As an author who wants to sell books and reach a wider audience, there is a level of responsibility that one must display when it comes to promotion and marketing. Of course, if you’re with a publishing house, you will have a marketing team behind you pushing your work out into the world via social media, scheduling events and contacting reviewers, however there are some things that fall on you.

Besides making public appearances for the sake of promotion, creating a concise but intriguing author bio is well-worth doing. A publicist can trim the fat from an author biography and advise on how to market yourself in fewer words, but you are the only one who can make your personality shine through!

Keep it Short…

Whilst you are an author and it’s quite literally second nature to you to pen complex, vivid descriptions and create layered, interesting characters, this should perhaps be reserved for your stories and novels. In the context of an author bio, it’s best to pump the brakes on telling your life story. Consider which parts of your life are relevant to your career as an author; when did you want to start writing? Why did you decide to write in a particular genre? How are the themes in your writing relevant to your own life? These are things to consider.

…But Not Too Short.

Whilst you shouldn’t tell your life story, don’t withhold too much information either. Remember, author bios appear in press releases, interviews, author profiles, and allow agents (literary and otherwise) and publicists to have something to promote you with, should you appear at public events, for example.

Display Your Achievements

If your work has ever been given the seal of approval by a well-known author or celebrity, or your book has won any awards at all, don’t be afraid to flaunt that. “The award winning 2019 novel…” sounds much more appealing than “the 2019 novel…”.

Mystery is Unappealing

Don’t get us wrong, allowing your personality to shine through in an author bio is essential, however it should be noted that you should avoid coming off as pretentious, especially as a new author. One sure fire way to make yourself unappealing to readers and press-alike is by portraying yourself as an elusive figure shrouded in mystery. Flaunt your achievements? Sure! Make a joke or two? Great! Sell your novel to people with a concise but riveting description, promising them that your work is a literary delight? Wonderful! Portray yourself as an innovator of literature or act as though people should already know who you are? Please, don’t do that.