how to write political biography

How to Write a Political Bio

How to Write the Objective in a CV for PhD Admissions

Campaigning for public office is more than shaking hands and kissing babies. Your political biography sets the tone for who you are as a candidate and reveals who you are as an individual. It establishes an image that conveys your values, qualifications and passion for the position. Don’t hold back as you write a story that compels voters to choose you in the next election. Consider a political biography an opportunity to establish an image that leaves a lasting impression.

Take Inventory

Begin by taking inventory of your personal and professional experiences. Write down key information such as your age, family, education, job titles, community service activities, civic engagement, awards and the public service offices you’ve held. Write a separate list of qualities that separate you from the other candidates running for office.

Collect Documentation

Collect photographs, memorabilia and videos that can serve as supporting documentation for your skills and experiences. If possible, take some new pictures that reinforce your commitment to the district you wish to serve. Remember that potential voters are drawn to candidates who are charismatic and accessible. Photographs and videos can fortify the words used to describe you.

Write your Story

Use the information you’ve collected to write your story. Be clear and concise with your words and remember that most voters will not know who you are. The tone of your biography should fit the candidate you espouse to be. Begin with background information that defines who you are as a person. Next, describe your skills and experiences that make a case for why you're best suited for the position. Finish with a statement of purpose or rationale for running. For print materials, intermingle photos that back up your biography. For a website, intermix photographs and video to bring your words to life. Be sure to have several people read and review your political biography, prior to publishing it.

Special Tips

Ask a campaign volunteer to write a version of your political biography and compare it to the one you wrote. Reading a biography written by someone who knows you and the campaign field will offer you a different perspective. You will likely need a shorter version that is a paragraph or less, to be used in leaflets or brochures. A longer version that is a one page or more can be used for a website. Write your political biography in the third person, as if someone else is speaking about you. Finally, address any negative personal issues in your biography so that you can be in control of the message at the beginning of the campaign.

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Dr. Kelly Meier earned her doctorate from Minnesota State Mankato in Educational Leadership. She is the author and co-author of 12 books and serves as a consultant in K-12 and higher education. Dr. Meier is is a regular contributor for The Equity Network and has worked in education for more than 30 years. She has numerous publications with Talico, Inc., DynaTEAM Consulting, Inc. and Kinect Education Group.

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Ballotpedia: how we write a person's biography.

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A person's biography on Ballotpedia is intended to be a brief overview of their life.

Specifically, these biographies attempt to capture the person’s birthplace, current residence, educational background (including high school, college, and trade school), military service, and career experience (including current employment and past positions). The biography may also capture the person's previous public offices held and major accomplishments or community involvement. Biographies do not capture information about the person's family or attempt to be a comprehensive accounting of every event in the person's life.

Ballotpedia gathers biographical information about a person from multiple sources, including:

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• News media articles or videos about the person
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• Government-published voter guides, candidate lists, and officeholder bios

Here is an example of a fictitious person's biography on Ballotpedia:

John Smith was born in Jackson, Michigan, and lives in Cupertino, California. He graduated from Jackson High School in 1995. Smith served in the United States Air Force from 1995 to 1998 and reached the rank of senior airman. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Central Michigan University in 2002, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Albion College in 2004, and a Ph.D. in materials engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2007.

Smith’s career experience includes working as an engineer with Dow Chemical, project lead supervisor with Foxconn, and research manager with Apple. He founded the Buddy Reading volunteering program in Madison, Wisconsin. Smith was appointed to serve on the city of Madison’s Urban Planning Committee by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and on California’s Veteran Integration Task Force by Governor Jerry Brown (D).

Note that the format of a person's biography and the content included in it may vary depending on the person's life experiences, information availability online, and Ballotpedia's editorial judgment.

Biographies that accompany a candidate's key campaign messages may also vary in substance and length, particularly if they appear in Ballotpedia articles other than the candidate's profile page. For example, Ballotpedia may provide a brief biography that does not mention a prior public office held by the candidate if their key campaign messages already mention that office.

Note that Ballotpedia first introduced its policy for standardized biographies in 2018, meaning that biographies written before 2018 may vary substantially in format, substance, and length as well.

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Best Practices for Writing Your Political Candidate Bio

Every campaign website should include a candidate biography page . It’s a section where you can tell voters about yourself and why you are running for office.

Start with an introduction

Who are you? Begin with some background information about yourself. Try to include some qualities that separate you from your opposition. Keep it positive and perhaps touch on some issues that are of concern to voters.

• Are you a dedicated parent who’s been advocating for local education reform? Mention it.
• Have you served in the military, gaining a deep understanding of national security concerns? Highlight it.
• Perhaps you’re a small business owner who knows the challenges faced by local entrepreneurs? Emphasize it.

Dig deep to into your background reveal what truly makes you unique and qualified for the position.

Describe your experience

What experiences in your personal, professional or political life have helped shape you and made you the person you are today? Discuss your education, job titles, community and civic work, awards and other offices you’ve held. How do those experiences translate into being a better candidate for the position you are running? Don’t just create a laundry list of accomplishments, but work your experience into a larger narrative. Make your biography statements informative and educational.

For example, if you’re running for city council and have successfully lobbied for environmentally friendly policies in the past, this sets you apart as a forward-thinking candidate.

Opt for a positive tone. This isn’t the place for mudslinging or making negative comments about your opponents. Focus on your own accomplishments and vision.

Add personal details

A little bit about you personally goes a long way. Voters want to know about you, but maybe not every detail of your life. Include some photos and even video for the page. Include both personal and professional content that helps provide a rounded idea of who you are.

You may want to include any endorsements you’ve secured. Have you won awards or been recognized by community organizations. Use those outside sources to help sell you. It’s easy to say great things about yourself, but when someone else does it, it carries a lot more weight.

What is it that you want to accomplish?

What do you want to accomplish during your time in office? Perhaps your goals can relate to previous accomplishments in your life. Use some examples if you can. Take a situation, describe how you handled it, and use it as a template for this section.

Take an issue profile and expand on it. What are your solutions or plans for tackling the issue? How do your plans differ from your opponent or the way the issue is being handled presently? Draw  connections between your past accomplishments and your current goals:

• Building on Past Successes : Link your goals to achievements from your personal or professional life. “Just as I turned around [Previous Initiative] to benefit our local schools, I aim to revitalize our economy post-pandemic.”
• Tangible Examples : Use specific situations you’ve encountered to highlight your ability to solve problems. It makes your goals more relatable. “When faced with a budget crisis at [Previous Position], I rallied a diverse team to find innovative solutions, a strategy I’ll bring to our district’s financial challenges.”
• Issue Profiling : Dive deep into critical issues. Explain your solutions and how they differ from current approaches or your opponent’s stance. “On the issue of healthcare, my plan emphasizes preventative care and streamlined access, distinct from the status quo.”
• Differentiate Yourself from Your Opponents : Highlight what sets you apart. Show how your vision contrasts with your opponent’s. “While my opponent favors top-down approaches, I believe in empowering local communities to shape their own futures.”

End on a strong note

Finish your candidate biography with a strong statement about your purpose for running and what you hope to accomplish in the office you seek. Be inspirational. Be specific in what issues you hope to tackle. Leave the reader knowing that you deserve their vote.

Write in first or third person?

Some candidates prefer to write about themselves in the third person. Other prefer a first person narrative (“I” and “me”). While first person may come across as more personal, that format is not very useful if you are trying to optimize your content for the search engines.Writing in the third person gives you plenty of opportunity to use your full name, which can help your material appear in search engine results for your name.

Have your candidate biography proofread

Have others that you trust read drafts of all your site content to check for grammar, spelling and content. Others will see your work with fresh eyes and be able to provide valuable feedback.

Create an elevator pitch to sell yourself

The candidate biography you finished writing should now be broken down. You’ll need a more succinct version, or an “elevator pitch”. Your elevator pitch will be a succinct summary of who you are and what you intend to accomplish in office. It’s just enough so that someone will quickly know the bare minimum about you. Make is very short and easily memorizable, so it shouldn’t be longer than 20 seconds or so.

You can also take portions of your biography and rewrite them as information for your campaign material, such as brochures and mailings.

If you have a detailed resume, use our AI Resume to Bio Tool to write a fleshed out candidate biography based on your work history and experience.

Related Content:

Best political biographies and tips how to write one

4 April 2024

Magda Wojcik

This compilation presents 17 best political biographies, offering insights into political figures from various backgrounds and historical contexts. Each biography was selected based on a minimum 4.0 rating on Amazon and Goodreads, ensuring quality and reader approval. From renowned leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Margaret Thatcher to influential activists like Cesar Chavez and Nelson Mandela, these biographies provide deep insights into the lives and legacies of political giants. Additionally, this compilation includes valuable tips for aspiring biographers, offering guidance on research, narrative crafting and ethical considerations.

What is a political biography?

Before we dive into the list of best political biographies, here is a quick summary of this non-fiction genre. A political biography is a detailed account of the life, career and political contributions of an individual. It typically explores their upbringing, education, political beliefs, achievements and impact on society. Political biographies often analyse the subject’s policies, leadership style and interactions with other political figures. This wealth of information provides insights into their character, motivations and the historical context in which they operated.

• Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
• The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
• Margaret Thatcher: The Authorized Biography
• Eleanor Roosevelt, Volume 1: 1884–1933
• Mandela: The Authorized Biography
• Indira : The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi  
• Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar
• And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle
• Atatürk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey
• The Last Lion
• G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century
• The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World
• Cesar Chavez: Autobiography of La Causa
• Alexander Hamilton
• Ho Chi Minh: A Life

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln  (2005) by Doris Kearns Goodwin

The first tile on the list of best political biographies is Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Goodwin’s acclaimed biography explores the leadership of Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. Through meticulous research and captivating storytelling, Goodwin highlights Lincoln’s ability to assemble a diverse cabinet of political rivals and harness their talents to preserve the Union. With insight into Lincoln’s character, decision-making process and enduring legacy, Goodwin offers a fresh perspective on one of America’s greatest presidents. This Pulitzer Prize-winning work is a testament to Lincoln’s political acumen and enduring relevance in American history.

In 2012, Steven Spielberg directed a film adaptation of the  Team of Rivals  —  Lincoln , starring Daniel Day-Lewis as United States President Abraham Lincoln.

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt  (1979) by Edmund Morris

Next on the list of best political biographies is  The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt  by Edmund Morris. Morris’s biography of Theodore Roosevelt offers a captivating account of the early life and political career of one of America’s most dynamic presidents. With meticulous research and vivid prose, Morris chronicles Roosevelt’s journey from a sickly child to a charismatic leader known for his progressive policies and larger-than-life personality. This Pulitzer Prize-winning work provides valuable insights into Roosevelt’s impact on American politics, conservation efforts and foreign policy, cementing his legacy as a transformative figure in American history.

Margaret Thatcher: The Authorised Biography  (2013) by Charles Moore

Moore’s comprehensive biography offers unparalleled insight into Margaret Thatcher’s life and political career. With access to Thatcher’s private papers and interviews with key figures, Moore delivers a nuanced portrayal of the Iron Lady, exploring her rise to power, controversial policies, and lasting impact on British politics. While offering insights into her achievements and strengths as a leader, this political biography also acknowledges criticisms of her economic policies. For instance, it discusses the restructuring of industries and confrontations with labour unions.

John Adams  (2001) by David McCullough

Another US president’s biography on the list of best political biographies is  John Adams  by David McCullough. In this Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, McCullough vividly portrays John Adams, America’s second president. Drawing on extensive research, McCullough illuminates Adams’ role in the founding of the United States, his complex relationship with Thomas Jefferson and his struggles to navigate the challenges of his time. With meticulous attention to detail and a compelling narrative style, McCullough brings Adams’ remarkable life and contributions to the forefront, offering readers a deeper appreciation for one of America’s founding fathers.

Eleanor Roosevelt, Volume 1: 1884–1933  (1992) by Blanche Wiesen Cook

Cook’s biography offers a comprehensive look at the life of Eleanor Roosevelt, one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. Drawing on extensive research and access to previously unavailable materials, Cook traces Roosevelt’s evolution from a shy and insecure young woman to a powerful advocate for social justice and human rights. With insight and empathy, Cook explores Roosevelt’s complex relationships, political activism and enduring legacy as a champion of equality and democracy. This engaging and insightful biography sheds new light on Roosevelt’s remarkable life and achievements.

