Geoffrey Botkin describes what film goers want to see. I feel this can be stretched to apply to other story telling. He says audiences want to see "The modern audience ... wants to see vicarious thrills in a dramatic two hour presentation of a morally interesting story introducing a heroic character with whom he can identify." People like to see these elements in written form as well.
So what does this have to do with writing a biography?
1. We all have a story to tell
We can all talk about the three elements mentioned above. We all have a context - personal history, where we grew up, went to school, our temperament and mindset at different stages, etc. We all have faced challenges. Whether it was a rude neighbour or an exam system with 'leakages' or an illness. We all have goals and ambitions. (Even though these sometimes change). We all have lessons learnt, experience which may be invaluable to others who are yet to make big lie choices. In other words, we all have a story to tell.
2. Your story is more interesting than you think
They say "familiarity breeds contempt". You are so familiar with your own story that you may think it is not worth telling. But the things you take for granted may in fact be "stranger than fiction" to someone else!
3. Real stories are more helpful than some fiction
Real motivation and inspiration comes from ordinary life stories. As long as it is not "hagiography", stories that create exaggerated "saints" that have no weakness and make no mistakes. Even in the Christian Bible, many of the best characters have made the worst mistakes (King David and the Bethsheba episode, Peter and his denial of Christ, Lot and his blunder at choosing to live in Sodom, and so on, except the incarnate Son of God of course).
We can easily spot the one sided stories that skip the "bad choices" episodes of life. Real stories are helpful, because we can learn from the mistakes too. Maybe we can even benefit more reading about the wrong turns, than from the good days. If one has the courage to share the detours that caused panic or heartache, you will tell a truly precious story.
4. Writing your story will help you see your life more clearly
Sometimes we re too busy in the rat race to sit and reflect on our lives. But writing can be a good way to reflect on life, and even plan for the future. It gives perspective and it can be humbling. Reflection is a lost art in society, and many choices would be different if we took time to reflect. If you feel a biography is a long way of, start with a diary or journal. Reading through your own entries can give perspective, ma be even more perspective than it will give to others who read it!
5. Writing your story will help change the reading culture
Many books present the stories of people so far removed from Zambian life. We sometimes struggle to relate to their situations. But Zambians need to read Zambian stories, to see how life hanging principles apply in our setting. It will help others evaluate their own life's journey. This will help us abandon the culture of avoiding deep thought or reflection. This will help us make better choices, reflecting on the long term consequences of beliefs and behaviour. Your book will be your contribution to shaping the Zambian culture, and family tradition, hopefully for years to come.
So you may say I am biased, after all, I edit and write for a living. But I also have a passion for stopping the run-away train of urban culture. It is time we gave it some direction and soberness. It is time we owned it, but filling the book shelves and stocking the DVD wracks with our own works. Nature abhors a vacuum. Something else will fill the gap, ( just look at some of the films at books people already have!)
There is hope. The music industry is showing promise. There was a time when buying a Zambian CD was unthinkable. We can do that with the book industry too. Get in touch if you want help writing a biography!
