When you’re creating a book proposal or you’re preparing to market your self-published book, you’ll need an author bio so the potential reader can learn about you. Both the editor and the potential reader want to know if they are interested not only in your writing, but in YOU.

In my experience, this is where many authors slip up. They get intimidated at the idea of writing about themselves, they feel humble, and they begin to feel shy or uncomfortable promoting or selling themselves instead of selling their book.

But an author bio is very important. In my course Book Proposal Bootcamp, I provide lots of examples of authors who have played around with silly bios or have tried to be clever or quaint. It may work for really famous authors, but generally a reader wants your self-description to be straightforward and helpful. Readers want to learn about you as much as they want to know about your book, your topic, or your expertise.

 How to Write the Best Bio

In writing your bio, you have several goals.

You’ll want to explain why you’re the best person to write this book. What’s your history? Your experience? Generally readers want to learn about you as a person, so don’t write your bio as if it is a resume. Many people get hung up on listing degrees or credentials or awards, and while these can support the idea that you are an expert in your field, it can also backfire if it's too alienating or dogmatic.

Write as if you’re celebrating your accomplishments but also talking with an old friend. It’s a balancing act between citing your expertise and making a potential reader feel comfortable. It often takes several drafts before you’re happy with your bio (I recommend at least 20 drafts written over several weeks). Be sure to include things that are special or unique to your journey, and not things that are common (such as majored in English). What did you do with that English degree? Did you travel to Zambia to teach a foreign language? Did you get a job as a US ambassador? Did you write romance novels? Highlight what’s most important and leave the reader with a sense of wonder and curiosity (while at the same time demonstrating that you are an expert in the book’s subject matter.)

My advice to authors? It may seem unprofessional but as both an author and a reader I find this works best: draft a bio that would inspire a reader to ask you over for dinner. If they are intrigued by your bio and your story and they want to learn more, you’ve done your job. They will most likely open your book.

The next step is to shorten it.

Craft a Bio of Various Lengths

Once you’ve written a full-page about yourself, it’s time to narrow it down to fit a variety of situations. Editors will want a certain length (say 125 words) while your op-ed bio for your favorite magazine might be limited to 50 words. This shortening process requires that you let go of your ego and hone your words to fit a given space, and it can be frustrating. But know that if you can create a brief bio that still compels someone to want to learn more, you’re on the right track.

I keep a Word document (it can also be a Google Doc) with various bios and bio lengths, each labeled accordingly with type of bio and word count. For instance, "Website About Page, 400 words" or "Article Submission Bio 50 words." Some bios are specific to writing, others highlight my experience in the natural products industry, and others focus on business coaching. Each type needs to have a long version, a medium version, and a very short version. Write them out in paragraphs and label each one with its word count so you can quickly access it when required for a podcast, an editor, a bookstore, or an interview. 

I find the medium bio is the easiest to write and read. Short ones are very basic and can be uninspiring and matter-of-fact. Page-long bios can ramble and include much more than you really need. Remember that quality beats quantity every time.

What is the Best Style for the Bio?

Many writers try to write their bio in the same way they write their manuscripts. Avoid this temptation to write your bio as if you’re a character in your book. If you’re writing Westerns, don’t pitch in a cute country accent because this attempt at humor will likely fall flat. Your bio is about you, not an extension of your characters. Keep it real and lively without presenting yourself as a fiction.

Also keep it 3^rd person, meaning you’ll write “she” or “he,” not “I.” Your bio is about you, not from you. This creates a sense of professionalism and provides a certain distance between the author and the reader so that the reader can look at your “from the outside.” Once they like what they read, they’ll become insiders in no time.

For more guidance on writing, especially developing a sales pitch or book proposal, enroll in the online, on-demand course Book Proposal Bootcamp.