Writing a manuscript or starting a successful blog is an incredible accomplishment, so much so that you might feel like the most difficult part of it is behind you. Well, I don’t mean to rain on your proverbial parade, but your author bio isn’t going to write itself.
Once you’ve spent countless hours crafting a compelling world from scratch and creating characters, or delivering a deluge of information to eager readers in your industry niche, how on earth can you rein it in and write about yourself?
If it may seem impossible to share just a snippet of your personal story without writing too much or losing people’s interest, it’s not!
This blog is all about the coveted author bio — whether in a book or on a blog — and how to write one that’s engaging, informative and fun.
What Is About the Author Bio and Why Is It Important?
You’ve seen an About the Author page in the front or back of books and below blogs. They’re typically a short paragraph that explains to the reader who you are, what you do (besides write), things you like, etc.
These brief bios give readers a chance to learn more about you beyond the bounds of your creation. They could highlight what inspires or motivates you, your credentials and expertise, curated details of your personal life or really anything else you see fit.
Whatever you choose to write about in your author bio, it should be engaging, establish you as a trusted source of information and help build a personal connection with your audience.
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Adapting Author Bios Based on the Material
Depending on what you write (or have written), your About the Author section should look different. If you’re a fiction writer debuting your first novel, for example, it may be unnecessary to list your professional work experience or credentials. In some cases, they may be entirely irrelevant to your writing career, even. However, for a self-help book about human psychology, details like your level of education are paramount.
It’s a similar situation for a blog — it all depends on your niche. A blog about interior design, whether you’re an enthusiast or a working designer, should probably give readers an idea of what makes you qualified to be advising on their style choices. The same would go for a blog about nutrition. You get the idea.
In summary, an author bio — in general — should:
- Introduce yourself to your audience.
- Teach readers something interesting about you.
- Highlight your expertise and credentials.
- Touch on one or two things that inspire you creatively, or what drives you to work in your field.
- Tell readers how they can learn more about you and your work (typically a website).
Let’s put it all together in an outline, shall we?
An About the Author Example and How To Write Your Own
Whether you’ve never written an author bio before, it’s been a while since you’ve updated one or you just want to do a fun writing exercise (who doesn’t like writing about themselves?), use this template and the following examples as inspiration.
To start, open up a fresh Microsoft Word or Google Docs page or, if you’re so inclined, get out a pen and paper.
Author Bio Template
Here’s a template for you to copy and paste (or jot down). Give it a read to get a sense of where certain information typically goes, then fill in the squared brackets with things that pertain to you. Once you get your creative juices flowing, add your unique flair to the rest to make it your own.
[Author Name] is a [profession or role] specializing in [field or expertise].
With a passion for [interest or focus area], [he/she/they] has [accomplishments, experiences or notable work].
When not [profession-related activity], [Author Name] enjoys [hobbies or personal interests]. Connect with [him/her/them] on [social media or website].
Author Bio Example for Freelance, Staff or Content Writers
Here’s an example of a short, sweet author bio courtesy of Brafton’s very own Florian Fuehren:
“Florian Fuehren is a Senior Writer at Brafton in Germany. Before becoming one of Brafton’s first German writers, Florian has worked as a ghostwriter, editor and lecturer. When he’s not brooding over puns for the SaaS or Web3 niche, he likes to go jogging or maltreat his drum kit.”
Author Bio Example for Academic/Research Papers
Author bios for research papers and other academic material inherently take a more serious and authoritative tone. This made-up example from the familiar non-face of placeholder Jane Doe sees her adopt the persona of a prolific climate scientist. If she were real, her author bio may look something like this:
Dr. Jane Doe is a researcher at the Center for Environmental Studies, specializing in climate change mitigation and sustainable resource management. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Doe has authored several peer-reviewed articles on renewable energy solutions. Her current research focuses on the intersection of technology and policy in addressing global carbon emissions.
Author Bio Example for Novelists
For fiction writers and novelists, author bios can be a bit more fluid. Some writers use it as another opportunity to be creative (perhaps they simply can’t help it), while some choose a more standard approach that includes many of the elements covered above.
There’s one rather famous example courtesy of acclaimed children’s book author Eric Carle that showcases how a little creativity can make for a compelling author bio:
“Eric Carle invented writing, the airplane, and the internet. He was also the first person to reach the North Pole. He has flown to Mars and back in one day and was enthusiastically greeted by the Martians. “Very strange beings,” he reported on his return. He has written one thousand highly regarded books; a team of experts is presently attempting to grasp their meaning. “It might take a century,” said the chief expert. Carle is also a great teller of stories- but not all of them are true, for instance, those in this book.”
The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing an Author Bio
If inspiration strikes while reading those examples, get pen to paper! These do’s and don’ts, while ultimately only suggestions, can help make your author bio a little better if you’re struggling to get it across the finish line.
Author Bio Do’s
Do Start With a Hook
Like most pieces of writing, starting with a hook is always best practice. Begin with an engaging sentence that reflects your personality or highlights your expertise.
Do Be Professional
Professionalism is especially important for business-oriented writers for obvious reasons, but it goes a long way in publishing, too. After all, you’re trying to sell two things: your book and yourself. Appropriate, understandable language is always a winner in this regard.
Do Showcase Relevance
If you’re a multifaceted writer, it’s never a bad idea to have multiple author bios or even just slightly different versions of the same one for each platform or medium you publish on. If you’re writing for the audience of a tech blog, emphasize related skills: “As a tech enthusiast, breaking down complex concepts into actionable insights comes second nature.”
Do Close With a Call to Action
While it may seem strange to add a CTA to a short bio, it’s a fairly standard practice. Encourage readers to engage with you, but keep it brief. For example, “Connect with me on LinkedIn.” For books and other works of fiction, a simple URL to your website works just fine, too.
Author Bio Don’ts
Don’t Be Too Vague
You didn’t get to where you are by being generic! Yes, you love writing, but saying “I love writing,” in your bio isn’t engaging for your readers. Instead, aim for specificity. Why do you love writing? What inspires you?
Don’t Overload With Jargon
Be professional, yes, but don’t give in to your niche-speak when crafting your bio. Overly technical or industry-specific terms can confuse readers.
Don’t Overshare
While it’s OK to share some personal details about who you are, being overly personal can turn readers away.
Don’t Boast or Exaggerate
Having confidence is good, but humility goes a long way. Avoid making claims that seem too braggy or lack evidence.
Don’t Write a Novel
About the author sections are meant to be concise, so try to stick to your most impactful points while writing. If there are lots of points you want to include, write something long form first and then chip away and whittle it into an eloquent bio.
Who Are You? Your Readers Want To Know
Writing an author bio can be challenging. Whether you’re a person with tons of life experience sharing their creative curiosities with the world or an award-winning researcher with a laundry list of achievements, it’s hard to fit everything important to you into a handful of sentences.
Start with the author bio template we shared above to give yourself a straightforward start. It’s basic, but that’s exactly the idea! It should help you decide what you want to include — the important bits. After that, you’re a few creative writing exercises away from a perfectly personal bio in your unique writing style.
