6 Secrets to Writing a Killer Author Bio

In today's guest post, novelist Roni Loren shares some terrific tips for writing a compelling author bio.

So we're writers, right? Which means throwing together a few sentences about ourselves should be no big deal, right?  No?

Damn.

So I've been working on that little thing called an author bio. You know, the thing that goes on your website/blog and eventually if you're published, in your book. It's only a few sentences but it's supposed to tell your reader something about you and hopefully make you seem...well, that's one of the issues. How do you want to appear?  Likeable? Intelligent? Worldly? Funny? Mega-super-important?

What image are you going for? What best conveys who you actually are?

To start this process, I went and looked at some bios of other authors. For those that were multi-published, award-winning, well-established, the bios were often pretty dry. Mostly consisting of what they had published and the accolades attached to that. Well, if we're not at that point yet, what exactly should we put in it.

Based on my very unscientific research, here are the things that stood out in the best bios:

1. The author seemed relatable.

This can be something simple--they drink a lot of coffee, have a pet, like 80s music, whatever. It makes you realize, oh they're just another person like me.

2. A touch of humor

This is a biggy for me. I love an author to have a sense of humor in their bio. Now, if the person is writing serious literary fiction about genocide or something, maybe that's not so fitting. But in general, I think a little wit and humor goes a long way.

 

 

3. Some personal history

I like to know what a person was doing before they became a writer. Did they have other careers? Where did they go to school? This gives me more of a sense of who they are. Someone who majored in math is probably going to be very different from someone who majored in art history.

4. Said where the author lives (even if that's vaguely stated)

I don't know why, but for me, this is something I want to know. For instance, if the person lives in Texas or Louisiana, I already feel a bit of kinship with them. Plus, people like to support local authors, so putting your state in there can alert readers in your area that you're a native.

5. The person sounded interesting!

Every one of us has SOMETHING interesting about ourselves. Quirky jobs, strange talents, silly interests. Pick a few of those things to include. It doesn't have to be anything major. In fact, I think the smaller, random things are usually best.

6. You got a sense of their voice.

Yes, I know, it always comes back to voice, doesn't it? People who wrote serious stories tended to have serious bios. Young adult authors tended to have upbeat, funny bios that teens could relate too. Get the picture?

So, after taking all those things into account, here's what I came up with for mine:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. After earning a master’s degree in social work from LSU, she worked in a mental hospital, counseled birthmothers as an adoption coordinator, and did management recruiting in her PJs. But she always returned to writing.

Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars concerts.

Alright, so what do you like to see in an author bio? Do you read the bios in the back of books or on people's blogs? Who has a great bio that stood out to you?

Roni Loren's debut novel CRASH INTO YOU will be released January 2012 by Berkley Heat/Penguin. If you want to read more posts like this one or follow her journey to debut authorhood, she blogs three times a week on writing at her Fiction Groupie site. She also tweets way too much for her own good. You can find her here:

Blog: http://fictiongroupie.blogspot.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/roniloren

Website: www.roniloren.com

Comments

[Roni Loren]

Thanks for inviting me to stop by!

[Natasha Hanova]

Roni, great tips on writing author bios. I like the fun, lightheartedness of yours.

Now I have to go take another look at mine. :-)

[Charity Bradford]

Awesome post Roni! I need to work on a bio. It's just one more thing on the list, but now I have some guidelines. Thanks!

[Cecilia Ryan]

Brilliant post. I'm hopeless at author bios. I don't expect this to change any time soon, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggles!

[John Sparger]

Great list, Roni. My original bio was pretty bland until a writing peer/friend put one together for me. Way better than what I came up with - http://johnsparger.com/bio_haz.html

[Sia McKye]

Roni, I read a lot of author bios, heck I read a lot of author websites. You picked out some good points to highlight. Can't be a bland sounding author when your books aren't. I'm with you on relatable and definitely humor.

[Brooklyn Ann]

Excellent post, Roni! I always struggle with the author bio. These tips shall be very useful. I have a thing for rock stars as well :)

[Dannie]

Roni. You have a great touch and I enjoy your helpful words. I know that I read every Bio and information about authors. Probably trying to learn how to make mine better.

Thanks and great subject.

