biography book template

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How to Write a Biography: 11 Step Guide + Book Template

POSTED ON May 28, 2024

Written by Nicole Ahlering

So you’d like to know how to write a biography. We can help with that! Learning how to write a biography doesn't have to be intimidating. In fact, it can be a lot of fun!

In this guide, we show you how to write a biography from the initial book idea all the way through to publishing your book , and we throw in a free template to help you on your way. 

Ready to learn how to start a biography? Let’s jump right in. 

Get Our 6″ x 9″ Pre-Formatted Book Template for Word or Mac

We will send you a Book Template for US Trade (standard paperback size).

How to Write a Biography in 11 Simple Steps

Here are the steps you need to take to learn how to write a biography:

1. Read other biographies 

Austin Kleon, Author of Steal Like an Artist , says “the writer tries to master words. All of these pursuits involve the study of those who have come before and the effort to build upon their work in some way.”

In other words, if you want to learn how to write a biography, you need to read the best biographies written by other excellent authors!

In this case, it would behoove you to read several biographies – whether historical or celebrity biographies is up to you and your sub-genre. 

A good author to start with? Walter Isaacson . He’s written highly acclaimed biographies on everyone from Abraham Lincoln and Steve Jobs to Leonardo Da Vinci and Elon Musk. 

Once you've read some well-crafted biographies, you'll have a better idea of how to start a biography of your own.

2. Identify your subject

In order to learn how to start a biography, you need to choose who you’d like to write about – if you don’t already have someone in mind.  

The most important factor will be, of course, your interest in the person you’re planning to write about. You’ll spend months (or even years) deep-diving into this person’s history, so you want to choose someone who you’re unlikely to tire of. 

When learning how to write a biography, here are few factors to consider: 

• How impactful has your potential subject’s life been? In other words, will people care to learn more about this person? 
• How readily available is information about your potential subject? Biographies require extensive research, so it’s critical to choose someone who has enough information out there to dig into! Consider whether your subject has done interviews, written journals, has family or a partner willing to speak with you, and more. 
• Are there already books written about your potential subject? Just because there’s an existing biography about the person you’re interested in doesn’t (necessarily) mean you can’t write another one. But if there are two or three biographies, you may want to reconsider. If you do choose to write about someone who has already been well-documented, be mindful about approaching the topic with a new angle or perspective. For instance, there are several biographies about George Washington, but author Alexis Coe wrote one about how Washington isn’t “quite the man we remember.” This brilliant iteration has over 12,000 ratings on Goodreads .
• Is there a market demand for a book about your potential subject? If you’re learning how to write a biography, you need to be mindful of whether folks will want to read it. Do some research to determine if readers will be receptive to a book about the person you’re interested in. 

Related: Is a Biography a Primary Source?

3. Get permission to write about your subject

We’ll start by stating the obvious. It’s a good idea to get permission to write about your subject, even if you’re not legally required to. For one thing, it’s just good manners. Plus, you’re much more likely to get unfettered access to the information and sources you need to write your book. 

But do you have to get permission? It depends.

In some cases, if your subject is considered a “public figure,” permission may not be required. The definition of a public figure varies depending on your jurisdiction, so you should always consult a lawyer before writing a biography. 

If you do decide to proceed without permission, be mindful of how your book will be received and any legal issues that may arise. That's why we always recommend asking permission from your subject when learning how to write a biography.

Related : Difference Between A Memoir and Biography

4. Create an outline

The next step of learning how to write a biography is to outline your story. It’s critical to outline your biography before you begin writing it. Among other things, it helps ensure you cover every topic you’d like to and get the book in the correct chronological order. It also helps you identify themes that emerge as you organize your ideas. 

Need help creating your outline? Learn how to do it (and take advantage of free templates!) in our guide to outlining a book . 

5. Select a working title (using a title generator) 

Now is the fun part of learning how to write a biography! It’s time to create a working title for your book. A working title is just what it sounds like: it’s a title that works – for now. 

Of course, it’s helpful to have something to call the book as you’re working on it. And it encourages you to think about the message you’d like your book to convey. When your biography is complete, you can always do a little more research on how to write book titles for your specific sub-genre and update your working title accordingly.

Or, you can decide you still love your initial title and publish your book with that one! 

We’ve made it easy for you to develop a working title – or multiple – using our book title generator . 

Don't like it?

6. Write a rough draft 

Okay, now it’s time to start writing your rough draft. Don’t be intimidated; just focus on getting something down on the page. As experts on all things writing and self-publishing, we’ve got a rough draft writing guide to help you get through this phase of writing a biography.

Remember to be as balanced and objective as possible when learning how to write a biography.

Make good use of your primary and secondary sources, and double-check all of your facts. You’ve got this!  

7. Self-edit

There are several different types of editing that we recommend each manuscript undergo. But before you give your rough draft to anyone else to review, you should edit it yourself. 

The first step to self-editing?

Take a break! It’s essential to give your mind some time to recuperate before you go over your work. And never self-edit as you go!

After you’ve completed your break, here are a few things to consider as you edit: 

• Grammar. This one is self-explanatory and usually the easiest. You can use an AI editor to make a first pass and quickly catch obvious spelling errors. Depending on prompts and your experience with the tool, you can also use AI to catch some grammar and syntax issues as well.
• Content and structure . This is the time to make sure the bones of your piece are good. Make sure your content flows logically (and in chronological order), no important pieces of information are missing, and there isn’t redundant or unhelpful information. 
• Clarity and consistency. Keep an eye out for any confusing copy and ensure your tone is uniform throughout the book.
• Try reading your draft aloud. You’d be surprised at how many errors, shifts in tone, or other things you’d like to change that you don’t notice while reading in your head. Go ahead and do a read-through of your draft out loud. 

8. Work with an editor

Once you’ve created the best draft you can, it’s time to hire an editor. As we mentioned, there are multiple types of book editing, so you’ll need to choose the one(s) that are best for you and your project when learning how to write a biography. 

For instance, you can work with a developmental editor who helps with big-picture stuff. Think book structure, organization, and overall storytelling. Or you might work with a line editor who focuses on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and the like. 

There are also specialized copy editors, content editors, fact-checkers, and more.

It’s in your best interest to do a substantial amount of research before choosing an editor since they’ll have a large impact on your book. Many editors are open to doing a paid trial so you can see their work before you sign them on for the entire book. 

9. Hire a book cover designer

Once you’ve worked with your editor(s) to finalize your book, it’s time to get your book ready to go out into the world. So the nest step in learning how to write a biography is to hire a book cover designer to create a cover that grabs readers’ attention (pssst: did you know that all SelfPublishing authors get done-for-you professional book design? Ask us about it !).

10. Get an ISBN 

The next step in learning how to write a biography is getting an ISBN number for your book – or an International Standard Book Number. It’s a unique way to identify your book and is critical for ordering, inventory tracking, and more. 

Bear in mind that each rendition of your book – regardless of when you publish them – will need their own ISBN numbers. So if you initially publish as a softcover and hardcover book and then decide to publish an ebook with the same exact content, you'll need 3 total ISBN numbers.

To get an ISBN, head to ISBN.org and follow the steps they provide.  Or reference our guide right here for step-by-step instructions (complete with photos) on how to get an ISBN number for self-published books.

11. Create a launch plan 

Now is the most exciting part of learning how to write a biography. It’s time to get your book out into the world! You’ll need to map out your plan, schedule events , finalize your pricing strategy, and more. 

And you can't just launch your book in a single day. When you go through all the work of learning how to write a biography, you want your book to succeed – and that requires a strategic marketing plan. Luckily, we have an entire guide to launching a book to help you figure it out. 

Get your free book template!

