Now and then you'll have to write a biography to go along wth an article, book, or something else you publish. It's tough to figure out what you want to say about yourself in just a few lines. Of course, you consider what you want to share with the faceless masses as well as what information will show you in the best light. You want to make yourself look like an authority on the subject of your article.
The following is something I almost deleted without re-reading tonight. It's in the stacks of ancient webmail from the years I wrote a newsletter about ASCII art for a website called WZ.com. The site is long gone and I don't think anyone will mind sharing the information which was once shared with me. Thanks to Sissi, wherever you are. Hope you're writing and doing great.
Not only do we want to know who you are, your visitors do, too. They'll be looking for the person behind their interests. A bio that's interesting and catchy will help you to develop loyalty and a personal touch with your subscribers.
To help you develop your bio, I've included a short list of questions, in interview format, below. Answer the ones you think are appropriate, and make sure you include some info on the different Realms you cover.
Oh, and be sure to compile all of the answers to the questions into one flowing bio rather than submitting nine separate answers to me.
Pay special attention to question #9 --
1. You're about to be interviewed by Charlie Rose. In ten seconds or less, how does he introduce you?
2. When did you get interested in your topic? How long ago, how old were you?
3. Was there something going on that led you to it, or were you naturally attracted to it for some reason?
4. What about it grabbed you? What do you find most interesting or appealing about it?
5. What's your favorite story about your hobby or interest?
6. What unusual things have you done in pursuit of it?
7. How have these things led to your becoming an expert in your area of interest?
8. How has it affected your life, or the lives of others?
9. How will being a WZ-ard help you share this with others? How do you hope to affect the lives of your subscribers?
Sissi concluded by telling everyone not to forget to add links to their newsletters. You should do the same, include any relevant URLs you'd like to promote to your readers.
Start Networking
Have you really worked on networking? Really gotten serious about your contacts and your contact's contacts? Who do they know that you don't know, yet.
Think of the six degrees of separation theory. It's not who you know right now that counts but who you could get to know through your cousin Pat's hair dresser. You might have a connection to a big wig editor at Harlequin and not even know it. You won't know either, until you start networking.
Plus you can always build your network. Join relevant or related groups to whatever your area of writing is. If you write fiction find authors groups and readers groups too. If you write about squirrels join groups that go on nature walks. Not only do you have sources of information and inspiration but you have future buyers and readers too!
Be careful to keep things organized. Don't lose an important name or number or email address. Keep a contact notebook handy. Keep two even! Have one for your purse or pocket and another for your car. Wherever you would be able to get them when you need them. This is why backpacks and whopper-sized purses are really great. In spite of the teasing of your family and friends. What do they know? Are they writers of greatness?!
Think of the six degrees of separation theory. It's not who you know right now that counts but who you could get to know through your cousin Pat's hair dresser. You might have a connection to a big wig editor at Harlequin and not even know it. You won't know either, until you start networking.
Plus you can always build your network. Join relevant or related groups to whatever your area of writing is. If you write fiction find authors groups and readers groups too. If you write about squirrels join groups that go on nature walks. Not only do you have sources of information and inspiration but you have future buyers and readers too!
Be careful to keep things organized. Don't lose an important name or number or email address. Keep a contact notebook handy. Keep two even! Have one for your purse or pocket and another for your car. Wherever you would be able to get them when you need them. This is why backpacks and whopper-sized purses are really great. In spite of the teasing of your family and friends. What do they know? Are they writers of greatness?!
Get a Bit More Ambitious
You decided you want to write. So you wrote, you have manuscripts, articles and short stories tucked away. Maybe you sent a few out but got discouraged. Or, maybe you've had some published, you've had a couple of bylines. Good! Better even if you've worked and achieved bigger goals and taken scarier risks.
Now get a bit more ambitious. Take another step. Push an envelope onto another desk, another publisher, a different editor, or your own desk. Could you put together a web zine? Could you run an email list about a topic you write about, know about? Could you try something you wanted to do before but put off for some reason?
If you are someone who has written stories and kept them in a drawer, pull them out. Look them over, do they need some tightening up, a little proofreading? Once they're spiffed up send them in somewhere. Try it.
I'm getting a bit more ambitious this week. I'm going to put my foot out and see if I trip myself or not. I'm taking steps to really have a writing business, not just someone who submits content, articles, resumes, etc and hopes for the best. I'm going to be one of those home business, self employed people who make cold calls (something which I definitely have butterflies about). But, I'm doing it. I've got plans for networking, notes for a business plan and I've discovered that you really do have to do more than say you have a business, to have a business.
My new mantra is: take yourself seriously and take action. It could work for you too. Don't fluff off your work and your ambitions to write. Take yourself seriously and do something about it.
Best wishes.
Now get a bit more ambitious. Take another step. Push an envelope onto another desk, another publisher, a different editor, or your own desk. Could you put together a web zine? Could you run an email list about a topic you write about, know about? Could you try something you wanted to do before but put off for some reason?
