Find out if your author bio is a 10/10. But I feel, now, that my stuff just gets lost in the noise (with so many other blog authors, especially in this Coronacrisis, on that platform looking to stake a claim now). In any case, I am sure you would never be so cruel as to judge or dismiss someone else based on their looks. Start With An Introductory Byline. She also conveys a certain attitude by adding a mother****ing Unicorn after her name. ELD teacher, mother, MG writer. Are you noticing how big the authors names are on some of these sites? Jane Doe is a Professor of Anthropology at UCLA and author of Insights Into Our Past: Tracing the Legacy of Intergenerational Trauma in 19th Century America., Jane Doe is a poet, writer, and author of the new novel We Were Already There.. Yes, you can hire a freelance writer or a ghostwriter to write your author bio to make sure its as amazing as it should be. Joanna Penn writes non-fiction books for authors and is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F. An author bio is a brief passage, usually about a paragraph, that introduces an author and sums up their work, their authorly credentials, and anything else their readers might need to know about them. What do you say on your website if youre an unpublished author? Im jealous! Ive been an avid user of WordPress for several years. Aim for a bio of 60-90 words in length. In this post, well cover: Purpose of professional bios Best practices for crafting a bio Professional Bio Templates and Examples Long and short bios Workplace bios and have had fun tinkering with my website: https://leahdobrinska.com/, Thanks for laying this all out, especially the unpublished author sites. I am staying with my sister because we celebrated my dads milestone birthday. I did make an attempt to write a version of my bio in 3rd person for a query letter. Tiny light gray type will make a lot of people bounce. Im going to talk about why it can be a good idea to have one and address a few basic questions, and then Ill give you some links to great author websites. I didnt know that about Googlepunishing you if cross-post! https://www.servicescape.com/writers/grammarmaven, College Application Proofreading Services, Statement of Purpose Proofreading Services, How to Write a Bone-Chilling Dark Fantasy Tale. All were engaging. You should include your name, relevant accomplishments, and a call to action in your authors bio. Umrigar writes novels, but shes also a journalist, a memoirist, and a childrens book author. Its my favorite scent in the whole world. Even though I love blogging, I dont recommend it to anyone who doesnt have a real passion for it. I have my Facebook page where I post things about my writing, and sometimes about philosophy. A professional bio is not at all different from a persuasive article and Lena Alexson proves it through a very engaging professional bio. I think it can be really challenging to figure out how to present yourself online. https://theimplantbook.wordpress.com/, I have another site I use to post my short stories and flash fiction. I appreciate it! Keep it under 300 words. Jane is a historian at Vermont College and has spent over a decade researching World War 2. Download your free copy below. I dont think I have time right now to blog, but should I include perhaps elements of world-building like the main characteristics of each of the alien species that are part of the story? Add links to relevant interviews (on NPR or PBS, for example), news articles (ever been featured in. Looking around the Plaza and Westport in Kansas City last nightwe always love going back for a visit! How can independent bookshops and self-published authors support each other? Helen Hoang has a really endearing about the author. Notice that she also uses the bio to establish that she brought personal experience to the writing of her breakout mega-bestseller, The Kiss Quotient, which features a heroine on the autism spectrum. Its not a website its a reader trap. This could be a good place to list your relevant interests and hobbies. (The most essential tools are the book reviews, book cover, and synopsis/blurb.) Joanne Machin resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Thomas, and their Welsh terrier,Oliver. In summary, the steps in this post take you through everything you need when writing your own author bio. You must explain your credits, bio and platform - making a case that you are the best person to write this book and you have some means in place to sell it. Those are some lovely websites. Some shy authors commission a sketch, and thats certainly a possibility, but at some point when you get a big writing deal, your publisher will want a photo. Liz, those two opening sentences are so good! If you're a fiction author, you can usually get away with a more casual tone. Most authors dont want to blogin other words, write posts on a regular basis. This is a truly great author website designed by The Page-Turner Network and worthy of a romance author legend. Tanks a lot for this post. Book marketing and book publicity comprise two main pillars of book promotion. Stick to this checklist on how to write an author bio: While youre writing, always ask yourself, Is this relevant to my reader?. (Volume 1): Who is Wimpy Fart? Id already read and loved Lucy Foleys THE GUEST LIST, and like that one, this is told from several points of view. To listen to previously published episodes, please visit: fitforjoy.org/podcast, If interested, please email me: valeria@fitforjoy.org. Dont mix too many different font types, and make sure the body copy is readable. They were expensive, but