I used to think a biography was just “name, date, accomplishment, repeat.” My first attempt—about my great-grandmother—felt like a timeline on life support.

After workshopping dozens of bios for family, nonprofits, and podcasts, I finally cracked a formula that puts story ahead of statistics.

Below are seven practical steps you can copy for a short blog profile or a full-length book.

I’ll point out exactly where Merlin AI can jump in to save time, spark ideas, and catch sneaky typos.

Why Biographies Matter

• Legacy: They preserve memories past the social-media scroll.
• Inspiration: A well-told life shows readers what’s possible.
• Context: Biographies stitch personal moments into larger history.

Spending an hour on a clear structure now beats stitching dates together at midnight later.

Step 1 Pin Down Purpose, Audience, and Scope

• Purpose: Tribute? School assignment? Magazine feature?
• Audience: Family, scholars, casual readers, or industry insiders?
• Scope: From birth to obituary or just a pivotal decade?

Write these choices on a sticky note—every later decision should echo them.

Quick Merlin Move Paste your idea into Merlin and ask: “Summarize purpose, audience, and ideal length for this biography in 50 words.” Now you’ve got a North Star for the whole project.

Step 2 Gather Sources Like a Detective

Spend 30 minutes mapping what you need and where you’ll find it—future-you will thank you.

Quick Merlin Move Prompt: “Make a 12-item source checklist for a 5,000-word biography of a 1990s tech founder.” Copy the list into your research doc and start ticking boxes.

Step 3 Sketch the Narrative Arc (Hero’s-Journey Lite)

Even factual lives follow story beats. Draft a one-page outline using these sections:

• Early Roots & Influences
• Inciting Spark – the event that set their path
• Rising Challenges & Breakthroughs
• Pivotal Moment / Peak
• Setbacks, Failures, or Scandals
• Legacy & Impact

Aim for three bullet incidents per section.> Outlining now tames rabbit-holes later.

Step 4 Hook Readers with a Cinematic Opening

Skip the birth certificate; open mid-action:

“On a muggy July evening in 1987, twelve-year-old Luis Torres rigged a car battery to power a beat-up IBM PC—and booted his first line of code.”

Then zoom out for a two-sentence overview—who, what, and why this life matters.

Quick Merlin Move Prompt: “Write three 35-word cinematic opening lines about a young inventor fixing a computer with a car battery.” Pick the one that gives you chills, tune wording, and go.

Step 5 – Write Scene-Driven Chapters

Show, Don’t Tell

Aim for at least one 100-word vignette per chapter that shows character through action.

Quick Merlin Move Feed Merlin a bullet—e.g. “first big product pitch disaster”—and prompt: “Expand into an 80-word scene with tension and dialogue.” Adjust to match your voice and verified facts.

Step 6 – Blend Facts, Context, and Reflection

A Solid Chapter Rhythm:

1. Narrative scene (feel present)
2. Context paragraph (history, market, culture)
3. Reflection/analysis (what this meant for the subject and others)

Keep roughly a 40-40-20 split so readers stay engaged and informed.

Fact-Check on the Fly Prompt: “Verify the price of a 1993 IBM ThinkPad (primary source link).” Paste the citation right into your draft.

Step 7 Land a Resonant Conclusion

Circle back to the opener and spotlight impact:

“Thirty years after hot-wiring that IBM, Luis’s open-source batteries power off-grid clinics from Lima to Lagos—proof that curiosity, not circumstance, builds futures.”

Close with a takeaway or forward look—awards, philanthropy, influence on today’s innovators.

Revision & Proof Checklist

Merlin Polish Pass Prompt: “Trim by 8% and keep warm narrative tone.”

How Merlin AI Saves ~45 Minutes

Conclusion – Your Biography, Ready to Inspire

Writing a biography boils down to:

• Define purpose, audience, scope.
• Collect rich primary and secondary sources.
• Outline a hero’s-journey arc.
• Hook with a vivid opening scene.
• Fill chapters with show-don’t-tell moments.
• Weave context and reflection for depth.
• Lean on Merlin AI for brainstorming, fact-checking, and polishing.

Follow these seven steps and you’ll transform dates and deeds into a story that lives—and inspires—long after you type “The End.”> Open Merlin, jot your first scene, and start bringing that remarkable life to life today.

FAQ

How long should my bio be?

• Short blog: 800–1,200 words
• Book proposal: 60,000–90,000 words

Match audience expectations.

Can I recreate dialogue? Only from confirmed interviews or letters. Otherwise, use indirect speech:

He told friends he’d “never sell.”

How do I cover flaws or scandals? Include them factually with sources; balanced portraits build trust.