Here Are Some Tips and Tricks for Writing a Short Bio

Here Are Some Tips and Tricks for Writing a Short BioHere Are Some Tips and Tricks for Writing a Short BioWhat do editors and agents mean when they ask for a short bio? For writers just starting out, the idea of writing abio, short or otherwise, to go along with their submissions to a literary journalcan be daunting. What exactly are editors looking for? What if you havent published anything yet? Is it important to include your education, your job, your favorite ice cream flavor? Should you be cheeky, friendly, or boringly professional? These general rules of thumb might help. If You Have No Published Works or Awards If the editor or agent has specifically said that theyre open to new work, theyre not going to mind if you dont have an MFA or a slew of impressive awards. You can be brief and honest. They want a short paragraph, literally a few lines, to put your submission in context. They often use this paragraph for the Contributors Notes at the back of the journal if they accep t your story. They dont have to worry about soliciting it later on if they get your bio up front. If You Have Been Published If youvebeen published inother literary journals or have an MFA or both, toot your horn. You should list these things first. A clean and acceptable short bio with credentials might go something like this John Doe received an MFA in fiction from Writing University in 2006. He stories have previously been published inWriting MagazineandBest Fiction. He lives in Ontario, Canada. Friendly or Boring fruchtwein bios are on the dry side, but take a look at those of other writers in the journal to get a feel for what the editor or agent is looking for. You can be a little creative if it looks like theyre open to something more colorful. Reading real bios from published writerscan give you a framework to get you started. Shorter Is Sweeter John Does bio above says just enough. It doesnt distract from the story hes submitted. You dont want your bio to be a t urn-off for an editor. You dont want her to begin wishing she could stop reading before she gets to the end of it. Dos and Donts Morgan Beatty is the editor of People Holding..., the website that sends authors found photographs and asks them to write about them in 550 words or less. We asked him what advice he has for writers sending short bios. Heres his list of dos and donts. Do rememberthat if you despair over using the third person, youre a writer.Dont forget that self-deprecation lends an aftertaste to your work.Do remember that your pets dont mind being left out.Dont forget to never overstay your welcome. The Three-Sentence Rule Consider using the three-sentence rule. Even if you have more published works than Shakespeare, dont try to list them all. Pick the very best, and let the spotlight shine on them. If youve won more awards than Katherine Hepburn, stick to the most prestigious. If you want to mention where you live, thats fine, but theres no need to describe the view from your window. You might want to write several bios. Put them aside and forget about them for a day or two, then go back and look at them cold. You might be surprised to realize that you see them in a whole new light.