Famous autobiography title ideas

Some of our clients come to us with a title already picked out, before they've even begun to write.

Short autobiography titles for students

Others wait for the title to be revealed to them in the writing. Which way is better? It depends. Choosing a title for your memoir, especially a thematic title, before you start your project can be a great guiding force, helping you narrow the focus of your book as you write. For instance, Arthur and Lila Mae Debenham had chosen a title for their book years before they even started the process: Tender Mercies.

They knew they wanted their book to reflect the "tender mercies" that God had bestowed upon them in their course through life, and this theme guided our efforts in the writing process, helping us decide what events to include and what to leave out. But if you don't have a title already picked out, don't panic. It's much more common for writers to choose a title after they've begun or even finished writing.

Often, the writing process itself will reveal a theme, phrase, or tone that suggests a title. Start by considering what themes run through your narrative.