Writing a life story, maybe a CEO autobiography, sounds simple – ‘Just say what happened’ – but most people discover that the biggest challenges are not writing problems. They’re thinking problems.

First up, the sheer amount of material can feel overwhelming. All those thousands of memories, conversations, jobs, relationships, successes, and failures. I mean, how do you sieve that lot? What belongs in the story? What should be left out? Which events actually matter? And on and on and on – while in the meantime very little actually gets written.

A common mistake I encounter is rigid adherence to a timeline rather than a narrative. Starting at the beginning and going from there isn’t always a good idea – because the real story gets lost along the way.

Look at the autobiographies that sit in Waterstones and you’ll find very few of them are written that way. Instead, the author has identified a key narrative and concentrated on it. For example, a story about risk or resilience. Without that central theme, life stories can feel like a list of events – I’ve read way too many books that feel that way. Fortunately, they are increasingly things of the past. But still structure – how to start – use of flashbacks – past or present tense – etc, etc – can feel like a minefield.

The other issue with being tied to a timeline is that of memory. So much time can be expended checking dates, mulling over conversations that in fact don’t really matter, and piecing ancient diaries together. Does any of this add much to the book? Chances are, no. What matters is the important things you are trying to say. Forget being welded to the exact time that they happened.

Easy too after a while to become too close to the material. Sometimes it can be difficult to judge your own life objectively. Events that felt huge at the time may actually be lesser so. Meanwhile, seemingly minor moments can carry the deepest meaning. It’s not uncommon for a writer to struggle to see their life from an outsider’s perspective.

Next comes fear of judgment. Many people hesitate to write honestly because they worry. What will family think? What will former colleagues think? Will people disagree with my version of events? This can lead to self-censorship and a less compelling story. Truth is, the strongest memoirs usually do include mistakes, misjudgements, embarrassments, and regrets. Generally speaking it’s better to lean into these things than avoid them. Readers actually tend to recognise themselves in these moments. They empathise rather than judge.

Writing about other people can be another bone of contention. Questions arise such as, should names be changed? How much privacy should be respected? How do you describe conflict fairly? It’s often helpful to have that ghostwriter on board – to have that person who has a wealth of experience and can advise – and, of course, write your book – accordingly.

One issue more than any other tends to stop people in their tracks – the underlying belief that ‘Nothing interesting happened to me.’ In truth, interesting content rarely comes from events alone. It comes from reflecting on decisions, relationships, ambition, loss, change, survival, and a million and one other emotions. The strongest stories don’t just document a life. They explain how a person changed, what they learned, the turning points, and what readers can take away from the journey. Make no mistake, a small business owner, teacher, nurse, parent, or engineer can have a more compelling story than any celebrity if the narrative reveals meaningful struggles and growth.

Sometimes it’s worth just sitting down and asking yourself, ‘Why am I telling this story?’ Answer that question in simple terms and suddenly you’ll find direction – the lightbulb moment you’ve been searching for.

If it’s advice you’re after, just someone with whom to talk your idea through, or you simply want a writer – an award-winning ghostwriter with years of experience maybe! – to ‘Write my book’, then please do get in touch.

If your mind is screaming ‘I think I have a book in me!’ then chances are you do. It just needs bringing out.

It can exist, and it will.