How to Structure a Biography Book + Tips for Authors of Biographies on Chapters and Word Count
Here Are the Different Types of Biographies and Some Important Tips for the Chapters in a Biography Book
As Thomas Carlyle once said, “Biography is the most universally pleasant and profitable of all reading.”
And you’re here because you want to write such a book. Good for you!
Biographies continue to sell very well, and they’re very popular with nonfiction readers.
But if you want to actually finish this thing in a timely fashion and if you want it to be warmly received when it’s published—if you want people to actually read and enjoy it—you need to have a good organizational structure.
What approach should you take in terms of organizing it?
How do you keep them reading, and keep them locked in, page after page?
What approach should you take in terms of organizing it?
How do you keep them reading and keep them locked in, page after page?
In the lines that follow, I’ll dish my expertise as a nonfiction publishing coach and editor.
Let’s look at the different types of biographies you can write—
some ways to structure a biography—
and advice for the number of chapters in your biography and the best word count for biography.
Let’s start with the different types of biographies you can write.
The conventional chronology, from beginning to end
This is the most common approach.
But this doesn’t necessarily mean that a “cradle-to-grave” biography is wise. It might be too long. It might be too dull.
Some authors weave themes into the central story, while others periodically pause from the main narrative to expound on a particular theme.
Many books begin with an incident from the middle or end of the subject’s life, then circle back to the beginning.
Each chapter can use a similar approach, too.
When pausing from the main narrative to expound on something or to provide context, how much is “too much” context?
A few hundred words is usually enough. Be consistent with the length of your asides, too.
It can be very disorienting for the reader when there are excessive leaps back in time.
Try to tell your story in a way that avoids lengthy or frequent jumps back in time, and try to tell the story from start to finish.
A chronological approach, but with subdivisions
This is similar to our conventional chronology, but it’s divided into parts reflecting phases of the subject’s life.
No need to go overboard here, but you might have 2 to 4 parts.
The comparative biography
This type of biography looks at two people whose lives were intertwined or can be placed in comparison.
I’ve seen biographies of two sisters; Crazy Horse and Custer; a famous power couple; two movie stars; a rich person and a poor person. The goal is to shine light on contrasts and comparisons.
A biography focusing on one aspect of a person’s life
This is a solid approach if you’re writing about a well-known subject.
You might cover one theme: the person’s love life or relationship(s), their doings as it pertains to race or racial issues, or something like that.
It’s a way to offer a deep dive into a narrow but noteworthy topic.
A year in the life
This approach focuses on a period of the subject’s life—a year or a phase in the subject’s life. It could be more than a year. It could be someone’s early or final years.
This is similar to the previous. But it zeroes in on a specific place and/or time. There’s a great book out there about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the sanitation workers’ strike, for example.
The key thing to remember is that your subject is the protagonist (or antagonist, perhaps) of your book.
Now let’s look at the number of chapters in your biography and your word count.
Laying out your chapters
Most nonfiction books have 6 to 12 chapters.
Each chapter may be 5,000 to 10,000 words.
In my view, 8 to 10 chapters is the sweet spot.
Aim for a total word count of 60,000 to 100,000 words.
(Click here for “What Is the Typical Word Count for a Nonfiction Book?”)
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You’ll probably have an introduction and a conclusion, which can be half to two-thirds the length of the average chapter.
It gives readers (and publishers) comfort to know what to expect from each chapter. So, . . .
Each chapter should be roughly similar in length.
You might also want to use epigraphs, but don’t go overboard. One quote for each chapter is enough. But beware: generally speaking, traditional publishers are averse to using song lyrics in epigraphs due to copyright concerns.
And you’ll also want to choose images for your book, giving preference to images that aren’t as well-known.
Structuring a biography, in sum:
Conventional, Chronological but in parts, Comparative, Theme-based, A-year-in-the-life.
Which of these is your favorite to read?
Number of chapters and word count, in sum:
Write 6 to 12 chapters.
Each one should be 5,000 to 10,000 words but all of them should be roughly the same length.
Total word count: 60,000 to 100,000 words.
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Happy writing,