How to Write a Biography: Q&A with Mark Oppenheimer (author of Judy Blume: A Life)

​Biography is one of the most demanding—and rewarding—forms of nonfiction. It requires deep research, narrative skill, ethical judgment, and an unusual degree of patience.

​In this live Q&A, Mark Oppenheimer—journalist, editor, and biographer—will talk about the craft of biography through his work on a forthcoming biography of Judy Blume, one of the most influential writers of the past fifty years.

​This conversation will explore how biography actually works and what writers should know if they’re interested in pursuing it. We’ll talk about:

• ​How biographers choose subjects and get started

• ​What access looks like when writing about a living person

• ​How to research a life and shape it into a narrative

• ​The challenges unique to biography

• ​What aspiring biographers should know about the path into this kind of work

​This conversation is designed for writers interested in biography, reported nonfiction, and long-form storytelling — whether you’re just beginning or already deep into research.

​Hosted by Panio Gianopoulos, editorial director of Author Insider, the community for nonfiction writers and publishing professionals.

​🔒 Exclusively for paid and founding members of Author Insider