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7 Tips for Writing a Kick-Ass Author Bio

I’ve been speaking more and more lately – which necessitated the need to create a formal speaker one-sheet with my bio and an intro. And that led me to remember that it was time to update my author bio sheet for the year!

Your author bio shouldn't be boring!Here are my top 7 tips for writing a kick-ass author bio that is not boring!

1. Write in third person

Use your full name the first time. (Be sure to decide which variation of your name you want to use! I’ve been transitioning from Kimberly to Kim – I like Kim better!) You’ll use plenty of pronouns so be sure to intermingle your name in there as well. It’s up to you if you’ll use your first name or your last. Personally, I usually use my first name (Kim) and save the Ms. Eldredge for more formal bits of writing. Now, if I was DOCTOR Eldredge, I might be more inclined to use “Dr. Eldredge” as opposed to Kim.

2. You’ll have different versions of your author bio

At a bare minimum, you’ll need three versions:

  • End-of-book (300-500 words)
  • End-of-article (100-200 words)
  • Blurb (25 words or less)
Publishing a #book? You need three versions of your #author bio - short, medium, and long! Click To Tweet

AND you might have different variations on the bio as well. I write in two distinct genres, outdoor recreation and book publishing. My bio for my outdoor recreation books isn’t going to impress the world of business coaching; they don’t care how long I’ve been camping for!

Don’t forget that each version needs to link your website!

3. Lead with your credibility

This can be your degree, training or certificates. Just make sure it applies! If you have a certificate in underwater basket weaving but your book is about investing, it might be best to leave that “credential” off. Your credibility can also include awards you’ve won, memberships, and education. This can be a bit dry so limit it to the most relevant.

4. Review your author bio annually

At LEAST! Your bio will change and evolve as your career does so you’ll want to put this on your annual to-do list as something to review and make sure it’s still relevant. I personally review mine in the fall – before any pre-Holiday releases. Plus, it saves from the OTHER annual review items that happen around New Years.

Let your personality shine in your author bio.5. Let your personality shine through

While you want to be professional, your readers are READING your bio because they want to know a bit about you. Give it to them! I like to keep it short but I want my readers to know I’m a real person behind the keyboard. This is the perfect place to mention your hobbies and interests. Keep it brief and either SUPER interesting or relevant.

6. The demographics go at the end

And are usually just one sentence: “Kim lives in Chino Valley, Arizona, with her partner, Ben, and two dogs.” When I was a single, person, person it’s REALLY easy to fall into the stereotypical author and her cat stereotype. Then, I could mix it up by saying something like “Kim lives in Chino Valley, Arizona, with her dog and mostly-housebroken dragon.” But there does come a place where just leaving it alone helps. You want to give them a brief glimpse into your life but you don’t need explain anything. (Like why I’m not married!)

Discover my 7 tips to write a great #author bio for your #book Click To Tweet

7. Invest in an author photo

A REALLY good author photo. From a professional photographer. Do NOT use a selfie or a snapshot or a group photo. Even if you don’t like being photographed, an author photo is a non-negotiable fact of your author bio. Readers want to connect to YOU – as a person! Author photos were the subject of a great training by Sabine Messner for the Brew Your Book Telesummit.

I get it that writing (or updating) your author bio can be as exciting as a root canal. But you still need it! That way, when somebody asks if they can re-publish one of YOUR articles, you can say yes and shoot off an email with your photo and bio.

It’s better to spend an afternoon working on this rather than have to dash off SOMETHING in five minutes before a deadline!

Kim Galloway
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