Mandela: The Authorised Biography  (1999) by Anthony Sampson

Sampson’s authorised biography of Nelson Mandela provides a comprehensive overview of Mandela’s life, from his childhood in rural South Africa to his role as a global icon of freedom and reconciliation. Drawing on interviews with Mandela, his family and colleagues, Sampson offers a nuanced portrait of a man who endured imprisonment and hardship to lead his country out of apartheid. With meticulous detail and engaging storytelling, this biography sheds light on Mandela’s struggles, political leadership and enduring commitment to justice and equality.

For Mandela’s own perspective on his life, reach out for  Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography   of Nelson Mandela  (1995) or its silver-screen version,  Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom  (2013), with Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela.

Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi  (2001) by Katherine Frank

Another biography of an influential woman on the list of best political biographies is  Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi  by Katherine Frank. Frank’s biography delves into the complex life and legacy of Indira Gandhi, India’s first woman prime minister. Through extensive research and interviews, Frank traces Gandhi’s evolution from a shy young woman to a formidable political force. With insight and sensitivity, Frank explores Gandhi’s leadership style, her impact on Indian politics and the personal and political challenges she faced. This compelling biography offers a nuanced portrait of a woman who left an indelible mark on India and the world.

Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar  by Simon Sebag Montefiore

Montefiore’s biography provides a chilling glimpse into the inner workings of Joseph Stalin’s regime. Drawing on newly released archival material and first-hand accounts, Montefiore paints a vivid picture of Stalin’s brutal dictatorship and the personalities that surrounded him. From the purges of the Great Terror to the intrigue of Stalin’s inner circle, this gripping narrative sheds light on the paranoia, cruelty and brutality of one of history’s most notorious leaders. Montefiore does not shy from discussing Stalin’s horrors and failures, such as the Great Purge, the forced collectivisation of agriculture and the millions of deaths attributed to his rule.

And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle  by Jon Meacham (2022)

Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Jon Meacham meticulously traces Lincoln’s journey. Meacham reveals Lincoln’s profound moral convictions, his struggles with depression and his unwavering commitment to justice and democracy. From his humble beginnings on the Kentucky frontier to his presidency during the Civil War, Lincoln’s story embodies the complexities of American politics, the enduring legacy of racism and the power of conscience to drive change. Meacham’s portrait offers a humanising perspective on Lincoln, showcasing his flaws and virtues and underscoring his pivotal role in shaping the nation’s history and identity.

Atatürk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey  (1963) by Andrew Mango

Another fantastic political biography,  Atatürk  unveils the enigmatic statesman’s true complexity. Mango debunks myths surrounding Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, portraying him as a visionary leader who shaped modern Turkey. Atatürk’s pivotal role in thwarting Allied plans, defeating the Sultan and establishing the Turkish republic highlights his significance in history. Mango’s portrayal sheds light on contemporary issues like nationalism, religious fundamentalism and democracy, making Atatürk’s story relevant to modern times.

The Last Lion  (Winston Spencer Churchill series, 1983, 1988, 2012) by William Manchester and Paul Reid

This monumental political biography series, begun by William Manchester and completed by Paul Reid, offers a definitive account of the life and career of Winston Churchill, one of the twentieth century’s most influential leaders. The three-part series delves into Churchill’s childhood, political rise and leadership during World War II. With meticulous research and engaging prose, Manchester and Reid capture Churchill’s wit, courage and indomitable spirit, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of his enduring legacy as a statesman and orator. This acclaimed biography series is essential reading for anyone interested in Churchill and his pivotal role in shaping world history.

G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century  (2024) by Beverly Gage

Gage’s Pullitzer-winning  G-Man  illuminates J. Edgar Hoover’s transformative tenure as FBI director from 1924. Hoover’s controversial methods reshaped law enforcement but also perpetuated discrimination. Gage provides a nuanced portrayal, highlighting Hoover’s influence on American politics, civil rights and ideology. Through meticulous research, the author unveils Hoover’s complex persona as a confidant to presidents and a symbol of conservative values. Despite criticisms of his tactics, Hoover’s enduring legacy underscores his significant impact on shaping modern America’s political landscape. Gage’s biography offers insight into broader societal shifts, from policing to civil liberties, making  G-Man  a vital exploration of twentieth-century American history.

The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World  (2017) by A. J. Baime

The Accidental President recounts Harry S. Truman’s whirlwind first 120 days as FDR’s unexpected successor, navigating World War II’s climax, atomic bombs and the dawn of the Cold War. Truman’s remarkable rise to greatness unfolded amidst unprecedented challenges and decisions that shaped history. From the founding of the United Nations to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, author A. J. Baime immerses readers in the high-stakes decisions and pivotal moments that defined Truman’s presidency. With masterful storytelling,  The Accidental President  offers a gripping account of Truman’s leadership during a tumultuous period that changed the world forever.

Grant  (2017) by Ron Chernow

Ron Chernow’s  Grant  offers a nuanced portrayal of Ulysses S. Grant, dispelling misconceptions about the Union general and president. Chernow unveils Grant’s remarkable military successes, struggles with alcoholism and dedication to civil rights. Through meticulous research and literary prowess, Chernow paints a comprehensive picture of Grant’s complex character and enduring legacy. From his rise from adversity to his presidency marred by corruption scandals, Grant emerges as a multifaceted figure whose contributions to American history are profound and enduring. This definitive biography illuminates Grant’s remarkable journey, showcasing his resilience, leadership and commitment to justice.

Cesar Chavez: Autobiography of La Causa  (1975) by Jacques E. Levy

Levy’s biography provides an intimate look at the life and activism of Cesar Chavez, the renowned labour leader and civil rights activist. Written in collaboration with Chavez, it offers first-hand accounts of his efforts to organise farmworkers and advocate for their rights. Chavez shares his vision for social justice and his commitment to nonviolent protest through personal anecdotes and reflections. With passion and conviction, the autobiography inspires readers to continue the fight for equality and dignity in the workplace.

Alexander Hamilton  (2004) by Ron Chernow

Chernow’s  Alexander Hamilton  rectifies misconceptions about the founding father, revealing his pivotal role in shaping America’s political and economic landscape. Chernow portrays Hamilton’s humble beginnings, meteoric rise and passionate patriotism, dispelling myths and highlighting his enduring legacy. Through vivid storytelling, Chernow captures Hamilton’s complex character, from intimate relationships to fiery feuds. This biography offers a fresh perspective on America’s founding, emphasising Hamilton’s contributions to prosperity and power. As America faces contemporary challenges, Chernow’s narrative reminds readers of the enduring relevance of Hamilton’s ideas and the significance of our national heritage.

Ho Chi Minh: A Life  (2001) by William J. Duiker

The final title on the list of best political biographies, Duiker’s  Ho Chi Minh: A Life , offers a comprehensive portrayal of the influential political figure, meticulously researched and accessible. Duiker delves into Ho’s personal and political journey, highlighting his strategic prowess and nationalist fervour. The biography sheds light on Ho’s early travels and years in exile, revealing previously undocumented aspects of his life. Duiker’s narrative captures pivotal moments, such as Ho’s rise to power in northern Vietnam after World War II, and explores his complex relationships with Communist leaders. Ultimately, Duiker presents Ho Chi Minh as a nationalist and Marxist, challenging simplistic categorisations of his ideology and legacy.

Tips for writing a bestselling political biography

Choose your subject wisely.

Select a subject whose life and political career you find fascinating and believe others will too. Consider figures with a compelling story, significant impact on politics or whose lives shed light on important historical events.

Conduct thorough research

Conduct extensive research on your subject, including primary sources such as letters, speeches and archival materials. Also, consult secondary sources and scholarly works to ensure accuracy and depth in your portrayal.

Maintain objectivity

Strive to maintain objectivity in your writing. While it is natural to have personal opinions, a political biography should present a balanced view of your subject, including their achievements, failures and controversies.

Craft a compelling narrative

Structure your biography in a way that engages readers and keeps them turning the pages. Consider narrative techniques such as storytelling, character development and foreshadowing to create a compelling narrative arc.

Work with a professional editor

Collaborate with a professional editor who specialises in biography or political writing. An editor can help refine your manuscript, ensure clarity and coherence and provide valuable feedback on structure, tone and content.

• A developmental editor can assist in shaping the overall structure and content of your biography. They can provide feedback on the narrative arc, pacing and organisation of chapters to ensure a compelling and coherent storyline. For example, they might suggest restructuring chapters to create a more engaging narrative flow or help you identify areas where additional research or depth is needed to enrich the story.
• Line editors focus on the substance and clarity of your writing. They can help refine your prose, clarify complex ideas and ensure consistency in tone and voice throughout the biography. For instance, they might suggest rewriting passages to improve clarity, eliminate jargon, or enhance readability for a broader audience.
• Given the importance of accuracy in political biographies, hiring a fact-checking service can be invaluable. Fact-checkers meticulously verify details, dates, quotations and other factual information to ensure the integrity and credibility of your biography. This helps to avoid errors or inaccuracies that could undermine the trust of readers and critics.
• Copyeditors focus on grammar, punctuation, spelling and style conventions. They polish your manuscript to ensure it adheres to standard publishing guidelines and is error-free. For example, they might correct typos, improve sentence structure and ensure consistency in formatting and citation style.
• Proofreaders perform a final review of your manuscript before publication to catch any remaining errors or inconsistencies. They scrutinise the text for minor spelling, punctuation, or formatting mistakes that may have been overlooked during earlier editing stages. Their attention to detail ensures a polished and professional final product.

Respect privacy and ethics

Be mindful of privacy and ethical considerations, especially when writing about living individuals or sensitive topics. Obtain necessary permissions to use copyrighted materials and adhere to ethical standards in your research and writing.

Final thoughts

These political biographies offer invaluable insights into the lives and legacies of some of our time’s most influential political figures, providing a treasure trove of information and inspiration for aspiring biographers. With compelling narrative styles, meticulous research and insightful analysis, these biographies serve as a model for writers looking to craft engaging and informative political biographies. These best political biographies are an essential resource for anyone looking to explore the world of political biography, whether an experienced writer or just starting your writing journey.

Contact me for a  free sample edit  of your biography manuscript (and remember to use my  early bird discount ). I am an  experienced editor  working with non-fiction, academic and business texts. I can help prepare your text for publication, from a big-picture analysis through highlighting your authorial voice to ensuring the correctness and consistency of the language.

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• April 11, 2022

How to write a good political biography as a candidate

A good biography should answer two questions: who are you and why are you good for this job?

Who are you?

You should place your name first in your biography. Even though it seems simple, your name should appear throughout your biography several times. It not only helps voters to learn your name, but it also helps Google recognize your website is the result people need to find when they search your name. The best way of doing this is writing the biography in the third person.

This biography is an introduction of yourself as the political candidate to the voters. So you should focus on your background and a little on the issues that made you want to run.

You can start with your connection to the area, maybe you moved to town to raise your family, maybe you have lived here your whole life. People trust people that they know, so how would your voters know you?

Why are you good for this political office?

Your current job and why it would prepare you to be a good public servant are good places to start. If you own a store or small business, you may have some insight into local regulations or tax laws. You may be a teacher and familiar with the changes that need to be made at the administrative level of the school district.

Tell a story, YOUR story.

What else makes you a good candidate for the job? This is a place to discuss your education, your community and civic work, and previous offices you may have held. Describe how your experiences qualify you for the job. Make sure you do not just list bullet points, but use short paragraphs (like the ones in this article). 

Political endorsements and awards

A biography can be a good place to mention endorsements you’ve received, awards you’ve received, or if you’ve been recognized by community organizations. If you list every single accomplishment in your biography, it will appear cluttered and hard to read. Don’t just list these accomplishments, weave them into a story when you share them.

Political values can connect to your biography

In addition, this is an opportunity to demonstrate your values instead of telling us about them. If faith is a big part of your motivation for running, you can share your volunteer work or leadership in your church. In the case of running on the basis of family values, you can highlight your time on the PTA of your children’s school or your free time spent teaching computer classes at the community center. You shouldn’t just list your values, but also demonstrate how you embody them. For conservative voters, actions speak louder than words.

Showcasing political issues 

Another question that should be answered by reading this biography is what do you want to accomplish during your time in office? You can cover these more in your issues section, but people really want to know: what’s in it for the voter? How will your work make a difference in the community and the lives of the voter?

It is important to distinguish yourself from the other candidates. You should only talk about yourself and your family. So, you can include some qualities that separate yourself from your opposition but above all else keep things positive.

Spacing in political biographies is important

Computers and readers both like lots of breaks in between text so try and keep your paragraphs just a few sentences long. This is not an English Literature assignment, and you don’t need to spend pages and pages with complex sentence structure to tell your story.

How long should a political biography be?