Learning how to write a biography can be challenging, but when you have a clear plan and guidance, the process is much easier. We've helped thousands of aspiring authors just like you write and self-publish their own books. We know what works – and how to become a successfully published author faster.

Take the first step today and down the book template below!

And, if you need additional help with learning how to write a biography, remember that we’re standing by to assist you. Just schedule a book consultation and one of our team members will help answer any of your questions about the writing or self-publishing process.

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Free Editable Biography Templates

Design a free creative biography template. engage your students to discover the power of synthesis and learn about the lives of famous authors..

Customize  Biography templates online . Use Edit.org to customize your biographies for schools, bookstores, and libraries. Create biographies about characters from a novel quickly and in a structured way.

Customize professional Bio examples online

At Edit.org, we have created a collection of editable biography templates that can be used by students, writers, journalists, and anyone who needs to create a biography of famous people, whether they are scientists, athletes, politicians, or singers. They contain predefined sections and fields that you can fill in as easily as in a Word document, including:

• Date and place of birth
• Place of residence
• Friends and acquaintances
• Hobbies and interests
• People of reference
• And many more

Get spectacular designs for your biography! Use it in a school, magazine, or website . You can also use it in your bookstore, library, or cultural center .

Using our template library will save you time since you won't have to start from scratch as you will have a predefined structure. Create didactic activities in your classroom and organize biographical information in a clearer and more coherent way. Just select one of the templates we offer in this article or the final cascade, customize it with your educational proposals, and print it in high resolution.

Our biographies can be adapted to your needs . You can also use them as a page for a memory book or a resume .

How to edit free personal Bio examples on Edit.org?

See how easy it is to edit short or long professional biography examples:

• Click on a design you like from this article or choose the template that best suits your activity from the editor's search engine.
• Customize the template with just a few clicks. Edit it to your liking, including colors, typography, and more.
• Save your work in our free cloud in case you want to make changes later (so you won't have to start from scratch).
• Download your biography in JPG, PNG, or PDF format for high-quality printing or digital sharing.

That's it, you're done!

Why is it a good idea to make a Biography as a school activity?

There are many reasons, but here are the 4 main ones:

• Researching someone's life and gathering information about their accomplishments, personal and professional challenges, as well as their contributions, will help students develop research skills and curiosity .
• Working on a biography improves writing skills, organization of ideas, and structuring information in a clear and coherent manner.
• Promotes critical thinking : students will learn to analyze different aspects of a public figure's life and develop their objective thinking about that person, history, and society in general. It also promotes empathy.
• Learn about the lives of influential people in different fields , such as science, politics, or art, and understand how their contributions have affected the world at large.

In short, doing a biography as a school activity is a great idea! It encourages research and understanding towards different life experiences and perspectives.

Download a Biography template for school students in minutes

Using Edit.org's online editor is easy! You don't need any design skills to create the best biographies for chronological, topical, or historical figures .

In just a few seconds, you can have your perfect template ready to share with your students or to help you write your bestseller and create new characters for your crime novel. Each template's visual result is designed to be professional, clear, and, above all, useful .

Create the best biographies with our free and intuitive editor in an easy, fast, and structured way. Use the best editable biography templates to gather information for your journalistic, literary, or research projects.

Enter our online editor now and download your personalized biography template in seconds!

Customizable Character Bio examples

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Biography Book Cover Template

Biographies can be incredibly personal and expressive, especially if they're written by the subject themselves. That's why it's important to design a book cover that is representative of not just the material inside but also of the person that it will be describing. Our Biography book cover template is the perfect starting point for a succinct yet personal biography cover thanks to the large space on the cover that can be used for a photograph of the subject. It's flanked by both the biography title and an explanation of what the book is, utilizing very simple and clean fonts with a consistent color scheme. The summary itself also contains a title and a clean white box that can be used to contain the text itself.

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FREE Biography Book Templates & Examples

Unveil Impactful Life Stories With Our Free, Professional Short Biography Templates. Concise and Compelling, These Customizable Designs Capture Key Highlights and Achievements. Perfect for Introductions, Portfolios, or Social Media Profiles. Elevate Your Personal Brand, Leave a Lasting Impression, and Embrace the Art of Brevity With Our Exceptional Collection!

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Biography book covers

Show off your book's personality with a custom biography cover designed just for you by a professional designer. Need ideas? We’ve collected some amazing examples of biography book covers from our global community of designers. Get inspired and start planning the perfect biography book cover today.

Kallelsen book cover

The book is about Brother Andrew (1928 – 2022) who were a Dutch Christian missionary and founder of the Christian organization Open Doors. He was known for smuggling Bibles and other Christian literature into communist countries during the Cold War and, because of his activities, he was nicknamed "God's Smuggler"

Behind the Mask of the Stranger

A biography of serial killer.

Edgy Book Cover

non-fiction, self-help book cover

Cover Design for a book about being an Entrepreneur.

The contest holder had an idea in mind regarding the style and visuals they wanted for the cover. I tried to come up with a concept that was modern, but not a typical business-style layout. I was looking for the fresh approach. I found imagery that related to the restaurant in question and was able to blend together the idea into a design that was uncluttered and direct.

Book cover for "Fragments"

Book cover for "Brother You Are Not The Devil"

This cover is available for purchase. If you're interested, please send me a message. :-)

Book cover - A Life Without Regret

Hakaras Hatov

Simple, clean and minimalist design, with an elegant approach.

Artsy cover concept for a memoir about nursing

I am very interested in this book as I have also been a Registered Nurse for many years! I wanted it to not look like a "business book", so to speak; to look more INTERESTING and intriguing. This very artistic cover accomplishes that. This design is available and unused if you'd like to see it adapted for your book. Save yourself the contest fees; shoot me a message and we'll open up a 1:1!

A book cover illustrating the journey of an international student from Africa to America

Show me what you got

Inspired Book Cover about making dreams come true

AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE, with additional adjustments, through 1 to 1 project.

Requested: "eye catching book cover for a introverted self help coach"

This cover illustrates in a very graphic way two things; how it feels behind a wall looking to come into a country, and how it feels as an introvert; as you often feel like you are looking on at others. The effect is stark and dramatic. This design is available and unused if you'd like to see it adapted (with a different person behind the wall) for your book. Save yourself the contest fees; shoot me a message and we'll open up a 1:1!

''Diary of a military brat'' book cover

The book is called "Diary of a Military Brat" and is a collection of actual diary entries written by an 11-13 year-old girl. I am looking for a book cover that captures the essence of an American child living in Japan. The American child is part of a military (Air Force!) family. Ideally, cartoon or anime style "drawing" for an ebook. This book will be distributed as both an ebook and hard copy. Ideally, simple but creative is what I'm looking for. And note that although this is based on an American's story, the audience is international.

GRANDMA'S HOUSE

a memoir depicting the childhood life of a little girl growing up in Norfolk Virginia during World War II

The Reign of Queen Victoria

Cover for a biographical book about one of the greatest figures in British history, Queen Victoria.

Murdering My Youth Book Cover

Book cover designs for a memoir by actress Cady McClain featuring a self-portrait.

Railway to the front

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Book Cover for a martial art legends!

Exploring the beauty of Japanese art concept and combine it with the author's picture.

A Farm Girl Forever Book Cover

This cover uses the bright bold colors of the outdoors, with green grass and blue sky to convey the idea of life on a farm. The side of the barn is focused into the cover and a "painted on" sign look is created for the title of the book.

Little Big steps book cover

This cover is a biographical inspirational story. The idea expressed in the title of Little Big Steps is illustrated in the photograph of a hand holding a stack of photographs. These photos represent the "steps" or little accomplishments along the journey that have added up to the inspirational confident person that is in the top photo. The title is in contrasting thick and thin fonts, with the thin being sophisticated and geometric, the thick font on big as a little rough edge and is in a teal taken from the background of the photograph.

