Why author bios matter and how to write one

The author bio (biography) introduces you, the author. It is commonly seen inside the back of a book, on websites, social media, Amazon pages, etc. It supplements the blurb, which introduces the story premise, and is normally seen first.

A good author bio is an opportunity to make people think, Wow, I’m interested in this person, I want to read what they have to say. I personally have bought books for this reason alone.

However, some authors have no bio. Others are bland to the point of camouflage, acting as a shield rather than illuminating the personality that created the book. Some resort to listing authors’ pet animals. Unless the story features pets, this is a wasted opportunity.

Don’t waste this chance. Utilise your bio, and enthuse potential readers.

Here’s how to write one.

Conventions

Author bios are usually short, written in third person, with name, geographical location, and website/contact details. The rest of the bio is up to you.

The third person

Your author bio is in third person. It is not about your fluffy pet-loving domestic self: it is about your professional persona.

Writing in third person can be helpful: it’s someone apart, as you would write a character.

Are you using a pen name, or your own name? Whichever, it’s your public face. What do you want to show?

There’s usually a photograph. If you’re using a pen name, consider hiring an artist to create a portrait.

Length

Author bios on Amazon, or on/inside your book, are normally short – aim at around 100 words. People browsing for books rarely linger: entrance readers from your first sentence. You can then create an extended version for your own website or anywhere else that requires a more in-depth bio.

Geographical location

At the minimum, readers like to know in which continent their author resides. It’s also valuable information, so choose carefully how to describe it. How does it relate to your work?

For instance, do you live in a National Park, a sweeping landscape of glacier-scoured rocks, your setting for epic sagas? Or are you in Leeds, UK, where inside knowledge of post-industrial decline fuels a gritty thriller?

If you have concerns about privacy, be less specific, while still evoking setting. Perhaps you live in the English countryside, where simple village life inspires cosy romances?

You might feel your location is irrelevant. If so, consider what might make it so. If you live in London, but write about Ancient Mesopotamia, perhaps London provides opportunities to view inspirational museum artefacts?

If you live in the middle of nowhere, perhaps it frees you from distractions, in order to imagine deeply into your story world?

The intriguing stuff: what makes you, and your book, unique?

Authority

What is your authority to write this book? If you’re writing non-fiction, it’s easy. You have education, or a career, that provides expertise on the subject.

Fiction writers have authority, too. Creativity and imagination rarely come from nowhere. Travel, work experience, life experience, a city or a landscape, wildlife, history? Even chance encounters feed the deep thinking that ignites a novel.

Historical fiction writers, of course, bridge the two. The genre demands a subtle combination of both research and creative imagination.

Therefore, consider both. What research did you do? Does any of your own experience feed into the book? Do you have expertise that translates into your story? Many writers have previous – or concurrent – careers. Maybe you were inspired to re-imagine how people in your line of business worked in a previous era? This is your chance to share that insider knowledge, and inspire your readers.

Or maybe, simply a chance visit, sight, or encounter, sparked a research journey that culminated in your story? Tell us about it.

Life experience

Authority comes from facts. Life experience is about emotional insights that inspire and underpin a story. What such experience is relevant – nay, essential – to your book?

Emotional experience is both unique, and universal. It speaks to people.

Your wisdom – often hard won – might come from memories of growing up, or from family history. You might have overcome a personal crisis or challenge.

Your characters may not necessarily experience the same challenges as you. But, translated through the lens of fiction, the emotional experience resonates.

For instance, what if an author has life experience in corporate finance? At first sight, it may seem to bear little relevance to historical fiction about, say, Mediaeval barons. But think again. Years of working up the corporate ladder, dealing, trade-offs, metaphorical back-stabbing, the need to be seen with the right people, at the right time. How does this compare with Medieval politics? What are the similarities between corporate life, and the baron, who must manage his wealth, servants, tenants, and keep on the right side the king? After consideration, perhaps the emotions of corporate life are not so far removed from those of feudal politics? Might those parallels intrigue readers?

Tone

Your book has its own tone: hard-hitting, humorous, heart-warming, maybe even whimsical. Reflect this in your author bio. If you’re writing cosy historical romance, perhaps, tongue literally in cheek, you must extensively research the role of teashops in Edwardian courtship? If you engaged in serious research, did you get a thrill from a special viewing of artefacts not normally available to the public? If your story is mystical, did you experience an illuminating vision?

It’s worth studying other author bios. Ben Kane’s is a pithy masterpiece, uniting geography, inspiration and his own backstory, in one sentence.  Elizabeth Chadwick generates warmth with her husband’s credit as ‘research assistant’ for the love scenes.

Whatever the mood, bring it to life, and illuminate the personality behind the book.

Validation

Does anything else endorse your work? Won any prizes? A positive review? A celebrity endorsement? Previously published works? Are you a member of relevant society? A relevant previous career?

Give them more

Tell readers what you’re working on now. A sequel returning a loved character? An exciting new inspiration? Enthuse them for the next thing. Remember to add your website and social media.

Edit and revise

Having considered your bio, you likely have too much information. Therefore, edit to focus on points most likely to engage readers. Your book is unique. You are the unique personality that created it. Let that personality shine.