Writing Your Author Biography for Your First Book
After you write your book, your writing process is not quite finished. After the editing process, preparing your book for publication, there is one last thing to finalize: your About the Author. Your About the Author, or ATA, is the short biography about yourself for your book’s readers. Once you have a solid ATA, your book will be fully ready for publication.
Every ATA is different because they are tailored to their author’s individual personality and life. Therefore, there is not a one-size-fits-all guide to writing any author bio. This article will serve as a basic framework for how to write your ATA. There is no right or wrong way to do it, just make it a reflection of yourself.
The Technicalities and Formalities of an ATA
Even though there is not a singular template for an ATA, there are some technical aspects to consider. These are industry norms, not strict requirements, so use your discretion when writing. You know the best way to convey your life through a short writing sample.
The first thing to note going into writing an ATA is the length. So you know what to plan for, an ATA should not be more than one printed page. This provides enough space for sharing the important parts of your life without going overboard. Knowing the general length parameters allows you to balance the parts of your ATA. Grab any book off your shelf and you can refer to that ATA to get an idea of the length.
After knowing the length, you can start thinking about the actual writing. Your ATA should be written in complete, proper sentences; avoid bullet points or lists. In the same vein, write your ATA from a third-person perspective. Even though you are writing about yourself, let the reader immerse themself in learning your story. This will create a professional ATA that fits in with the industry norms.
Finally, the last thing you will notice in an ATA is the author’s accompanying photograph. This gives the reader a face to picture when learning about their life. Your headshot should be high resolution, clear, and only feature you. You can take the photo at home or use one you already have, just make sure it is current.
What to Write About
When it comes to the substance of an ATA, there are many directions you can go. These are just some suggestions and common information to include. The key for everything is to not overshare sensitive information about your life.
Firstly, you can write about your family and personal life. To avoid oversharing, this can be your hometown, where you live now, or if you have a spouse or children. This shows the reader that you are a real person with lived experiences. Similarly, you can include information about your favorite pastimes or hobbies. You do not want to bore the reader, so limit it to your most defining passions.
Secondly, you can write about your education or work history, especially if it is relevant to the book. This gives you some level of authority to make the reader trust your writing. Your academic history can be any schooling you completed, degrees you obtained, or certificates earned. Work history should be limited to long-term careers or important jobs in your life. Do not include too much information because it can bog down the entire ATA.
Finally, definitely include any of your previous writing credits. Doing this is an easy way to build a reader base because it allows readers to find your other works. If this is your first book or writing project, you can add this for your next book. This is a simple way to convey your writing and literary experience.
How to Get the Most Out of Your ATA
While your new ATA is for the book you are currently writing, it has other practical uses. Most directly, your ATA can be reused for future books you publish, including audiobooks. Even if you make tweaks, having a uniform ATA makes your life a lot easier. If you have a personal or professional author website, you can use your ATA there, as well.
For the book at hand, your ATA can be used across marketing, social media, and other events. You may be asked to provide an author bio for book signings, media appearances, or other events. You can use some or all of your ATA for those purposes. This gives you a consistent identity across the board.
Since you will use your ATA multiple times and in different ways, make sure you put care into it. It is not always natural to write about yourself, but you will be well-served to try your hardest.