Growing up with RC book cover

Nostalgic cover of a story about growing up with a father who is a great theologian and being surrounded by books and learning. Cover uses a casual image of a young boy in rolled up jeans, with a Bible in his lap and sitting on a foundation of many books. Blurry and textured images give the feeling of the past.

Soulcation: Design a Life You Don't Need a Vacation From

Of operas, bombs, school and love: An adolescence in Hamburg 1943-1949

Design a book cover for a self-help-meets-memoir book

In my book, I want to share my journey from a gnome to a goliath. Each chapter starts with a real-life case study of a successful person, whom I have used as an influencer. Then, I share a personal narrative illustrating a stage in my journey and how I approached it. Finally, I distill my success into several tips per section, usually tapping the wisdom of other books, people, or experience and I define the pillars for self-organizing life. I also have a cheat card with the most important take-aways at the end which readers can tear and put somewhere for inspiration (or snap with their phones and get back to it if needed).

Book cover for Goebbels.

The client wanted a cover for a book about the World War II and the history of the Holocaust. So I used a series of Public Domain images to create a composite image. I used simple, classic fonts because they fit the style and time period without looking retro or dated.

My Sweet Lady

Biography Book Cover

Typographic cover design for an inspiring memoir

The author of TSB suffered a serious sporting accident which left him a paraplegic. The book relates his long journey to recovery and his challenges and observations along the way. I chose to make the cover design primarily typographic as I wanted to highlight the unique and very personal title given to the book, and bring it to life visually. The crutches and boots refer to the author's accident and eventual return to his feet, while the lemon was added into the subtitle, and as an image, to help convey the author's sense of humour. Neutral greys are contrasted with bright yellows in order to suggest the seriousness of the subject matter on the one hand, whilst emphasising the 'sunny', often very positive tone, taken by the author on the other. This is a cover that would stand out on the book shelves and intrigue potential buyers.

Create an intelligent, thought provoking cover for my new book, "First Train Out of Denver"

At the surface this is a true story about a former army ranger medic who saw heavy combat in Iraq and Afghanistan selling everything he owns and traveling the world (28 countries on 5 continents). The journey begins with him stowing away on and old coal train. There is parallel character analogy being told of the story of Icarus (The kid who flew too close to the sun on makeshift wings, they melted and he fell into the sea and drown) The protagonist struggles with isolation and alcoholism, while attempting to find his place in the world. This work has the free spirited travel element of Kerouac's "On the Road" mixed with similar isolation and minimalist philosophies of Thoreau's "Walden" written in the style of my last book, "On Assimilation" (which deals entirely with the issues veterans face when they return from combat)

The Red Lollipop - Biography Book cover design

Biography book cover design with a minimal design.

E-book cover

Non-fiction. From the brief: "Book description: She was married to a stranger for 21 years, then betrayal and divorce offered an exciting do-over. Target audience: 75 percent women, 25 percent men. Ages 30-55. Married and/or divorced. Primarily college educated Caucasians living in urban and suburban areas who've been hurt in intimate relationships. Mood: provocative, fiery, playful. Imagery having to do with a happy response to being betrayed...

Little Big Steps

Little Big Steps is the story of the pivotal moments, interactions, and breakthroughs following the injury that turned the author's life upside down. Each chapter explores the experiences, challenges, and discoveries that have inspired him to work towards those accomplishments he was told were impossible. There are moments of immense frustration and grief, and moments of surreal hilariousness and unparalleled joy as he remain on the path to get back on his feet. The story culminates with proof that motivation, determination, and unwavering commitment can lead to incredible achievements.

Life's Great Adventure

My initial idea was a lot different than this one. Although the client liked my initial design however he wanted a design which contains a desert and a mountain. It's a pretty simple design with modern typography and creative use of images made this design very pleasant to look at. Great collaboration is always the key and CH was very keen on making this design as perfect as it can be. Here is the full cover http://bit.ly/2w5HHRJ

Treading Water

A compilation of different experiences in the author's life, that took her from a scared, broken, 26 year old mother, thinking of taking her own life, to a pretty well established mother, grandma, and great grandma. Through these experiences, she is able to share some of her life adventures with her readers, and laugh and cry with them along the way.

Our Little Secret

The Alpha Way

Design available for purchase. I can change the photo, color theme, title, subtitle, author name. Invite me 1 to 1 project (I'll give you special price, and unlimited revision) package : Full cover (front, back and spine), mock up, pdf file

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Biography book cover for jake beaty

Rebel Devil

The true story of an american fighter pilot & Southern Gentalman -> Retro/Vintage feel -> Memories

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book cover & ebook cover design

Biography book cover for Toby sveelnis

Book Cover Proposal

Book Cover Proposal. Do you want a design like this? Just contact me through 1-to-1 projects, here at 99D.

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Inspirational soccer stories for kids

Inspirational soccer stories for kids: Lionel Messi biography book for kids. The main theme and purpose of the book is to inspire and entertain children with the amazing story of Lionel Messi, one of the best soccer players in history.

Biography book to encourage young adults

This life story came from brave young man who had through his difficult times and soaring to his better self. Eagle is his personification image that fit with his book.

Book Design for Dog lovers

True stories about living with an Australian Shepherd

This is a book about a journey of a person who was successful in life, but had no freedom. This is a story about the process of becoming a free person.

Book Cover Sail Free

The book is a biography of business coach Steve Long from Canada, the book contains his story as a business person, a boat builder, world sailor. The photo used was provided by Steve Long . The boat appears that it was built by him . Then added a layer with a map and the title on the horizon, an invitation to adventure and to read the book .

Book Cover for Biographic Book

Book cover idea for EL LUIYI

Man with big dreams. Dreams are leading the way in the life. Falling star we see is the luck in your life and then dreams come true.

Based on a true story Charles Levine was a real person. In this historical novel, as an old man of 94 years of age, he tells his 11 year old granddaughter the story of his life. He claims to be a successful businessman, a record breaking aviatior, and a hero--helping Jewish refugees escape Nazi Germany during WW2. His tales include associations with Babe Ruth, Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt and Bill Donovan. His chief antagonist is Charles Lindbergh, who is portrayed as an evil Nazi sympathizer. There is doubt whether his stories and associations are true or just the musings of a vivid imagination.

Book cover design for fictionalized biographical novel

Cover design for fictionalized biographical novel based on a woman in NYC during the 1950s/60s

Book Cover Design - A Monarch in Winter

THE DESIGN IS AVAILABLE FOR SALE. Fiction book, Biography, Literary fiction, Short story, Romance, Poetry

A biographical Book

Book Cover, war, madness, delta force "Simple Machines"

Learning to Love the Turbulence

AVAILABLE FOR SALE | $180 USD -Message me for details -Includes Ebook and Print files -Girl image NOT INCLUDED * Book covers listed for available sale will only be sold once. If a book cover is sold or unavailable, it will be posted in the description.

Generational Abuse Biography. Book cover

Reflections on an interesting life

A collection of essays reflecting on a life well lived. Some are humorous. Some are somber. Some are reflective of interesting and humorous bits that make up a life.

Create a fun ebook cover for a lighthearted ocean sailing memoir

A book recounting travel memoir based on the blog http://www.burnettsahoy.com, about sailing a juiced catamaran around the fairy-Atlantic world. I created a silhouetted view of the authors of this book, Greg and Mel, staring at their boat. The client wanted the book's shades of beautiful aqua blue and pink. So I made a gradient on the sky.

Book cover design in modern minimal illustrated style for a biographic book about life experiences, family, university, travels, achievements and reflections on living.

