Pro-Tip: How to Write a Bio

I get sent a lot of author bios. Some are short and sweet, some are a page long. Very rarely do I see a bio that is 100% spot on for what I–as a reader–would like to see.

Bios, in my opinion, should not exceed 15 sentences. That means three paragraphs of five sentences each. And I don’t mean 82-word sentences, either. I like to cap bios at 300 words, but even that tends to be excessive. There is very little information actually needed in a bio. Keeping it tight, concise, and to the point is key. My current bio is wordy and in need of an overhaul, which I plan to do soon.

What should be in your bio?

Your name (pen name, real name, whatever). Where you were born and/or where you currently live. A little background on your writing expertise/history. Any awards you were nominated for or won. Your recent publication history. A line or two about your personal life (if you like). Where you can be found (website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.). Your email contact.

You don’t need much. A reader isn’t interested in your life history, just the professional history so they can stalk you on social media and find your backlist. Keeping it short, current, and relevant are all that’s needed.

Now, I need to go rewrite my bio!