I am so happy Ive got visuals to go with the text. JJ, I apologize to be answering such a sensitive question over 5 months laterI sometimes get behind on the comments with old blog posts. You can add the About the Author page into your back matter for a physical book. 10 lessons to help you start your blog and boost your book sales. It looks unprofessional, scares away potential readers, foregoes an opportunity to connect with your target audience, and leads to fewer book sales. I am 55 years old and the only social media thing I do is Facebook, and dont understand the rest. Im currently using the Twenty Seventeen theme. You would think with an MBA in marketing Id be good at delivering messages, but Im horrible. Ryan has a series of online instructional videos known for their ability to explain complex topics in a simple and digestible way. However. If someone is reading this article, it is highly unlikely that they can boast being bestselling authors or share that they are on the third book of a highly successful series. Your goals. His bio lends himself credibility, demonstrates his personality, and has one of the most unique calls to action you'll ever read. Her fallback career writing mysteries didnt kick-in until she neared the mid-century mark. I also love taking naps and listening to music. I really liked the way explained each point with examples. Hi, Maria! If you come stay at my house Ill uh, make sure you have fresh towels. She was the oldest of three in a literary household. Lots of people want to know if they can publish their own work on their website, and the answer is: it depends. However, there are hundreds of thousands out there, so if you have suggestions for other awesome author websites, Id love to hear them! Dont call yourself a novelist if you havent published yet. Sarah Lynn Burnett [spacer height=20px]. These are two things I catch a lot as an editor. Hey friends! What I find interesting is his use of bullet points in a bio. Your passions and values. He attended Madison College, where he met his wife, Annie. One of the not-quite-yet-author websites you listed, Emilyrae, happens to live in a nearby town, so I reached out to her. 1. It can also be used in other promotional or publishing materials, as former Penguin Random House marketer Rachel Cone-Gorham explains: An author bio is something that will let readers get a sense of who you are, and is an important part for pitching media and book proposals.. The second goal would be to utilize your website as a central hub for all of your social media ventures. Begin your bio with a punchy first sentence. He enjoys pie, as should all right thinking people. 1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy, come meetthem. Thank you, Silke P.S. Web#9 Author Bio Example Joanna Penn Joanna Penn is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller and nonfiction author who also writes under the pen names of JF Penn I need to update mine. Begin with a punchy, impactful first sentence. On her Twitter profile, Elements that can definitely go on an author website include: *a picture of yourself (you can read here about how to get a good author photo), *information about the authors work, published or not, *a signup for a newsletter (its never too early to start building a list! Check out fiction writer Natalie Barellis bio for an example of personalization done right: Natalie Barelli can usually be found reading a book, and that book will more likely than not be a psychological thriller. I dont even know how Instagram works really, though my brother has been telling me its the best social media site to find and learn new things. This can be done subtly, like by referring to your location in your byline: Or you can include a brief illustration of your lifestyle, says Rachel: Jane lives and works out of her home at the base of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, and spends her summers hiking and camping with her two children and husband.. Looking around the Plaza and Westport in Kansas City last nightwe always love going back for a visit! But the authority you should have is a clear understanding of how storytelling mechanics function. Shes based in the Caribbean, and her location set the tone for her splashy website. Finish on a call to action (check out the new book, follow on social media, etc.). It was love at first sight. Build credibility without overly bragging. And ownership is a nice feeling. Same goes if youve published a couple of books; only include your most successful three.. Tips on making a persuasive, engaging author bio, Other relevant information you want to share with your target audience, It affirms whether what you have to say is worth reading, It tells your target audience that you have written a book for them, Readers may relate to your personal story, Figure out your genre and target audience. Bios irrelevant to the book confuse potential readers. We have a whole series of posts on the subject, and we highly recommend you check those out as well! https://www.amazon.com/Judith-Gonda/e/B084KPD5D5?