As an author who is seriously promoting a book, you will be asked fairly often for your \u201cbio.\u201d What, exactly, is a bio? What do people want when they ask for your bio? How is it used?<\/p>\n
I use my bio at the end of the articles I submit for publication. I use these bios to introduce myself as an expert in the topic of the article and to promote my most appropriate book. For an article on how to find article ideas, I might write that I have been writing articles for publication for over 35 years and am the author of \u201cA Writer\u2019s Guide to Magazine Articles.\u201d If the piece features how to write a book proposal, for example, I might say in my bio that I\u2019ve written dozens of book proposals for my own books and those of my clients and that I am the author of \u201cHow to Write a Successful Book Proposal in 8 Days or Less.\u201d I might also include the fact that I am the Executive Director of SPAWN, an International networking organization for authors.<\/p>\n
But authors use bios in many other ways, as well: for promo ahead of a speaking engagement, book signing or participation in a book festival, for example. You use your bio on the cover of (or in the back matter) of your book and on your brochures and other promotional material. It might follow an interview, be included in a review of your book or be published at the end of a book you review. When your book is included in a catalog or at Amazon.com, there may be space for the author\u2019s bio. You\u2019ll want to use a brief bio when you post comments at other blogs and at forums. Many of us use \u201csignatures\u201d at the end of our emails, which is another sort of bio.<\/p>\n
Once you begin the interesting and challenging process of book promotion, you will find yourself in the public eye (at least, to some extent), and you will need to come up with bios for different occasions and purposes. So what does the bio accomplish? <\/p>\n
\u2022\tYour bio is your introduction. Your audience wants to know a little about the person behind the book, presentation, article\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2022\tYour bio should demonstrate your expertise in the subject matter at hand. <\/p>\n
\u2022\tYour bio is your avenue through which to promote your books and\/or services.<\/p>\n
As you can see, while your bio is for your audience\u2014it serves to position you as an expert in your field\u2014it is also your opportunity to introduce your book and to, perhaps, make some sales.<\/p>\n
Before writing a bio to be published in a conference program or to accompany your book at a showcase website, for example, find out the projected word count. You\u2019ll write something quite different if the limit is 300 words as you will if you\u2019re restricted to 25 words. <\/p>\n
I\u2019m in the process of developing a new website. And I have to tell you that writing the About Us section for the new website and refining it for the Matilija Press website has been an enormous undertaking. As many times as I have written bios of all sizes for all manner of intent, I am finding this task to be an enormous undertaking. So I have been focusing on these tips:<\/p>\n
\u2022\tOutline the info that must be included at each site (heavy on Patricia Fry as an author for the Matilija Press site and more about Patricia Fry the editorial and publishing consultant for the Patricia Fry site).<\/p>\n
\u2022\tConsider what site visitors\u2014many of them potential customers\/clients\u2014want to know about my offerings and me.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tGive enough without overwhelming visitors. Now that\u2019s a hard one.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tUse bullets, as I have here, to break up the text and clarify information.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tAlways provide a link or contact button so the visitor can easily reach you with any questions.<\/p>\n
Your bio can be as powerful as a New York billboard when it contains the right information and is seen by the right audience. The next time you\u2019re required to write a bio, consider what you want it to accomplish and then add the elements that will make it work on your behalf.<\/p>\n
Patricia Fry is the author of 31 books including The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book <\/em><\/strong> Now that\u2019s an example of a brief, but informative bio.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As an author who is seriously promoting a book, you will be asked fairly often for your \u201cbio.\u201d What, exactly, is a bio? What do people want when they ask for your bio? How is it used? I use my bio at the end of the articles I submit for publication. I use these bios […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a>. She works with other authors on their projects, whether they need editing services or help creating a bio, book proposal, query letter or book promotion plan. Contact Patricia Fry for a free estimate: PLFry620@yahoo.com. <\/p>\n