Don’t pend too much time stressing about your biography. If you wind up spending more than 30 min writing a biography you’re overthinking it. Time spent worrying about the website is time that will be better spent knocking on doors and talking to voters. This section is a modified stump speech, an elevator pitch, an introduction at a work meeting. It doesn’t need to be longer than a few hundred words if that’s all you can think to write.

Make sure you have someone read through your biography for grammar and misspelled words. Another set of fresh eyes will usually see something you missed. This is your first introduction to some potential voters, you don’t want virtual spinach in your teeth.

Finishing on an action

End your statement on a strong note. Be inspirational or give the voters an action. Leave the reader knowing why you deserve their vote on Election Day. Don’t be afraid to say it outright: “John Doe needs your vote this November.”

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Most frequent questions and answers

Why choose ryvall.

While other web design options exist, Ryvall is built exclusively for campaigns. While other drag and drop website editors can make a beautiful site, they fall down when it comes to function. From day one, your site will collect valuable emails and volunteers that you can download easily. Additionally, Ryvall provides every candidate managed updates, so you never have to fiddle with the back end of your site. Instead, just send us an email and we will handle the updates for you, making editing your site painless. (Of course if you’re a tech savvy campaign that wants the freedom of access to the backend we can provide that as well).

What is included in the basic plan?

Every plan includes your domain name registration and hosting. Our hosting is backed by the Google Cloud Platform, delivering incredible reliability. Each site also includes a free SLL certificate. We handle all of the technical details so you don’t have to manage any hosting accounts and get lost in technical jargon.

What do I need to get started?

You will need to set up a way to accept contributions, write a short candidate biography, and have some kind of slogan for your campaign. With those items we can get a site up and running in three business days. Many candidates will also want to write short statements on the issues that are important to their campaign, as well as have professional photos taken. We can build a functional site with as little or as much content as you want.

Do basic plans include email?

Basic plans do not include email accounts. Instead, your website has a contact form that will be directed to the personal email of your choice, providing constituents a way to get in touch. If you need more advanced email features, consider upgrading to a standard or premium plan.

What design options come with the basic plan?

To start, you can select from three custom templates that are designed specifically for campaigns. Each template is mobile responsive, so your site will look great no matter what. With a basic plan you can upload a logo and select custom colors, or pick from one of our easy ready to go color palettes.

The Candidate Statement: Communicating Your Vision to Voters

By Shane Daley

Who are you to voters? At the start of an election campaign, political candidates outline their positions on various issues. These are called candidate statements, and they are used to help voters make informed choices. In this article, we will explore what a memorable candidate statement is and the key elements you need to write one.

Let’s start with the most obvious question:

What is a candidate statement?

A candidate statement is an outline of a political candidate’s qualifications. It summarizes their positions on key issues, and their plans for the future. It’s more like a stump speech, as a statement is designed to be straight to the point, and connect with voters on a personal level.

Think of it as a voter introduction.

Versions of this information may be eventually reworked and included in voter information guides , campaign websites, and brochure material.

Writing a candidate statement isn’t as hard as you think.

Elements of a Candidate Statement

When writing a candidate statement, the final result should easily provide voters with an understanding of the candidate’s background, platform, and vision. Just like a candidate’s personal bio , your statement should be concise and highlight your unique skills and values.

An effective candidate statement should include the following elements:

Introduce yourself and provide your background

Your introduction should be concise and clear. It should outline who you are and what office you are running for. Then go into a short background description, while highlighting your unique qualifications for the elected position.

For example, you can mention how growing up in the local area gives you a unique perspective on how you can help improve the lives of residents today.

For example, you could say something like. “I was fortunate to have grown up in our vibrant community. It’s this very upbringing that instilled in me the values and understanding that make me qualified for mayor. My roots in this area have given me insight into the challenges we face, as well as the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Lean in on your experience and skills

The background section should be all about your education, work experience, and other relevant accomplishments. Provide context so voters can better understand how your experience and skills directly relate to the position you seek.

For example, suppose you are running for sheriff of a county, and an important election issue is that of community policing. You have a law enforcement background and worked as a community outreach officer. This makes you well-qualified to address the issue. So, when drafting your candidate statement, you might highlight your specific qualifications, such as:

• Graduated with honors from a police academy.
• Served as a community outreach officer and earned a trusted reputation acting as a liaison between the community and law enforcement.
• Led successful initiatives that focused on officer training and building relationships with community leaders.

By focusing on these qualifications, you’ll show voters that you have the experience and skills to handle the role of community policing.

Describe the issues and your platform

This section is perhaps the most important, as it is where you outline your positions on the issues. Highlight the most pressing issues that your voters are facing. Break down your platform into a concise, informed, and well-organized summary. For each issue, provide details on policy solutions or initiatives that you plan to implement if elected.

Wrap it up with a call to action

Finally, finish up with a summary of your main points. And don’t forget to add a clear call to action. Typically, this will be a request for your audience to support the campaign, to donate, volunteer, or get involved in some other way. Deliver your conclusion with confidence and conviction, so you leave a strong impression on the audience.

“Our community is at a crossroads. We have challenges, but also opportunities. We have to work together to make a difference. To do that, I need your support this November. Only then can we shape a better future for our city.”

Preparing for your audience

Before you start writing your statement, you’ll need to do some research and preparation. Here are key elements of this process:

• Research: Before writing a candidate statement, it’s important to research the issues and concerns that are most important to the electorate or audience. This can involve focus groups, researching polling data, and finding out more about your opponent’s stances.
• Writing: Once the research is complete, you or your team will begin the writing process. Again, what you say should be concise and easy to understand. It should include a clear message that reflects your vision for the future. You will end up creating several versions, as your material should be tailored to each specific audience you present to. This may determine whether you mention specific endorsements or organizations that you belong to.
• Editing: Once the writing is done, it’s time to edit and refine the material. This may involve cutting out unnecessary information, adding additional detail, or rephrasing certain sections for clarity or impact. Carefully review your text to ensure that it is free of errors. Make sure that it effectively communicates your message.
• Rehearsal: After your statement is written, it’s time to rehearse the speech. You should do it enough so you are comfortable delivering it in a public forum. You may want to practice in front of a mirror, record yourself on video, or deliver your speech to a few trusted supporters or advisors for feedback. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll be speaking before an audience.

Overall, a well-crafted candidate statement can make a big difference in your political campaign. It can help establish credibility and build support for your election.

Recommended Reading: Political Candidate Profile and Biography Worksheet [PDF]

Tags: personal branding

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8 Tips for Formatting Candidate Biographies

Regardless of how biographies make their way into the system, election managers still have the opportunity to edit biographies once the deadline has passed for candidates to make their own edits and there are some best practices that should be followed before an election opens up to voters. The text formatting tools available for editing these biographies—while relatively limited compared to a full-fledged word processor—include everything necessary for editing a candidate biography. Despite the simplicity of the text editing controls, it still allows enough flexibility to do some things with the format of the biography that are not ideal and that degrade the experience for the voter. This post therefore outlines some best practices to ensure your candidate biographies are as “visually digestible” and voter friendly as possible.

• Work in plain text.  When candidates submit their own biographies, they have no choice but to work in plain text—though they may use markdown to apply some basic formatting to that text. Therefore, given that having candidates submit their own biographies should always be the approach taken, there should never be an occasion when you have candidates biographies not in plain text. Having said that, in the event an election manager is submitting biographies on behalf of candidates, realize that you should always work in plain text. There are multiple methods for committing text to a candidate biography. You may type directly in the editor window; paste text directly into the window; paste as plain text; or Paste from Word. Never use Paste from Word. At least almost never. Paste from Word is provided as a convenience, but I’ve often wondered if eliminating it from the toolbar would be the better service because it’s when clients use this option that they most often end up with poorly formatted biographies. As an example of why not to use Paste from Word, consider the following. It is possible to create tables in Word so that text may be placed into columns. Using the Paste from Word option in the biography editor preserves these tables which can be problematic since the table can end up being wider than the viewable area. This is especially true given the small size of the window in which candidate biographies are viewed. When the content is wider than the viewable area, the user must scroll the page horizontally and vertically, rather than just vertically resulting in poor usability. Paste from Word also preserves the font family and size settings and those may not be consistent with the fonts used on the ballot itself, or even consistent with other biographies if you used different methods for different candidates. Now, Paste from Word doesn’t have to lead to problems and in the hands of someone who knows what they’re doing, it’s a perfectly innocuous tool. But for the reasons listed above, it’s generally safest to simply work in plain text either by typing directly into the text window, or by using the Paste as Plain Text tool in the toolbar. Formatting may then be applied to that text using the tools provided in the biography editor.  
• Don’t underline anything that’s not a link.  You may have been taught in typing class to underline something to give it emphasis. That’s how it’s done on a typewriter since typewriters don’t have options for applying italics and bolding. But computers aren’t typewriters and on web pages, underlined text is regarded as a hyperlink that may be clicked. If you need to provide emphasis to something, use italics or bold instead.  
• Don’t use all caps.  Not only is it considered yelling, it’s also harder to read. Read more at Don’t Use All Caps in Ballot Setup .  
• Use bullet points. When you need to make a collection of points, don’t list them one after another in run-on sentences. Instead, use short text “bursts” formatted in either bullet points or numbered lists. Realize that numbered lists are sometimes associated with a set of instructions displayed as sequential steps, therefore, bullet lists are likely to be more appropriate for displaying a collection of points, but use your best judgment for this.  
• Use Verdana as the font. Other fonts can be perfectly suitable. However, because the ballot pages use Verdana, you’ll maintain uniformity across the ballot and the biographies if Verdana’s used there also. In fact, it is the default font and the only way to override that is to Paste From Word, which is discouraged.  
• Don’t display anything not of value to the voter. This might seem like a no-brainer, but I have actually seen biographies that display what amounts to notes to the candidates about how to provide their biographies. While such notes, or instructions, might be of value to the candidates as they’re submitting biographies, they are worthless to the voter and only clutter things up if not removed prior to the start of voting. Again, we always aim for a “visually digestible” display meaning the eye can absorb a page’s content and move through it easily without having to decide what parts of the pages are not germane and not skipped. In a well-formatted biography, there’s nothing to skip.  
• Make use of the horizontal rule. In the toolbar of the biography editor, on the second row, sixth tool from the left (at the time of this writing), is the most underused tool in the editor. You have the ability to create some visual separation between parts of the biography by inserting a horizontal rule on the page. Make use of it, but be judicious and don’t overdo it.  
• Maintain consistency in what is included in a candidate biography. Give your candidates some instruction about what they may include in their biography. If you only want them to include a statement about why they should be elected, tell them that. If you wish them to list achievements or certifications, tell them that. But don’t make it a free-for-all where one candidate submits a statement, while another lists degrees and achievements. After looking over the first biography, the voter will be conditioned to look for the same type of information, in the same position, with the same formatting, on all other biographies. Providing them with what they expect ensures they don’t have a jarring experience while voting.

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So You Want to Write a Presidential Biography

The easy path to fame and riches as an author. Just follow my formula.

With President Obama vacationing this week on Martha’s Vineyard, the White House released his reading list , which includes David McCullough’s John Adams . That news, naturally, sent John Adams rocketing up the Amazon sales list . Like so many journalists, I have some ambitions in the field of presidential biography (unwritten, but I’ll get around to it), or at least for some of those presidential-sized royalties. After all, look what happened after the election when Obama read Alter’s FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope and Goodwin’s Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln — huge sales boosts. If ever there was a time to jump into the crowded field of presidential biography, it’s now. And after baseball season, I may have some time. Until then, I see no reason not to share my expertise on writing one of these tomes.

First, not every president is “presidential,” if you know what I mean. That is, the average American can only name four or five in a sitting, so you need a celebrity president. The most frequently named are George Washington, Ben Franklin, Eli Whitney, Abe Lincoln (see, 1865 already, where’s Paul Revere?), The Roosevelt Brothers, Churchill, Reagan, and Martin Sheen .

Titles matter: Does your man have a snappy nickname? One a publisher can put on the cover in gold embossed letters: FDR, JFK, NIX? If not, get a winning title. Work the word “American” into it whenever possible, like Jon Meacham’s Andrew Jackson: American Lion . There’s Ike: An American Hero , Thomas Jefferson: American Sphinx , Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America , Nothing to Fear: FDR's Inner Circle and the Hundred Days That Created Modern America. Brinkley’s Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America just came out, and classics like Goodwin’s The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys: An American Saga and Lyndon B. Johnson and the American Dream . Look, it’s important readers know you’re writing about the American Abe Lincoln, and not the one who was president of France.

