Use this. I grow weary of hearing people talk about how haaaaaaard it is to write a bio. Let’s settle this once and for all. Here’s my bio (well, one version of it) — followed by a fill- in- the- blank Mad Libs- style template. Please add your own personal flourishes and use it however you like. Enjoy! My bio: Alexandra Franzen wants to live in a world where emails are short, love letters are brave and every “thank you” note is scribbled by hand. A sought- after writing instructor and communication specialist, she. Learn more about Alexandra — and check out her current projects — at Alexandra.
Franzen. com. Your turn!
Short Bio Examples — Bio. Templates. com. Writers are good at writing, but they aren’t always good at marketing. But there’s one piece of marketing that no author can ignore: a good short professional bio.
You’d think that writing a bio would be easy for a writer. However, writing great mysteries doesn’t necessarily translate into creating a gripping author bio. And bottom line: most of us dread writing about ourselves. What to put in? How to sound good without sounding like a braggart? No wonder so many writers procrastinate on writing their professional bio. But you’re reading this because you’ve decided that today’s the day. Good for you. OK, let’s get started writing a good author bio for you.
How to Write a Bio for a Work Website by Irene A. How to Write a Short Bio Template. Although you may have many professional or personal details to include in a work website bio, writing it shouldn’t take more than an. This template is free and will outline who you are, what your expertise is, why people should care about you and how to contact you. Go to How to Write a Bio. Free Writing Templates in PDF format. Free Writing Templates. Our writing templates are easy to print and use. Each writing template is free in PDF format. Just download it, open it in any program that can display PDF.
Here is what you need to keep in mind: 1. Be very clear about your target audience.“Target audience” is just a fancy way of saying “people who read your work.” Consider who typically reads your work (or who your work is intended to attract) and tailor your bio to their interests. After all, while an author bio may lead a reader to a new favorite writer, in many cases, the author bio is to give readers who already stumbled over the work a better idea of who the author is (and hopefully make them fans for life). Create mystique. If the customer is looking for someone to put new brakes on a car, they want the most honest, straightforward, boring but qualified person alive. But when it comes to learning about an author, a bit of mystique can be intriguing. One of the techniques of many successful authors is that they make themselves are a character in the novel that is their life. Think of Hemingway.
Would he be Hemingway if he’d been some little pipsqueak with spectacles living in an attic apartment in Dayton? A contemporary example would be author Anne Rice, who’s created a series of bestselling vampire novels.
She lives in a huge, spooky- looking mansion in New Orleans and seldom appears in public unless she’s dressed completely in black. That’s mystique. Mystique can certainly attract fans.
Once you’ve attracted their attention, your quality writing will make them a committed fan. The point is still the work. Yes, you want an interesting author bio, but the whole point of that is to make sure readers know what you’ve written, especially if you’ve got a half- dozen books out there. Make sure to include a complete list of your published works and any works that is about to be published.
Note that the phrase “about to be published” should only be used if you have an actual publishing deal (it doesn’t mean you’re hoping a publisher will buy it.)4. You may need more than one bio. You definitely want a “user- friendly” bio on your website (if you don’t have a website, get one). That bio is for fans and potential fans. You may need a far more formal bio to accompany a manuscript that’s being submitted to an agent or publisher, so have a couple of versions of your bio ready. When in doubt, leave it out.
Edit your bio just like you edit your prose. Interesting facts about your life, especially if they tie into your writing, are fine. If you lived in Paris from ages 8 to 1. French elementary school, that’s absolutely relevant.
If you had two years of high school French classes but your book is set in Japan, leave out your knowledge of le fran. Tailor publication credits to your stage of career.
Writing About Yourself: The Best Brief Bio Contributor.
- Why are you writing this bio? People write anything from professional bios for getting freelance work, a comedy bio full of in-jokes for your friends or a bio for the back of their next piece.
- 4 Steps to Writing a Professional Bio That Gets You Noticed. To prepare for writing your bio. You always can have a longer version of your bio available for those already interested in your work.
- Fill-In-The-Blank Bio Templates to Write Your Personal or Professional Bio.
If you’re starting out, list all your publication credits. However, by the time you’re a finalist for a National Book Award, it’s time to leave out the poem that was published in your college literary journal. Don’t share too much. Again, if you’re starting out, you’d probably be delighted to hear from your fans.
Heck, you might be delighted to have one of them stop by and sleep on your couch for a week! However, believe it or not, that will change. There are lots of wonderful people in the world. There are also some really messed- up individuals out there. Don’t give them your address, your phone number, or your private email. If you want to hear from them, set up a website and let them reach you there.
Include a professional photo. To photo or not to photo? Between privacy concerns and the fact that most of us hate how we look in photos, you may be tempted not to include one. However, you need a picture with your bio.
It doesn’t have to contain details that will let people stalk you; a head and shoulders shot in front of a simple background is most appropriate. It doesn’t have to cost a lot. There are photographers everywhere who can create a head- shot for a very reasonable fee. It makes you feel like a “real” author. Determine the correct voice.
Traditionally, professional biographies were written in the third person voice (i. With the advent of social media, the choice of how formal or informal depends on your audience and where the bio is to be published. For example, third- person voice is most appropriate for Linked. In because it is a business and career oriented site. Keep it up- to- date. Your bio should be updated frequently, especially every time you have another work published or win an award.
Short Author Bio Example. He/she is the author of . It’s an easy and effective tool that only requires a keyboard and bit of imagination, which you certainly have. If you like the template above you can get a longer, more thorough version. Immediately download the full writer- author bio template that will make the job so much quicker and easier.
That way you can complete your bio writing task and get back to the writing that you actually enjoy!
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