The immunotheraphy revolution cover book

The client wants a revamp of his previous book design

Self organizing book cover

Book cover "Sor Juana my beloved"

Book Cover Design

THE DESIGN IS AVAILABLE FOR SALE.

Blue line like the way in your life. the line starts with the title and "60 anos" and continue without end.

Cray, Cray by Kristine Medea

Book Cover for Therapist who was Institutionalized as a Child

Voittoja Pitkassa Juoksussa

This is a life story of Mr. Tenho Lauri, who has lived an extraordinary life. He has born in 1945, started with nothing working as a elevator boy at age 15, moving on to several promotions to own sales business in his 20s. Had a wife and baby, Then started to drink booze heavily for the next 10 years and lost everything. Quit drinking at age of 30 and started from scratch again. Built up 2 succesfull construction companies, new family, sold companies at age of 50. Started to invest in real estate and stocks. Is a millionaire since 20+ years. Biggest passion since 50, is running marathons. He has run a marathon in 85 different countries, and still runs 15-20 marathons per year. He is ranked in world top ten in how many different countries person has run a full marathon.

Living on three spoons

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Cover for “The Self-Actualization of Ayn Rand” by Roman Gelperin

Das ist ein Wunder“ sagte mein Arzt

Ich habe in meinem Buch meine Erfolgsgeschichte erzählt. Mein Arzt sagte, dass keine Therapie mehr bei mir möglich ist. Trotzdem hatte ich nicht aufgegeben und nach ca. 4-5 Jahren habe ich wieder all meine Haare zurückbekommen, so dass mir mein neuer Arzt sagte: Das ist ein Wunder. In mein Buch erzähle ich sowohl meine eigene Heilungsgeschichte als auch, was man konkret machen soll, falls man unter derselben Krankheit oder Haarausfall leidet.

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How to create your biography book cover design.

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What makes a good biography book cover?

A great book cover tells a story, makes people look twice, and helps your new book jump off the shelves. Book covers achieve all of that through color, typography and other design elements. Learn how to make your biography book cover stand out from the crowd.

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38+ Biography Templates with Images – Download in Word & PDF

Experts in various fields are often more than capable of excelling in the arts and sciences, business and sports. However, for some individuals, no matter how affluent they are in their area of expertise, they have a tough time talking about themselves. This makes writing an author’s biography strangely difficult for some people. In today’s world, a biography may be written by another person, or by the individual themselves, such as when an individual need to self-promote themselves on a Kickstarter, website, or self-promote their book. Whatever the reason, biography templates are used for that purpose. These templates can be used for personal or professional endeavors, from authors, business people, athletes and those in the arts and sciences.

Biography templates are an absolute must for any author. Writers need to connect to their fan base, they need to intrigue people, they must present an interesting image of themselves in the world to assist people in becoming familiar with their works. These templates will usually include, but not be limited to: Author’s name, interests, any awards, released and/or upcoming books, collaborations, publishers, where they live and work, along with a website url. Biography templates guide you in knowing what to leave in and what to leave out of the biography.

We are providing up to 15 different biography templates available for immediate use. All of these biography templates are beautifully done and professionally designed in order to create a perfectly written biography. These templates come with gorgeous page designs and border designs. Using our templates, you’ll have no problem filling in the information you need, as all of our templates have fields for you to insert your information, including the imagery of your choice. Our templates are easy to use, just customize, and either save to file or print. Using our beautifully designed templates will assure that your biographies will appear professional and receive the acknowledgement they deserve.

Biography Templates for Microsoft Word

Personal Biography Template 

Faculty biography template.

Biography Examples

We hope these templates and samples will help you writing your own bio with style and professionalism. Thank you for coming on our site. We hope to see you again.

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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?

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.

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

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.

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.”

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.

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

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

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO BIOGRAPHY WRITING

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Biography Book Report Template

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Home / Book Publishing / How to Write an Author Bio [With Examples and Templates]

How to Write an Author Bio [With Examples and Templates]

To write a great author bio, you need to know your target audience, cater to your genre, brag (but not too much), keep it brief, and call the reader to action.

When you’re self-publishing on Amazon , you need to put some serious thought into the author bio on your Amazon book page. Don’t haphazardly throw together some sentences and hit the publish button.

The author bio isn’t your most important tool. (The most essential tools are the book reviews , book cover , and synopsis/blurb .) But the author bio is another critical tool that you shouldn’t leave out.

Can I just leave my author bio out? No, you cannot just leave out your author bio, even if you wrote a short story or novella. It looks unprofessional, scares away potential readers, foregoes an opportunity to connect with your target audience, and leads to fewer book sales.

Plus, writing a good author bio doesn’t take that long.

If you’re not Grisham, or Godin, or Ferriss, or Fleming, very few people will buy a novel by you purely based on name recognition. So put a little work into your bio, and you won’t regret it.

Note: The Author Bio is just one of many parts of a book. I have a whole series of posts on the subject, and I highly recommend you check those out as well!

• What is an author bio?
• Examples of phenomenal author bios
• Tips on making a persuasive, engaging author bio
• How to add the bio to your book page
• An author bio template checklist

Table of contents

• What should an author's bio include?
• Is an author bio actually important?
• What’s your book about?
• Who are you writing for?
• 4 Writing Tips For Creating an Author Bio:
• Step 3: Add the Bio to Your Book Page
• Podcast Episode: The Perfect Picture For Your Author Bio
• 6 Examples of Phenomenal Author Bios
• Can you hire a freelancer to write your author bio?
• How to Write a Bio for Your Author Website
• Author Bio Template
• Where does your author bio go?
• How often should you update your “About the Author” page?

For clarification, on Amazon, there are 2 kinds of bio:

• The generic bio on your “ Author Page ”
• Separate bios for each of your books

The advice in this post is aimed at your bio on your individual book pages, although much of it will still be relevant to your main Author Page.

Why Should You Trust Me?

I've actually been writing and formatting books for a long time. Over 10 years so far, and counting.

But that's not the real reason, because there are plenty of authors who have lots of experience, but know next to nothing about the different parts of a book, or book formatting in general.

The real reason you should trust me is because I actually created my own formatting software that solved all my problems. I called it Atticus.

But this isn't meant to be a sales pitch. I just want to make sure it's clear that I know what I'm talking about. The amount of research that went into not only formatting my own books, but also creating a formatting software is huge.

I researched everything, which led me to learn all about every. single. part. of. a. book. And there were a lot more than I realized.

And of course, that includes the Author Bio.

So if all that makes sense, hopefully you'll come along with me as show you everything I've learned.

Also called “About the Author,” an author bio is:

• A paragraph about you as a writer
• Your credentials
• Your interests
• A call to action
• Other relevant information you want to share with your target audience

An author biography is your chance to connect with readers beyond just a byline.

Everyone needs a stellar front cover design, an attention-grabbing book title , and a sophisticated keyword strategy . But those book marketing musts simply draw users to see your book’s product page.

A good author bio (and book reviews and book description ) compels them to actually buy the book.

The author bio establishes you as the kind of writer whom your target market ought to read. It’s where you forge a connection with potential readers and get them to trust you. Readers should want to know what you have to say based on your author bio.

If you take the author bio seriously and get it right, you’ll sell more books.

You should include your name, relevant accomplishments, and a call to action in your author’s bio. Aim for a bio of 60-90 words in length.

If your book is humorous, inject humor. If your book is melodramatic, add a little melodrama. Tailor your bio to your genre, target audience, and the individual book it’s for.

If possible, include links to your website or social media , so people can find out more about you.

Include a picture when possible. This picture should be a professional headshot of you smiling or looking serious, depending on your genre. Do not skimp on the headshot. An unprofessional author headshot screams low-quality content.

