The Power of a Well-Written Writer's Bio

by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

Years ago I read an article on Crosswalk.com about parenting. It resonated with me, and I found myself nodding and smiling at the points the writer made. When I reached the end, I read the bio, eager to learn more about the woman who had written the piece.

Lori Roeleveld’s bio was as well-written as her article. In addition to sharing writing credits, she mentioned she was a homeschooling mom (like me), had two children (like me), and, wonder of wonders, lived in my home state of Rhode Island. The final element that knit our hearts together (although she didn’t know it yet) was her name—Lori, just like me.

 

The right mix of personal and professional details made me want to reach out to her, thank her for her article, and share a bit of my story. I emailed, she emailed back, and we discovered more common ground. Our mutual faith made our friendship grow.

 

You’ve done something in Rhode Island I didn’t know was possible, I wrote—FOUND JESUS.

 

You’ve done something I’ve never been able to do, she wrote back—LEAVE RHODE ISLAND.

 

Most writers I know spend hours writing their articles, polishing each paragraph until it shines. Then they cobble together a bio with very little thought, stick it onto the end of their piece, and send it off. Or they carefully craft a bio, then use it verbatim on every piece they write, regardless of the audience.

 

Both approaches drastically minimize a bio’s effectiveness. If you’d like to maximize your bio and made good use of this valuable piece of literary real estate, consider these five tips:

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1. Keep your audience in mind. If you’re addressing writing professionals, include your most prestigious writing credits. If you’re writing to grandparents, mention your practically perfect grandkids. Find some aspect of your life that establishes your credibility to write the article and leverage it.

2. Tell your audience where to read more. Have you written a book? Post the title with a link. Do you blog? Direct people there. Are you active on social media? Mention the platform(s) your audience would most likely use.

3. Share a bit of personal information. Do you love dogs and hate coffee? Love coffee and hate dogs? Are you a retired Marine? Recovering pack rat? Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup addict? (That’s me.) When you mention a few audience-appropriate personal details, you help your readers connect with you as a real person, not just a face-less byline.

4. Mention your passion. Whether it’s Jesus, proper grammar, or coffee, sharing what drives your life will help readers know you better.  

5. Use appropriate humor. Bios don’t have to be stuffy unless you’re writing for a stuffy publication. A carefully turned phrase or clever word choice can insert just enough humor to make a reader smile—and like you even more. Two of my favorite lines from my friend Lori’s bio is, “Part-time giant slayer. Not available for children’s parties.”

Because of Lori’s well-written bio, I became a fan of her writing, subscribed to her blog, purchased her books, and began the friendship we enjoy today. Several years after we connected online, we had the pleasure of teaching together at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. When I traveled home to Rhode Island, we met at a coffee shop and encouraged each other in our faith. Who would have imagined a simple bio could spark such joy?

 

If you follow these guidelines, you, too, will connect with your readers, grow your audience, and, if you’re lucky, make a new friend.  For more great suggestions on writing a stellar bio, check out Linda Gilden’s helpful post, Publishing as a Second Language—Writer Bios.

 

What elements do you feel are important in a bio? Leave a comment and share your thoughts. Better yet, post your bio and help us get to know you.

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Lori Hatcher loves God even more than she loves chocolate—and that’s a lot! Since He rescued her at age 18, she’s been on a relentless journey to know and love Him more. Her deepest desire is for her reader friends to join her on the journey. As an author, blogger, and women’s ministry speaker, she writes for Our Daily Bread, Guideposts, Revive Our Hearts, and Crosswalk.com. She’s written three devotional books, including Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible, and Hungry for God…Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women. Connect with her at LoriHatcher.com or on Facebook, Twitter (@lorihatcher2) or Pinterest (Hungry for God).