Think down the road a bit: The party in power almost always loses steam by the mid-term elections. By 2010, voters will miss dull white-guy Republicans like transfats and Election Day terror alerts. Me, I’m going with Eisenhower. One snag: Korda’s Ike: An American Hero snatched up both the nickname and “American” in the title. So, I’m going with American Ike and His Presidency of American Genius .

Unfortunately, Ike is one of the most researched figures of the 20th century. Worse, he presided over eight years of peace and prosperity. Where’s the drama ? If I’m not careful, my book could involve years of research. This is why I’ve chosen the path of the revisionist historian. It allows me to take all sorts of things out of context and paraphrase all I want. For instance, no one knows exactly where Ike was on the afternoon of July 23, 1948. And no one knows exactly where Marilyn Monroe was on the afternoon of July 23, 1948. I’ll just pause here while you do the math, eh?

Presidential scandals … get one. Sally Hemings, Lucy Rutherford, Kay Sommersby, the Little Rock phone directory circa 1980–1992. These are the rouge-cheeked hussies of history. They may shame a nation, but not a nation’s readers. The thing to do is deal with it as if the reader won’t stop hounding you. Write with an exasperated sigh, as if saying, “OK, OK, if you must know ....” Then offer, with tasteful reluctance, page after detailed page of dates, names, probable positions, motel room numbers, and available DNA testing. Admit the honest truth—your president was only a man. But all man, if you know what I mean. Make sure your publisher “insists” the scandal be on the back cover jacket copy. No inside-the-jacket stuff— demand that they insist.

Finally, it’s all good: No presidential bio rolls off the presses without a happy ending. In presidenting circles, this is known as The Legacy. No matter what happens on a president’s watch, it all worked out. Look at Goodwin’s Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln . As president, Lincoln presided over an ineptly fought Civil War and hundreds of thousands of American deaths, freed the slaves to expediently end that war, and was so hated by a defeated, embittered South that they assassinated him in a divisive regional rage that haunts our political parties to this day. Good gosh, what a mess! He sounds awful! How could there be a book in that disaster?

Enter the Legacy. Why is Lincoln a great president? Well, one thing that did not go up in flames from his golden touch was the Union itself. In the Legacy, this becomes the point all along . It’s what Honest Abe trained for since he chopped down that cherry tree and said, “I cannot tell a lie.” He achieved this, as Goodwin puts it, through “genius.” History isn’t about mistakes. It’s about destiny. We haven’t figured out Clinton’s legacy yet, but those pardons will be carved on Mt. Rushmore by 2075, so help me.

I’ll skip all the writing and researching stuff, as all that really depends more on your staff of interns.

How to Write an Ideal Candidate Profile

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You’ve got an incredible slate of candidates for your upcoming member organization election. Your team is enthusiastic about their qualifications, backgrounds and potential to be assets to the organization. But if you simply list their names on a ballot, your members aren’t likely to be as excited. You need to provide a way for your members to get to know the candidates like you have gotten to know them, but how?

Candidate profiles 

Candidate bios are like a short, informative “elevator pitch” that summarizes each candidate and what they can do for the organization. Aim to keep candidate bios standardized and concise.

What to include:

• Professional history: employer, past board experience, past committee experience, etc.
•  History with the organization: length of membership, previous volunteer roles, membership type (if relevant), awards, etc.
• One to two sentences about what they feel they can do for the organization if they were elected

Candidate statements

Candidate statements are longer, more in-depth versions of bios. A candidate’s statement is their opportunity to expand on their background, history with the organization, beliefs and goals.

The candidate statement is the chance each person has to explain why they are the right person for the job, why voters should cast their ballots in favor of the candidate and what the candidate sees as the future of the organization.

A good candidate statement should inform voters and to inspire them to vote.

Candidate videos

As thorough as candidate bios and statements can be at introducing voters to the slate of candidates on the ballot, not everyone will end up reading through those materials. That is where candidate videos become a valuable resource.

Candidate videos placed within the election website allow voters to see and hear candidates speak. It also provides candidates to share in their own words who they are, what their vision is for the organization, and how they hope to be part of that future.

Candidate events

In the past, “Meet the Candidate” events were a popular in-person activity for members to help boost engagement and election knowledge. However, moving your “Meet the Candidate” Q&A to a live virtual format between scheduling and transportation difficulties and the uncertainty around in-person meeting safety is a great alternative. It accomplishes the same goals – meeting the candidates and asking questions in real-time while opening up participation to members who cannot make it in person for whatever reason.

You can also easily record the event and make it a part of your election website, so potential voters who were not able to attend can take advantage of the information.

With an abundance of resources, your organization should also use all available communications methods to share your “Meet the Candidates” package: Email, social media , your organization’s website and more.

Well informed voters are likely to be more engaged in the election and invested in its outcome. Don’t make potential voters search for information on candidates or have to ask about it, serve it up easily to inform as many members as possible. Not only can this help increase election participation, but it will also shine a positive light on your organization’s governance and transparency practices.

Have questions about getting your “Meet the Candidates” package just right for your members? Check out our “ Expert’s Guide To Modern Candidate Nominations ” for tips or contact us any time , we’re here to help.

Hannah joined SBS in June 2022 and currently holds the role of Marketing Strategist. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Minnesota Duluth, with coursework in English literature complementing her skill set. Creating content for SBS, her contributions span from graphic design to crafting informative election resources, like blogs and eBooks. Hannah also manages email communications and is responsible for producing the SBS Newsletter, “The Ballot Box”.

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Posted on Jun 30, 2023

How to Write a Biography: A 7-Step Guide [+Template]

From time to time, nonfiction authors become so captivated by a particular figure from either the present or the past, that they feel compelled to write an entire book about their life. Whether casting them as heroes or villains, there is an interesting quality in their humanity that compels these authors to revisit their life paths and write their story.

However, portraying someone’s life on paper in a comprehensive and engaging way requires solid preparation. If you’re looking to write a biography yourself, in this post we’ll share a step-by-step blueprint that you can follow. 

How to write a biography: 

1. Seek permission when possible 

2. research your subject thoroughly, 3. do interviews and visit locations, 4. organize your findings, 5. identify a central thesis, 6. write it using narrative elements, 7. get feedback and polish the text.

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Biography Outline Template

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While you technically don’t need permission to write about public figures (or deceased ones), that doesn't guarantee their legal team won't pursue legal action against you. Author Kitty Kelley was sued by Frank Sinatra before she even started to write His Way , a biography that paints Ol Blue Eyes in a controversial light. (Kelley ended up winning the lawsuit, however).  

Whenever feasible, advise the subject’s representatives of your intentions. If all goes according to plan, you’ll get a green light to proceed, or potentially an offer to collaborate. It's a matter of common sense; if someone were to write a book about you, you would likely want to know about it well prior to publication. So, make a sincere effort to reach out to their PR staff to negotiate an agreement or at least a mutual understanding of the scope of your project. 

At the same time, make sure that you still retain editorial control over the project, and not end up writing a puff piece that treats its protagonist like a saint or hero. No biography can ever be entirely objective, but you should always strive for a portrayal that closely aligns with facts and reality.

If you can’t get an answer from your subject, or you’re asked not to proceed forward, you can still accept the potential repercussions and write an unauthorized biography . The “rebellious act” of publishing without consent indeed makes for great marketing, though it’ll likely bring more headaches with it too. 

✋ Please note that, like other nonfiction books, if you intend to release your biography with a publishing house , you can put together a book proposal to send to them before you even write the book. If they like it enough, they might pay you an advance to write it.  

Book Proposal Template

Craft a professional pitch for your nonfiction book with our handy template.

Once you’ve settled (or not) the permission part, it’s time to dive deep into your character’s story.  

Deep and thorough research skills are the cornerstone of every biographer worth their salt. To paint a vivid and accurate portrait of someone's life, you’ll have to gather qualitative information from a wide range of reliable sources. 

Start with the information already available, from books on your subject to archival documents, then collect new ones firsthand by interviewing people or traveling to locations. 

Browse the web and library archives

Put your researcher hat on and start consuming any piece on your subject you can find, from their Wikipedia page to news articles, interviews, TV and radio appearances, YouTube videos, podcasts, books, magazines, and any other media outlets they may have been featured in. 

Establish a system to orderly collect the information you find 一 even seemingly insignificant details can prove valuable during the writing process, so be sure to save them. 

Depending on their era, you may find most of the information readily available online, or you may need to search through university libraries for older references. 

For his landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow spent untold hours at Columbia University’s library , reading through the Hamilton family papers, visiting the New York Historical Society, as well as interviewing the archivist of the New York Stock Exchange, and so on. The research process took years, but it certainly paid off. Chernow discovered that Hamilton created the first five securities originally traded on Wall Street. This finding, among others, revealed his significant contributions to shaping the current American financial and political systems, a legacy previously often overshadowed by other founding fathers. Today Alexander Hamilton is one of the best-selling biographies of all time, and it has become a cultural phenomenon with its own dedicated musical. 

Besides reading documents about your subject, research can help you understand the world that your subject lived in. 

Try to understand their time and social environment

Many biographies show how their protagonists have had a profound impact on society through their philosophical, artistic, or scientific contributions. But at the same time, it’s worth it as a biographer to make an effort to understand how their societal and historical context influenced their life’s path and work.

An interesting example is Stephen Greenblatt’s Will in the World . Finding himself limited by a lack of verified detail surrounding William Shakespeare's personal life, Greenblatt, instead, employs literary interpretation and imaginative reenactments to transport readers back to the Elizabethan era. The result is a vivid (though speculative) depiction of the playwright's life, enriching our understanding of his world.

Many readers enjoy biographies that transport them to a time and place, so exploring a historical period through the lens of a character can be entertaining in its own right. The Diary of Samuel Pepys became a classic not because people were enthralled by his life as an administrator, but rather from his meticulous and vivid documentation of everyday existence during the Restoration period.

Once you’ve gotten your hands on as many secondary sources as you can find, you’ll want to go hunting for stories first-hand from people who are (or were) close to your subject.

With all the material you’ve been through, by now you should already have a pretty good picture of your protagonist. But you’ll surely have some curiosities and missing dots in their character arc to figure out, which you can only get by interviewing primary sources.

Interview friends and associates

This part is more relevant if your subject is contemporary, and you can actually meet up or call with relatives, friends, colleagues, business partners, neighbors, or any other person related to them. 

In writing the popular biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson interviewed more than one hundred people, including Jobs’s family, colleagues, former college mates, business rivals, and the man himself.

🔍 Read other biographies to get a sense of what makes a great one. Check out our list of the 30 best biographies of all time , or take our 30-second quiz below for tips on which one you should read next. 

Which biography should you read next?

Discover the perfect biography for you. Takes 30 seconds!

When you conduct your interviews, make sure to record them with high quality audio you can revisit later. Then use tools like Otter.ai or Descript to transcribe them 一 it’ll save you countless hours. 

You can approach the interview with a specific set of questions, or follow your curiosity blindly, trying to uncover revealing stories and anecdotes about your subject. Whatever your method, author and biography editor Tom Bromley suggests that every interviewer arrives prepared, "Show that you’ve done your work. This will help to put the interviewee at ease, and get their best answers.” 

Bromley also places emphasis on the order in which you conduct interviews. “You may want to interview different members of the family or friends first, to get their perspective on something, and then go directly to the main interviewee. You'll be able to use that knowledge to ask sharper, more specific questions.” 

Finally, consider how much time you have with each interviewee. If you only have a 30-minute phone call with an important person, make it count by asking directly the most pressing questions you have. And, if you find a reliable source who is also particularly willing to help, conduct several interviews and ask them, if appropriate, to write a foreword as part of the book’s front matter .

Sometimes an important part of the process is packing your bags, getting on a plane, and personally visiting significant places in your character’s journey.

Visit significant places in their life

A place, whether that’s a city, a rural house, or a bodhi tree, can carry a particular energy that you can only truly experience by being there. In putting the pieces together about someone’s life, it may be useful to go visit where they grew up, or where other significant events of their lives happened. It will be easier to imagine what they experienced, and better tell their story. 

In researching The Lost City of Z , author David Grann embarked on a trek through the Amazon, retracing the steps of British explorer Percy Fawcett. This led Grann to develop new theories about the circumstances surrounding the explorer's disappearance.

Hopefully, you won’t have to deal with jaguars and anacondas to better understand your subject’s environment, but try to walk into their shoes as much as possible. 

Once you’ve researched your character enough, it’s time to put together all the puzzle pieces you collected so far. 

