Most publications today want an author’s biography, called a bio, when they accept a writer’s work. Readers love to learn a little bit about the person who wrote a story or poem they enjoyed reading. It is a way for the reader to feel close to the writer.
Creating an author’s bio your readers will love reading can be as trying as writing your story. You want to entertain with your bio and tell a bit about yourself as well.
A bio is used to give the reader information about the author. A book publisher will want one to run on the back page of your novel. A magazine will want one to run with your story or poem. You should write a bio that is aimed at the item it will be published with so it is relevant.
Though most editors will have their own guidelines for writing an author’s bio, you can use these general guidelines to write a standard bio, one you can alter to match any work you get published.
Most bios run between 50 and 400 words, with the average length about 150 words. Double space your bio and try to it no one more than one page in length.
When you write your biography, do so in the third person. You should use present tense, unless a past tense is absolutely necessary.
Depending on what manuscript the bio is for, include any qualifications, education, skills, or experience you may have helps makes you look professional. Do not include unimportant information.
Most of your bio should be devoted to your writing achievements. Previous publications, writing awards, or degrees you have relating to your work’s subject should be in the bio. If you have real life experience in your subject, be sure to also include it.
If you are lucky enough to have been interviewed by a known publication, or have had a radio or television interview, mention that in your bio.
This should compliment your piece. If you have written a free and modern story, then make your bio the same way. Do not have a silly bio with a serious writing article.
Always present your information in a positive way. If you do not have a lot of work published, do not fret. Post what you have in an upbeat manner. Even if you have not been published before, you still have talents and qualifications – use them.
Do not make your bio seem too good to be true by over exaggerated information. Making yourself sound better than you are can, and will, backfire in the long run.
Do not lie. It will only make you look like an amateur, and could cost you future sales. Aim your bio at the editor who is publishing your work. List only publication credits that will impress them.
Even if you have no publishing credits, you can still write a bio. Just keep it brief. An example is: “Jane Doe is a writer living in Hometown, USA. She is currently at work on”. Be sure to keep it upbeat.
Writing a bio to go with a published piece should not be harder than writing the item itself. Following some simple guidelines will make the process easier, and leave you with a bio you can be proud of.