request feedback from someone else to ensure that it is engaging and well-written.

Finally, including a bibliography at the end of your biography is essential. It gives credit to the sources that were used during research, such as books, articles, interviews, and websites.

Tips for Writing a Brilliant Biography

Biography writing tip #1: choose your subject wisely.

There are several points for students to reflect on when deciding on a subject for their biography. Let’s take a look at the most essential points to consider when deciding on the subject for a biography:

Interest: To produce a biography will require sustained writing from the student. That’s why students must choose their subject well. After all, a biography is an account of someone’s entire life to date. Students must ensure they choose a subject that will sustain their interest throughout the research, writing, and editing processes.

Merit: Closely related to the previous point, students must consider whether the subject merits the reader’s interest. Aside from pure labors of love, writing should be undertaken with the reader in mind. While producing a biography demands sustained writing from the author, it also demands sustained reading from the reader.

Therefore, students should ask themselves if their chosen subject has had a life worthy of the reader’s interest and the time they’d need to invest in reading their biography.

Information: Is there enough information available on the subject to fuel the writing of an entire biography? While it might be a tempting idea to write about a great-great-grandfather’s experience in the war. There would be enough interest there to sustain the author’s and the reader’s interest, but do you have enough access to information about their early childhood to do the subject justice in the form of a biography?

Biography Writing Tip #2: R esearch ! Research! Research!

While the chances are good that the student already knows quite a bit about the subject they’ve chosen. Chances are 100% that they’ll still need to undertake considerable research to write their biography.

As with many types of writing , research is an essential part of the planning process that shouldn’t be overlooked. If students wish to give as complete an account of their subject’s life as possible, they’ll need to put in the time at the research stage.

An effective way to approach the research process is to:

1. Compile a chronological timeline of the central facts, dates, and events of the subject’s life

2. Compile detailed descriptions of the following personal traits:

Physical looks
Character traits
Values and beliefs

3. Compile some research questions based on different topics to provide a focus for the research:

Childhood : Where and when were they born? Who were their parents? Who were the other family members? What education did they receive?
Obstacles: What challenges did they have to overcome? How did these challenges shape them as individuals?
Legacy: What impact did this person have on the world and/or the people around them?
Dialogue & Quotes: Dialogue and quotations by and about the subject are a great way to bring color and life to a biography. Students should keep an eagle eye out for the gems that hide amid their sources.

As the student gets deeper into their research, new questions will arise that can further fuel the research process and help to shape the direction the biography will ultimately go in.

Likewise, during the research, themes will often begin to suggest themselves. Exploring these themes is essential to bring depth to biography, but we’ll discuss this later in this article.

Research Skills:

Researching for biography writing is an excellent way for students to hone their research skills in general. Developing good research skills is essential for future academic success. Students will have opportunities to learn how to:

Gather relevant information
Evaluate different information sources
Select suitable information
Organize information into a text.

Students will have access to print and online information sources, and, in some cases, they may also have access to people who knew or know the subject (e.g. biography of a family member).

These days, much of the research will likely take place online. It’s crucial, therefore, to provide your students with guidance on how to use the internet safely and evaluate online sources for reliability. This is the era of ‘ fake news ’ and misinformation after all!

COMPLETE TEACHING UNIT ON INTERNET RESEARCH SKILLS USING GOOGLE SEARCH

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Teach your students ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF THE INFORMATION ERA to become expert DIGITAL RESEARCHERS.

⭐How to correctly ask questions to search engines on all devices.

⭐ How to filter and refine your results to find exactly what you want every time.

⭐ Essential Research and critical thinking skills for students.

⭐ Plagiarism, Citing and acknowledging other people’s work.