Take the bulk of notes, media, and other documents you’ve collected, and start to give them some order and structure. A simple way to do this is by creating a timeline. 

Create a chronological timeline

It helps to organize your notes chronologically 一 from childhood to the senior years, line up the most significant events of your subject’s life, including dates, places, names and other relevant bits. 

You should be able to divide their life into distinct periods, each with their unique events and significance. Based on that, you can start drafting an outline of the narrative you want to create.  

Draft a story outline 

Since a biography entails writing about a person’s entire life, it will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. You can pick where you want to end the story, depending on how consequential the last years of your subject were. But the nature of the work will give you a starting character arc to work with. 

To outline the story then, you could turn to the popular Three-Act Structure , which divides the narrative in three main parts. In a nutshell, you’ll want to make sure to have the following:

• Act 1. Setup : Introduce the protagonist's background and the turning points that set them on a path to achieve a goal. 
• Act 2. Confrontation : Describe the challenges they encounter, both internal and external, and how they rise to them. Then..
• Act 3. Resolution : Reach a climactic point in their story in which they succeed (or fail), showing how they (and the world around them) have changed as a result. 

Only one question remains before you begin writing: what will be the main focus of your biography?

Think about why you’re so drawn to your subject to dedicate years of your life to recounting their own. What aspect of their life do you want to highlight? Is it their evil nature, artistic genius, or visionary mindset? And what evidence have you got to back that up? Find a central thesis or focus to weave as the main thread throughout your narrative. 

Or find a unique angle

If you don’t have a particular theme to explore, finding a distinct angle on your subject’s story can also help you distinguish your work from other biographies or existing works on the same subject.

Plenty of biographies have been published about The Beatles 一 many of which have different focuses and approaches: 

• Philip Norman's Shout is sometimes regarded as leaning more towards a pro-Lennon and anti-McCartney stance, offering insights into the band's inner dynamics. 
• Ian McDonald's Revolution in the Head closely examines their music track by track, shifting the focus back to McCartney as a primary creative force. 
• Craig Brown's One Two Three Four aims to capture their story through anecdotes, fan letters, diary entries, and interviews. 
• Mark Lewisohn's monumental three-volume biography, Tune In , stands as a testament to over a decade of meticulous research, chronicling every intricate detail of the Beatles' journey.

Finally, consider that biographies are often more than recounting the life of a person. Similar to how Dickens’ Great Expectations is not solely about a boy named Pip (but an examination and critique of Britain’s fickle, unforgiving class system), a biography should strive to illuminate a broader truth — be it social, political, or human — beyond the immediate subject of the book. 

Once you’ve identified your main focus or angle, it’s time to write a great story. 

While biographies are often highly informative, they do not have to be dry and purely expository in nature . You can play with storytelling elements to make it an engaging read. 

You could do that by thoroughly detailing the setting of the story , depicting the people involved in the story as fully-fledged characters , or using rising action and building to a climax when describing a particularly significant milestone of the subject’s life. 

One common way to make a biography interesting to read is starting on a strong foot…

Hook the reader from the start

Just because you're honoring your character's whole life doesn't mean you have to begin when they said their first word. Starting from the middle or end of their life can be more captivating as it introduces conflicts and stakes that shaped their journey.

When he wrote about Christopher McCandless in Into the Wild , author Jon Krakauer didn’t open his subject’s childhood and abusive family environment. Instead, the book begins with McCandless hitchhiking his way into the wilderness, and subsequently being discovered dead in an abandoned bus. By starting in medias res , Krakauer hooks the reader’s interest, before tracing back the causes and motivations that led McCandless to die alone in that bus in the first place.

You can bend the timeline to improve the reader’s reading experience throughout the rest of the story too…

Play with flashback 

While biographies tend to follow a chronological narrative, you can use flashbacks to tell brief stories or anecdotes when appropriate. For example, if you were telling the story of footballer Lionel Messi, before the climax of winning the World Cup with Argentina, you could recall when he was just 13 years old, giving an interview to a local newspaper, expressing his lifelong dream of playing for the national team. 

Used sparsely and intentionally, flashbacks can add more context to the story and keep the narrative interesting. Just like including dialogue does…

Reimagine conversations

Recreating conversations that your subject had with people around them is another effective way to color the story. Dialogue helps the reader imagine the story like a movie, providing a deeper sensory experience. 

One thing is trying to articulate the root of Steve Jobs’ obsession with product design, another would be to quote his father , teaching him how to build a fence when he was young: “You've got to make the back of the fence just as good looking as the front of the fence. Even though nobody will see it, you will know. And that will show that you're dedicated to making something perfect.”

Unlike memoirs and autobiographies, in which the author tells the story from their personal viewpoint and enjoys greater freedom to recall conversations, biographies require a commitment to facts. So, when recreating dialogue, try to quote directly from reliable sources like personal diaries, emails, and text messages. You could also use your interview scripts as an alternative to dialogue. As Tom Bromley suggests, “If you talk with a good amount of people, you can try to tell the story from their perspective, interweaving different segments and quoting the interviewees directly.”

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These are just some of the story elements you can use to make your biography more compelling. Once you’ve finished your manuscript, it’s a good idea to ask for feedback. 

If you’re going to self-publish your biography, you’ll have to polish it to professional standards. After leaving your work to rest for a while, look at it with fresh eyes and self-edit your manuscript eliminating passive voice, filler words, and redundant adverbs. 

Then, have a professional editor give you a general assessment. They’ll look at the structure and shape of your manuscript and tell you which parts need to be expanded on or cut. As someone who edited and commissioned several biographies, Tom Bromley points out that a professional “will look at the sources used and assess whether they back up the points made, or if more are needed. They would also look for context, and whether or not more background information is needed for the reader to understand the story fully. And they might check your facts, too.”  

In addition to structural editing, you may want to have someone copy-edit and proofread your work.

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Importantly, make sure to include a bibliography with a list of all the interviews, documents, and sources used in the writing process. You’ll have to compile it according to a manual of style, but you can easily create one by using tools like EasyBib . Once the text is nicely polished and typeset in your writing software , you can prepare for the publication process.  

In conclusion, by mixing storytelling elements with diligent research, you’ll be able to breathe life into a powerful biography that immerses readers in another individual’s life experience. Whether that’ll spark inspiration or controversy, remember you could have an important role in shaping their legacy 一 and that’s something not to take lightly. 

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How to Write a Biography

Learn how to write a biography with our comprehensive guide.

Last updated on Dec 8th, 2023

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Table of Contents

How to write a biography can be a fun challenge as you share someone’s life story with readers. You may need to write a biography for a class or decide to write a biography as a personal project. Once you’ve identified the subject of your biography, do your research to learn as much as you can about them. Then, immerse yourself in writing the biography and revising it until it’s best. What I am going to share with you in today’s post is how to write a biography. If you want to know the rules of how to write a biography correctly then this post of ours is essential for you. 

Introduction

While it’s true that most biographies involve people in the public eye, sometimes the subject is less well-known. But most of the time, famous or not, the person we’re talking about has an incredible life. Although your students may have a basic understanding of How to write a biography, you should take some time before putting pen to paper to come up with a very clear definition of biography.

Before knowing how to write a biography, let’s first understand what a biography is. A biography is an account of a person’s life written by someone else. Although there is a genre called fictional biography, by definition biographies are mostly non-fiction. In general, biographies trace the subject’s life from early childhood to the present day or until death if the subject is deceased. 

Biography writing is not limited to describing the bare facts of a person’s life. Instead of just listing basic details about their upbringing, interests, education, work, relationships, and deaths, a well-written biography should also paint a picture of a person’s personality as well as that person’s life experiences.

Tips and Tricks For How To Write a Biography

1. ask the subject’s permission to write a biography.

Here are the first tips on how to write a biography. Before starting your research, make sure you get your subject’s consent to write their biography. Ask them if they’re ready to be the subject. Getting their permission will make writing a biography much easier and ensure that they are open to information about their lives.

If the theme does not allow you to write a bio, you can choose another theme. If you decide to publish a profile without the subject’s permission, you may be subject to legal action from the subject. 

If the topic no longer exists, you don’t need to ask permission to write about them. 

2. Research primary sources on the topic

Primary sources may include books, letters, photographs, diaries, newspaper clippings, magazines, Internet articles, magazines, videos, interviews, existing biographies, or autobiographies on the subject. Find these resources in your local library or online. Read as much as you can about the topic and highlight any important information you come across in your sources. 

You can create research questions to help you focus your research on this topic, such as: 

What do I find interesting about this topic? Why is this topic important to readers? 

3. Conduct interviews with subjects and their relatives

Interviewing people will turn your research into reality: the people you interview will be able to tell you stories you can’t find in history books. Interview the subject as well as people close to them, such as spouses, friends, business associates, family members, co-workers, and friends. Interview in person, over the phone, or via email.

For in-person interviews, record them with a voice recorder or voice recorder on your computer or phone. You may need to interview the subject and others multiple times to get the documents you need.

4. Visit places important to the topic

Whenever you want to know how to write a biography, to understand the history of the subject, spend time in places and areas that are significant to the subject. This may be the subject’s childhood home or neighborhood. You can also visit the subject’s workplace and regular meeting places. 

You may also want to visit areas where the subject made important decisions or breakthroughs in their life. Being physically present in the area can give you an idea of what your subjects may have felt and help you write about their experiences more effectively.

5. Research the time and place of the subject’s life

Contextualize your subject’s life by observing what’s going on around them. Consider the period in which they grew up as well as the history of the places they lived. Study the economics, politics, and culture of their time. See current events happening where they live or work.

When you studying how to write a biography, ask yourself about time and place: 

What were the social norms of this period? 

What happened economically and politically? 

How has the political and social environment influenced this topic?

6. Make a timeline of a person’s life

To help you organize your research, create a timeline of a person’s entire life, from birth. Draw a long line on a piece of paper and sketch out as many details about a person’s life as possible. Highlight important events or moments on the timeline. Include important dates, locations, and names. 

If you think about how to write a biography You can also include historical events or moments that affect the topic in the timeline. For example, a conflict or civil war may occur during a person’s lifetime and affect their life.

7. Focus on important events and milestones

Major events can include marriage, birth, or death during a person’s lifetime. They may also achieve milestones like their first successful business venture or their first civil rights march. Highlights key moments in a person’s life so readers clearly understand what’s important to that person and how they influence the world around them.

For example, you might focus on one person’s achievements in the civil rights movement. You could write an entire section about their contributions and participation in major civil rights marches in their hometowns.

8. Cite all sources used in  biography

Most biographies will include information from sources such as books, journal articles, magazines, and interviews. Remember to cite any sources that you directly quote or paraphrase. You can use citations, footnotes, or endnotes. If the biography is for a course, use MLA, APA, or Chicago Style citations according to your instructor’s preference.

9. Reread the biography

Check the biography for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Circle all punctuation marks in the text to confirm they are correct. Read the text backward to check for spelling and grammar errors. 

Having a biography full of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors can frustrate readers and lead to poor grades if you submit your work to the class.

10. Show your biography to others to get their feedback

It is a momentous step of how to write a biography. Once you have completed your draft biography, show it to your colleagues, friends, teachers, and mentors to get their feedback. Ask them if they have a good understanding of someone’s life and if the biography is easy to read. Be open to feedback so you can improve the biography and make it error-free. Revise profile based on feedback from others. Don’t be afraid to trim or edit your biography to suit your readers’ needs.

11. Use flashbacks

Flashbacks happen when you move from the present to the past. You can start with the present moment, and then bring in a scene from the person’s past. Or you could have one chapter focusing on the present and one focusing on the past, alternating as you go.

The flashback scene must be as detailed and realistic as the present-day scene. Use your research notes and interviews with subjects to better understand their past to reminisce. 

For example, you can move from a person’s death in the present to reminiscing about their favorite childhood memory.

12. Outline Your Story Chronologically 

This is another important step in how to write a biography is to write an outline that describes your story in chronological order. An outline is a tool that helps you visualize the structure and key elements of your story. This can help you organize your story into chapters and sections. 

You can write your plan in a digital document or draw it with pen and paper. Remember to store your outline in an easily accessible place so you can refer to it throughout the writing process.

What citation style should I use for my biography?

Use MLA, APA, or Chicago Style citations based on your instructor’s preference when citing sources in your biography.

Should I include personal opinions in a biography?

No, a biography should be objective and based on facts. Avoid injecting personal opinions or bias into the narrative.

What’s the difference between a biography and an autobiography?

A biography is written by someone else about a person’s life, while an autobiography is written by the subject themselves about their own life.

Can I write a biography about a living person?

