We’re writers, right? So, in theory, we should be able to write. About anything. Or, just about anything. Including about ourselves.

The author bio is an important component of the author platform. What’s that? The means by which we promote ourselves and our writing. The author bio, and the author photo, gives the reader some insight into the person who wrote the work they have just read or are considering reading.

How do we write this author bio? First of all, make a list of important details about your life. If you have an up-to-date Resume/Curriculum Vitae, this may be useful. A Resume/Curriculum Vitae outlines who you are, what you’ve learned and what you’ve done. Zero in on those details that relate to or affect your writing and your life as a writer. For example, if you’re writing about classical music, you might want to state your background in music. In my case, I’m a retired music teacher. So, it’s relevant and an important detail, as it does relate to both my writing and my life as a writer.

With the list complete, it’s time to write the author bio. Write it in the third person, as if you are someone else describing you, the writer. Shouldn’t be too hard. After all, you’re a writer, right? So, you should be able to write at least a paragraph about yourself. In third-person narrative. Remember no one else knows you better than you?

When you get to the third page of your author bio, stop! It’s too long. No reader is going to read a dissertation on a favorite author. Yours must be short, to the point and interesting. So, how much is too much?

If you’ve ever tried writing flash fiction, you know how to limit the use of words. If you haven’t, then think of a postcard (a postcard story is another way of defining flash fiction). Imagine fitting your author bio on the back of a postcard (about fifty words). If it fits, if your bio is under fifty words, you’re on the right track.

Yes, author bios can be longer than fifty words, usually between 100 and 150 words. If the author bio is for your book, stick to between 100 and 150 words. If you’re interviewed for an online blog or a blog tour, you may be able to include a slightly longer bio, depending on the site’s requirements.

Remember to update your author bio frequently. As time progresses and you publish more stories, poems, books, your writing accomplishments will broaden. And, there may be new relevant points you want to share with your readers. My bio has certainly changed, or I should say evolved, over the years. Here’s my most recent bio:

An avid gardener, artist, musician, and writer, Emily-Jane Hills Orford has fond memories and lots of stories that evolved from a childhood growing up in a haunted Victorian mansion. Told she had a ‘vivid imagination’, the author used this talent to create stories in her head to pass tedious hours while sick, waiting in a doctor’s office, listening to a teacher drone on about something she already knew, or enduring the long, stuffy family car rides. The author lived her stories in her head, allowing her imagination to lead her into a different world, one of her own making. As the author grew up, these stories, imaginings, and fantasies took to the written form, and, over the years, she developed a reputation for telling a good story. Emily-Jane can now boast that she is an award-winning author. For more information, check out her author’s website at http://emilyjanebooks.ca

This definitely fits within the 100-150 word parameters. Here’s an example of a shorter author bio (slightly over fifty words):

Jane Smith, a practicing physician, has been a Civil War buff for decades. She has published articles in Civil War Journal, Civil War News, and Civil War Weekly, and is a member of the Civil War Society. She lives in Rumford, Maine, with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. This is her first novel.

Your author bio will also vary depending on the target audience. For example, if you are asked to include a short bio in a query to a publisher, editor, or agent, stick to the shorter fifty-word version. If it’s for the back cover of your book, the 100-150 word version is best. Figure out what information is most relevant to the particular target audience; research the demographics. In other words, if your target audience is the historical western reader, the theme of your novel, make your author bio relevant: say something that connects you to this historical western theme. For example, ask yourself questions, such as, what made you interested in this type of story? Where did the idea originate? What have you done that makes your novel personal to you?

Lastly, be proud of your accomplishments. If you’ve published previous books or won writing awards, include it. Readers like nothing better than a book written by an award-winning author. Just like your story, your novel, you need to attract the reader’s attention: Hook, grab, and hold your reader. You want them to know you and believe that what you’ve written is important because it is. If you believe in yourself (and you should), make them believe in you, too.