how to write or improve upon a biography

i’m always surprised by just how many bad biographies are out there. part of me knows that this is because of how difficult a process it is – probing, uncomfortable for many and based on honesty and objectivity. when you’re presenting a biography, you don’t want to choose other forms of writing as your model – ie. a resume, timeline, profile, or letter. you want to create something resembling a chapter in a play. you want to take the reader to a specific moment in time and describe in meaningful language what is going on there. a biography is an important publicity tool, so i’m offering seven valuable tips that you can’t overlook when pursuing one for your print or online kits. if you find yourself lost during this, please call me at 202 494 4326 (i can help for $225 to $450) or get started with me.

here’s how to write or improve upon a biography…

1. list your objectives
just like any exercise, you want to think clearly and list 3-5 business reasons for produccing the biography. an example list might include: a) raise my profile in a specific circle, b) sell more products, c) streamline the process of getting publicity.

2. collect past coverage and efforts
make sure you collect all past publicity and biographies, no matter where they are from or who wrote them, you’re looking for common themes and opportunities missed. takle note of those who have covered the subject in the past.

3. establish a model and tone
find examples of biographies that you like, or media outlets where you generally enjoy the coverage. hone in on the specific tone you prefer from the writer(s). this last bit is important, because the way the story is crafted will determine whether it grabs or loses the reader. each audience is different, so you need to establish a tone and language that is both familiar and desirable for the place(s) where the biography will be featured.

4. talk to other people who know the subject
this one is lost on many writers or self-produced efforts. i’m not saying that the federal government is the ultimate model here, but when they want to investigate your credibility (like during the process of obtaining a level of clearance), they don’t just go on what you say is true and interesting. they talk to people you know (and often times without telling you who they’re going to contact and when). make sure you encircle the subject and talk to other people he or she knows for their impressions and memories. do this before you interview the subject. the reason why is that often the subject will often be skewed and limiting per what the angle of the story should be. people on the outside looking in are always more valuable than what the subject thinks. sorry, but it’s true!

5. interview the subject
of course, this is the task that will take the most time and thought. you need to pick the questions that will help produce the details you need for the story. either you can envision the framework of the story as you begin the interview, or you let the questions dictate where the story can go. a good starting point is to ask the subject about moments that he or she will never forget, the motivations behind what he or she does or people who had a profound influence on him or her. make sure to probe for failures and embarrassing moments especially (not matter uncomfortable it may make the subject), explaining that it is through these moments when perhaps the greatest lessons are learned – and where the most interesting aspects of one’s character are formed.

6. bring to life with images
don’t just rely on words when delivering your biography. make sure that you bring in various images from the subject’s history that are telling, or organize a photoshoot to capture images from the moment. a decision i recently made along these lines (though it wasn’t for a biography) was to present an image of me as a young child with my first record player for my facebook profile. the reasons for this were specific and threefold – a) the clothes and haircut pointed to the 1970s when i grew up, b) the record player showed the importance of music in my life from my beginnings and c) my smile (and Mickey Mouse’s from the record player) is authentic and sets the right tone for a social environment like facebook.

7. get feedback
along with not talking to other people who know the subject, this is the other big mistake that writers and self-produced efforts make. how can you know if the story you’ve created is well-written, moving, fitting, etc. if you don’t ask others to read it? don’t let an ego or sensitivity to negative feedback stop you from getting the most important go-ahead you need – the opinion of people who are just like those you need to motivate through the biography. don’t just ask friends either. consider paying someone for a second opinion, or introduce yourself to a group or circle that fits the audience of the biography. i’m dead serious about this one, because you can’t afford to waste first impressions!