Yes, you can write a biography about a living person with their consent. Ensure you respect their privacy and follow ethical guidelines when writing about them.

Conclusion 

Other than creating a sense of closure, there are no set rules about how a biography ends. An author may want to summarize their main points about the subject of their biography. If the person is still alive, the author can inform the reader about their condition or circumstances. If the person has died, inheritance can be discussed. Authors can also remind readers how they can learn from the biographical subject. Sharing a closing quote or about a person can leave the audience with a point to consider or discuss in more detail.

For further insights into writing and to avoid common mistakes, check out our article on Most Common Mistakes in Writing . Additionally, explore the Best Writing Tools for Writers to enhance your writing skills and discover the tools that can assist you. If you’re looking to improve your typing speed and accuracy, our article on How to Type Faster with Accuracy offers valuable tips.

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Human lives are intricate tapestries woven with experiences, emotions, challenges, and triumphs. Biographies and autobiographies serve as windows into these remarkable stories, offering insight into the lives of individuals who have left their mark on history or those who wish to chronicle their own journeys. 

I n this guide, we will explore the art of writing biographies and autobiographies, delving into the nuances of both genres and providing valuable tips on how to craft compelling narratives.

Understanding Biography and Autobiography

• Biography: Exploring Lives Beyond the Surface A biography is a literary exploration that unveils the intricate layers of a person’s existence, transcending the mere listing of events. It provides a comprehensive account of an individual’s life, offering insights into their achievements, struggles, societal impact, and distinct qualities that define them. These narratives serve as windows into history, allowing readers to traverse time and understand the legacy left by remarkable individuals. Biographies are usually crafted by biographers, individuals skilled in research and storytelling. They undertake a meticulous journey of gathering information from diverse sources, such as historical records, interviews, letters, and secondary literature. The biographer’s role is to curate these fragments of information into a coherent narrative, painting a vivid portrait of the subject. This comprehensive approach lends credibility and depth to the portrayal, enriching the reader’s understanding of the subject’s contributions and character. Example:  Consider the biography of Mahatma Gandhi. A biographer compiling his life story would explore not only his role in India’s fight for independence but also his principles of nonviolence, his experiments with truth, and his impact on the world’s political landscape. By presenting a holistic view of Gandhi’s life, the biography reveals the nuances of his personality, beliefs, and the larger context in which he operated.
• Autobiography: The Intimate Dialogue of Self-Discovery An autobiography is a narrative journey undertaken by the subject themselves—a profound sharing of one’s life experiences, emotions, and reflections. This genre provides readers with an intimate insight into the subject’s psyche, allowing them to witness their life’s trajectory through personal recollections. Autobiographies carry a unique authenticity, as they are composed from the vantage point of the person who lived those moments, providing a firsthand account of their journey. Autobiographies draw from the subject’s reservoir of memories, emotions, and introspections. This self-exploration leads to a narrative that is often more than a linear chronicle; it becomes a tapestry woven with the threads of emotions, thoughts, and personal revelations. By directly communicating with the reader, the autobiographer creates a powerful connection, allowing readers to step into their shoes and experience their story from within. Example:  A notable example of an autobiography is “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank. Written during her time in hiding during World War II, the book offers a candid portrayal of Anne’s life, fears, hopes, and dreams. Through her own words, readers gain a deep understanding of the challenges faced by Jews during the Holocaust, as well as the resilience and humanity that Anne exudes even in the face of adversity.

Writing a Biography:

Research: The Foundation of a Compelling Biography Thorough research is the cornerstone of a captivating biography. Delve into reputable sources like books, articles, interviews, and archives to gather a comprehensive view of your subject’s life. By immersing yourself in these materials, you gain insights into their experiences, motivations, and contributions. Scrutinise the historical context to understand the era’s impact on their journey. Successful research forms the bedrock of your biography, enabling you to present an accurate and nuanced portrayal that resonates with readers. It’s through meticulous research that you uncover the hidden stories and connect the dots, allowing the subject’s essence to shine through the pages.

Selecting a Focus: Defining the Narrative Scope Choosing a focal point is essential for a well-structured biography. Decide whether to cover the subject’s entire life or concentrate on specific periods or achievements. This decision shapes the narrative’s trajectory, preventing it from becoming overwhelming or disjointed. A focused approach allows you to delve deeply into pivotal moments, providing a more profound understanding of the subject’s journey. By clarifying the scope, you enable readers to follow a coherent storyline, making it easier for them to engage with the subject’s life in a meaningful way.

Structuring the Biography: Chronology and Themes The organisation of your biography greatly impacts its readability. Structure your work into logical sections or chapters, employing either a chronological or thematic arrangement. Begin with an engaging introduction that captures readers’ attention and provides essential context. A chronological structure follows the subject’s life in sequential order, offering a clear timeline of events. Alternatively, a thematic structure groups events by themes, allowing you to explore different facets of the subject’s life. A well-structured biography guides readers smoothly through the subject’s experiences, fostering a deeper connection and understanding.

Show, Don’t Tell: Evocative Storytelling Vivid descriptions, anecdotes, and quotes breathe life into your biography. Rather than merely listing facts, employ descriptive language to recreate scenes and emotions, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the subject’s world. Use anecdotes to illustrate key moments, capturing the essence of the subject’s character and the impact of events on their journey. Integrating quotes from the subject, contemporaries, or relevant sources adds authenticity and depth. Through this technique, you transport readers into the subject’s experiences, enabling them to witness the moments that shaped their lives.

Balanced Perspective: Portraying Strengths and Flaws A balanced portrayal adds credibility and depth to your biography. While it’s tempting to focus solely on accomplishments, a well-rounded view includes the subject’s strengths and flaws. This authenticity humanises the subject, making it relatable and multidimensional. By acknowledging both successes and challenges, readers gain a more honest understanding of their journey. Balancing positives and negatives helps readers empathise with the subject, connecting them on a deeper level and offering a more genuine insight into their lives.

Engaging Emotions: Creating Emotional Resonance Emotions are a potent tool in biography writing. Delve into the subject’s feelings, struggles, and aspirations to create an emotional connection with readers. By tapping into their emotional experiences, you make the narrative relatable and engaging. Sharing personal challenges and triumphs allows readers to empathise and reflect on their own lives. This emotional resonance elevates the biography from a mere factual account to a compelling and moving story that lingers in readers’ minds, leaving a lasting impact.

Citing Sources: Ensuring Accuracy and Credibility Accurate information is vital in biography writing. Properly cite your sources to maintain credibility and integrity. Clear citations not only lend authority to your work but also provide readers with the opportunity to explore further if they desire. Accurate referencing safeguards against misinformation and ensures that your portrayal is based on reliable evidence. In addition to enhancing your credibility, thorough citations demonstrate your commitment to thorough research and ethical writing practises, contributing to the overall trustworthiness of your biography.

Complete Guide to Write a Biography. Start Writing Your Biography Now

Writing an Autobiography:

Reflecting on Significant Moments and Experiences Initiating an autobiography involves introspection into your life’s pivotal moments. Delve into memories that have influenced your journey, such as turning points, challenges, relationships, and achievements. Reflect on these experiences, dissecting their impact on your personal growth and development. By contemplating these key events, you gain insight into the narrative threads that weave your life story together. This reflective process sets the foundation for an authentic autobiography that resonates with readers on a profound level.

Developing Your Unique Voice and Tone Crafting an autobiography demands a consistent voice and tone that reflect your personality. Write in a way that feels true to you, capturing your unique perspective and emotions. Authenticity is key, as it allows readers to connect with your narrative on a personal level. Whether your tone is introspective, humorous, or contemplative, ensure it aligns with the essence of your experiences. By embracing your genuine voice, you create an autobiography that not only tells your story but also conveys the essence of who you are.

Structured Storytelling for Engagement While autobiographies can be more flexible in structure compared to biographies, organising your narrative into coherent sections or themes enhances its readability. By grouping related experiences together, you provide readers with a clearer understanding of the themes that have shaped your life. This structure helps maintain their engagement by guiding them through your journey in a logical and compelling manner. While allowing for creativity, a structured approach ensures that your autobiography remains focused and accessible.

Embracing honesty and authenticity Honesty is the bedrock of an impactful autobiography. Share not only your triumphs but also your mistakes and failures. Authenticity creates relatability, allowing readers to connect with your humanity and vulnerabilities. Your journey’s challenges and setbacks are just as integral to your story as your successes. By being candid about your experiences, you demonstrate resilience and growth, inspiring readers to reflect on their own paths. This level of authenticity fosters a deeper connection, making your autobiography a source of empathy and encouragement.

Adding Depth Through Reflection Incorporate reflection to imbue your autobiography with depth and meaning. Explore the lessons you’ve learned from your experiences and the transformations they’ve prompted. Delve into how these moments shaped your beliefs, values, and perspective on life. By offering insights gained from introspection, you provide readers with wisdom and a broader understanding of your journey. Reflection transforms your autobiography from a chronicle of events into a thoughtful exploration of personal growth and the profound impact of life’s moments.

Creating vivid details for immersion Immerse readers in your world by employing sensory details and vivid descriptions. Paint a picture with words, allowing readers to visualise the scenes and emotions you’re describing. By incorporating sensory elements like sights, sounds, smells, and feelings, you transport readers into the moments you’re recounting. This immersive experience draws them closer to your story, fostering a stronger connection. Vivid details not only make your autobiography more engaging but also enable readers to forge a deeper connection with your experiences and emotions.

In the realm of literature, biographies and autobiographies stand as powerful testaments to the diversity and richness of human existence. Whether you’re capturing the life of a historical figure or penning your own life story, the art of writing these genres involves meticulous research, introspection, and a keen understanding of human emotions. 

Through carefully chosen words and evocative storytelling, biographers and autobiographers alike can craft narratives that resonate with readers and offer a deeper understanding of the human experience. So, whether you’re writing about the extraordinary or the everyday, embrace the challenge and privilege of narrating lives through the written word.

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How to Write a Biography

Last Updated: April 13, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Stephanie Wong Ken, MFA . Stephanie Wong Ken is a writer based in Canada. Stephanie's writing has appeared in Joyland, Catapult, Pithead Chapel, Cosmonaut's Avenue, and other publications. She holds an MFA in Fiction and Creative Writing from Portland State University. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,852,609 times.

Writing a biography can be a fun challenge, where you are sharing the story of someone’s life with readers. You may need to write a biography for a class or decide to write one as a personal project. Once you have identified the subject of the biography, do your research so you know as much about them as possible. Then, dive into the writing of the biography and revising it until it is at its finest.

Researching Your Subject

• If the subject does not give you permission to write the biography, you may want to choose a different subject. If you decide to publish the biography without the subject’s permission, you may be susceptible to legal action by the subject.
• If the subject is no longer alive, you obviously do not need to ask permission to write about them.

• You may create research questions to help focus your research of the subject, such as, What do I find interesting about the subject? Why is this subject important to readers? What can I say that is new about the subject? What would I like to learn more about?

• For in person interviews, record them with a tape recorder or a voice recorder on your computer or phone.
• You may need to interview the subject and others several times to get the material you need.

• You may also want to visit areas where the subject made a major decision or breakthrough in their life. Being physically in the area can give you a sense of how the subject might have felt and help you write their experiences more effectively.

• When researching the time period ask yourself: What were the social norms of that time? What was going on economically and politically? How did the social and political climate affect the subject?

• You may also include historical events or moments that affected the subject on the timeline. For example, maybe there was a conflict or civil war that happened during the person’s life that affected their life.

Writing the Biography

• You may end up focusing on particular areas of the person’s life. If you do this, work through a particular period in the person’s life chronologically.

• For example, you may have a thesis statement about focusing on how the person impacted the civil rights movement in America in the 1970s. You can then make sure all your content relates back to this thesis.

• Flashbacks should feel as detailed and real as present day scenes. Use your research notes and interviews with the subject to get a good sense of their past for the flashbacks.
• For example, you may jump from the person’s death in the present to a flashback to their favorite childhood memory.

• For example, you may focus on the person’s accomplishments in the civil rights movement. You may write a whole section about their contributions and participation in major civil rights marches in their hometown.

• For example, you may notice that the person’s life is patterned with moments of adversity, where the person worked hard and fought against larger forces. You can then use the theme of overcoming adversity in the biography.

• For example, you may note how you see parallels in the person’s life during the civil rights movement with your own interests in social justice. You may also commend the person for their hard work and positive impact on society.

Polishing the Biography

• Revise the biography based on feedback from others. Do not be afraid to cut or edit down the biography to suit the needs of your readers.

