Blogger: Kathleen Y’Barbo, Publicist
Location: The Woodlands, Texas PR Office
Weather: Heat wave!
WOW! I read some fabulous one-sentence bios in response to last week’s challenge. So many of you have shown your ability to craft a sentence full of both information and personality–not an easy task. If you missed the blog post, I highly suggest you go back and read it. Be sure to scan the comments for some of the most clever bios I’ve ever seen in a long time.
For those of you who’ve risen to the challenge and completed a brief bio, bravo. While the one-sentence bio is a great calling card for potential editors, agents, and eventually readers, it doesn’t completely convey the Four W’s of You:
1. Who are you? A simple question, and yet oh so complicated. Answer this as it relates to your writing. “Wendy Writer is a professor of botany and purveyor of fine chocolates,” is a dandy statement, especially if you write murder mysteries featuring food and plants. Think of what aspects of who you will make the greatest impression on your readers and highlight those. Grab ’em with something that makes the reader respond, “Wow.”
2. What have you written? For the published author, this would be either your most recognizable title, your most recent title, or the title most closely connected to the one you’re connecting your bio to. For those of you who haven’t yet seen your novel or nonfiction work in the bookstore, remember that most writers don’t begin by penning longer works. Generally their foray into the writing world starts with an article, a devotional, a vignette in a book, such as Chicken Soup for the Soul, a short story or even a piece for their church newsletter. Guess what? That’s writing, and yes, it counts! Now, do NOT list everything you’ve ever put to paper including yesterday’s grocery list. (Unless you’re a clever mom writing books to other moms.) Be choosy. Select a few key pieces and let the rest be known as the remainder of the body of your work.
3. Why do you write? This question isn’t always appropriate, but at least consider answering it in your bio. When added in just the right place, I believe this nugget of information will showcase not only the author’s voice but also answer questions in the minds of a reader/editor/agent as to the author’s heart. The response to this question should be somewhere between a phrase and a sentence and should reflect the type of writing you do. For example, an author of a nonfiction book on grace might say: “Andy Author has taken on the happy task of telling the world about the Lord’s ability to forgive repeatedly because of Andy’s first-hand knowledge on the topic.”
4. What else do you want them to know? The answers to this question can be as varied as the books we write. Perhaps you have a one-sentence anecdote about yourself or your body of work that will fit here. Maybe this is the place to put the more mundane stuff of life such as education or day job, if those don’t fit elsewhere but will fill in more about who you are.
Your assignment? Start answering these questions. As with the one-sentence bios, your voice should always shine through, even in the just-the-facts areas of the bio.
Next week we will talk about how to take these Four Ws of You and turn them into a three-hundred word bio that will make your publicist smile. In the meantime, start posting your answers. Try out some ideas on us. I can’t wait to read what you have to say!
It’s a little rough, but here’s my first attempt:
A lover of history, Lynn Dean’s DISCOVER TEXAS curriculum is used in private schools throughout her home state. She is currently collaborating on a multi-media tourism promotional highlighting the Texas Rangers as well as a historical fiction novel to benefit the Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park. She writes for those who have always wondered what it was like to be part of His Story in another place and time.
Duh. Just realized that “fiction novel” is a little redundant, since if it’s a novel, it’s fiction.
Told ya it was rough! 🙂
Jeanne Campbell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who is passionate about helping readers better understand those afflicted with mental diagnoses. She draws from her counseling experiences to bring these disorders to life and offers other writers use of her expertise as a Character Therapist on her blog, Where Romance Meets Therapy. She has written several feature articles for local newspapers and can be found on the blogosphere when she’s not seeing clients or spending time with her family.
what’s that read like? too serious? i write across genres…women’s fiction and romantic suspense. love 1st person, but realize the industry leans to 3rd. any suggestions? thanks for this opportunity… 🙂
Cristin Bruggeman is a storyteller and adventurer who has visited twenty-eight countries on five continents. She has written her whole life and studied writing at the University of Nations, graduating with a B.A. in Communications. This program provided her with international exposure, a biblical Christian worldview, and the tremendous opportunity to learn from writers such as Brock and Bodie Thoene, David Aikman, and Patricia Rushford. She currently resides in Kona, Hawaii with her European husband and two young daughters.
How’s this?
Kimberley Payne is a former personal trainer and lover of Jesus and squats. She’s author of Fit for Faith – 7 weeks to improved spiritual and physical health. She writes to share with others all that she’s learned about fitness and faith. Kimberley works out with other “LifterSisters” – friends who share her interest in lifting weights, love her like a sister, and provide an emotional lift when she’s feeling low.