⭐ How to query, synthesize and record your findings logically.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip #3: Find Your Themes In Biography Writing

Though predominantly a nonfiction genre, the story still plays a significant role in good biography writing. The skills of characterization and plot structuring are transferable here. And, just like in fiction, exploring themes in a biographical work helps connect the personal to the universal. Of course, these shouldn’t be forced; this will make the work seem contrived, and the reader may lose faith in the truthfulness of the account. A biographer needs to gain and maintain the trust of the reader.

Fortunately, themes shouldn’t need to be forced. A life well-lived is full of meaning, and the themes the student writer is looking for will emerge effortlessly from the actions and events of the subject’s life. It’s just a case of learning how to spot them.

One way to identify the themes in a life is to look for recurring events or situations in a person’s life. These should be apparent from the research completed previously. The students should seek to identify these patterns that emerge in the subject’s life. For example, perhaps they’ve had to overcome various obstacles throughout different periods of their life. In that case, the theme of overcoming adversity is present and has been identified.

Usually, a biography has several themes running throughout, so be sure your students work to identify more than one theme in their subject’s life.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip: #4 Put Something of Yourself into the Writing

While the defining feature of a biography is that it gives an account of a person’s life, students must understand that this is not all a biography does. Relating the facts and details of a subject’s life is not enough. The student biographer should not be afraid to share their thoughts and feelings with the reader throughout their account of their subject’s life.

The student can weave some of their personality into the fabric of the text by providing commentary and opinion as they relate the events of the person’s life and the wider social context at the time. Unlike the detached and objective approach we’d expect to find in a history textbook, in a biography, student-writers should communicate their enthusiasm for their subject in their writing.

This makes for a more intimate experience for the reader, as they get a sense of getting to know the author and the subject they are writing about.

Biography Examples For Students

Year 5 Example
Year 7 Example
Year 9 Example

“The Rock ‘n’ Roll King: Elvis Presley”

Elvis Aaron Presley, born on January 8, 1935, was an amazing singer and actor known as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Even though he’s been dead for nearly 50 years, I can’t help but be fascinated by his incredible life!

Elvis grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a tiny house with his parents and twin brother. His family didn’t have much money, but they shared a love for music. Little did they know Elvis would become a music legend!

When he was only 11 years old, Elvis got his first guitar. He taught himself to play and loved singing gospel songs. As he got older, he started combining different music styles like country, blues, and gospel to create a whole new sound – that’s Rock ‘n’ Roll!

In 1954, at the age of 19, Elvis recorded his first song, “That’s All Right.” People couldn’t believe how unique and exciting his music was. His famous hip-swinging dance moves also made him a sensation!

Elvis didn’t just rock the music scene; he also starred in movies like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock.” But fame came with challenges. Despite facing ups and downs, Elvis kept spreading happiness through his music.

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Tragically, Elvis passed away in 1977, but his music and charisma live on. Even today, people worldwide still enjoy his songs like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Elvis Presley’s legacy as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll will live forever.

Long Live the King: I wish I’d seen him.

Elvis Presley, the Rock ‘n’ Roll legend born on January 8, 1935, is a captivating figure that even a modern-day teen like me can’t help but admire. As I delve into his life, I wish I could have experienced the magic of his live performances.

Growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis faced challenges but found solace in music. At 11, he got his first guitar, a symbol of his journey into the world of sound. His fusion of gospel, country, and blues into Rock ‘n’ Roll became a cultural phenomenon.

The thought of being in the audience during his early performances, especially when he recorded “That’s All Right” at 19, sends shivers down my spine. Imagining the crowd’s uproar and feeling the revolutionary energy of that moment is a dream I wish I could have lived.

Elvis wasn’t just a musical prodigy; he was a dynamic performer. His dance moves, the embodiment of rebellion, and his roles in films like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock” made him a true icon.

After watching him on YouTube, I can’t help but feel a little sad that I’ll never witness the King’s live performances. The idea of swaying to “Hound Dog” or being enchanted by “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in person is a missed opportunity. Elvis may have left us in 1977, but he was the king of rock n’ roll. Long live the King!

