What types of non-fiction are there?

Biography and Autobiography

Biographies and autobiographies are the stories about individuals and their experiences. Biography writers choose a person, complete the research, and write about the person. Modem biographies tend to focus on trying to understand the person’s motivations and to understand their “inner thoughts.” Autobiographies, however, are written by the person being described.

Biographies and autobiographies are written about many famous people. They are also written about ordinary people. Some biographies and autobiographies focus on specific events or personality traits of a person. This type of writing is often seen in “Hollywood biographies” of famous people. Often these are written quickly and are sold quickly. The best literature presents a well balanced account of a person’s personalities and abilities. “Good” biographies are recognized by their balanced approach and evidence of comprehensive research. Evidence of research include the inclusion of a number of quotes from a variety of sources as well as a bibliography outlining the written sources used.