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How to Write a Biography
At some point in their academic careers, all students will be required to write a biography. In this guide, learn how to write a biography with tips for every phase of the process, from planning to research and writing. And because a biography is only as good as the author’s research, find links below to the best sources of biographical information on the Web, including interviews and obituaries.
Expand All Guide SectionsTips for Writing a Biography
Get advice on how to write a biography from those who have done it before. The following resources ... read more »
Researching for a Biography
Encyclopedias, newsmagazines and history Web sites are good places to begin your research. Many ... read more »
Interviews
Interviews have the potential to offer writers an intimate window into a person’s world, and ... read more »
Obituaries
Obituaries are a useful source of biographical information for deceased persons. Found in all major newspapers, obituaries contain details of a person’s life and work, and describe their relevance and cultural impact.
Insights for Obituaries
- Rather than go directly to one specific paper for an obituary, try getting a broad cross-section by using a search engine. For example, if you’re looking for obits on British Author J.G. Ballard, enter “jg ballard obituary” into your favorite search engine. Such a search will pull up obits written on the author from the top British and American newspapers.
Top Sites for Obituaries
The New York Times has an extensive obituaries section. To find an obituary, search The New York Times archive. Be sure to select the option for “All Results Since 1851.”
New York Public Library has resources for locating obituaries and death notices.
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