Elvis Presley: A Teen’s Take on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Icon”

Elvis Presley, born January 8, 1935, was a revolutionary force in the music world, earning his title as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Exploring his life, even as a 16-year-old today, I’m captivated by the impact he made.

Hailing from Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis grew up in humble beginnings, surrounded by the love of his parents and twin brother. It’s inspiring to think that, despite financial challenges, this young man would redefine the music scene.

At 11, Elvis got his first guitar, sparking a self-taught journey into music. His early gospel influences evolved into a unique fusion of country, blues, and gospel, creating the electrifying genre of Rock ‘n’ Roll. In 1954, at only 19, he recorded “That’s All Right,” marking the birth of a musical legend.

Elvis wasn’t just a musical innovator; he was a cultural phenomenon. His rebellious dance moves and magnetic stage presence challenged the norms. He transitioned seamlessly into acting, starring in iconic films like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock.”

how to write a biography | Elvis Presley promoting Jailhouse Rock | How to Write a Biography | literacyideas.com

However, fame came at a cost, and Elvis faced personal struggles. Despite the challenges, his music continued to resonate. Even now, classics like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” transcend generations.

Elvis Presley’s impact on music and culture is undeniable. He was known for his unique voice, charismatic persona, and electrifying performances. He sold over one billion records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling solo artists in history. He received numerous awards throughout his career, including three Grammy Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Elvis’s influence can still be seen in today’s music. Many contemporary artists, such as Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and Justin Timberlake, have cited Elvis as an inspiration. His music continues to be featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials.

Elvis left us in 1977, but his legacy lives on. I appreciate his breaking barriers and fearlessly embracing his artistic vision. Elvis Presley’s impact on music and culture is timeless, a testament to the enduring power of his artistry. His music has inspired generations and will continue to do so for many years to come.

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Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING TEACHING IDEAS AND LESSONS

We have compiled a sequence of biography-related lessons or teaching ideas that you can follow as you please. They are straightforward enough for most students to follow without further instruction.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 1:

This session aims to give students a broader understanding of what makes a good biography.

Once your students have compiled a comprehensive checklist of the main features of a biography, allow them to use it to assess some biographies from your school library or on the internet using the feature checklist.

When students have assessed a selection of biographies, take some time as a class to discuss them. You can base the discussion around the following prompts:

Which biographies covered all the criteria from their checklist?
Which biographies didn’t?
Which biography was the most readable in terms of structure?
Which biography do you think was the least well-structured? How would you improve this?

Looking at how other writers have interpreted the form will help students internalize the necessary criteria before attempting to produce a biography. Once students have a clear understanding of the main features of the biography, they’re ready to begin work on writing a biography.

When the time does come to put pen to paper, be sure they’re armed with the following top tips to help ensure they’re as well prepared as possible.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 2:

This session aims to guide students through the process of selecting the perfect biography subject.

Instruct students to draw up a shortlist of three potential subjects for the biography they’ll write.

Using the three criteria mentioned in the writing guide (Interest, Merit, and Information), students award each potential subject a mark out of 5 for each of the criteria. In this manner, students can select the most suitable subject for their biography.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 3:

This session aims to get students into the researching phase, then prioritise and organise events chronologically.

Students begin by making a timeline of their subject’s life, starting with their birth and ending with their death or the present day. If the student has yet to make a final decision on the subject of their biography, a family member will often serve well for this exercise as a practice exercise.

Students should research and gather the key events of the person’s life, covering each period of their life from when they were a baby, through childhood and adolescence, right up to adulthood and old age. They should then organize these onto a timeline. Students can include photographs with captions if they have them.

They can present these to the class when they have finished their timelines.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 4:

Instruct students to look over their timeline, notes, and other research. Challenge them to identify three patterns that repeat throughout the subject’s life and sort all the related events and incidents into specific categories.

