First, the bio from one of my favorite novels, The Ballad of
Pinewood Lake, by Jory Sherman.
Jory Sherman is a
widely published author and poet whose works have appeared in numerous literary
journals and anthologies. He is the author of many novels, several of which
have won major literary awards, including the Western Writer's of America's
Spur Award for The Medicine Horn. He
has been inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame.
After Sherman's bio, I would flip through some pages and
pick a random spot to begin reading, knowing that this is a book worth
examining more closely due to the fact that there are some big-time
credentials. Ideally, I would find a beautiful passage and then want to read
everything he wrote!
Second, the bio from my favorite nonfiction book, Strengthen
Your Nonfiction Writing, by Mary Horner (I had an "in" with the
selection committee!). Because my book is about writing, I
went heavy on the credentials regarding writing and education. I wanted to let
readers know I was a credible source.
Mary Horner is an
award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in more than two dozen
publications. She currently teaches communications at St. Louis and St. Charles
Community Colleges. She earned a master's degree in communications from
Lindenwood University, and a bachelor's degree in English from the University
of Missouri-St. Louis, where she also earned the Writing Certificate. She
completed the Core Curriculum program in medical communications with special
emphasis in editing/writing from the American Medical Writers Association. In
2005, she received The Best Mom award (from her kids).
If I were rewriting this, I would move the second sentence
to the end, so instead of moving from past to present tense, and then to past
tense again, I would move from past to present tense only once, and would
probably add a future project. The future project would give readers something
to look for later, or let readers in the future look for other books I've
written. Finally, when this book came out I didn't have a blog. I do now, and
would provide a URL, and let readers know I'm on Facebook, Twitter and
Instagram.
At the end I added a little humor. What information do you include in your bio?
Write (a bio) soon,
Mary
Mary--I've only had to write a bio for Chicken Soup, and try to vary the details in the bio, depending on the anthology. For example, if it was a collection of dog stories, I'd go heavy on details about my dog rescue work. If it was a teacher collection, I'd emphasize my experience as a teacher.
ReplyDeleteI certainly think you'd be wise to fill the reader on your future projects. They like your writing... they'll have something to look forward to later.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge (and I like the bit of humor at the end of your bio).
Thanks, Sioux, I agree to try to target the audience as much as possible, and humor can work, but it may not be appropriate for every occasion. I can't think of one myself, but that's what I've heard!
DeleteYou did a great job on your bio, Mary. Most of the time the bios I write are limited, often to as few as only fifty words. That means winnowing down to bare bones, though I do like to add humor when I can.
ReplyDeleteI think it's harder if they are shorter, and I like to lighten things up a bit when I can.
DeleteThis post got me thinking about the bios I've read and written.
ReplyDeleteI love the last line of your bio; it shows you have a sense of humor and your kids love you! But I also agree it's important to let readers know what you're working on now. Like Sioux, I write my bios depending on the audience. And as Pat pointed out, limiting a bio to 50 words can be a challenge.
I agree it's not always as easy as it looks. And the last line is probably just a reminder to myself that my kids used to love me when they were little!
DeleteThis was good to read! I never know quite what to say but do try to list the magazines and publications people might recognize. I have won prizes and first places but most are small enough only a select audience would recognize them. Someday maybe I will have something big to add!!!!
ReplyDeleteThere are no small prizes and awards! I would list them regardless of whether or not anyone has heard of them. Sometimes I learn about awards and prizes by reading a bio and looking them up, because it may be something I want to enter next time!
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