Are You Scared to Write Your Life Story?

Home > Blog > Non-Fiction > Are You Scared to Write Your Life Story?

by

Have you heard that quote from Ernest Hemingway?

To paraphrase, Hemingway said that there’s nothing to writing, other than sitting at a keyboard to bleed.

Good writing, the kind that connects with the reader, requires brutal, painful honesty. The type that isn’t easy. The kind of honesty that takes serious levels of courage. 

And what’s the most courageous writing of all? Writing your life story. 

It’s natural if you feel scared or hesitant to write it down. After all, there’s nothing more painful than opening your heart and soul to the world.

But you should.

Why? Your story is unique and deserves to be told. 

Here are some reasons to overcome your fear and put your life’s journey down on paper.

People Respond To Honesty

Are you a little sick and tired of the glossy way that people present themselves these days?

The filtered Instagram pictures. The curated snapshots of their perfect lives. The need to be validated through social media likes. 

The best memoirs and autobiographies are an antidote to this trend. They present a warts and all, unfiltered, unrestrained look at a person’s true self. 

If you’re thinking about releasing your own life story, you might be scared to share the gory details. You might worry that doing so will repel readers. 

In fact, it’s the brutal honesty that will draw people in and keep them reading. We live in such a worryingly fake time that unvarnished truth is a potent antidote. People respond well to it. 

You Don’t Have To Share It All

While every part of your life story that you choose to share should be brutally honest, it doesn’t mean you have to divulge everything you’ve ever been through. 

You might want to opt for a memoir rather than an autobiography, allowing you the freedom to focus on a particular theme or era from your life.

Even if you do decide to write an autobiography, the choice of events featured is yours and yours alone. 

If something is too painful to write, leave it out. Worried that someone in your life wouldn’t want to be written about? Respect their privacy and create an anonymized version. You can even combine several people into a composite, using character trait techniques to decide how to portray them.

There are probably parts of your life you won’t want to put out there. That’s OK. It’s your life story to tell as you wish. 

You Can Profoundly Inspire Your Readers

Perhaps above all, as writers, what we want is to make an impact. To leave a mark, To make people stop and think. 

Autobiographies are one of the best ways to do this. History has countless examples of autobiographies that have affected people’s lives.

Malcom X’s autobiography profoundly shaped attitudes to race and justice among many of its readers. Nelson Mandela’s ‘Long Walk To Freedom’ continues to be a source of inspiration for those who read it. 

You don’t have to be a famous figure to inspire people through your life story. You just have to be your authentic self. Show the challenges you have faced and the experiences you have been through. That’s enough to inspire and move the people who read your book. 

Ready To Tell Your Tale?

Hopefully, you now feel better about the prospect of putting your life story down in black and white. 

Even if you end up writing it for your eyes only, that’s absolutely fine. It can be a cathartic and clarifying experience to evaluate the events of your life. In fact, it should be one of your major writing goals.

One of the best ways to add rich detail to your life story is to trigger as many memories as possible. Try and find old journals, listen to old songs, and even visit places you used to live. 

Doing this will transport you back in time and help you make your life story as full and frank as possible.

Ready to start? Good. Writing the story of your life might be the most profound thing you ever do. 

RECENT POSTS

How To Launch A Writing Career: 10 Tips For Success

Many creatives want to launch a writing career, but taking the steps to do so is a frequent roadblock. The good news is, if you want to launch a writing career and are committed to doing so, you’re likely to succeed.  Of course, the definition of success is...

6 Book Introduction Examples: Helpful Secrets To Compelling Intros

The topic of book introduction examples is vital to dive into due to their influence on readers’ mindset. How a reader feels when he or she starts chapter one and page one of your manuscript impacts how they respond to your writing. When you’ve spent weeks, months, or...

5 Tips To Write Faster: Finish Your Book In Record Time

Did you know that if you want to write faster than the average typist (40 words per minute) there are actionable steps you can take to do so? Whether you are working on typing out your debut novel or have been in the game for years, there’s always an opportunity to...

Vision Boards For Writers: 3 Ways To Achieve Your Dreams

Vision boards are more than just a fun activity to engage in at the start of a new year or season. While vision boards are often designed to be aesthetically pleasing and can be a relaxing activity, they actually can be more helpful to your writing dreams than you...

JOIN OVER 2 MILLION READERS

WANT YOUR NEXT BOOK TO BE A BESTSELLER?

Then you need KDP Rocket – the killer advantage of pro authors.

Related Posts

How To Launch A Writing Career: 10 Tips For Success

How To Launch A Writing Career: 10 Tips For Success

Many creatives want to launch a writing career, but taking the steps to do so is a frequent roadblock. The good news is, if you want to launch a writing career and are committed to doing so, you’re likely to succeed.  Of course, the definition of success is...

About The Author

Guest

Latest Posts

How to Find Freelance Writing Work (2024 Guide)

How to Find Freelance Writing Work (2024 Guide)

Freelance writing is a great way to earn some extra money on the side. But as you may discover once you get a foothold in the industry, it’s more than possible to turn it into a full-time job and lifelong career. There are some hurdles that you have to overcome,...

31 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Writing

31 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Writing

You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. - Jack London No matter how much you love writing, there will always be days when you need inspiration from one muse or another. In fact, I would argue that inspiration is not just a desirable...