An Overview of Writing Your Author Biography
People read books for a lot of different reasons. No matter what draws them to a book or genre, they want to know who wrote the book. Typically, this will come in the form of an About the Author, or ATA. Through an ATA, authors will be able to briefly share their life and experiences with readers.
If you are looking for samples of ATAs, look at the back of nearly any book you have at home. ATAs are usually found on or inside the back cover of a book, but they can also be elsewhere. No matter where it is located, an ATA will contain certain information and will be written in specific ways. This article will look at considerations for writing your very own ATA.
The Length, Style, and Visuals of an ATA
Before you start writing the actual text of your ATA, you need to understand the basic parameters most ATAs follow. These are general rules that can be adjusted as needed, but they are helpful to know.
The first thing you might notice when you look at an ATA is that there is a picture. This is the author’s headshot. A photo of the author allows the reader to put a face to the name. You want your readers to get a good first impression of you. So, always make sure your photo is a professional-style headshot. This can be taken at home, just make sure it is high quality and up to date. You can also update your photo with different books.
When it comes to writing, you want to keep it under one printed page but not too short. You have to find the sweet spot between sharing too much and too little information. The actual text of your ATA will be written from a third-person perspective. This means that you will not use first-person pronouns, like “I” and “me.” Writing in third-person will keep your ATA professional and authoritative and objective.
The Content of Your ATA
When it comes time to write, there are certain topics to consider covering. Every ATA will be different, but you generally want to convey notable and relevant parts of your background. Consider these elements as suggestions that are subject to your individuality.
Family History and Personal Fun Facts
You never want to divulge too much about your personal life, but some information lets readers get to know you. Basic information about your upbringing and life are a good start. This can simply be the state or region you are from and/or live in now. You can also include your spouse, children, grandchildren, etc. Avoid information that is not readily available online, just publicly available information for you and your loved ones’ protection.
Outside of your personal history, fun facts about you get the reader to know you even better. These can be as serious or goofy as you wish. If you have any passions, hobbies, achievements, notable facts, or relevant stories, share them! When readers understand you as a person, they understand your writing better.
Professional and Academic History
Outside of your personal life, readers want to know your literary qualifications. To do so, you should share an overview of your professional and academic history and previous writing credits. All of this supports your literary aspirations and gives readers places to look for your other work.
As with your personal life, you do not want to overshare. Share what degrees you have, but do not necessarily say all the clubs you participated in. You can give readers information relevant to your literary journey and unrelated professional and academic experiences. Even if not related to the book at hand, your background boosts your credibility.
Other Uses of an Author Biography
While you are writing your ATA for the book you are publishing, it has other practical uses. Your biography will be helpful to have throughout the process of marketing your book. Many events and signings will request some sort of biography when you are booked. With your ATA, you will have this available for all such uses. It will also be a coherent identity that carries across from your book to real life.
If you gather a larger catalog of published works, you will be able to use this ATA going forward. You adjust it as needed, but you will have a starting point. It can also be used on social media, a personal or professional website, or in other non-literary endeavors.
Writing about yourself can be daunting. Do not let that scare you or give you writers’ block when drafting your ATA. Just start writing and see what comes out, then you can tailor it appropriately. If you have concerns or need guidance, reach out to friends, family, or colleagues. Additionally, at Cloverly Children’s, our publishing team will always be a resource.