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1635362583&sr=1-1, Thanks, Judithand thanks for sharing your own! Its so clean and easy to read. While you might be able to write about yourself for pages and pages, the truth is most readers only want to read about a couple of paragraphs about you, just enough to get to know, learn why you wrote the novel if that's applicable, and where they can keep up with your work. Behold, our favorite author bios of the day: Mindy Kaling, Why Not Me? Visit her at damndelicious.net. You probably see other peoples unique beauty or attractiveness, even if they dont fit the conventional mold. Spring here is ahead of Chicagoland and all the lilacs are in bloom. (Lots of them are also visual artists, for instance!) I work with her as Olivia Matthews (cozy mystery), and I didnt realize for quite a while that I had enjoyed one of her books that she published as Regina Hart! Internet is a SCARY place. Keep these things in mind with your color choices and design. By the way, if youre interested in book trailers, you might want to read my post on How to Make a Book Trailer: 5 Steps, Plus How Much It Cost. Like others, Im a fan of WordPress. Hi Janet! If possible, include links to your website or social media, so people can find out more about you. Do you have any suggestions of what else could be used? Finally, marketing consultant Rob suggests closing out with a quippy-one liner that illustrates what kind of writer you are. Hi Bob, I hope everythings going well with you in these crazy times. Her friendliness and sense of humor comes across, and the blog portion of her website has sharp and engaging visuals. In my day job in publishing, when I ask authors for bios, I ask for 100 words or less. More examples with start up authors would be great. If your middle-grade comedy has an author bio that reads like a middle school. I do think it helps to have some personal information in an author bio, but dont share anything about your personal life that you dont feel 100% comfortable putting out there. For instance, if you've written a political thriller, maybe you have a well-documented interest in politics, the American government, and conspiracies. WebFor example, for an unpublished author bio, you will need to highlight the personal projects you are working on, personal interests and career/academic trajectory. Christopher Lentzs bio on his website is very long, which is fine, because its his website! Here's what it has to offer, from stellar reader support to group promotions. The challenge is to weave in as much relevant information about yourself in as few words as possible, in order to entice the reader to stick with you but not overwhelm with information they simply won't care about. For an eBook on Amazon, your author bio goes below the suggested books. I loved Jesss characterI ALWAYS love a character whos a little scruffy, a little bit of a grifter. Read her writing-related rants and reflections on her Moccasin Cove Mysteries blog. You always need to know who would want to buy and read your book. When hes not writing, he can be found at a pool table calculating the next shot or the next story. After He Killed Me is the second and final book in her Emma Fern Series. Learn how your comment data is processed. Her friendliness and sense of By the way, run to my social media for some free perks. I have been keeping a blog for quite a while now and while I do prefer working on my novel or short stories I have found my stride with it. How to Write a Bio for Your Author Website. No writers were harmed in the making of this reel! Thanks for the kind words! Author bios are not a place for you to delve into a lengthy explanation of your history. Earn a prestigious honor or academic position? I personally think that if youve hit the NYT and the USA Today, saying youre also an Amazon bestselling author is a bit beside the point, but its no big deal! When youre self-publishing on Amazon, you need to put some serious thought into the author bio on your Amazon book page. If you're writing fiction, this can still help, but it matters less so. . You mention putting up a photograph of yourself. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book. All three dogs got regular walking breaks and they were very good travelers! I appreciate your valuable input and will look into adjusting it accordingly. I love the alliteration . How can you earn media coverage for your book? These are two things I catch a lot as an editor. Weirs mega-blockbuster novel The Martian famously started as a series of blog posts, so its no wonder hes got a sharp-looking blog. Your personal bio digs deeper than this and gives readers an insight into things like: Your interests outside of work. There are some advantages, such as being able to install a popup window to invite people to join your newsletter. WebFollowing one of the examples or templates below, you can create a bio that effectively summarizes your experience without having to write it from scratch. Dont ask her about her work with the U.S. Secret Service, shes sworn herself to secrecy. I forgot to sign in! I think Ive done okay on both those fronts, but Im always open to suggestions. Make sure your word count is 60-90 words. Author can write a big book but broke into sweat when it comes to write a bio about themselves. Not only is this the industry standard, it also makes it easier to toot your own horn, which you should definitely be doing here. I hope you can be almost as kind to yourself. Jessie, you are one of the most fearless people I know (its no wonder you write heroic fantasy), but a trojan would scare anybody! Only stick to credentials that directly relate to the content of your book. The content and tone you include in your author bio will depend on several factors: In a print book, your author bio should go in the back matter of your book or on the dust jacket sleeve. Here is mine: Liz Boegers stint as a bikini model peaked in kindergarten. I hope you are doing well. If anyone is interested, that website is at https://www.chrisvpowers.com (I only found one f-word among all 11 posts, so I think that meets Hollywoods current PG guidelines?). Thats