How to Write a Short Bio

Summarizing yourself into a few short sentences can be difficult.

Are you a writer who needs a bio to describe yourself and your work? How do summarize everything about you into a couple short sentences or even a paragraph? Your professional bio is what everyone will see; it sets you apart from all the other writers out there. A good bio could make an agent or publisher interested in you, but doing your own bio can be the hardest part of your career.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Make a list of interesting words, phrases and sentences that describe you. Write down all the funny, crazy, wacky things that make you, you.

2. Make notes about your education or certifications, even if you think they have nothing to do with your being a writer.

3. Make a list of organizations you belong to and awards you've won.

4. List the places you've been published.

5. Scan the list and see what stands out to you.

6. Pick out the things that best describe you from each category.

7. Edit and cut, polish and perfect.

Tips & Warnings

• Update your bio every so often, deleting outdated information.

• Publications have different styles and length requirements, but having a standard bio will give you a starting point.

• Don't try to sound too funny unless your specialty is humor.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish