In Writing Biography: Historians and Their Craft, editor, Lloyd E. Ambrosius touches on issues that refer to how a biographer separate the subject’s role from the larger historical picture? What benefit is a biography? What sources are used in writing a biography? What role does biography play in history? Each historian wrote a chapter on the issue of their choice. this is helpful and encouraging.
In comparison, Ted Schwarz states how from the beginning of time people were writing and recording history in some format.
Biographies During Ancient Times
Egyptians wrote stories on vases or urns. The Romans preferred writing on coins. Biographies are nothing more than the telling of a factual story of someone’s life. The Bible is a collective biography. Schwarz stressed that today biographies and as-told-to autobiographies are the most popular source of nonfiction fiction in the United States.
Unchanging Biography Trends
He states that publishers do not see this trend changing. The interest in the subject is what sells the book and not the author. According to Schwarz, publishers seek manuscripts written about individuals whose lives are traced through archives, newspaper files, historical society holdings, and similar locations. He states, “The passions, triumphs, and failures of individuals are just as exciting whether they happened last year or a century ago.” Schwarz’s makes a terrific point with that statement.
Definition of Biography
Schwarz’s book is both informative and interesting to read. He broke down by chapter each aspect of writing a biography. His chapters not only gave information on how to write a biography, but once the biography is written, he gives details on how to market the biography. He explains the tax expectations and copy writing requirements. Schwarz also encourages the biography writer to follow some of the same ideas as novelist.
The difference between a biography and a novel is that a biography is factual and a novel is fictional, but by using the technique of the novelist, being creative and relaying the facts in an interesting and entertaining view guarantees the books potential for publication. He points out that the biography can be written with the same enthusiasm and determination as a novel. This is an encouraging point Schwarz’s makes.
Source;
Ambrosius, Lloyd E., ed. Writing Biography: Historians and Their Craft. 2004.
Schwarz, Ted.lete Guide to Writing Biographies. Cincinnati: Writers Digest Books, 1990.
Christine Musser - Christine is a passionate researcher and does not stop the research process until she has exhausted all possibilities. Her research has ...
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