All authors will need an author biography or "bio" for short. I've read
thousands of author bios over the year from the backs of books that I have adored to new authors trying to gain an editor's eye. In all that reading, I think many new authors overlook the importance of crafting a solid author bio that will help them sell the editor, agent or reader on their work. I encourage writers to take a closer look at the ancillary information that is often an afterthought when they complete the book. If you are a writer who wants to transform into published author, you are undertaking a public act and need to think as a marketer would in such matters. First write a rough draft of your author bio. Jot down everything that comes to your mind, don't censor yourself just yet because if you do, you must might overlook something truly important to selling your work. I said rough draft to start, and as a writer, you should know that means more steps. Do not stop at the rough draft stage and think your author bio is done. Step two is always revision and the steps that follow are even more revision until you are not just sick of it, but until you have perfected the writing. It's the same with your author bio. To start, ask of each sentence, each fact and tidbit, how does this relate to my writing? Keep in mind this is an author bio you are writing, not a personal advertisement or a generalized bio. An author bio has to speak to your abilities as a writer in general and specifically to the work you have written. Cut out anything that clearly has no bearing on your writing. Don't delete that material, just set it aside in another file. You might have a use for it in your current bio after all or in a future bio for another project. Repeat your review with a deeper scrutiny for everything you've left in the bio. Are you sure that every piece you have kept relates to your writing and the project in question? If not, cut and set aside. You should do this at least 2-3 times and not all at the same sitting. Review and cut and then set aside for a day or two. Come back and look at it anew with fresh set of eyes. What do you have left? Be sure to look at all sentences carefully. Is each one justified? Should it belong? If it's not easy to see why a point relates to your writing, either revise it so it is clear or cut it out. If your bio seems short, go back to what you cut out. Is there anything there that does speak to your writing or the project you are working on? If nothing does, brainstorm. What are you missing from your life that could tie in? Once you have a good draft, do all the usual checks for clarity of writing and grammar and spelling issues.
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