Students should then label each category with a single word. This is the thematic concept or the broad general underlying idea. After that, students should write a sentence or two expressing what the subject’s life ‘says’ about that concept.

This is known as the thematic statement . With the thematic concepts and thematic statements identified, the student now has some substantial ideas to explore that will help bring more profound meaning and wider resonance to their biography.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 5:

Instruct students to write a short objective account of an event in their own life. They can write about anyone from their past. It needn’t be more than a couple of paragraphs, but the writing should be strictly factual, focusing only on the objective details of what happened.

Once they have completed this, it’s time to rewrite the paragraph, but they should include some opinion and personal commentary this time.

The student here aims to inject some color and personality into their writing, to transform a detached, factual account into a warm, engaging story.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING BIOGRAPHIES

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Teach your students to write AMAZING BIOGRAPHIES & AUTOBIOGRAPHIES using proven RESEARCH SKILLS and WRITING STRATEGIES .

Understand the purpose of both forms of biography.
Explore the language and perspective of both.
Prompts and Challenges to engage students in writing a biography.
Dedicated lessons for both forms of biography.
Biographical Projects can expand students’ understanding of reading and writing a biography.
A COMPLETE 82-PAGE UNIT – NO PREPARATION REQUIRED.

FREE Biography Writing Graphic Organizer

Use this valuable tool in the research and writing phases to keep your students on track and engaged.

WRITING CHECKLIST & RUBRIC BUNDLE

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To Conclude

By this stage, your students should have an excellent technical overview of a biography’s essential elements.

They should be able to choose their subject in light of how interesting and worthy they are, as well as give consideration to the availability of information out there. They should be able to research effectively and identify emerging themes in their research notes. And finally, they should be able to bring some of their personality and uniqueness into their retelling of the life of another.

Remember that writing a biography is not only a great way to develop a student’s writing skills; it can be used in almost all curriculum areas. For example, to find out more about a historical figure in History, to investigate scientific contributions to Science, or to celebrate a hero from everyday life.

Biography is an excellent genre for students to develop their writing skills and to find inspiration in the lives of others in the world around them.

HOW TO WRITE A BIOGRAPHY TUTORIAL VIDEO

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How to write an Autobiography

How to Write a Historical Recount Text

15 Awesome Recount & Personal Narrative Topics

Personal Narrative Writing Guide

Explore our Teaching Unit on BIOGRAPHY WRITING

How to Use FamilySearch
What's New at FamilySearch
Temple and Family History
Easy Activities
Why Family History Matters
Genealogy Records
Research Tips
Websites, Apps, and Tools
RootsTech Blog
Preserve Photos and Documents
Record Your Story

#52Stories: Writing Your Life Story Has Never Been Easier

A grandfather cheerfully reading to his smiling grandchildren

Few people would argue the value of creating a story about a life lived. In fact, it’s really quite a noble idea to create a story of your life for your descendant. From it, they will likely learn something valuable and endearing from the things you experienced and will get to know you as an individual.

Many people believe that it takes a lot of time and work to write their life story and feel that the task is just too big. Because of that, they never start. But sharing memories of your life does not have to be a big, involved effort. Imagine how much easier the task of writing about your life might be if you were to focus on writing about just one topic each week. It doesn’t matter if you write a few paragraphs, a single page, or several pages. The important thing is that you write something. Anything is better than nothing at all.

Now imagine if someone provided you with one question to write about each week for 52 weeks. At the end of just one year you will have created your own life story to share with your children and your future posterity. You will never be forgotten because your own life story will bear witness to your existence. Add some pictures, and you can make it even more inviting to read.

Below are 52 questions. Each week for one year, take one question and write as much or as little as you want. Don’t worry about how much you write for each question, but do write something. Questions do not need to be answered in any special order.

