You as the Main Character—Every Writer Needs a Bio

We've been discussing how to get prepared for a writers conference

here

here and

here

and today I want to talk about your personal bio. 

Every writer and speaker needs a bio, whether or not you're attending a conference.

Actually, you need three.

• A small one, 25-50 words
• A medium length one, approximately two paragraphs
• A full page one, in depth

Many times this written bio is the first introduction someone in this business (think editor or event coordinator) or a consumer (reader or attendee) will have of you. This, with your message, can mean the difference between making the sale or not.

Your bio should reflect, through words, exactly who you are. It should boil down the essence of your personality. It should always be written in third person, as if you were talking about someone else.

A bio must be

• Relevant

It must give you

• Personality
• Credibility

Below are some (not all) of the instances where a bio will be necessary.

·         Cover letter (to an editor, agent or event coordinator)

·         Book Proposal

·         Query Letter

·         Your website

·          Inside your book or on the jacket

·         Publicity for a personal appearance 

·         In a publication (web or print) after an article

It’s important that you have control over your bio. Which means planning now. It will, in effect, be a part of your personal brand. It gives you credibility, whether you are speaking or writing. As such it should contain only things pertaining to your credibility and identity. For example, if you’re not speaking on sales, it isn’t important to mention your job 15 years ago as an outside sales person. Think relevant when you’re composing your bio.

So now it's your turn - do you have a bio? What are some tips and questions you have to writing one?

Don't forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie

Honing Your Conference Pitch

Attending a writers conference can be a stressful undertaking—even for a seasoned writer. A lot of writers have gravitated toward our profession because we’re not comfortable with crowds, especially crowds of strangers.

That’s why I’m posting this series on writing conferences. It’s not to add to your stress—but to alleviate it. For me, when I know what to expect and am prepared, I’m less anxious. No one likes to feel like they're under the gun. I assume I’m not alone in this feeling.

So the first subject we’re going to tackle is the one that makes most writer’s stress levels spike off scale—pitching.

Over the years I’ve had people tell me they’re not worried about pitching—they’re just going to learn. Nice thought, but not based in reality. I hate to break it to you, but if you’re standing in line or sitting beside someone and they ask you what you’re writing, if you answer them, you’ve just delivered a pitch. I could post pages of stories from writers who wished they’d been prepared for this unassuming little scenario.

The idea behind a pitch is to get the person you’re talking with to ask for more.

Simple concept, harder to execute. So here are some of the do’s and don’ts of pitching.

Do

• Set up an intriguing scenario.
• Introduce your main character.
• Give a hint about their situation and goal.
• Tie in the disaster or obstacle to that goal.

Don’t

• Go over 2 sentences—try to keep it to one sentence.
• Answer all the questions the listener might have.
• Substitute cleverness for specifics.
• Give away the ending.

Now, here are some real life hooks or tag lines from popular movies. I’d love to read some of your favorites as well. 

• "She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees." —Erin Brokovich
• "To enter the mind of a killer she must challenge the mind of a madman." —Silence of the Lambs
• "What if someone you never met, someone you never saw, someone you never knew was the only someone for you?" —Sleepless in Seattle 1993
• “A businessman falls in love with a hooker he hires to be his date for the weekend” —Pretty Woman
•  “When you can live forever, what do you live for?” —Twilight
•  “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.” —Jaws 2
•  “In space, no one can hear you scream.” —Alien 

Now it's your turn to chime in. Do you have any questions or is anyone brave enough to try their pitch out here?

And . . . Don't forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie