Gather your memories. When you are planning and writing your autobiography, you are living your experiences as if they are with you today. Keep a notebook or audio recorder with you and note any and all memories and thoughts that pop into your head. Go through your photos, videos, letters and other memorabilia. These will trigger and expand your memories.
Start writing from day one. It is better to write, or at least make notes, as you organize. Both jotting notes and writing whole episodes are valuable. Too many would-be writers find it easy to put off writing until everything is in order. Don't wait until then. From the first day you begin and every day after, write down or record the highlights of an episode in your life. Details and editing can come later. Right now, revel in the past and "live it again" by putting yourself onto paper, into a recorder or computer.
Begin at the beginning---or anywhere else. An autobiography need not be linear---beginning at day one and ending up where you are now. You can begin with any event and clump similar experiences together. Your memories are not neatly arranged in a time sequence but are entangled with each other. Telling your story with these layers helps you express your inner self.
Draw up your life's timeline of major events. Build your life stories around events such as high school graduation, family events, losses and victories. For instance, telling about your first love as a teen can be tied in with grade-school boy-girl and parent-child experiences.
Keep it conversational. Don't think "literature." Use pen and paper, a PC or audio and video recording devices. You are first of all writing for yourself and your loved ones---not for that meticulous English teacher you had in high school.
Share emotional or philosophical meaning from your experiences. Don't make them appear bigger or different from what you are. Be true to yourself and thus to your readers. You can use dialogue and description to bring your story to life even if you have to reconstruct some of it. Live your life again for yourself---relish the best that has happened to you and look for deeper meanings in your disappointments and victories.
"Rough it." For your first draft tell your story as quickly as possible. Let your subconscious out of its prison. At times you'll go with the flow---perhaps "automatic writing" will grip you. Set no strictures during your rough draft--tell your critical side to take a a hike. Share what you remember, feel, wish, dream. Revising comes later.
Read other people's life stories, especially ones similar to yours. You'll see how they told their stories and find your memories being triggered with new insights.
Ask someone with grammar skills to read your manuscript and note corrections needed. If your "editor" offers you reactions beyond grammar, consider them but don't be swayed by them. No one knows your story like you do.
Be easy on yourself. If you're not having fun writing, your readers likely won't have fun reading your story. Revise as needed, but don't hamper yourself with self-criticism or a feeling of an editor-looking-over-your-shoulder. Too much revising and correcting can lead to wooden writing.
Use a word processing program to set up the pages of your manuscript. Format it to look like pages of book. Drop in photos as you desire.
Print a quality copy of your manuscript after final editing. You can also transfer it to your website or a CD. You can videotape yourself telling your story and then transfer it to a DVD and make multiple copies.
Make a list of the people you want to give a copy to. Have your office supply or print shop print enough copies for your list plus a few extra. It is generally cheaper to print-on-demand as you need the copies than to print a large quantity that may not be distributed for months or years.
If your work appeals to more than your family and friends, contact service organizations, historical societies, support groups, churches and libraries in your area to arrange short talks and autographing parties.