autobiography
Written personal history
An autobiography is a person's account of their own life, written by themselves.
The term distinguishes such works from biographies, which are written by others.
Autobiographies typically cover significant portions of a life and reflect on formative experiences: She published her autobiography at seventy.
A memoir is similar but usually focuses on specific periods or themes rather than a full life story.
Written personal history
- reminiscencesSpoken or written memories
- recollectionsRetrieved past experiences
- confessionsActs of revealing guilt
- diaryPersonal daily record
journal · chronicle · anecdotes · vignettes · reminiscence · memoirist · testimony · retrospective
Examining one's own mind
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- self-examinationScrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-discoveryLearning one's true character
- self-awarenessInsight into one's psyche
reflection · contemplation · soul-searching · self-analysis · self-scrutiny · candor · truthfulness · authenticity
Recounting events aloud
- narrationVerbal account delivery
- voiceSound from throat
- first-person"I" as narrator
- proseUnversified language
account · chronicle · saga · arc · perspective · chronology · flashback · vignette
Inherited cultural legacy
- testamentWritten proof or legacy
- posterityFuture generations collectively
- remembranceAct of holding something in mind
- tributeOffering of respect
lasting · enduring · influence · impact · contribution · reputation · achievements · milestones
One's own being
- individualityUnique personal character
- personaAssumed public identity
- reinventionComplete self-transformation
- transformationThorough change in form
coming-of-age · roots · origins · upbringing · formative · childhood · ancestry · lineage
Original text before publication
- publisherCompany releasing books
- hardcoverRigid-bound book format
- paperbackBook with flexible cover
- bestsellerHigh-volume publication
ghostwriter · editor · foreword · afterword · prologue · epilogue · chapter · dedication
Category of creative work
- confessionalBooth for admitting sins
- epistolaryPertaining to letter-writing
memoirs
Written personal history
- reminiscencesSpoken or written memories
- recollectionsRetrieved past experiences
- confessionsActs of revealing guilt
diary · journal · chronicle · anecdotes · vignettes · reminiscence · memoirist · testimony · retrospective · experiences
self-reflection
Examining one's own mind
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- self-examinationScrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-discoveryLearning one's true character
self-awareness · reflection · contemplation · soul-searching · self-analysis · self-scrutiny · candor · truthfulness · authenticity · confession
storytelling
Recounting events aloud
- narrationVerbal account delivery
- voiceSound from throat
- first-person"I" as narrator
prose · account · chronicle · saga · arc · perspective · chronology · flashback · vignette · anecdote
heritage
Inherited cultural legacy
- testamentWritten proof or legacy
- posterityFuture generations collectively
- remembranceAct of holding something in mind
tribute · lasting · enduring · influence · impact · contribution · reputation · achievements · milestones · wisdom
self
One's own being
- individualityUnique personal character
- personaAssumed public identity
- reinventionComplete self-transformation
transformation · coming-of-age · roots · origins · upbringing · formative · childhood · ancestry · lineage
manuscript
Original text before publication
bestseller · ghostwriter · editor · foreword · afterword · prologue · epilogue · chapter · dedication · jacket
genre
Category of creative work
- confessionalBooth for admitting sins
- epistolaryPertaining to letter-writing
- booksnovel, textbooks, study guides, book, paperback
- genresaction, comedy, detective fiction, fantasy, horror
- literaturebooks, book, fiction, poetry, stories
- nonfictionhistory, memoir, documentary, essay, essays
- -graphiesgeography, photography, typography, cartography, choreography
- biographiesmemoir, memoirs, life stories, life story, bio
autobiographybiography
Written life account
unauthorized biography · authorized biography · profile · hagiography · obituary
autobiographyhistory
Record of past events
encyclopedia · treatise · textbook · reference work · scientific paper
autobiographyfake memoir
False account presented as real
fiction · autobiographical novel · autofiction · fictional memoir · novel
- autobiographical novelsFiction based on writer's life
- autobiographical fictionImagined tales from life
- autobiographical writingSelf-narrative prose
- autobiographical essaySelf-written personal account
- autobiography genreLiterary self-documentation category