• Having a biography riddled with spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors can turn off your readers and result in a poor grade if you are handing in the text for a class.

• If the biography is for a class, use MLA , APA , or Chicago Style citations based on the preferences of your instructor.

Biography Help

Community Q&A

• Be careful when publishing private or embarrassing information, especially if the person is not a celebrity. You may violate their "Right of Privacy" or equivalent. Thanks Helpful 31 Not Helpful 5
• Have the sources to back up your statements about the subject's life. Untruthful written statements can lead to litigation. If it is your opinion, be clear that it is such and not fact (although you can support your opinion with facts). Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 15

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• ↑ http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-biography.html
• ↑ https://au.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-bio
• ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-biography.html
• ↑ https://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/3-tips-for-writing-successful-flashbacks
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-bio/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://www.plagiarism.org/article/how-do-i-cite-sources

About This Article

Before you write a biography, gather as much information about the subject that you can from sources like newspaper articles, interviews, photos, existing biographies, and anything else you can find. Write the story of that person’s life, including as much supporting detail as you can, including information about the place and time where the person lived. Focus on major events and milestones in their life, including historical events, marriage, children, and events which would shape their path later in life. For tips from our reviewer on proofreading the biography and citing your sources, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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The 15 best political biographies and diaries: from Alan Clark to Citizen Clem

The benn diaries.

(2005) TONY BENN The political diarist’s diarist, beloved not just for his clarity and gentle humour but for sheer historical scope, wrote nine volumes spanning over half a century of British politics. The easiest place to start, however, is with this abridged version providing highlights from his schooldays in the 1940s through to Margaret Thatcher’s defenestration in 1990. It’s all here, from fierce intellectual battles over union power or the devaluation of the pound to the bitter personal feuds convulsing the left in the 70s and 80s, interspersed with rather sweet vignettes from Benn family life. Read it alongside Barbara Castle’s diaries of the Wilson years for an occasionally exasperated perspective on it all.

DIARIES: IN POWER

(1993) ALAN CLARK For all his flaws – vanity, lechery, flirtation with the far right, crashing snobbery – Alan Clark was a born writer with a rare gift for bringing politics to life. There are more reliable guides to the Thatcher years than this, the first of his three volumes, covering the second period of his career, while Gyles Brandreth’s Breaking the Code is arguably better on the Major era. But few can match the waspish elegance of Clark’s writing or the depths of his cynicism. Treat it as a period piece, from the distant days when politicians were actually allowed to behave this badly.

A VIEW FROM THE FOOTHILLS

(2009) CHRIS MULLIN The humble chalk to Alan Clark’s big cheese. Mullin never ceases to remind the reader of his own insignificance, whether as an obscure junior minister under Tony Blair (charged with waging war on leylandii hedges, of all things) or an even more obscure ex-minister. But don’t be fooled by the wry self-deprecation. Mullin is a former investigative journalist who turns a beady eye on his own party, exploring the hidden limitations of what looks, from the outside, like power.

DIARIES, VOLUMES ONE TO SIX

(2010 TO 2017) ALASTAIR CAMPBELL Love or loathe him, Campbell remains the master of the inside story, and not just because of his unusually intimate perspective on the relationship between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Soap opera aside, this is an incredibly detailed primer on what it’s like to live inside No. 10: the sheer relentless pace of events; the constant friction with the media; the intense camaraderie; and the furious resentments that build up under pressure.

HOUSE MUSIC

(2007) OONA KING “I look through my diary for this week, and decide to cancel whatever meetings I can, so that I don’t resign.”

So begins King’s entry for January 2001, when she is not waving but drowning. Her career looks great from the outside but her deprived London constituency is a bottomless pit of need, her marriage is imploding because she’s never home, she’s getting death threats from the far right and all the while she’s undergoing a heartbreaking private battle with infertility.

King’s diary is an easy and often ruefully funny read, but not a flippant one. It sheds much-needed light on a hidden part of politics, the work done in constituencies rather than at Westminster, but it’s also a timely reminder that behind every public figure is a private human being, often with secret problems of their own. No wonder so many end up keeping diaries.

MARGARET THATCHER

(2013) CHARLES MOORE

Before Moore published the first volume of his authorised biography there had already been a mountain of books on Thatcher. Most struggled to get much beyond the caricature. Although an admirer, Moore’s account is more nuanced. He shows that far from being fearless, she could often be fearful without cause and, at times, could be stubbornly foolish in her policymaking even if, from the author’s point of view, she was heading heroically in the right direction. The final volume will include her Shakespearean fall from power.

HAROLD WILSON

(1992) BEN PIMLOTT

Harold Wilson had become a ghostly figure when this book was published in 1992. The absence heightened a sense of mystery. Who was he? How to explain his seemingly contradictory characteristics: decent, devious, loyal? Pimlott solves some of the mysteries, showing why Wilson had no choice at times other than to be expedient and dissembling to keep a divided party together. Revealingly, the book is thorough and detailed until Wilson’s final phase as prime minister in 1974, when events are narrated more briefly. Yet, in his final two years, Wilson turned a minority government in to one that secured a small majority and he won a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. In the light of recent events, his final phase deserves more attention.

(2001) ROY JENKINS

Towards the end of his life, Jenkins published two weighty biographies: one on Gladstone and the other on Churchill. Both are epic achievements, chronicling lives of length, depth and multi-layered complexity. After he published the Churchill biography, I asked him who he admired most out of his two subjects. To my surprise, he told me that although his political sympathies were closer to Gladstone’s, he admired Churchill more. Jenkins writes as a politician as well as a historian, analysing Churchill’s historic moves from the perspective of one who had also spoken in the Commons at moments of high political drama, who had resigned from elevated positions in battles over policy, and as one who changed parties, though not as frequently as Churchill did.

ROY JENKINS

(2014) JOHN CAMPBELL

Jenkins’s life was as complicated and gripping as his biographical subjects. Campbell calmly narrates the many political and personal dramas. Some of the personal episodes are revelatory, including Jenkins’ intense relationship with Anthony Crosland when they were both students at Oxford. Campbell also addresses Jenkins’ various affairs with women. How did he find the time to cram so much hedonistic pleasure into a career that spanned being a reforming home secretary of historic significance, a formidable chancellor and the first leader of the SDP? Like Jenkins’s political heroes, he led many lives. Campbell is perceptively sharp in describing each of them.

ANEURIN BEVAN

(1962, 1973) MICHAEL FOOT

In what was once a competitive field, Foot is the most elegant stylist of the author-politicians. Foot also tended to write about his heroes, of which he had many, and Bevan was also a close friend. Unsurprisingly, the two-volume biography is both beautifully written and close to a hagiography. Foot portrays Bevan as a political giant, but has a fair amount of ammunition to put his case. Inevitably, Bevan’s titanic battles to launch the NHS are centre stage, but Foot also vividly and subjectively narrates the internal battles in the 1950s that followed the defeat of the post-45 Labour government and evokes beautifully the great man’s early years in south Wales.

TEAM OF RIVALS

(2005) DOROTHY KEARNS GOODWIN

As well as reading like a political thriller, this is partly a book on the art of leadership. Kearns Goodwin shows how Lincoln flourished by appointing his fiercest rivals to key cabinet positions, leading them subtly to help achieve his ambitious objectives in a country torn apart by civil war. After Alastair Campbell had read Team of Rivals he sent a copy to his friend Alex Ferguson who was facing some internal problems with his Manchester United squad at the time. Ferguson loved the book. There are lessons for leaders in many fields in the way Lincoln managed his team.

LYNDON JOHNSON

(1982-2001) ROBERT CARO

Never has a leader been more extensively chronicled. If Johnson has a cup of coffee while waiting for the outcome of a close vote in the senate, Caro can turn the scene into a nerve-shredding chapter. Caro is both a stylish writer and a master of detail, a fact borne out by his four-volume biography with another in the pipeline. In some respects, the contradictions that define Johnson deepen as Caro sheds unyielding light on the humane progressive, the amoral wheeler-dealer, the indefatigable campaigner who will pull any trick to win. The tireless wilfulness is the constant factor. Each volume is a political epic and there is more to come.

(1966) ROBERT BLAKE

Blake had some of Caro’s qualities as a biographer, although he managed to write Disraeli’s life in a single volume. He was an elegant writer who conjured up the twists and turns of Disraeli’s extraordinary career in highly readable style. Blake was a patrician Tory historian making sense of the vivacious “one-nation Tory”, the author of largely well-received novels, and an erratically reforming prime minister. He is especially sharp on the rivalry between Disraeli and Gladstone, two contrasting political leaders whose clashes defined a political era.

CITIZEN CLEM

(2016) JOHN BEW

British Pprime Mministers are usually good actors, artists fascinated by their own role on the political stage. Macmillan, Wilson, Thatcher, Blair and Cameron were all actors in their different ways. Attlee is the leader that breaks the pattern, wholly indifferent to the public stage. Arguably, he achieved more by getting on with the job of governing and being judged by the implementation of policy alone. Bew shows that Attlee was a key figure in the war-time coalition, a genuine deputy to Churchill. He won the landslide in 1945, not as a novice but as a leader immersed in the workings of government. The reforms that followed were transformative, shifting the consensus about the role of the state to the left. Most of the time, though with some big lapses, Attlee was a subtle leader of more ebullient colleagues. In this widely acclaimed biography, Bew shows that Attlee was daringly radical almost in spite of himself.

JEREMY THORPE

(2014) MICHAEL BLOCH

The rise and fall of Jeremy Thorpe is one of the wackiest, saddest and most gripping stories in modern British politics. Fleetingly, Thorpe was a political star lighting up the dark 1970s, witty, charming and optimistic. In the hung parliament that followed the February 1974 election, he was a key player as leader of the Liberals. At the same time, Thorpe was being blackmailed by his former lover, Norman Scottcorrect, with bizarre and bleak consequences for all involved. In this account, Bloch cites many other risk-taking gay flings. Anyone who believes politics is boring will change their minds if they read about Thorpe’s farcical and tragic life of Jeremy Thorpe.

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Guide to the ALM Capstone Project

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Capstone: Historical Biography

“There is properly no history; only biography.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson The capstone offers an opportunity for students to engage in the challenges of writing historical biography. We reflect on the ways that biographers explore individual lives in the context of wider historical forces – how biographers connect the public and private lives of their subjects, and how they engage in careful historical research to craft engaging narratives. We begin by reading and discussing award-winning historical biographies alongside more theoretical discussions of the craft of biography. Students then undertake original historical research on an individual of their own choosing. Together, through our weekly meetings, we form an enthusiastic and supportive writing workshop. — Ariane Liazos, Faculty

Pre-capstone

This course builds on the work done in HIST E-597b . Students use the research and writing skills they have developed to produce a sample chapter of a biography, one that could be submitted as part of a book proposal, or a biographical article for an academic journal. Students include a bibliography and endnotes with their final submission. This semester predominantly consists of workshops of student writing-in-progress; students are evaluated on the feedback they provide for each other.

Ariane Liazos, PhD Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University

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Precapstone Course:  HIST E-597b Precapstone: Historical Biography Capstone Course: HIST E-599b Capstone: Historical Biography

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Political typology quiz.

Notice: Beginning April 18th community groups will be temporarily unavailable for extended maintenance. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Where do you fit in the political typology?

Are you a faith and flag conservative progressive left or somewhere in between.

Take our quiz to find out which one of our nine political typology groups is your best match, compared with a nationally representative survey of more than 10,000 U.S. adults by Pew Research Center. You may find some of these questions are difficult to answer. That’s OK. In those cases, pick the answer that comes closest to your view, even if it isn’t exactly right.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

Meet the ‘pursuer of nubile young females’ who helped pass Arizona’s 1864 abortion law

The arizona supreme court has decided the law is still relevant. so let’s talk about the guy who led the body that passed it..

The time has come to reflect on the life and times — especially the times — of William Claude Jones.

Jones was a “prevaricator, a poet, a politician and the pursuer of nubile young females,” according to a 1990 article published in the Journal of Arizona History, which appears to be the most comprehensive biographical report published on the life of the 19th-century rogue.

His pursuit of such nubility began with a marriage to Sarah Freeman, who bore him two children in the 1840s, when Jones would have been in his 20s or early 30s. He was a sitting member of the Missouri state legislature at the time, but his family followed him to Arkansas and then Texas as he searched for more prominent government appointments. In 1854, President Franklin Pierce eventually named him U.S. attorney for the New Mexico territory, and it was hereabout that Jones’s first wife filed for divorce.

