1. Bob Schaller, Ph.D. Abilene Christian University March 5, 2010

2. Getting started, I Revelation, sacrifice, redemption Groundhog Day (seven deadly sins, salvation) Gone with the Wind (a “just” war, redemption) Titanic (faith, love, hope) The Great Gatsby (only became great when he learned he did not have greatness) The Catcher in the Rye (questions he cannot answer)

3. Getting started, II Who, what, where, when and why take on entirely new meaning in a biographybiography You will only get back what you put into a story in terms of hard work and exhaustive research (interviews, books, archives) Writer’s block? A myth

4. Who Who did what? When did they do it? Why did they do it? Why did they do it at that time? Why did they do it in that particular place? What did they do? What did they do afterward

5. The subject First things first: MAP THIS THING OUT

6. Start with… A chronology, which includes: 1. ALL significant events in their lives 2. Places they have lived 3. Significant figures in their lives (when and where they associated with them) 4. Schools attended (graduation dates, interesting classmates, history of school, other notable alums) 5. Jobs (dates, places, relevant history of companies)

7. Now, research… The places and people, which includes: 1. The history of the states and cities in which they lived 2. Other notable figures or events from these places. 3. Consult almanacs, encyclopedias, and if onsite, the local library and…coffee shop (NOTE: this might not mean Starbucks…)

8. The Interview You have a hard job: You have to get to TRUTHS, which requires finding FACTS You must often ask the subject to answer questions they have never asked themselves, or questions they do not want answers to You have to live inside this person without “loving” them You have to “dig” without making even a mark

9. More interviewing You will talk to all the people that person mentions Start by asking key influences, role models, even a nemesis or two, where appropriate When you talk to other people about the subject, let them tell “Their version” before reconciling inconsistencies Return to subject to get their take on what others said

10. Be a smart interviewer Key to interviews is LISTENING You still steer the interview to keep it on the road, but you don’t want to steer it: Just keep it on the river, so to speak, and only move it back toward center when it is threatening to stall on the banks Learn the vernacular of the region, the religion, the heritage A good researcher is showing respect for his/her subject by understanding where they come from Interview other people separately or away from subject

11. Other characters: The weather (Western Wyoming) A family home (Tara-Gone with the Wind) A vehicle A road A mountain, or other geographic formation (Outlaw Trail in Wyoming)

12. Pinpointing the arc You must map the narrative of the subject’s life, or relevant part of the life for the story (tenure as council person, career in military, or perhaps even life story) Find significant events that preceded and foreshadowed the climax Tie in, where applicable, people who shaped the main person

13. Other characters Parents, friends, pastors, coaches, teammates, competitors, rivals, doctors, nurses – all of these people have supporting roles in the arc of the story, but they should not overtake the role of the lead. They must fit into the story appropriately

14. Want to become a better writer? Read, read, and READ some more: Not to copy anyone – find your OWN voice. But you might be surprised when you dig in to read a lot; you could find out you might be a better writer in some ways than your favorite author favorite author