Writers find creating an author bio one of the most daunting tasks. A perfectly written author bio can make it easier for the readers to know the writer better giving a concise and quick overview of their writing.
Ideally, it is a brief passage, mostly a paragraph, which introduces the author, mentions their credentials, work summary, details of other creations, and provides details of anything else that a reader may be interested in knowing.
An author must try to regularly update their bio so potential readers and fans seeking them can get access to the essential details about them. This guide contains everything you need to know about how to write a biography of an author. Further, we will also give you some author biography examples for easier understanding.
Jump To
- What does an author bio include?
- What Is The Basic Template For An Author’s Bio?
- How To Write An Author Biography For A Book?
- Bio Writing Based on Types of Publication
- Tips To Keep In Mind
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Does An Author Bio Include?
In all honesty, there is no one-size-fits-all formula. However, if you know about the author, you can easily personalize and compile the information to match your requirements.
So, ideally, what should an author bio have? The author bio should include author’s name, distinguished accomplishments, and a call to action. Ideally, contain the biography in a maximum of sixty to ninety words in length.
See, if, for instance, the bio is to be attached with a dramatic book, you can include some drama based books in the author’s bio. Similarly, if you have a funny book at hand, you can include some humor related work done by the author in the bio.
Personalize the bio to suit your target audience (both readers and future publishers) and genre. Further, in the author bio, you can include links to the author’s socials. It will help your readers get an insight into author’s personal life.
A photograph should also be a part of the author’s bio.
Now, let us look at the biography template and what should it cover with some author biography examples.
What Is The Basic Template For An Author’s Bio?
How to write an author biography? Here is a basic template for an author’s bio.
1. Commence with a Byline
It is a single-line statement that gives an insight into who the author is and includes the book’s name.
2. Talk about the theme of the book
Next, you need to state what the author writes about:
- Fiction or non-fiction
- Previously published books
- Genre
- Area of interest
3. List down the credentials.
Herein, you will provide author’s credentials. It can include best-seller lists, college degrees, and accolades. If you are a fiction writer, you can also talk about your life interests.
4. Add a personal touch.
Adding color to the bio helps the reader imagine who you are and if they can relate to you. It is your way of nudging the reader to buy the book. Some things you can add are:
- Including the location in your byline.
- Some peek into your lifestyle.
- One-liner to illustrate the kind of author you are.
How To Write An Author Biography?
How to write a biography of an author? Here is a guideline for assistance.
1. Use a professional picture.
Typically, authors also like to include a picture in their author bio. It should be a professional headshot of you looking grave or smiling. Be very careful with the headshot. Readers automatically equate an unprofessional picture with your book’s quality.
2. Keep the opening catchy for an instant connection.
Your Byline is the first thing that the reader reads about you. So, do not let it go in vain. You can use the vital and relevant facts that the readers and agents care about the most. It should also have the name of your book.
Adding personal information like:
- Your name
- Your place of birth
- When you started writing
- Your contributions to the writing field
- Where you are from
- Your previous publications and awards
These personal details can help formulate a bond between you and the reader. The idea is to ensure the reader knows your background to feel connected and motivated to know further.
3. Know the genre and the audience
To decide the audience and genre, answers the two questions:
- Who are you writing for?
- What is this book about?
Ideally, the author’s bio should complement the subject matter and the genre. You may confuse your potential audience if the biography is irrelevant to the book and genre.
Now, think about the target audience. You probably had a type of reader in mind when you wrote this book. Every writer should know who will buy and read the book. After understanding the target audience, you can write the bio to meet that person’s needs.
You can include an excerpt from your personality if you are a fiction author. Also, if you have achieved something extraordinary, talk about it in the credentials.
On the contrary, for the non-fiction authors, readers are interested more in your life and credentials. It helps them know what qualifies you to create a book on this subject.
Some authors have adopted a unique strategy of creating an avatar of their ideal customer – with a name, personality, and location. It is an excellent marketing effort and helps create a concise author bio.
4. Write in the third person.
Of course, you are writing the bio, but you should still write it in the third person. It gives it a professional and trustworthy tone and makes it easy to display and read everywhere.
For instance:
Instead of – I am a three-time published author.
Go for – Ravin is a three-time published author.
5. Keep it short
Your bio should be as impactful and informative as possible. Also, list your hobbies and all facets of your careers, but you should still curtail it to 400 words.
6. Mark your achievements and awards
Do not shy away from including things you have achieved in your life. It becomes essential if you do not have direct authority in the subject matter or credentials. It makes it easy for the audience to know why they must spare their time to go through your book.
For instance, it can be a significant show point if you win a national championship in chess. These tell the reader that you have done several other things in life beyond this book.
However, if you have nothing specific to include in your achievements and credentials, you can list your interests and passions. It can have anything you love writing about or enjoy doing, or a hobby, particularly if it is associated with the book.
7. Make it relatable
An author bio should be a peek into your views, world, personality, and values. It also should give away what a reader must expect from your writing. Ideally, if a reader likes you, they will also enjoy what you write. Because in your book, every page has your essence in it.
So, if you make the bio relatable and depict your personality, the readers connect with it better. It invokes curiosity, and they want to read the book to satiate this.