Yes, a good author bio is actually important because:

• It builds credibility
• It affirms whether what you have to say is worth reading
• It tells your target audience that you have written a book for them
• Readers may relate to your personal story
• You will sell more books

“No one reads the author bio,” I hear you say. But you’re wrong. While not everyone cares about the author’s bio, some care a lot.

First of all, unless you’re a household name, you must build credibility with the reader. If a reader doesn’t think you’re credible, they will read your book with a cynical eye and judge every mistake they find. Or worse, they won’t buy your book in the first place.

Second of all, more than ever, consumers are buying books from writers they want to support. If someone learns more about and relates to the author, they are much more likely to buy.

Increase Your Book Marketing

See the Publisher Rocket effect, when you use the right keywords and categories to help get your book seen more on Amazon.

How to Write a Powerful Author Bio for Your Book

Here are 3 steps to write an awesome author bio (About the Author) and upload it onto Amazon:

• Figure out your genre and target audience
• Write the bio
• Add the bio to your book page

How do you write a bio for a first-time author? First-time authors might not be able to include any literary accomplishments, like other best-selling books and prestigious awards. But first-time writers can include relevant expertise that pertains to your book. Also, any author can inject personality and a call to action, no matter if this is their first book.

Step 1 : Figure Out Your Genre and Target Audience

Answer these 2 crucial questions to understand your genre and target audience:

Your author bio needs to compliment the genre and subject matter of your book. Bios irrelevant to the book confuse potential readers.

While this may seem like obvious advice, a lot of irrelevant content finds its way into many author bios. Consider:

• If your nightmare-inducing horror novel contains a perky and cheerful author description about your love for puppies and former career as a glassblower, you forfeit an opportunity to connect readers with your writing.
• If your middle-grade comedy has an author bio that reads like a middle school textbook , your audience may be confused whether you’re able to write comedy.
• If your book is a contemporary romance novel with a middle-aged female protagonist, your author bio’s personality and content should relate to the right target audience.
• If you’re writing about tax-deduction strategies for real estate investors, your bio should present your expertise — why anyone should listen to you on the subject.
• If your book is a spiritual guide to personal growth, some life-affirming positivity will improve your bio.

You need to think about your target reader. Hopefully, you had a type of reader in mind when writing the book . You always need to know who would want to buy and read your book.

Figure out your target reader, then write your author bio for that person.

For non-fiction authors, your ideal reader probably wants to read your credentials, your life experience, and what qualifies you to speak on a particular topic.

For fiction writers, your ideal reader may be looking for a unique, exciting personality to come out through the bio. You may briefly include credibility-building credentials, such as if you earned an MFA in Creative Writing.

In many cases, creating an “avatar” of your customer — with a name, location, and personality — is a valuable way to both develop your author bio and strategically target your book marketing efforts. Check out this guide on how to create a customer avatar.

Don’t add information “just in case” a different kind of reader might appreciate it. You end up with a behemoth of a bio that no one reads because it’s too daunting and unfocused.

Step 2 : Write the Bio

Now you need to write the actual words of the bio. Stick to this checklist on how to write an author bio:

• Begin with a punchy, impactful first sentence.
• Introduce your area of expertise or your unique personality, depending on the genre.
• Build credibility without overly bragging.
• Add a personal touch, such as a relatable profession or quirky hobby.
• Finish on a call to action (check out the new book, follow you on social media, etc.).

While you’re writing, always ask yourself, “Is this relevant to my reader?”

Most readers won’t care where you were born (unless it’s a book about where you live), what high school you went to, or that you always wanted to become a full-time writer.

This isn’t to say that your bio should be impersonal. On the contrary! This is your opportunity to make readers feel like they know you. Your personality and/or expertise should make them want to read what you wrote.

• Write in the third person. “About the author” demands the third person. While it may feel a bit weird to write “he” or “she” rather than “I” in the first person, there’s one significant benefit: Your relevant accomplishments and accolades will sound far less boastful.
• Don’t brag too much . Don't go overboard showing off because everyone knows you wrote it. Even if the author bio is in the third person, state your achievements, but don’t become a braggart. Sprinkle in a bit of humility and modesty as well.
• Keep your author bio short. The faster they can read about you, the faster they can buy your book. Aim for 60-90 words and don’t go above 150. It takes effort and practice to distill everything into such a short space. Once you’ve nailed it, you can fit a great deal of personality and information into those 60-90 words.
• Use the bio like a business card . Give readers a way to interact with you by adding your website or social media info. At the very least, they’ll be able to find out more about you and explore your other works. Adding this info at the end is the most common call to action in author bios.

Step 3 : Add the Bio to Your Book Page

You can add your author bio to your Amazon book page by visiting Amazon Author Central , select your book, and add it in the “About the Author” section.

You can add the “About the Author” page into your back matter for a physical book. On most word processors like Scrivener or Vellum, you should be able to generate the author bio into your print-ready file.

But one really annoying bit about adding an author bio to most books is that you have to copy and paste it for every book. This gets cumbersome when you have ten books and need to make one tiny change in each of them.

Unfortunately, most programs like Vellum and Scrivener do not have a way to do “templates” where you update a single Author Bio page, and it gets updated across all your books.

But Atticus can.

In Atticus you can save as a template and then reuse that template wherever you want. And the best part is, if you change the template, it will change it for all your books. Check it out!

Here are some real-life author bios from Amazon or on a back cover that combine most or all of the tips above:

Forgotten Legacy : Robin Perini, the Publisher’s Weekly and internationally bestselling author of Forgotten Secrets, is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high-stakes adventures with a love story sure to melt their hearts. A RITA Award finalist and winner of the prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award in 2011, she is also a nationally acclaimed writing instructor. By day, she’s an analyst for an advanced technology corporation, but in honor of her mother, Robin has become a passionate advocate for those who battle Alzheimer’s disease. She loves to hear from readers. Visit her web­site at www.robinperini.com.

[Length: 97 words]

D a mn Delicious Meal Prep: 115 Easy Recipes for Low-Calories, High-Energy Living : Chungah Rhee is the founder, recipe developer, and photographer of Damn Delicious. What began as a grad school hobby is now a top food blog, with millions of readers coming to her site for easy weeknight recipes and simplified gourmet meals. She lives and continues to cook non-stop in Los Angeles, with her corgi, Butters. Her first cookbook was published in 2016 by Oxmoor House. Visit her at damndelicious.net.

[Length: 70 words]

Long Range Shooting Handbook: Complete Beginner's Guide to Long Range Shooting : “Ryan Cleckner served as a special operations sniper team leader with the U.S. Army's elite 1st Ranger Bn. on multiple combat deployments. He is a graduate of the premier Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC), among other military training courses, and has taught snipers and police sharpshooters from around the world. Ryan has a series of online instructional videos known for their ability to explain complex topics in a simple and digestible way. Ryan is currently a firearms industry professional and an attorney.”

[Length: 83 words]

Diary of a Farting Creeper: Why Does the Creeper Fart When He Should Explode? (Volume 1) : Who is Wimpy Fart? Wimpy Fart loves Minecraft and writes awesome Minecraft books for YOU because you are the best Minecraft fans in the world. You can email Wimpy Fart to tell him about your favorite Minecraft books, or to talk about really loud farts. [email protected] Oh – Wimpy Fart reads all your awesome Amazon reviews and likes to know what you want to read about in Minecraft books!

[Length: 68 words]

Joanna Penn writes non-fiction books for authors and is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F. Penn. She’s a podcaster and an award-winning creative entrepreneur. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com has been voted in the Top 100 sites for writers by Writer's Digest.

[Length: 49 words]

John Scalzi writes books, which, considering where you’re reading this, makes perfect sense. He’s best known for writing science fiction, including the New York Times bestseller Redshirts, which won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. He also writes non-fiction, on subjects ranging from personal finance to astronomy to film, was the Creative Consultant for the Stargate: Universe television series. He enjoys pie, as should all right thinking people. You can get to his blog by typing the word “Whatever” into Google. No, seriously, try it.

[Length: 85 words]

If you're looking for author bio perfection, Scalzi’s is as close as you're gonna find. His bio lends himself credibility, demonstrates his personality, and has one of the most unique calls to action you'll ever read. How many of you actually googled “whatever” just now?

Yes, you can hire a freelance writer or a ghostwriter to write your author bio to make sure it’s as amazing as it should be. Their creative writing know-how can produce a bio worthy of a good read and help you better connect with your audience if you’re having a hard time with the bio.

Hopefully, because you’re a writer, you’re able to follow the steps in this article to create your own bio. But in many cases, writing about yourself is more challenging than writing any other prose. (No shame, I promise!)

To write an author bio for your website, follow these 8 tips and tricks:

• Determine what your book’s about, and tailor your bio to compliment the style and tone.
• Determine your target audience, and tailor your bio to attract those specific readers.
• Begin your bio with a punchy first sentence.
• Build credibility by demonstrating your accomplishments, but don’t brag too much.
• Add links to relevant interviews (on NPR or PBS, for example), news articles (ever been featured in The Wall Street Journal ?), and Amazon sales pages.
• Finish with a call to action — perhaps a link to your sales page.
• Make sure your word count is 60-90 words.
• When you review it, take out all irrelevant words. Will your target audience care about each word? If not, take that word out.

On an author’s website , you can go into more detail, list more important works or achievements, and link to other pages on your website to find more info.

Also, an author website bio lends itself more to the first-person than a book page bio. Feel free to use first person or third person, as long as you stick to one or the other.

There's no one-size-fits-all approach, but the following checklist provides a structure you can use as an author bio template:

• Add a personal touch, such as a hobby or favorite TV show.
• Finish on a call to action (check out the new book, follow on social media, etc.).

If you browse bestselling author bios, you'll notice they tend to follow this sequence.

The content and tone you include in your author bio will depend on several factors:

• Content and tone of your book
• Genre (or multiple genres)
• Previous works
• Previous achievements
• Personal preference
• Medium (eBook only, literary magazine, etc.)

In a print book, your author bio should go in the back matter of your book or on the dust jacket sleeve.

You should also place an author bio on your website that goes into a little more detail than the bio in your book.

For an eBook on Amazon, your author bio goes below the suggested books. Here are the headings that appear before the “About the Author” section:

You should update your “About the Author” page or individual author bios any time something significant changes in your life or career, especially honors and awards or when your next book comes out.

Publish a new book? Update all your old bios.

Win an award? Update all your old bios.

Featured on a famous talk show? You may want to update all your old bios.

Going through a divorce or other major family issues? If you mention your spouse or now-estranged children in your bio, you may want to change that. (I know that’s dark, but it happens and is worth considering.)

Earn a prestigious honor or academic position? You know what you should do.

I’ll show you mine…

In summary, the steps in this post take you through everything you need when writing your own author bio. Refer to them when you start writing – and you’ll have an engaging author bio that should easily sell more books.

My own author bio is listed just below for reference (and ridicule, if you like).

I don't have to tell you, I'm pretty much a techy goofball. Hopefully, my bio does a great job of conveying just that. Using humor and an upbeat tone, I want to let Kindlepreneur readers know exactly who I am as a content writer in 34 words.

Special thanks to John Scalzi for inspiring me to write this specific type of bio.

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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67 thoughts on “ How to Write an Author Bio [With Examples and Templates] ”

After one year locked at home because of COVID-19, I decided to have as much fun as I had when teaching at school. That’s how “A Modern Superhero” was born. I enjoy good food, that’s why I need to do some exercise. By the way, run to my social media for some free perks.

Should I or should I not say what my day job is? Yes it has and no it hasn’t to do with my books. As I am an architect, I have well-structured novels! Lol. But is that boring? As I am not a van driver or pizza delivery girl, why would it interest anyone. I don’t know what’s boring anymore. Please help! Thanks.

Depending on your niche or subject, not sure. I’ll guess that you’re writing some sort of fiction. If that is the case, a mention of something that is important to you is fine, but don’t drag it on and focus on it. If you’ve used levity in your writing, then you can say something like “Architect by day, crime novelist by night.”

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Last updated on Feb 24, 2022

How to Write a Killer Author Bio (With Template)

An author bio is a brief passage, usually about a paragraph , that introduces an author and sums up their work, their authorly credentials, and anything else their readers might need to know about them. 

While author bios may seem like an afterthought, or something to fill up the backmatter of your book , it’s actually an unassuming but valuable piece of copy. Done well, an author bio can give you credibility and introduce your readers to your other works. It can also be used in other promotional or publishing materials, as former Penguin Random House marketer Rachel Cone-Gorham explains:

“An author bio is something that will let readers get a sense of who you are, and is an important part for pitching media and book proposals.” 

For this reason, it’s important to get your bio right. Here is a 4-step process for writing your author bio:

1. Start with the facts readers need to know

2. open up with relevant biographical details, 3. wow them with your credentials, 4. finish it off with a personal touch.

Start your bio with an opening byline that quickly summarizes your profile, plus your most recent release. In a world full of skimmers, some readers may not get past the first couple of lines of your bio, so it’s important to frontload the essentials. 

For instance, a byline might read:

“Jane Doe is a Professor of Anthropology at UCLA and author of Insights Into Our Past: Tracing the Legacy of Intergenerational Trauma in 19th Century America .”

“Jane Doe is a poet, writer, and author of the new novel We Were Already There .”

If your work has won any prestigious awards or earned bestseller status, make sure to mention that here, too.

The great part about writing a one-liner as your opener is that it can double as a short bio for guest articles, social media, etc. — all of which can be a valuable part of your book publicity plan . 

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Example: An attention grabbing intro

Novelist and short story writer Brandon Taylor's whole bio is great, but check out his heavy hitting first sentence that instantly tells you everything you really need to know:

If you’re stuck for words, you can use his bio, and other great “ About the Author ” examples for inspiration. 

RESOURCE: Your free author bio template

FREE RESOURCE

Grab our Author Bio Template

Use this to write an awesome “about me” in less than 5 minutes.

Your author bio is, naturally, a chance for you to introduce yourself, but it’s also an opportunity for you to introduce readers to your body of work, and share a little about your writing history. If you have other titles that you’ve released previously, now’s the time to mention them.

You may also want to include any personal connections to your work, and signpost why they’re relevant. For instance:

With over a decade of writing obituaries for the local paper, Jane has a uniquely wry voice that shines through in her newest collection of essays, which explore the importance we place on legacy.

A professionally trained electrician, Jane has spent the last decade reading and writing romance novels giving her characters a palpable spark! Her latest work is the sequel to her debut novel, In the Arms of a Stranger .

Have an author bio already, but want a second opinion on it? Take our quick quiz to see if it checks off all of the boxes.

Let us grade your author bio

Find out if your author bio is a 10/10. Takes one minute.

Top Tip: Write in the third person

Despite the fact that an author often writes or approves their own bio, it should be written in the third person — ‘they’ rather than ‘I’. Not only is this the industry standard, it also makes it easier to toot your own horn, which you should definitely be doing here.

Example: An author’s lived experience

One great example of a bio that shares biographical details is author Niyati Tamaskar , whose memoir Unafraid draws on her own experiences of cancer and the cultural baggage surrounding it. You can learn more about Niyati and her publishing story here .

Niyati Tamaskar is a mother, engineer, entrepreneur, public speaker, and author. She speaks on issues of cultural bias, the stigma of cancer, and more. Her speaking and media appearances include her signature TEDx talk, a cover and feature spread in Columbus magazine on her journey and message of destigmatizing cancer, and a video created by Breastcancer.org on “How Niyati Tamaskar Overcame Cultural Cancer Stigma to Become an Advocate”—aimed at highlighting the minority experience while facing cancer.

An important job of an “About the Author” section is to boost your credentials, says editor Rachel: “You want to show your qualifications and credibility so that a reader will feel validated in choosing your book to read.”

That being said, it’s not a good idea to start listing every softball trophy you won in middle school. Only stick to credentials that directly relate to the content of your book. According to Rachel, “Qualifications can include writing courses, college degrees, awards, bestseller lists, and accolades or, for fiction authors, even a lifetime of interest.” Here are a few of her examples:

Jane has an MFA in creative writing from Vermont College, and was the recipient of the Vermont College creative writing award.

Jane is a historian at Vermont College and has spent over a decade researching World War 2.

Jane has traveled extensively around Eastern Europe, learning about the history of the region and walking the paths of her characters.

For non-fiction authors, your credentials are incredibly relevant as readers are far more likely to trust an authority on a subject, while fiction authors can focus more on why they write in a specific genre.

Book marketing consultant Rob Eagar suggests that another way to boost your credibility is to “to weave in any endorsements you may have received from well-known outlets… Readers pay more attention to authors with a proven track record.”

For example:

[Famous author] says Jane Doe is a unique new voice in the thriller genre.

How to Build an Amazing Author Blog

10 lessons to help you start your blog and boost your book sales.

Example: Amanda Ripley’s expert qualifications

One author using their credentials to their best advantage is non-fiction author Amanda Ripley. Check out her “About the Author”: 

Top tip: Keep it short

A good author bio is efficient beyond just the first line, as book launch specialist Joel Pitney suggests:

“People don't want to read long bios! Keep it under 300 words. Only include relevant materials and be as succinct as possible. If you've won a lot of awards, for example, only include the most impressive ones. Same goes if you’ve published a couple of books; only include your most successful three.”

Author bios are not a place for you to delve into a lengthy explanation of your history. However, you also don’t want your bio to be devoid of any personality. Adding a bit of color to your bio helps readers imagine who you are. Plus, if they can relate to you, it might be an extra push for them to buy your book. 

That’s why Joel Pitney suggests: “If there's room, and it's relevant, you can add some color, like where you live or something interesting that might not obviously relate to your writing career, but that makes you a more interesting person.”

This can be done subtly, like by referring to your location in your byline: 

“New-York based psychologist, Jane Doe…”

Or you can include a brief illustration of your lifestyle, says Rachel: “Jane lives and works out of her home at the base of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, and spends her summers hiking and camping with her two children and husband.”

Finally, marketing consultant Rob suggests closing out with a quippy-one liner that illustrates what kind of writer you are. “If your writing is known for its humor, let it show in your bio.” For example:

Jane hopes to write her next novel soon, if she can stop reading other people's novels instead.

Example: Natalie Barelli’s chatty tone

Check out fiction writer Natalie Barelli’s bio for an example of personalization done right: 

Natalie Barelli can usually be found reading a book, and that book will more likely than not be a psychological thriller. Writing a novel was always on her bucket list, and eventually, with Until I Met Her, it became a reality. After He Killed Me is the second and final book in her Emma Fern Series. When not absorbed in the latest gripping page-turner, Natalie loves cooking, knits very badly, enjoys riding her Vespa around town, and otherwise spends far too much time at the computer. She lives in Australia, with her husband and extended family.

An author bio is unique to the writer, so everyone’s will look different — but by following our 4-step process and using the author bio template, you’ll include everything you need to maximize your chances of winning over readers.

And if you’re looking for more inspiration on how to build your online presence, check out more examples of the “ About the Author ” section or our course on how to build an author mailing list:

How to Build Your Author Mailing List

Learn how to connect with your audience and sell more books with email.

8 responses

Diane says:

07/06/2018 – 09:10

Excellent post! I really liked the way explained each point with examples. Author can write a big book but broke into sweat when it comes to write a bio about themselves. Sometimes they also need paper writing help. It have to be short and interesting, not boring. In that case your article will help them to write a killer one.

Nancy Man says:

20/06/2018 – 00:10

This was super helpful -- thanks! Sticking to these four elements worked great for me. I've finally got a bio that I'm not rolling my eyes at. :)

Antigone Blackwell says:

08/12/2018 – 19:01

If someone is reading this article, it is highly unlikely that they can boast being bestselling authors or share that they are on the third book of a highly successful series. More examples with start up authors would be great.

India Government Schemes says:

12/03/2019 – 11:42

This is awesome, but i am seeing in this days mostly hide there Bio in Blogs, But they don't know In The Blog Author Bio is also a Ranking Factor in the Google Search Ranking.

Joe Robinson says:

08/05/2019 – 12:28

Very helpful article that has helped me write my author bio for my upcoming book "Move Your Marriage to Greatness" a Marriage Replenishment Work designed to help couple achieve extraordinary accomplishments that are uncommon in many marriages today. I appreciate you making this article available.

Jitender Sharma says:

10/09/2019 – 05:00

Thanks for your post

Mike aantonio says:

14/11/2019 – 10:06

After reading the bio. samples mentioned above. Is it really necessary to introduce the author as a third party. Can't we directly say " Hi I am a blogger from so and so ......."

↪️ Martin Cavannagh replied:

15/11/2019 – 09:15

You can do... but it's not standard practice.

Comments are currently closed.

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• 1. Book Report Projects
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Biography Book Report Project Fun Newspaper Projects

Biography book report project newspaper templates.

Assembled Project Size:   Width = 12 inches   Height = 18 inches

Nonfiction Book Reports: Your students will enjoy being newspaper editors and writing articles, cartoons, and timelines based on the famous people that they have read about in their books.

You can read more detailed information about this resource by clicking ==>  HERE .

A Note About Your Purchase:  You will be emailed a download link for the resource(s) that you purchase so that you can download, save, print, and use the resource(s)  today!

A very DETAILED description about this resource set is provided below.

Biography book report project newspaper templates:, what's included.

John F. Kennedy Newspaper - Nonfiction Book Report Project Example

Biography Book Report Newspapers: Are you looking for a book report project that is designed specifically for biographies that will be fun and challenging for your elementary school students to complete?

These newspaper graphic organizers combine the components that are included in many biography book reports with the features included in being an editor and writing a newspaper.

Many of the biography book reports and newspaper projects that I have come across in my years of teaching are traditionally one page worksheets.

Instead of a traditional and often boring one page worksheet, I have created a four template biography project and combined it with the theme of designing a newspaper.

For this nonfiction book report assignment, students complete the following activities:

• write an article about the person's early life
• write an article about the most important events in this person's life
• design a comic strip about the person
• create a timeline detailing the most significant dates and events in the person's life

It is important for students to read both fiction and nonfiction books for their free choice book selections during the school year. Most students find writing a summary about a biography that they have read quite boring .

By using this unique book report project idea, your students will enjoy being editors and designing their own newspapers based on the famous people that they have read about in their nonfiction books.

Abraham Lincoln Newspaper - Nonfiction Book Report Project Example

This uniquely shaped book report project contains 4 worksheet templates that assemble into a large biography newspaper.

There is a fifth template that has smaller templates for the title of the newspaper and for the timeline . These two smaller templates are glued onto the newspaper project after it has been assembled.

The finished biography book report project measures 12 inches in width and 18 inches in height (see example on the right.)

Everything that you need to complete these biography newspaper projects is included in this set of teaching resources. All that you will need is scissors, glue, tape, and coloring pencils.

There are 16 printable worksheets and template pages in this set, as well as a 5 page color bulletin board display banner.

These finished biography newspaper projects will make a colorful and dynamic bulletin board display of your students' work.

In addition, this set of reading resources includes 8 reading posters with a newspaper theme that can be used as accent pieces for your classroom bulletin board display.

Traditionally, requiring students to write a summary about a biography that they have read is a task that most students find quite boring. By using these extra large biography newspaper templates , your students will become actively engaged in the job of becoming newspaper reporters.

Biography Book Report Project Video:

Watch the video below to view examples of these newspaper projects. 

Note :  Due to spelling differences in English (Examples: color/colour and favorite/favourite), there are two separate sets of  worksheets and templates included in this set of teaching resources.

You can select the version ( U.S. or U.K. spelling rules) that contains the spelling that is used in the country where you live. 

The worksheets and templates that are shown on this page use  U.S. spelling rules .

Assembling Directions:

This set of teaching resources includes assembling directions on how to prepare and assemble this biography book report project.

Below is an example of the assembling directions worksheet.

Grading Rubric:

A book report grading rubric is included in this set of teaching resources.

I believe that it is important for students to evaluate their own work, so my book report rubric contains an assessment section for both students and teachers.

When students evaluate their book report projects, they color in the faces on their grading rubric worksheets. When a teacher evaluates the projects, the teacher circles the small numbers inside each box on the printable worksheets.

Below is an example of my biography book report grading rubric.

First Draft Worksheets:

I believe that the writing process is important and that teachers should use process writing whenever possible.

For this reason, my students never begin their book report projects by writing on their final draft newspaper templates, instead they write on first draft worksheets.

Next, my students edit and revise their written work on their own, with a partner, or in individual writing conferences with me.

This biography book report newspaper project is  divided into the following creative writing sections:

• Title of Newspaper: Think of a creative title for your newspaper. For example, a newspaper about Albert Einstein could be called Einstein's Edition, a newspaper about George Washington could be called Colonial Times, or a newspaper about Queen Elizabeth could be called Royal Review.
• Date of Publication: For the date, choose an important date in the person's life.
• City of Publication: For the city where this newspaper is published, choose a city that this person has lived in.
• Weather: Using the date (which month you chose and what season that month is in), decide what the temperature and weather will be like in this city.
• Issue # and Price: Students choose these.
• Comic Strip: Create a comic strip for your newspaper about an important event that happened in this person's life. Sketch out a rough draft of your illustrations and decide what this person will be saying in each speech bubble.
• Timeline: In the first circle, write the date that this person was born. If this person is no longer living, write the date of this person's death in the last circle. Fill in the rest of the timeline in chronological order with the most important events that happened in this person's life and write a brief description of each event on the lines below each circle.
• Article #1: Write a newspaper article about this person's early life. It is very important that you summarize in your own words what you have learned about this person. You may not copy sentences from the biography that you read about this person. This is called plagiarism. Remember to include the following information in your newspaper article: Who, What, Where, When, and Why (The 5 W's).
• Article #2: Write a newspaper article about the most important events that happened in this person's life and what made this person famous.
• Illustrations: Students draw pictures for their two newspaper articles.

Examples of First Draft Worksheets:

This set of teaching resources contains four printable worksheets for students to write their first drafts on.

On my first draft worksheets, I have designed the writing line spaces to match the spaces allotted on the final draft biography book report templates.

First Draft Worksheet #1: Students write the person who is the subject of their newspapers and choose a title for their newspapers.

Next, students fill in an information chart that contains the following information: date, city, weather, price, and issue number.

Then, students sketch out a rough draft of their comic strips.

First Draft Worksheet #2: Students select the most important events and dates in the person's life and fill in the timeline on this worksheet.

Next, students read the directions for writing the first newspaper article and write the headline for their first article.

First Draft Worksheets #3 and #4: On these two worksheets, students write their two newspaper articles.

The first article is about the person's early life and the second newspaper article is about the most important events that happened in this person's life and what made this person famous.

Black and White Newspaper Templates:

This set of teaching resources includes 5 worksheet templates that are glued together to form a newspaper.

The finished newspaper measures 18 inches in height and 12 inches in width.

• Top Left: date, issue #, price, drawing, headline, and the beginning of first newspaper article
• Top Right: weather, end of first newspaper article, and cartoon
• Top Center: glue the text box template that contains the title of the newspaper 
• Bottom Left: headline, drawing, and the beginning of second newspaper article
• Bottom Right : end of second newspaper article
• Bottom Center: glue the text box template that contains the timeline (this template is shown below)

Newspaper Title Template: title of the newspaper, city, and editor (student) 

This title text box is glued at the top center section of the newspaper.

Timeline Templates: Important dates and events in person's life.

The timeline templates are glued together and then glued on the bottom center section of the newspaper.

Below is a large example so that you can see where these two sections are glued. 

These two templates have been colored yellow and have arrows pointing to them.

Einstein Newspaper - Nonfiction Biography Book Report Project Example

Color Newspaper Templates:

When I am first introducing my students to a new book report project, I believe that it is important for them to have a visual example of what a completed project looks like.

I always complete an example of this biography book report newspaper before I introduce this assignment to my students.

Before my students begin writing their first drafts, I show them my finished newspaper project. This visual example immediately grabs my students' attention and they are excited to start working on this project from the very beginning.

My students also enjoy hearing about the book that I chose to do my book report project on. This is also a wonderful opportunity to share a book that I would like to encourage my students to read.

To save you time in coloring your example that you show to your students, I have included color newspaper templates in this teaching resources set. I display my finished biography book report at the front of my classroom so that students can refer to it as they are completing their own newspaper projects.

Below: Biography Newspaper Color Templates 

4 printable worksheets that are cut out and then glued together,

Free 5 Page Bulletin Board Display Banner:

I know that it takes teachers a lot of time to design and assemble their classroom bulletin board displays.

Many teachers spend their valuable time cutting out large bulletin board display letters or making a banner at home on their own computers.

In order to help save you time in assembling a bulletin board display featuring your students' biography newspaper projects, I have designed a 5 page banner that is included for free in this set of teaching resources.

If you have access to a laminating machine, I recommend that you l aminate your banner so that it will be more durable and you can use it again in the future.

Below: Biography Book Report Banner

Free Bulletin Board Display Accent Pieces:

EXTRA FREE RESOURCES : I have created some newspaper themed accent pieces to assist you in decorating your bulletin board display featuring your students' finished biography book report projects.

This set of teaching resources includes 8 (one page) Newspaper Posters that contain the following reading slogans written on them:

• Biography Newspapers: Read Our Polished Publications
• Biography Newspapers: Attention Grabbing Headlines
• Biography Newspapers: Read Our Informative News Articles
• Biography Newspapers: Comical Comic Strips
• Biography Newspapers: Attention Grabbing Photographs
• Biography Newspapers: Weather Update
• The 5 W's: Who, What, Where, When, and Why
• Charts and Data: Biography Timelines

I hope that these extra free resources that are included in this set help save you time in decorating your newspaper bulletin board display.

You will be able to design a colorful and dynamic classroom bulletin board display using your students' finished biography book report projects.

These newspaper graphic organizers are a unique and fun way to get your students excited about completing a writing assignment about the books that they have read.

The writing responses that are required of your students will make them think and write about the historic characters of their books in a challenging and engaging way. In addition, this book report set includes newspaper accent pieces to help you in decorating your bulletin board display.

I hope that your students enjoy becoming newspaper editors and completing this fun biography book report project.

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Biography Book Report Template

Description

Biography Book Report

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Use this template to help your students organize their thoughts when writing their Biography Book Report. This template includes:

• Cover page description
• Introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion descriptions
• How step-by-step directions on how to writ each paragraph
• Can easily be re-written into a full 5 paragraph essay once the template is finished

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