The Brave Leap Into Your Biography

By Lois Tuffin

So many people believe they have insights or experiences they should share with the world beyond a social media page. And they are right.

During COVID lockdowns, countless people finally sat down and started capturing their biographies and the lessons learned during their lives. Each one is fascinating.

They range from the woman who wrestled her schizophrenia under control then looked back at the damage she had done to her family to the Airbnb guru who wants others to succeed.

A woman who grew up in the shadow of her larger-than-life family.

The teenager whose best friend died unexpectedly, and the influence she still has on the lives on in the people she encountered.

The chemist whose true calling was making businesses sing so their founders can rake in big money.

The unfulfilled office worker who finally figured out at age 50 what he should have done with his life. Now he is helping others find their true paths sooner.

That is just a partial list of the authors from Peterborough and around the world who have crossed my path in one year. And your book could be next.

Getting your story out of your head

For each of these individuals, their story sprouted in them years ago but life kept them from writing it down. Once they got started, they found the writing process cathartic and freeing.

Looking at a blank page – either on your computer screen or in a journal – can be intimidating. If you are having trouble getting started, the task may feel monumental. You can begin clearing the information out of your head, which will lead to a giant sorting exercise later.

Instead, I recognize setting out a framework beforehand and putting information into separate ‘buckets’ as you go. That step is crucial to not getting mired in extra editing and restructuring that can take away your momentum. It doesn’t have to be set in stone. After all, words can be moved around and changed.

There are certain narrative structures that work better to capture the ups and downs in life, whether you are starting with a life-changing moment or the day you were born. They help the reader to follow the emotional part of the journey and want to complete it with it.

Without a doubt, anyone with a great story should tell it. You just need to do it the right way.