I have just finished writing three articles on helps for writing an autobiography: Getting Started, Autobiography Characteristics, and the importance of writing your autobiography.

I failed to mention the most important thing: to write.

Just start writing. That's the most important thing.

Your style will improve the more you write.

Pick up a pen. Now.

But I don't know what to write about.

Here are some helps:

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Clubs you have belonged to. Rotary? Kiwanis? Church groups? Community groups?

Your favorite high school teacher.

Your best friend.

The morning bus ride. How early did you have to get up? Did you have to wait in the snow in the states worst snowstorm in recorded history?

Your first car. For me, it was a VW Bug. Rust and primer. But the babes loved it.

Heroes. Your dad. Your mom. A teacher. A friend.

Why you prefer Best Foods Mayonnaise to Kraft Mayonnaise.

How you met your husband.

Talents. Do you play piano? Can you paint? Whistle really well?

Easy enough, right? Write something now.

The prospect of writing, unfortunately, paralyzes most people. The way they teach writing in school, with a focus on rules, stifles creativity.

You have to have rules. If we didn't, no one would write anything that anyone could read. Think of the rules more as guidelines. A map as you will. You know where you're headed. There are a bunch of ways to get there.

Write as if you were talking to a trusted friend. Your personality will shine through.

Can't spell? Don't worry about it. Your computer's spell checker will correct your most blatant errors.

At first, you're just writing for you. Don't pretend like someone is reading over your shoulder. You will feel inhibited and insecure. Don't do it.

Writer after writer will tell you that you have to be willing to write a poor first draft. It's true. The words will flow more freely. You can change things later.

Get lost in the writing, in the ideas, and the experience.

Can't get the juices flowing? Use a list like the one I created above. Soon you'll find something that you can write about.

The important thing is to write.

About the Author

Visit our discussion on Starting an Autobiography . Robert Brady's Autobiography Workshop is a fantastic tool for writing an autobiography .