8. Make it look credible.
We live in a digital-friendly world. So, you never know, when someone comes up and asks you, ‘why should I listen to you?’ Readers who pay for the book have every right to question you, especially if it relates to the authenticity, reliability, and accuracy of something mentioned by you.
So, from your bio, you need to be honest and maintain credibility. For this, your bio should answer three questions:
- Why should the readers believe you?
- Why are you qualified to write on the subject?
- Why should they buy your book?
9. Social media links
Lastly, you want the reader to connect with you. You do not want the relationship with your reader to end with this book. It is vital to hold on to them. It will help you in the second book and so on.
When they connect with you outside of the book (on social media), they know about you as a person in your skin and blood. It makes them feel closer to you. So, leave your link to give them a peek into your life.
Bio Writing Based on Types of Publication
How To Write A Biography of An Author For A Book?
- Your author bio should be brief. So, do not talk about every facet of your hobbies and career. You can keep it short and crisp. It is best to contain all the information in 400 words.
- Write it in the third person to make it seem more professional.
- Commence the bio with a one-liner, stating your name, the book’s title, your profession, and where you are from.
- So, make it exciting and relevant, and get creative. Keep it as close to the book’s genre and theme. You can mention your achievements, but unless directly associated with the book or too exciting or adventurous, please keep it brief.
- Include some information about your interests and hobbies to establish a bond with the reader. Lastly, put a professional, good-quality picture. Let us see one of the best author biography examples.
Example
“Victoria Lee grew up in Durham, North Carolina, where she spent twelve ascetic years as a vegetarian before discovering that spicy chicken wings are, in fact, a delicacy. She’s been a state finalist competitive pianist, a hitchhiker, a pizza connoisseur, an EMT, an ex-pat in China and Sweden, and a science doctoral student. She’s also a bit of a snob about fancy whiskey. Victoria writes early in the morning, then spends the rest of the day trying to impress her Border collie puppy and make her experiments work.”
Source: Victoria Lee Press Kit
How To Write An Author Biography For The Journal?
It should include a biographical statement with your complete name. Further, list your academic program, interest in the writing’s subject and genre, personal history, and field placement. The word length should not be over 75 words for a journal author bio. Here is one of the best journal author biography examples.
Example
“Kathryn Saclarides is a second-year social administration student at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. She received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and Spanish from Vanderbilt University and a master’s in bioethics from La Universidad Pontificia de Comillas in Madrid, Spain. Her current field placement is with the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC). She is interested in migration patterns, ethnic neighborhoods, and transnational communities.”
Source: The University of Chicago
How To Write An Author Biography For A Research Paper?
An author bio for the research paper should list your degrees, information about your alma mater, year of qualifications, and subject of study. In addition, you can also talk about your current area of work. Lastly, to make the reader feel familiar, including some personal details can help. You can also include your awards and accolades. Keep it brief, but try to include all vital information. Write the whole bio in the third person.
Example
“Paul Linn received the M.Sc. degree in engineering from the ABC University of Technology, Poland, in 1991 and a Ph.D. degree in applied mathematics from the University of XYZ, the US, in 1990. He currently works as an assistant professor at the Institute of Computer Engineering, ABC University of Technology. His current research interests include the dynamics and control of robotic systems, adaptive control and social robots.”
How To Write An Author Biography For A Blog?
Start with personal details about yourself. Explain what you do in the third person. Include an element of validation so that the readers see you as a credible source. In addition, list some interesting details about yourself. Provide links to your social media and include an inbound link to the website for SEO optimization. Overall, the bio should be concise. You can have a professional-looking headshot to add as a picture with the bio.
Example
“Kiel Berry is the Executive Vice President of Machine Shop. Prior to Machine Shop, Kiel worked at Creative Artists Agency and began his career at JPMorgan Investment Banking. Kiel is the author of STUNT: Navigate The Journey. Follow him on Twitter at @kielberry.”
Tips To Keep In Mind
- Inject a sense of your personal, unique style
- Speak about endorsements from renowned figures
- Include only relevant details.
- Link the title to the book’s sales page.
- Add headlines like bestselling or award-winning to the Byline if applicable.
- Use the bio to cross-promote other books.
- Do not forget to update the bio regularly.
- Do not write in anything other than the 3rd person.
- Make it engaging and personal.
- Use a friendly, warm tone.
Bonus Tip – Do not exceed more than 100 words.
Related: Article Title Writing Guide, How to Write an Academic Book Review?,How to write a synopsis?,How to prepare an article outline?
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques 1. Can I write a book with no experience?
Ans. Yes, you can always write a book without any experience. There is always a first time for everything.
Ques 2. How do I write a biography about myself?
Ans. You should start in third person and go on to
- Introduce yourself – your first name and last name.
- State your brand or company’s name.
- List your professional role
- Discuss your values and passions
- Mention your interests
- Talk about your professional achievements
- Include links to your socials and a headshot
Ques 3. Where does the author bio go in a book?
Ans. You will find the author’s bio on the last left-hand page of the book. Some writers also place it on the book’s back cover, toward the bottom.
Ques 4. Are Author bio generators useful? Name a few tools for the same.
Ans. Yes, author bio generators can be beneficial for creating a good biography.
Some tools that can help are:
- Author Bio Box
- Molongui Authorship
- Co-Authors Plus
- Starbox
- Simple Author Box
- About Author
- Awesome WordPress Author Bio
- Avatar Elementor Author Box