the way to do it right. YOU GUYS. You may also want to include any personal connections to your work, and signpost why theyre relevant. I am so glad the article was helpful. WebAuthor Bio for Unpublished Author? Tinkering with my own right now at http://www.eoconnors.com. To learn more, please visitwww.blossomtrilogy.com. Ive got a lot to think about and a lot of great resources to look to. I fall somewhere between, but Mama always thought I was more kin to Papa than to her. Spring here is ahead of Chicagoland and all the lilacs are in bloom. I created my website myself using Wix (I meant to use wordpress and somehow I ended up with Wix, but anyway its done and paid for so Im stuck with it). If you're a lawyer, you probably want to steer clear writing a book about medicineunless you have those credentials as well. This is your opportunity to make readers feel like they know you. I have a questionhow do I get other people to find my website? Can I just leave my author bio out? It was wonderful to see family and old friends. A good author bio (and book reviews and book description) compels them to actually buy the book. If a reader doesnt think youre credible, they will read your book with a cynical eye and judge every mistake they find. You also don't need to have lived the life you're writing about. Adam Silvera is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END, MORE HAPPY THAN NOT, HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME, INFINITY SON and INFINITY REAPER. For example, Frances Bula is a Vancouver-based political writer and blogger who gave a talk about niche writing at a conference I attended a million moons ago. Only just discovered it, via your retweet today. I am working on self-publishing my first novel, a romantic space opera on a limited budget. So today, Im sharing what I think are some great author bio examples. If you write political thrillers, maybe your credentials come from the time you spent working for a three-letter agency, or maybe you write police procedurals because you were once a cop. I am staying with my sister because we celebrated my dads milestone birthday. I havent done a lot with it recently. When asked to offer a dozen things people should know about him, Lentz says he: He resides in Southern California with his high-school-sweetheart wife and family. Also, any author can inject personality and a call to action, no matter if this is their first book. Her work has been featured in national publications such asPublishers Weekly,USA Today,Kirkus Reviews,Suspense Magazine,Mystery Scene Magazine,Library JournalandRT Book Reviews. As a quick recap, an unpublished authors website should have two goals: The first goal would be to provide editors, agents and the publishing world with a better picture of who you are and what youre about. Meet your dream marketer on Reedsy. I think it shows that you can keep things very simple and still be appealing. Readers should want to know what you have to say based on your author bio. If you're looking for author bio perfection, Scalzis is as close as you're gonna find. All three dogs got regular walking breaks and they were very good travelers! While not everyone cares about the authors bio, some care a lot. This is so great. Its definitely something I want to get done this year. I said to her, Hey, okay if I take a bath? She said, Oh sure, hang on and brought me THIS BASKET full of loofahs and soaps and lotions and a new candle! Plus, if they can relate to you, it might be an extra push for them to buy your book. <3. No, you cannot just leave out your author bio, even if you wrote a short story or novella. On the contrary! Determine what your books about, and tailor your bio to compliment the style and tone. But those book marketing musts simply draw users to see your books product page. Thanks in advance. So many people loved her. Everyone needs a stellar front cover design, an attention-grabbing book title, and a sophisticated keyword strategy. Thanks again, and happy new year! You should also place an author bio on your website that goes into a little more detail than the bio in your book. (By the way, if youre interested in setting up a website, be sure to check out my post on author website examples!). Read on for some tips on how to write a bio for work to make it easy for readers to connect with your work and you as well. Hopefully, you had a type of reader in mind when writing the book. I said to her, Hey, okay if I take a bath? She said, Oh sure, hang on and brought me THIS BASKET full of loofahs and soaps and lotions and a new candle! If your bio is often used by others, provide an easy cut-and-paste version at your website, on your bio page. Do you have questions about it? May 2020, 4 must-have pages for your unpublished author website - Debbie Emmitt - Mystery author, editor and proofreader. He has also linked his online columns to automatically appear! And the best part is, if you change the template, it will change it for all your books. If youve used levity in your writing, then you can say something like Architect by day, crime novelist by night.. Pan. There's no one-size-fits-all approach, but the following checklist provides a structure you can use as an author bio template: If you browse bestselling author bios, you'll notice they tend to follow this sequence. The author of A Gentleman in Moscow features a book trailer right on the home page, which is something I would probably do with my book trailers (see here and here) if I had a more traditional author website instead of or in addition to a blog.
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