If you are someone who has written stories and kept them in a drawer, pull them out. Look them over, do they need some tightening up, a little proofreading? Once they're spiffed up send them in somewhere. Try it.
I'm getting a bit more ambitious this week. I'm going to put my foot out and see if I trip myself or not. I'm taking steps to really have a writing business, not just someone who submits content, articles, resumes, etc and hopes for the best. I'm going to be one of those home business, self employed people who make cold calls (something which I definitely have butterflies about). But, I'm doing it. I've got plans for networking, notes for a business plan and I've discovered that you really do have to do more than say you have a business, to have a business.
My new mantra is: take yourself seriously and take action. It could work for you too. Don't fluff off your work and your ambitions to write. Take yourself seriously and do something about it.
Best wishes.
Don't Bore Yourself
When your writing bores even you it's time to get a grip and make something change. Here are ideas from - "A Writer's Book of Days" by Judy Reeves.
Lazy Writers
Play word games, experiment with language, audition words. Use the thesaurus, appropriate a set of paint chips from Home Depot and study the names of colours, take sensory inventories, practice dialogue, eavesdrop on conversations, read Raymond Carver, Pam Houston, Don DeLillo, Lorrie Moorre. Reread your work and mark doors and windows. Open and enter during writing exercises.
Same Old Territory Writers
Free-write using the writing exercise prompts, writing only new material for the next month. No rewriting or editing allowed! Ban those characters from any further appearances in any stories from now on. Send them to the Retirement Home for Overused Characters. Flip everything: gender, age, profession, politics, hair colour, diction, intelligence, geography, sexual preferences, Everything.
Holding Back
Ask what it was exactly that made something terrible? In what ways was it difficult? What did the pain feel like? Use concrete details and specific images. Use words that describe the terrible, difficult, painful. Write through the cliché with a fresh simile or metaphor. Ask what a broken heart feels like, looks like. What other body parts are affected and how? Find fresh images. Go to your own experience, bring to mind a memory of a time you were brokenhearted, when you sobbed like a child, when you flew into a rage: describe your behaviour and your feelings. Take the time to stay with the feeling and write down what you experience.
Playing Safe
Write what matters. Be a passionate writer. Don't waste time writing about anything you don't care about. Also, for a reader to be involved in what she's reading, something must be at stake. There must be some kind of tension in the writing to keep the reader's attention. Crank up the heat, put some obstacles in the way of your characters. When a writer is playing safe you can bet the censor or critic is somehow nearby.
Too Comfortable
Just like the antidote for Playing Safe, this writer needs to create some tension, crank up the heat, experience a little confusion. Recommended: change the time and place of the daily writing practice. Raise the bar to more pages everyday. Switch genres, try something new. Don't fit so easily in the groove, feel the bumps and ridges, the sharp edge. Let your writing surprise you, keep you awake at night. If a writer is too comfortable, you can be there aren't any risks being taken. No risks = boring writing.
Lazy Writers
Play word games, experiment with language, audition words. Use the thesaurus, appropriate a set of paint chips from Home Depot and study the names of colours, take sensory inventories, practice dialogue, eavesdrop on conversations, read Raymond Carver, Pam Houston, Don DeLillo, Lorrie Moorre. Reread your work and mark doors and windows. Open and enter during writing exercises.
Same Old Territory Writers
Free-write using the writing exercise prompts, writing only new material for the next month. No rewriting or editing allowed! Ban those characters from any further appearances in any stories from now on. Send them to the Retirement Home for Overused Characters. Flip everything: gender, age, profession, politics, hair colour, diction, intelligence, geography, sexual preferences, Everything.
Holding Back
Ask what it was exactly that made something terrible? In what ways was it difficult? What did the pain feel like? Use concrete details and specific images. Use words that describe the terrible, difficult, painful. Write through the cliché with a fresh simile or metaphor. Ask what a broken heart feels like, looks like. What other body parts are affected and how? Find fresh images. Go to your own experience, bring to mind a memory of a time you were brokenhearted, when you sobbed like a child, when you flew into a rage: describe your behaviour and your feelings. Take the time to stay with the feeling and write down what you experience.
Playing Safe
Write what matters. Be a passionate writer. Don't waste time writing about anything you don't care about. Also, for a reader to be involved in what she's reading, something must be at stake. There must be some kind of tension in the writing to keep the reader's attention. Crank up the heat, put some obstacles in the way of your characters. When a writer is playing safe you can bet the censor or critic is somehow nearby.
Too Comfortable
Just like the antidote for Playing Safe, this writer needs to create some tension, crank up the heat, experience a little confusion. Recommended: change the time and place of the daily writing practice. Raise the bar to more pages everyday. Switch genres, try something new. Don't fit so easily in the groove, feel the bumps and ridges, the sharp edge. Let your writing surprise you, keep you awake at night. If a writer is too comfortable, you can be there aren't any risks being taken. No risks = boring writing.
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