Many times writers are asked to include a short bio when they submit an article to a magazine, ezine, or for publication on a blog or website.
If you’re new to freelance writing, you may wonder how to write a short bio and what to include – especially if you’re short on publication credits.
Well, here’s the main thing.
Write your bio in 3rd person, not 1st.
Next, keep it short.
Unless your editor has given you a specific word count for an extensive bio, make yours just one paragraph that includes a couple of sentences.
If your bio will be used online, ask if you can include a link to your website or blog.
But don’t include information about your childhood and your personal life for a short bio.
That is WAY TMI!
Next, don’t mention manuscripts you have written but that have not been published.
It sounds amateurish to include something like this: Mary Smith has written 3 mysteries and is currently looking to find publishers for them.
Sure, it might impress someone that Mary has written 3 complete manuscripts.
But more likely, they’d wonder why she went on to write 3 complete novels before finding a publisher for the 1st one.
Plus, everyone and their dogs are writing books these days.
Books that have actually been published, or are about to be published, are more impressive than manuscripts that haven’t yet found a home.
Finally, if you have no publication credits, don’t mention this directly.
Write around it.
Like this: Dorothy Michaels-Jones is a freelance writer in Dallas, Texas. She specializes in children’s nonfiction and cozy mysteries. Learn more about Michaels-Jones and her writing at www.dorothym-j.com.
It isn’t difficult to create a short author bio if you give it careful thought and follow these tips.
Try it!
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