When you are done, go to FamilySearch.org , and add your stories to your family tree. By adding your stories to your own branch of your family tree, you are assured that your life story will be safe and secure for future generations. Your great-grandchildren will be able to read them and enjoy learning about your life and getting to know who you are. Future generations will be glad that you took the time to write something about your life and that you left them with such a valuable legacy.

What is your full name? Explain why your parents gave you that name.
When and where were you born? Describe your home, your neighborhood, and the town you grew up in.
What memories do you have of your father (his name, birth date, birthplace, parents, and so on)?
What memories do you have of your mother (her name, birth date, birthplace, parents, and so on)?
What kind of work did your parents do (farmer, salesman, manager, seamstress, nurse, stay-at-home mom, professional, laborer, and so on)?
Have any of your family members died? If so, explain what they died from and what you remember of their death; the circumstances of their death.
What kind of hardships or tragedies did your family experience while you were growing up?
Are there any obvious or unusual genetic traits that run in your family line?
What are the names of your brothers and sisters? Describe things that stand out in your mind about each of your siblings.
What were some of your family traditions that you remember?
Did your family have special ways of celebrating specific holidays?
Share some memories of your grandparents.
Did your grandparents live close by? If so, describe how they were involved in your life. If they lived far away share some memories of visiting them or of them traveling to visit you.
Who were your aunts and uncles? Write about any of your aunts or uncles who really stand out in your mind. Give some details about them (names, personalities, events that you remember doing with them, and so on).
Where did you go to school? Give some details about what was school like for you and some of your memorable experiences.
What were your favorite subjects in school? Explain why.
What subjects did you like the least? Explain why.
Who were some of your friends in school? Explain what your friends were like and what they are doing today if you know that.
If you went to college or a vocational school, what school did you attend? Describe what memories you have of those years and what subjects you studied.
What do you see as your greatest strengths?
What were some of the challenges you have had to deal with in your life?
What medical issues have you had to deal with throughout your life?
Was religion an important for you and your family? If so, explain what religion your family practiced and what it meant to you. Explain if it is or is not an important part of your life today.
What foods do you like and dislike? Describe any food allergies you or other family members had.
Were there two or three food dishes your mother or father made that were especially memorable?
How did you meet your spouse?
What was your courtship like? Describe your marriage day.
Share some stories about your spouse.
How many children do you have? List their names and share a few memories about each one.
Describe some of the major community, national, and world events you lived through. How did these events change your life?
What are some of your life philosophies or life views that you would share with others?
What are some of the personal values that are very important to you? Share some examples of what have you done and what are you doing now to teach these values to your children, grandchildren and others.
List at least five people who have had a memorable influence on your life. What did they do that had such an influence on you?
What are 20 things about yourself that make you uniquely you?
What are 50 things that you are grateful for?
What is your philosophy on money?
If you could spend a day with any famous person in the world, who would it be, and what would you do during your day with him or her?
What scares you?
What makes you stop and go “Wow!”?
What are some of the things you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
If you could go back in time and spend an hour visiting with yourself at age 15, what would you tell your younger self?
What are some of your talents? Explain how you discovered them and what you have done to cultivate and improve them. Describe how your talents have they affected your life.
What did you do for a career? Explain how you chose that career.
What were some of the jobs you had throughout your life? Explain some of the memorable experiences you had with these jobs.
What are 5 significant events or experiences in your life, and explain what effects they have had on you.
What are some of the life lessons that you have learned and would like to pass on to your descendants?
In how many places have you lived during your lifetime? Provide a brief description of each place you’ve lived, why you lived there, and why you moved.
If someone gave you $10,000 and told you that you could NOT give it to any of your friends, family members or use it for yourself, what would you do with it?
If you could go back in time and do things over again, what would you change?
When all is said and done, what do you want to be remembered for? Explain what you are doing now to create a legacy worthy of remembering.
If you were to leave 5 different bits of advice for your future posterity, what would they be?
Have you traveled to any place outside of your home country? If so, explain the reasons for your trip(s) and what memorable things happened on some of those trips.

