In an ideal world, writing the last line of your manuscript would be the end of work for you. Yes, it may be the end of your manuscript but that does not mean that your work is done. Another important step that needs to be taken in writing your author bio.
As a writer, the author bio is one of the most important things you will write in your lifetime. It provides the reader with a quick overview of you and your work. It may not seem like much but author bios can make or break many deals for you.
Typically no longer than 100 words, an author bio can define you and your work for your agent, publisher, and eventually your reader. Therefore, it is important that you know the importance of an amazing author bio and how to write one.
If you have not written your author bio yet, here are a few tips that can help you along the way.
1. Write in the Third Person
The first thing you learn about how to write an author bio is to describe yourself in the third person. Yes, it will feel weird since you are the one writing about yourself. You may feel uncomfortable writing in the third person but it’s a better practice for so many reasons.
When you write your bio in the third person, it can be displayed, and read out easily hence giving it a more professional outlook. Of course, a publisher knows the rules and purpose of writing in the third person but your reader may not know. So using the third person may help you in looking more trustworthy.
It can get a bit tricky so do not forget to recheck everything after you finalize your draft. Make sure that you are not reusing pronouns repetitively. If you see repetition, you can use your name here and there to improve its readability.
2. Make the First Line Count
Yes, author bios are short and you may feel that there is not enough space to tell your reader everything. But you have to see the brighter side of things. It’s your one shot at telling the looker about your work and personality.
Although all of the author bios are important as usual, it’s the first line that needs your focus the most. The best way is to use the most relevant and important facts relevant to you and your work. Your reader needs to know just enough about you to go on and find out more.
If you have any awards or previous publications, it is a good idea to start there and let the reader know about your accomplishments. If you don’t have any awards yet, it’s okay. As you grow as a writer, you can have so much more to add to your author bio.
3. Establish Your Credibility
Your author bio is all about telling people what you are all about and why your work is important. That is why, this section will always hold great importance to every writer, especially the new ones. It’s an ideal place for you to establish your credibility.
But remember, the author bio is not just a place for you to establish your credibility as a writer. Because your author bio plays a crucial role in helping the reader decide whether he will be taking your book home or not. It’s also the time for you to tell the reader about your grasp on the subject of your book.
Even if you do not have glimmering awards or any notable accomplishments yet, that does not mean you can’t win the reader’s heart. Take a mix of your education and experience and tell the reader why they should listen to what you have to say in your work.
4. Hint What’s Inside
Author bios are concise and there is so much to tell the reader in that limited space. After you establish your credibility in the eyes of your reader, tell them a bit about what to expect from your work. You
Whether you write about political themes or war and vengeance, it’s important to tell the reader about your specialties. It can help you pitch your work smoothly. This part can help the reader see that your work does fall in the genre they are looking forward to reading.
5. Make it Light and Breezy
Yes, it is always recommended that you establish your credibility in your author bio. But, it’s important to not present credibility with an authoritative tone. Your tone must be convivial and soft to let the reader feel comfortable and not forced.
That is why you need to read your author bio over and over again to make sure you do not come off as swaggering. You can also ask some friends in your literary circle or your agent to read and review your author bio.
If you are unable to get stiffness or unfriendliness out of your bio, it never hurts anybody to use a bit of humor to connect with their readers. Just try to keep your sentences short and friendly to let the reader feel comfortable.
You can also invite the reader to be your friend by adding a link to your social media handles. They can look you up and may become the deciding factor for them to buy your work.
6. Prioritize Your Comfort
Just because you want to share something with your readers does not mean you have to let your boundaries down. Even if you choose to be a public figure, you have the right to your privacy and comfort.
That is why make sure to not share anything that you are not comfortable with. It is okay if you do not want to tell your reader where you live or who you are married to. After all, there is so much that can be said in a bio and two fewer spaces.
If you want to keep your personal life private, it’s okay to be a little vague. For example, you can tell the reader about your life with your family but skip the details about where or how many people are in your family.
