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Building a Better
Biography
By Ami Hendrickson
Whether you are a beginning writer or an established byline, it behooves you to
construct a biography as a means of introducing yourself to those who haven't
yet had the pleasure of reading your work.
Bios are more important than you might think. They give the reader a quick
overview of your qualifications to write whatever it is you have to say. They
offer a bit of your writing history. And they provide an opportunity to connect
with your readers on a personal level.
It doesn't matter if you don't have a string of best-sellers to list on your
bio. In fact, it doesn't matter if you have few (if any) credits to your name.
The biography is a fluid piece. As you start accumulating credits, you can
easily add them and allow some of the less impressive things to fall by the
wayside.
Bio Building Guidelines
Writing your bio doesn't have to be a chore. Some simple suggestions:
Write in the third person. Use your full name in the first sentence. Afterward,
refer to yourself either by your first name only, your last name only, or the
pronoun "she" or "he."
Say you are a writer in the very first sentence. If you specialize in fiction,
nonfiction, poetry, or screenwriting, say so. If you have a niche area that you
are especially known for, say so. ("Jane Smith is a freelance writer
specializing in worsted yarn and the humor of Albert Einstein.")
Brag. Tell people what you've done. This is no time to be shy. If your writing
has ever won any sort of recognition or contest, use the term "award-winning."
If you have written a best-seller, say so. If you have published ten, 20 or 100
articles, mention it. If your mother thinks you're brilliant… keep it to
yourself.
It's okay to be eclectic. If your credits are all over the map-- if you've done
a little of everything, that's fine. Something like "Smith has written greeting
cards, warning labels, and street signs. She has also provided copy for
breakfast cereal boxes," would be appropriate to highlight your range.
No experience is necessary. If you don't have many (any?) writing credits to
include in your bio, don't panic. Identify areas in which you specialize, or
that you know more about than the average person. Write those down and don't
worry about perceived shortcomings in the byline department. ("Smith has climbed
Mt. Everest twice, walked on the moon, and appeared as a Playboy Playmate. She
is a double black belt in Tae Kwon Do and enjoys knitting potholders in her
spare time.")
Location, location, location. If you wish, include a short sentence about where
you live. Don't be so specific that the loonies out there can find you and stalk
you. But a reference to your family members, your pets, and your hometown can
help make you more accessible to your reader.
If writing about yourself in the third person, or "bragging" about your
abilities is difficult, write some sample bios for famous people, or for people
you know well. Once you get a feel for the exercise, then apply it to yourself.
If you don't have a bio, I urge you to spend some time creating one. Make it as
lengthy and as packed with information as you wish. Then leave it for a few
days, come back to it and edit it.
When you're done, ask yourself if you would read something written by the person
the text describes. Work at your bio until the answer to that question is "Yes!"
Bringing Your Bio on Board
Once you have drafted your bio, you will discover that opportunities to use it
are plentiful. For instance:
Websites, weblogs, book jackets, and brochures are useful places to include such
information.
A short space at the end of magazine articles is often devoted to the author's
biographical information.
If you ever teach or speak publicly, a short bio allows someone to easily
introduce you to your audience.
You can also include your bio in a short paragraph in letters introducing
yourself or your work to a potential publisher, editor, agent, or manager.
When you use your bio, tailor it for the situation. Use the whole thing on a
resume of writing credentials. Shorten it to a single paragraph for inclusion in
introductory letters. For speaking introductions, you may wish to shorten it
still further. And for "about the author" blurbs, condense it to one or two
sentences.
The point, however, is that you cannot utilize something you do not have. So
spend some time thinking of how best to introduce you and your writing to the
world. Then have fun looking for creative ways to make your bio work for you.
Ami Hendrickson is an award-winning writer, screenwriter, educator, editor,
and consultant. She has written for some of the leading horsemen in the world
including Clinton Anderson, of Downunder Horsemanship, and hunter trainer and
judge Geoff Teall. Find out about her latest projects at
www.amihendrickson.com, or visit her daily blog at
museinks.blogspot.com.
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