Writers of biographies for teens and young adults have a tough job. They must relate a life story that will inspire, educate, and entertain readers, many of whom have short attention spans and high expectations. But good biographers manage to do it, by taking the time and effort to learn everything there is to know about their subjects and then crafting a compelling story.
While there is no specific formula or style for writing biography for teens, there are some helpful guidelines. Below are four keys to writing a successful biography for a teenage or young adult audience:
Choose an Intriguing Subject When Writing Biography for Teens
Choosing someone to write about requires knowing something about teenagers and young adults and what interests them. One way to do this is to browse through the published teen biographies at the bookstore or library and see what’s out there.
Many teens and young adults like reading about people who they’ve seen in the movies or heard about on the news. They may be interested in someone they hope to emulate or who have made an unusual mark on the world. Or, they may want to learn more about an individual whom they have studied in school.
Some examples of popular biographies for teens and young adults include I am Scout: A Biography of Harper Lee (Charles J. Shields), Leonardo DiCaprio: A Modern Day Romeo (Grace Catalano) and Andy Warhol: Prince of Pop (Jan Greenberg).
When choosing a subject, biographers may want to consider writing about someone who hasn’t already been written about for this audience – unless the writer has new information or plans to focus on an untold aspect of the subject’s life.
Quality Research is the Meat of Good Biographies
When writing a biography, whether historical or not, research is mandatory, and quality is better than quantity. That’s especially true when it comes to writing for teens and young adults. It’s still a good idea to gather as much information about the subject as possible, however not all the details collected will interest a young audience.
But teens do like details – quirky, funny, astounding ones. And details they can relate to, like appearance and other character traits, hobbies, and food likes and dislikes. Teens will be especially interested in learning about the subject’s youth, such as what it was like growing up, family dynamics, and people and events that influenced the individual.
Biographers can begin their research by looking at what’s already been published about (or related in some way to) the subject, including books, magazine and journal articles, newspaper clippings, and films. Unpublished materials are the next target and often the most important because they can shed new light on the individual and help make the story unique.
Unpublished materials include:
- diaries and journals
- letters
- family papers
- interviews
- theses
- lectures
Quality research can be found by looking for information through reputable sources, such as public and historical libraries and organizations, family contacts and estates, and respected online sources.
A Lively Narrative Gives Teen Biographies Readability
But details alone aren’t enough to satisfy teens, who also want a narrative that brings the facts to life and tells a story. For biographers, working the details into a lively narrative requires creativity – and caution. Writers must be careful not to make up facts. If an important detail can’t be verified, a notation to that effect should be used (i.e., “Though never confirmed …”).
A good way to begin writing a biography for teens is with an outline, which lays out the story’s beginning, middle, and end. Of course, outlines can always be changed, and they often are. One thing that shouldn’t change, though, is the pace. Action, suspense, moving dialogue, and vivid imagery can all engage teen readers and keep them hooked.
A lively narrative won’t be effective, however, unless it’s also coherent. Teens and young adults don’t have the patience for wordiness and disorganized, inaccurate writing. Cutting redundant words and phrases and adhering to proper grammar, structure, and usage will help make the story more readable.
Visuals and Other Extras, a Way to Enhance Nonfiction Writing for Teens
Photos and other visuals in nonfiction writing for teens are often a big selling point for this age group. Too much text can bore young minds. Visuals and other extras offer an interesting diversion – and can serve to enhance the text as well as add to it. A good cover image is especially important, as it will draw the reader’s eye to the book and make that first impression.
Some useful extras include:
- photographs
- illustrations
- charts
- maps
- timelines
- glossaries
Another good extra is a sidebar. Sidebars are small boxes of text that deviate slightly from the main text but add interesting or important information that didn’t find its way into the narrative. Sidebars, like visuals, can greatly enhance nonfiction writing for teens and young adults.
Writing biography is a challenging effort, especially when it’s aimed at a teen and young adult audience. But biographies can have a huge impact on young people. With an intriguing subject, quality research, a lively narrative, and interesting extras, writers of teen biography can educate, inspire, and entertain readers for years to come.
For related articles, see:
Writing Novels for Teens: Marks of a Strong Protagonist
Characters, Themes in Sarah Dessen’s Books for Teens Lure Readers
Susie Yakowicz - Susie Yakowicz is a Minnesota freelance writer whose work has appeared in dozens of publications for children and adults.
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