His next wife was a girl whose name was believed to be Maria v. del Refugio, writes L. Boyd Finch, the author of the journal article. New Mexico’s delegate to Washington, Miguel Otero, was bothered by the union. He “declared that the bride was twelve years old,” Finch writes, “and that Jones had ‘abducted’ her.” Otero petitioned President James Buchanan to fire Jones for the moral failing, but Jones resigned instead.

No matter! The mid-19th century was, by any standard you or I would recognize, a hideous place for women. The predatory relationship did not end Jones’s political career; he merely moved farther west, to the Arizona territory. There, Jones supported secession from the Southern states in the impending Civil War. He also landed upon his third wife, Caroline Stephens, who was 15 years old. Claude, by this time, was around 50.

Ah, well. They were married for only a year, anyway, because in 1865, Finch writes, Jones “left Caroline. She never saw or heard from him again.”

He had boarded a train for California, and then a boat for Hawaii, where he again entered local politics, winning a seat in the kingdom’s lower house. By 1868, a local girl named MaeMae Kailihao — “reportedly a princess from a noble family” — was pregnant with his child. She was 14.

Jones and Kailihao married and had several children together until she died at the age of 28 in 1881. Then Jones wed for a fifth time, a woman named Mary Akina — age unknown — only to file for divorce two years later. Shortly after that, Jones died on the island of Maui.

Finch, Jones’s biographer, is careful to say that there is a lot about W. Claude Jones’s life that has been lost to time. We know very little about his early upbringing, or how much he might have exaggerated some of the military exploits he was known to boast about. We also, it almost goes without saying, know very little about his wives, their inner lives, and what they thought of their unions and the times they lived in.

By now you are probably wondering why in God’s name I am writing about this lecherous caricature of a man — a man whose compatriots in the 19th century recognized that he was problematic.

Here’s why:

While Jones lived in Arizona, he was elected to represent Tucson in the 1st Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly. And then, when that legislature convened in 1864, he was elected speaker of the House.

And it was that legislature — the one Jones presided over in 1864, after he had already abandoned his first wife, and married a 12-year-old and was just weeks away from marrying a 15-year-old, though still a few years away from marrying a 14-year-old — it was that legislature that passed a law reading, “Every person who shall administer or cause to be administered or taken, any medicinal substances, or shall use or cause to be used any instruments whatever, with the intention to procure the miscarriage of any woman then being with child, and shall be thereof duly convicted, shall be punished by imprisonment in the Territorial prison for a term not less than two years nor more than five years.”

And it was that piece of legislation that, earlier this week, was reinstated as law of the land in Arizona. It represents a near-total ban on abortion in the state. The state’s Supreme Court voted 4-2 that the 160-year-old law, put into place nearly five decades before Arizona was a state, should supersede the previous rule, which guarded the right to an abortion up to 15 weeks’ gestation. The new — and by new, I mean very old — law is scheduled to go into effect in two weeks’ time.

William Claude Jones sauntered into the wide expanse of a Southwestern territory more than 150 years ago, and this man’s morals are now the benchmark for the reproductive rights of the 7 million people who live in Arizona. Good night.

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Biden Shrinks Trump’s Edge in Latest Times/Siena Poll

The president’s popularity has ticked up slightly, though voters still view Donald J. Trump more favorably and have dour views of the economy.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES / SIENA COLLEGE POLL

April 7 to 11

If the 2024 presidential election

were held today, who would you

vote for if the candidates were

Joe Biden and Donald Trump ?

Don’t know/

declined to say

Apr. 7 to 11

If the 2024 presidential election were held today, who would you vote for if the candidates were Joe Biden and Donald Trump ?

By Shane Goldmacher

President Biden has nearly erased Donald J. Trump’s early polling advantage, amid signs that the Democratic base has begun to coalesce behind the president despite lingering doubts about the direction of the country, the economy and his age, according to a new survey by The New York Times and Siena College .

Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump are now virtually tied, with Mr. Trump holding a 46 percent to 45 percent edge. That is an improvement for Mr. Biden from late February, when Mr. Trump had a sturdier 48 percent to 43 percent lead just before he became the presumptive Republican nominee.

Mr. Biden’s tick upward appears to stem largely from his improved standing among traditional Democratic voters — he is winning a greater share of voters who supported him in 2020 than he did a month ago. Then, Mr. Trump had secured the support of far more of his past voters compared with the president — 97 percent to 83 percent — but that margin has narrowed. Mr. Biden is now winning 89 percent of his 2020 supporters compared with 94 percent for Mr. Trump.

The tightening poll results are the latest evidence of a 2024 contest that both campaigns are preparing to be excruciatingly close. The last two presidential elections were decided by tens of thousands of votes in a handful of battleground states, and this one could be just as tight. In a nation so evenly divided, even the tiniest of shifts in support could prove decisive.

Beneath the narrowing contest, many of the fundamentals of the race appear largely unchanged.

The share of voters who view the nation as headed in the wrong direction remains a high 64 percent. Almost 80 percent of voters still rate the nation’s economic conditions as fair or poor, including a majority of Democrats. And both Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump remain unpopular, for familiar reasons. Most voters think Mr. Biden is too old. A majority believe Mr. Trump has committed serious federal crimes.

“Just blah,” said Beth Prevost, a 59-year-old hairdresser and independent voter in Windsor Locks, Conn., summing up the feelings of so many about the rematch. She said she was leaning toward Mr. Biden as “the lesser of the two evils.”

“You can recover from bad policies, but you can’t recover from a bad heart,” Ms. Prevost said. “And Donald Trump has a bad heart.”

The survey comes just before Mr. Trump’s history-making criminal trial in New York City, the first for a former American president. He faces charges related to falsifying records related to a hush-money payment to a porn star. The case is one of four involving felony indictments against Mr. Trump, but it is the only one so far with a trial set to begin before the election.

Yet despite the potential for the Republican nominee to face jail time, only one in four voters said they were yet paying very close attention to the former president’s legal travails.

The Biden campaign, which has already begun advertising in battleground states, has hoped the reality of a potential second Trump term will snap reluctant Democrats back toward their typical partisan posture. There is some initial evidence of that happening.

In the last month, Mr. Biden’s support among white voters remained flat, but it has inched upward among Black and Latino voters, even if it still lags behind traditional levels of Democratic support. Mr. Biden was faring better than he had been a month ago in suburbs and among women, though he was weaker among men. Younger voters remain a persistent weakness, while older voters provide a source of relative strength for the Democratic president.

Voters have a better opinion of Trump

Respondents who had a very favorable or

somewhat favorable opinion of each candidate

Respondents who had a very favorable or somewhat favorable opinion of each candidate

The poll’s overall margin of error was 3.3 percent. But the results among subgroups are less statistically reliable because there are fewer respondents in them. Still, this poll showed Mr. Biden with his strongest performance among nonwhite voters among the last three Times/Siena surveys since December.

Age, however, remains a political albatross for Mr. Biden.

A full 69 percent of voters still see the 81-year-old Democrat as too old to be an effective president. Mr. Trump, who turns 78 in June, would also be the oldest president in American history if elected. But voters do not have the same doubts about his capacity to serve, with only 41 percent viewing him as too old.

There was one notable shift in the last month. Among voters who are over 65, the share who view Mr. Biden as too old has dropped significantly.

Russell Wood, 67, a Democratic retiree and a veteran who lives in Los Angeles County, said he had noticed a marked change in Mr. Biden’s energy levels. He was disappointed Mr. Biden had skipped the traditional pre-Super Bowl interview but was pleased with the performance he had seen since.

“He did a really great job at the State of the Union, and since then it’s like he’s been a different Joe Biden,” Mr. Wood said, adding: “I know he’s on the campaign trail day in and day out. I have no complaints there.”

The economy also continues to be a drag for the president, who has tried to frame his “bottom up and middle out” job agenda under the banner of “Bidenomics.” Young voters are especially sour, with more than 85 percent rating the economy poor or fair.

Voters in the poll gave Mr. Trump’s and Mr. Biden’s handling of the economy almost perfectly inverted ratings: 64 percent approved of Mr. Trump’s handling of the issue as president and 63 percent disapprove of Mr. Biden’s job on the issue now.

Immigration gave Mr. Trump his other biggest edge among a host of issues voters were asked about in the survey. Border crossings hit record highs at the end of last year. A slim majority approved of Mr. Trump’s handling of immigration as president, while 64 percent of voters disapproved of Mr. Biden’s job on those matters.

Luis Campino, a 50-year-old independent voter who immigrated from Colombia and now lives in Highland, N.Y., said there were “dangerous” people crossing the border. “They’re coming in like nothing,” he added.

Mr. Campino said he had voted for Mr. Biden in 2020 but was planning to vote for Mr. Trump as the “lesser of the evils,” a decision driven in part by his concerns about crime and immigration.

In the poll, Mr. Biden was given better ratings than Mr. Trump on his ability to unite the nation and his handling of both race relations and the pandemic.

But with the war in Ukraine dragging into its third year after Russia’s invasion and the civilian death toll rising in Gaza after Israel’s assault after the terror attack by Hamas, voters gave Mr. Trump significantly higher marks on his handling of foreign conflicts.

Only 36 percent approve of Mr. Biden’s managing of those conflicts, with especially glaring weaknesses among younger voters. Only 4 percent of voters under 45 strongly approve of his job on such international matters.

Danny Ghoghas, 23, a bartender and server who lives in Burbank, Calif., is strongly considering staying home on Election Day to protest Mr. Biden’s response to the conflict in Gaza.

“I really don’t like Donald Trump and would not like him to be in office again,” said Mr. Ghoghas, a Democrat. “That’s why I would vote for Biden again. But other than that, I can’t really think of a good reason to vote for him.”

The generational differences on foreign affairs were notable. While voters of all ages viewed Mr. Trump similarly, Mr. Biden received far worse ratings from voters under 45, 70 percent of whom disapproved. Among those who are 45 and older, a slimmer 53 percent majority disapproved.

Mr. Biden has made Mr. Trump’s potential to undermine democratic rule after the riot of Jan. 6, 2021, a centerpiece of his re-election campaign. But so far, equal 31 percent segments of respondents said that Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump were “good for democracy.” The number who said Mr. Trump was “bad for democracy,” 45 percent, only slightly outpaced those who said the same of Mr. Biden.

Also in the poll, nearly equal shares of voters labeled Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden a “risky choice” for the country.

The survey did not ask about potential third-party candidates. But roughly 5 percent of voters seemingly unhappy with the Trump-Biden choice volunteered the names of other candidates they planned to vote for, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Democrat-turned-independent who is battling to get on ballots nationwide.

It is not clear yet what effect the looming criminal trial will have for Mr. Trump, with 37 percent saying they were paying little to no attention at all.

Still, a 58 percent majority of voters view the charges that he falsified business records to cover up hush money payments made to the porn star Stormy Daniels as either very serious or somewhat serious. Opinions fractured predictably along partisan lines, though a majority of independents notably view the charges as at least somewhat serious.

More interesting was the gender gap on that question.

Women were twice as likely as men, 40 percent to 20 percent, to see the charges related to the porn star as very serious; men were twice as likely as women to see the charges as not serious at all, 30 percent to 15 percent.

Ruth Igielnik , Alyce McFadden and Camille Baker contributed reporting.

Here are the key things to know about how this Times/Siena poll was conducted:

We spoke with 1,059 registered voters from April 7 to 11, 2024.

Our polls are conducted by telephone, using live interviewers, in both English and Spanish. More than 95 percent of respondents were contacted on a cellphone for this poll.

Voters are selected for the survey from a list of registered voters. The list contains information on the demographic characteristics of every registered voter, allowing us to make sure we reach the right number of voters of each party, race and region. For this poll, we placed nearly 127,000 calls to more than 93,000 voters.

To further ensure that the results reflect the entire voting population, not just those willing to take a poll, we give more weight to respondents from demographic groups underrepresented among survey respondents, like people without a college degree. You can see more information about the characteristics of our respondents and the weighted sample on the methodology page , under “Composition of the Sample.”

The poll’s margin of sampling error among registered voters is plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. In theory, this means that the results should reflect the views of the overall population most of the time, though many other challenges create additional sources of error. When computing the difference between two values — such as a candidate’s lead in a race — the margin of error is twice as large.

You can see full results and a detailed methodology here . If you want to read more about how and why we conduct our polls, you can see answers to frequently asked questions and submit your own questions here .

An earlier version of this article misstated the duration of the war in Ukraine. It is in its third year, not its second.

How we handle corrections

Shane Goldmacher is a national political correspondent, covering the 2024 campaign and the major developments, trends and forces shaping American politics. He can be reached at [email protected] . More about Shane Goldmacher