[Barbaratechel]

Great advice, Roni! I like the part about adding a touch of humor.

[Dana Lynn Smith]

Thank you Roni for this terrific post, and thanks to everyone who has commented on it. I think that bios are a struggle for many authors and I'm delighted to share Roni's expertise.

[Elizabeth]

You have inspired me to put a little more time and effort into my author bio. Right now it's <50 words - good for anthologies, but boring for anything else!

[Annette]

Thanks, Dana and Roni. Great post. Where was this post when I really needed it?!

In 2005, when my agent asked for a bio to submit with my manuscript to publishers, I told her I didn't have anything to put IN a bio--no Pushcart Prize, no PhD, nothing even remotely impressive. So, I wrote a bio poking fun at what I had accomplished: http://thebreakupdiet.wordpress.com/about and she loved it! She actually used it with my submission package (which surprised the babyjesus out of me). LOL So, I guess humor does go a long way! =)

[Dana Lynn Smith]

Annette, you are such a master at humor - I wish I had that gift!
Dana

[Judith Tramayne]

Wonderful post that will help a lot of Authors. It's the one thing I struggled with when writing my first bio. It bored even so so I lightened up and wrote it the way my heroine would have. She's funnier than I am.

[Donna Weaver]

Another awesome post, Roni.

[kathryn magendie]

Lived in BR many years (husband from New Orleans) and have family in Texas - :-D

I now want to go check out my bio - been a while since I looked at it. And there's bios on websites, on twitter, on FB, on blog, R&T, etc - lawd!

good article!

[Roni Loren]

Thanks for all the great comments! Glad y'all found the post helpful. :)

And Kathryn, I lived in BR for years too. I miss it!

[Laura Best]

Roni, lots of great tips. I hate writing bios, but I love reading them. Funny about that!

[Joanne Brothwell]

Great list, Roni.

I had no idea you have an MSW! I guess that's something else we have in common besides writing.

And now I'm heading off to review my bio!

[Catana]

As a reader, I've never understood why people think they have a right to an author's personal information. Either you like a book or you don't. The author's background, cat's name, etc., has absolutely nothing to do with what they write.

As a writer, soon to publish my first book, I have no intention of including a bio.

[Roni Loren]

Catana, I really don't see it as a "right" to an author's personal information. I didn't put anything in mine that was earth shattering or super personal. I only shared what I felt comfortable sharing.

And I think it just depends on the reader. *I* as a reader want to know about the author. (I often read the bios on people's blog as well.) To me it's kind of in the same vein as wanting to know about the actor who plays a character you like or wanting to know about the singer who sings the song you like. It's just a way to feel more connected (for me) with them and their work. It INCREASES my interest in their product if the person behind it interesting/nice/funny/whatever. Obviously, not everyone needs or wants that.

And it's definitely your right not to include a bio. But also, if someone does want to include a bio but doesn't want to reveal any personal info about themselves, there are ways to write them where they don't give anything away. Maybe you could write one that says "Catana hates the idea of an author bio because you don't want to know the name of her cat, so she/he is taking a stand and leaving this back cover blank." ;)

Thanks for giving your perspective! :)

[Dana Lynn Smith]

I agree that authors should not divulge any more information in their author bio than they are comfortable revealing. But the bio can help connect readers with authors. Readers have a vast selection of books to choose from, and if they "connect" with you as an author it can increase the odds of your book being chosen. For example, I enjoy reading books from other Texas authors. And a bio written with a wry sense of humor can indicate the writing style in the book.

As a side note, authors need to consider how much personal information to reveal on their blog, website and social networks. I think that many people tend to reveal too much on social networks, listing things like their date of birth and kid's names or the fact that they are on vacation right now. Your personal friends already know that stuff, and your "business" friends don't need to know.

[AD Bane]

These are great tips! It can be so difficult to talk about yourself, it sure helps to have a checklist of things to say.

[Shireen Jeejeebhoy]

Just what I was looking for. I have to rewrite my author bio and hadn't come across anything to help me in this chore (it's way harder than writing any book!). Thank you for writing a succinct post on how to do it well!

[Dana Lynn Smith]

Thanks AD and Shireen - I'm so glad you found this helpful and I am so pleased that Roni agreed to share these tips with my readers.