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If a newspaper wanted to do a story about you, what would the story be about?
What were some of the popular fads you experienced during your life?
How did you spend your summers?
What were some of your more memorable vacations?
Did you ever have pets? If so, tell us about them.
List 20 things you think the world would be better off without.

Answer one question per week as part of the #52stories project from FamilySearch.

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50 Interview Biography Questions With Example Bios
In this article, we define what a biography is, show why a biography is important, list 50 interview biography questions and provide examples of professional biographies. Read more: Key Elements of an Online Biography (With Examples) Related jobs on Indeed. Biologists jobs. Part-time jobs. Full-time jobs.
Best questions for biography
Writing a biography is an incredible way to preserve someone's life story and share their experiences with the world. Whether you are writing a biography for a loved one, a historical figure, or a notable personality, having a list of well-thought-out questions is essential to gather all the necessary information.
40 Biography Questions to Ask When Writing Biography Reports
The biography questions listed here are designed to uncover the personal and human side of these figures, providing insights into their daily lives, relationships, and personal philosophies. Students can gain a broader perspective, going beyond the standard facts and dates to truly connect with these individuals on a more personal level. ...
Types of questions to ask in a biographical interview
RETURN TO TOP. There's open and closed-ended questions, then there's specific types of questions, such as the funnel approach, statements, rhetorical, narrative, explanatory and verification questions. Find out how and when to use each in a biographical interview.
[PDF Download] 65 Memory Prompts: How to Write Your Biography, Life
7. What did an ordinary day in your life look like? 8. Name a big success story for you during this time. 9. Did you travel? What was your most memorable vacation? Hopefully writing your biography just got a little easier and these prompts have got your brains in gear, recalling all sorts of different memories from your childhood all the way ...
Writing a Bio: My 20 Favorite Questions to Ask
Here are my favorite questions to ask when writing a bio. Note: these don't include the usual slew, like general career experience and education. 1. Who is someone you admire, and why? 2. Tell me three pet peeves. 3. What's a typical day like for you? 4. Do you have any skills or talents that most people don't know about? 5.
Best autobiography questions
Whether you're writing for personal reasons or planning to publish your autobiography, asking yourself the right questions can help you delve deep into your memories and uncover meaningful insights. In this article, we will explore a comprehensive list of autobiography questions that can guide you in the process of writing your life story.
How to ask questions in a biographical interview
Keep it simple. As well as starting with easier questions, keep the conversation simple by asking only one question at a time: avoid double-barrelled questions. Asking more than one question at a time may result in the interviewee choosing to only answer one part, either intentionally or simply because they forgot and if they forget, it means ...
professional bio interview questions
How to write a professional bio. Your name. Your current role or professional tagline. Your company or personal brand. Your goals and aspirations. Your 2-3 most impressive and relevant achievements. One interesting fact about you, if applicable to the website. In this packet, there are 95 good interview questions designed to spark forgotten ...
Interviewing for biography: interrogation, conversation, and the in
Interviewing for biography takes inspiration from the scientific approach of academia, the tenacity of journalism and the transparency of oral history. In 'Life Story Interview', Atkinson said, ... In a semi-structured interview, you might have a list of questions, but when appropriate you might choose to ask unplanned questions to explore ...
PDF Life Interview Questions
What was your first car like? What was your graduation from high school like? What dreams and goals did you have for your life when you graduated? Life Interview Questions - Adulthood, Identity. Life Events - Adulthood. Did you go to university or college?
How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps (The Non-Boring Way!)
Conduct relevant interviews. Whenever possible, seek firsthand accounts from those who knew or interacted with the subject. Conduct interviews with family members, friends, colleagues, or experts in the field. Their insights and anecdotes can provide a deeper understanding of the person's character and experiences.
351 Life Story Questions to Ask People (Storytelling)
These 351 writing prompts and questions are part of a 28 article, 108 category series entitled " 7,500-plus Questions About Life to Ask People When Writing Narratives.". I have divided the writing prompts and questions to ask others into the following categories. Click on the category to be taken to the questions.
