Comments | sandy_williams: How to write an author bio. Sort of.

sandy_williams

How to write an author bio. Sort of.

Nov 17, 2010 10:58

I actually have no idea how to write an author bio, so I trotted over to my book shelves and grabbed books by my favorite authors to see how they did it. There are different approaches. The short and simple is tempting because I can't really screw it up.

From Kelley Armstrong's DIME STORE MAGIC: Kelley Armstrong lives in Ontario, Canada, with her ( Read more... )

Comments 8

dallastwin November 17 2010, 19:44:03 UTC

I like your second-to-last one. It seems to flow better than your last one. And I agree about taking off the 2002 part because then readers will know roughly how old you are. Another common theme that I saw in the other bios you posted here are that their age is not necessarily evident, although you can make some assumptions about some of those.

But also, I like the law school part. It adds a little whimsical, but not cheesy, history about you. It sort of explains why you got a poli-sci degree when your writing career has nothing to do with politics.

Good luck!

sandy_williams November 27 2010, 15:58:19 UTC

Reading these again, I like the second to the last one the best too. I really want to try to fit in gaming 'cause it's different, but maybe I'll just leave the second one as it is.

Thanks for the feedback!

alanajoli November 18 2010, 02:12:14 UTC

Hmmm... I love the getting "whisked away," and the moonlighting as a librarian, but I wonder if you could start with your writing (or even your librarianship), rather than your college career. I started mine with geography -- but I won't say my bio is any great shakes. I like that both Briggs and Aguirre talk about their childhood -- something I'll have to consider next time I have to revise my own bio. :)

Also:

Maybe I can mention I have a tendency to make up new, awesome words that my husband won’t allow me to put in my books!

I love this. :)

sandy_williams November 27 2010, 16:00:00 UTC

Ha! I don't know if I can fit the tendency to make up new, awesome words part, but it would be funny if I could.

tinachristopher November 18 2010, 03:27:35 UTC

Your last one is pretty good. It gives your background but also a scent of your personality.
But I also liked the law school part and the 'awesome words';).

I think you've got a great start that just needs a liiitttle tweak. Good luck!

sandy_williams November 27 2010, 16:00:47 UTC

Thanks for the feedbacck!

I think I'll try to tweak the last one some more, get rid of the rock concert part and somehow include the gaming...

Have fun with it anonymous November 26 2010, 22:25:28 UTC

You're more interesting than you know. And, History is more interesting with an adjective or timeframe in front of it. It may not say so on your degree, but you probably were more interested in one particular part of history. Which part was that?

Also, it might free you up to think of yourself as a character.

When her husband was transferred to London, Sandy Williams was yanked away from her comfortable position as a Texas librarian. On the one hand, it might give her a chance to concentrate on her lifelong dream of being a writer. On the other hand, first Sandy had to survive the dark things in the subways, and the werewolves of the East End.

Have fun with it. Show your personality or, better yet, your writing style.

Dal

Re: Have fun with it sandy_williams November 27 2010, 16:02:53 UTC

Oooh, good idea about putting in a time period/concentration with the history part. I didn't really concentrate on one area (because the Awesome classes disappeared fast), but I did love Soviet History.

And are you NTSFW Dal?