People will read your autobiography only if they have a reason to be interested in your story. Celebrities, politicians and other public figures as well as those close to them will always find a market for their stories; readers are interested in the lives of famous people. However, everyday citizens have interesting stories, too. Readers like stories of triumph: cancer survivors, crime victims and people involved in natural disasters. They also like to read about people who have committed crimes, especially if the story helps the reader understand why the author turned to crime. Stories of everyday lives that are inspiring or especially humorous are also popular. Figure out what in your personal history will interest readers and build your story from there.
Autobiography is like fiction in that readers look for the main character to overcome conflict somewhere within the story. Conflict can be external, like a war, disease or extreme poverty. Conflict can also be internal, such as a fear of failure or an inability to form meaningful relationships. Even positive events, like winning the lottery, often generate conflict. As an autobiographer, you should identify the internal and external conflicts within your life and analyze how you overcame those conflicts--or failed to. Consider how external conflicts led to internal conflicts or vice versa. Think about the role that other people played in your conflict situations. Decide who helped you, who hindered you and how.
Readers also want to see the author's conflict resolved, or at least managed, by the end of the book. Explain how you resolved the conflict. Perhaps you sought counseling, went through treatment or were relieved of active duty. Tell readers what you did to get through and overcome the conflict. Also identify how the conflict changed your opinions, your decisions, your beliefs and your actions. Reveal how it affects your present. If you were a victim of trauma, you may still have nightmares or be afraid of the dark. Identify those things. Tell the reader how you feel about the future. Are you hopeful, frightened or simply content? What do you think tomorrow will bring?