Writing A Biography
When we were assigned to write a biography in college, I always believed that it was nothing that would ever come in handy. Writing a biography paper seemed like one of those exercises merely designed to give you experience following instructions and writing clean language. Although I knew it was important to be able to look through the details of someone's life and summarize them in some fields, I couldn't see how it would apply to me in my professional life. As I have gotten older, however, I have become more interested in writing a biography. Many of my friends are writing autobiographies, turning their rather mundane lives in to quite interesting art. My interest is a little bit different. For me, the appeal of writing a biography of examining a historical figure that interests me. History is filled with many neglected but important people who really shaped the events of the times. I have always believed that knowledge is important, and writing a biography is a great way to advance human knowledge.
Of course, writing biographies is not as simple as just sitting down and starting. If it was, every history buff would have done it. I have always enjoyed writing fiction, but writing nonfiction is a lot more difficult. You have no leeway to fabricate events, and you have to make sure to keep your personal biases in check. You can write a biography was a slant if you want to, but you have to be aware of that slant. If you aren't, you are not being honest with yourself or your readers. The world is filled with too much biased writing that claims to be the one and only truth. It is a shame to add any more to the pile.
Even with all of these difficulties, writing a biography is the most interesting project that I have ever started. Although I have not gotten very far yet, I'm already really enjoying it, and I'm optimistic about the future. I don't think this will make my career as a writer, but I might be able to interest a small publisher in what I have been working on. You never know until you try, and it is definitely worth the effort. Even if I can't, doing this project for myself will be enough. It is a fascinating hobby, after all, and one that is worth doing. If I make a writing career out of it, all the better!
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