Writing your biography can be an intimidating task. Sometimes, it may seem even more daunting than writing your book! However, it is a crucial part of your book that can engage readers and increase sales. This being said, many author bios are too long as they provide extensive and unimportant information which loses the reader’s interest. Use these 10 quick tips to help write your author bio or edit your current one.
- Write in third person. To avoid constantly using pronouns, use your name interchangeably.
- Only include pertinent information that the reader will actually find interesting. It may seem easy to write about all your achievements and experiences however, others may find this dull.
- Include relevant credentials such as previous published pieces, degrees, and awards.
- Keep the writing as concise as possible. Remember, less is more!
- Try to have multiple versions of biographies that are different lengths and geared towards different platforms. For example, an author bio you might send to a bookstore to arrange an event might be longer and more detailed than the author bio found on the back cover of your book.
- Update your bio frequently, especially when you have newly published books and/or awards.
- Try to write for a target audience. Remember, this is a marketing component that will contribute to target readers deciding whether or not to buy your book. Keep them in mind, and think about what they would want to know about you.
- Read your bio out loud. This will help gauge if there is flow and if the information is succinct.
- Have a professional headshot taken to include with your bio. For more tips on the author headshot, check out these tips.
- Have someone else look over your final bio. Feedback will go a long way to create your ideal piece!
Have fun writing your bio! Writing in third person might feel strange at the beginning, and it may feel like bragging, but that’s okay! Someone is reading it because they are interested in your writing, so give them something worth reading!
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