How to Write a Biography: Who Tells Your Story
Your job is to know which questions to ask. Your job is to probe. Remember: a biography isn't just about telling a story, but about finding the fresh story buried somewhere under the surface. ... If a biography were simply a list of events, it would be too dull to read. The art is in finding the balance between the factual story you have to ...
100 Family History Interview Questions + Free Printable
Below, we've put together a list of 100 family history interview questions to bring along to your next gathering. We've also included printables of these interview questions for the sake of convenience. One is in the form of a fillable questionnaire and the other version is a simple list of the questions. You can choose to use all 100 ...
How to Write a Biography: 6 Tips for Writing Biographical Texts
See why leading organizations rely on MasterClass for learning & development. Biographies are how we learn information about another human being's life. Whether you want to start writing a biography about a famous person, historical figure, or an influential family member, it's important to know all the elements that make a biography worth ...
50 Family History Questions to Ask Your Relatives
A great way to uncover clues to your family history or to get great quotes for journaling in a heritage scrapbook is a family interview. By asking the right family history questions, you're sure to collect a wealth of family tales. Use this list of open-ended questions to help you get started, but be sure to personalize the interview with your own questions as well.
Great Questions
After 20 years of listening, we know what makes a good conversation: Start by asking Great Questions. Here are some of our suggestions for getting a good conversation going. We encourage you to use the ones you like and to come up with your own. This list is in no particular order. Choose one of the categories below, or scroll through and read ...
How to Write a Biography: A 7-Step Guide [+Template]
If you're looking to write a biography yourself, in this post we'll share a step-by-step blueprint that you can follow. How to write a biography: 1. Seek permission when possible. 2. Research your subject thoroughly. 3. Do interviews and visit locations. 4.
How to Write a Biography: 8 Steps for a Captivating Story
However, for most published works, biographies offer a deeper analysis, including many stories and examples that demonstrate the person's unique character. 1. Choose your subject. Ideally, your subject should be someone whose life deeply interests you. Note, however, that this doesn't mean you have to like the person.
How to Write a Biography
A biography is an account of someone's life written by someone else.While there is a genre known as a fictional biography, for the most part, biographies are, by definition, nonfiction. Generally speaking, biographies provide an account of the subject's life from the earliest days of childhood to the present day or, if the subject is deceased, their death.
#52Stories: Writing Your Life Story Has Never Been Easier
Now imagine if someone provided you with one question to write about each week for 52 weeks. At the end of just one year you will have created your own life story to share with your children and your future posterity. You will never be forgotten because your own life story will bear witness to your existence. Add some pictures, and you can make ...
PDF These questions may be useful in developing your information about the
These questions may be useful in developing your information about the mathematician. They were selected from two websites: Some Biography Interview Questions

40 Biography Questions that Kids Can Ask When Writing Biography Reports

Personal Information and Background: A Starting Point for Biography Questions

Achievements and Contributions: Unveiling the Impact and Legacy of Biographical Subjects

Life Events and Experiences: Delving into the Personal Journey

Influences and Inspirations: Why Did the Person Make the Choices They Made?

Legacy and Impact: Probing the Footprints Left Behind

More Biography Resources

The Biography Collection

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[PDF Download] 65 Memory Prompts: How to Write Your Biography, Life Story or Memoir

How to Write Your Biography: Childhood

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How to Write Your Biography: Adulthood

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Writing a Bio: My 20 Favorite Questions to Ask

Joanna Furlong

Best autobiography questions

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professional bio interview questions

Bio Interview Questions and Answers 2019 Part-1 | Bio Interview Questions | WisdomJobs

Biography Interview Questions: What Is Special about Them?

The Professional Biography Interview Questions

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How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps Using Key Elements

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