The main purpose of an author biography is to inform the reader of an author’s professional credentials and important previous books, so the reader views them as a trusted source of knowledge or entertainment (depending on whether the author writes scholarly publications or novels). However, there are other key elements and factors that go into a successful author bio, allowing them to establish a personal connection to their readers. Here are eight of them.
1. Write in the third person: Writing in the third person is standard for most professional author biographies. Third-person voice will offer a polished feel and professional distance from the reader (a first-person voice may come across as too familiar).
2. Keep the bio concise: An author should aim for about 100-150 words for their bio, making sure that every sentence counts. The purpose of an author bio is to quickly introduce the author to the reader (highlighting important background information and accomplishments), not to explain the author’s life story and career.
3. Highlight relevant credentials: An author should highlight their credentials relevant to the book’s subject matter, including educational degrees, professional experience, membership in organizations (especially if they are leadership roles), and awards won for past publications. When including past publications in their bios, the author should spotlight their most recent and relevant books, to help guarantee reader recognition.
4. Tailor toward your target audience: Expounding upon the previous tip, an author should also tailor their bio to appeal to the target readers of their book. If the book is a children’s book, a playful tone may be appropriate and may also inform readers of the author’s personality (as well as tease the book’s tone). However, if the book is a treatise on economics, it will be more important to keep a strictly professional tone while highlighting academic and professional credentials.
5. Be personal (and personable): The amount of personal information an author shares will depend on the type of book they are writing, but in general, they should provide readers with a sense of their personality. Personal details should include place of residence, hobbies, valued family members, and perhaps the book’s sources of inspiration. It is especially helpful if the hobbies are unique, as they will allow the author to stand out from the crowd. These personal details will help readers relate to the author on a human level and will make the author seem more approachable (which will be valuable when the author has the opportunity to meet their readers in person, such as at book signings and fan conventions). Establishing a personal connection with readers can also help the author build a loyal and enthusiastic fan base.
6. Include website and/or social media links: In this digital age, it is particularly important for an author to establish an online presence. At minimum, this should include a website where readers can connect with them and learn more about their books. An author is the sole owner of their website, unlike with social media profiles. Therefore, they can easily customize it and update it as their writing career evolves. A website also communicates to publishers that they are a serious author. However, many major publishers also judge an author’s marketability based on their social media following. So, it is wise for the author to also include one or more social media handles so both publishers and readers can measure their popularity and/or follow them online.
7. Keep it updated: As an author publishes new books or wins new awards, they should make sure to remove the bio’s old entries and replace them with these new ones.
8. Sell yourself (but not too much): An author should sell themselves as an interesting person by selling their hometown as a place readers would want to visit, or by gently mythologizing their own life. However, the author should take care not to come across as too boastful or arrogant.
For readers’ convenience, here is a template authors can use when constructing their own author biographies:
[Author’s full name] is a [profession] and [book genre] author of [Book Title]. Their work has [awards, bestseller lists, other public recognitions]. They have [professional qualifications, relevant expertise, other professional affiliations]. They live in [location] with [optional personal detail]. They can be reached at [website and/or social media links].
And here is a published example from Naomi Holoch, author of Aftertaste, a mystery novel published with the assistance of editors from Technica Editorial Services. This author’s bio is formatted slightly differently and does not include any website or social media links. However, the author’s qualifications are clear, and she still establishes a personal connection with her readers:
Naomi Holoch lived in France for a number of years and taught French language and literature at Purchase College-SUNY, as well as Creative Writing. She is a dedicated fan of French cheese, cars, and French culture in general. She is the author of Offseason, a novel set in Paris, published by Faber & Faber, and several anthologized short stories. She currently lives in Narrowsburg, New York along the Delaware River.
We at Technica Editorial Services encourage all authors to contact us for help with writing author biographies and other publishing needs. Happy writing!
By Matthew Wade
Matthew is an Editorial Assistant at Technica Editorial
