Oh no! They want WHAT from me?

ex_machina · Dec 20, 2009

Please help, I've found myself in a bit of a bind.

I queried several agents with my finished novel and one of them is asking me for 50 pages plus a bio preceeding that. That normally wouldn't be a problem, however...

I'm a 19-year-old college kid who has next to no solid credentials. Should I play up my passion and enthusiasm for writing? What should I include in my bio when my life has been so short, and I have really nothing to show for it?

I was thinking of pressing the fact that I've loved the genre I wrote the book in (horror) ever since I read Cujo by Stephen King. I avidly devoured many horror novelists afterwards. (Edgar Allen Poe, HP Lovecraft, Anne Rice, etc.)

I'm really at my wits end.

If this is in the wrong section I apologize. ;___;

AryaT92 · Dec 20, 2009

If you have no real credentials I would go with stating your passion but wait for other advice because though I'm agented I've never had to send a bio out.

I recall reading somewhere around here that if you have no real credentials to simply leave it out of the bio.

Good luck and congrats :partyguy:

blacbird · Dec 20, 2009

They've liked your query enough to request 50 pages? Here's what you send them:

I'm a 19-year-old college kid who has next to no solid credentials. Enclosed are the fifty pages you requested, and SASE. Thank you for your interest and I look forward to your response.

Oh, yeah, be sure to enclose the 50 pages and SASE.

caw

Cyia · Dec 20, 2009

And on said SASE, don't forego the second "S"... it's easier than you think to seal that stupid thing up without a stamp.

Good luck.

(PS - make sure those 50 pages are formatted, too.)

katiemac · Dec 20, 2009

Don't stress and keep it simple.

Blacbird's got the right idea. I'd also note what your major is, and if you want, your university. If you have any area of expertise you can link to your novel (like you come from a family of beekeepers and your horror novel is about mutated bees), then throw that in, too. Aside from that, if you want to mention your passion for writing, that's okay, but keep it short.

They don't want another novel in your bio. Just a couple of sentences will suffice.

Albannach · Dec 20, 2009

If your major has to do with writing or the subject of your novel, I think as a student it's ok to briefly mention it. "I'm a student at XXXX University studying creative writing. I have always had a passion for fiction." or something like that.

I wouldn't put it in negative terms that you "don't have solid credits" though. Everyone starts off with no credits, after all and if you don't have writing credits, there's no need to say so. They figure that out if you don't list them.

Cassiopeia · Dec 20, 2009

Always play up the positive. You can include any achievements that you've been given recognition for. Think of it as an opportunity to really sell yourself. Talk about your strengths. Now is not the time to talk about yourself in an diminutive way. So, don't say no credentials. Just talk about yourself. That's what a bio is. And post it so we can help you with it.

NeuroFizz · Dec 21, 2009

Never, ever fill a bio with emotional fluff no matter how sincere it may be. This is a business form. You state your educational background and your relevant experience. If you don't have relevant experience, you leave that out. If your bio is very thin, one option is as expressed upstream. Just include your biographical information in the letter of transmittal for the 50-page partial.

Phaeal · Dec 21, 2009

This only needs to be two or three lines long. Age, college student (where if you want, major if you want), any special experience or expertise relating to the book in question, been writing for how long, any pub credits of note (or don't mention publishing credits if you have none beyond the high school paper ilk.)

That's it.

waylander · Dec 21, 2009

Agent Nathan Bransford's advice on this matter
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2008/03/how-and-whether-to-list-your-publishing.html

Lady Ice · Dec 21, 2009

blacbird said:
They've liked your query enough to request 50 pages? Here's what you send them:

I'm a 19-year-old college kid who has next to no solid credentials. Enclosed are the fifty pages you requested, and SASE. Thank you for your interest and I look forward to your response.

Oh, yeah, be sure to enclose the 50 pages and SASE.

caw

Don't say that you have 'no solid credentials' even if it's true. Never apologise- if I'm the agent, all I've been given is a negative response. Focus on what you do have- you probably don't have a million pounds and are a brain surgeon but you don't write that.

I'd say the university you're at, what you're studying, any published things (if not, don't add them- though I suppose working on the university magazine wouldn't be bad), essay competitions if they are proper recognised ones and you won. No 'I love writing; it's my passion'; if it wasn't, you wouldn't go to the trouble of writing and publishing, would you? You could cite writing inspirations that give a hint of your writing- dropping interesting names might make an agent sit up.

colealpaugh · Dec 21, 2009

Lady Ice said:
Don't say that you have 'no solid credentials' even if it's true.

Every once in a while, blacbird drops in a hint of sarcasm. It's not always caught.

swvaughn · Dec 21, 2009

colealpaugh said:
Every once in a while, blacbird drops in a hint of sarcasm. It's not always caught.

And sometimes, water is wet...

(I love you, 'bird.)

Yeah, what blacbird and Neurofizz said. Especially the part about leaving out the fluff. Never wax poetic about your adoration for reading and writing - they don't care.

Just remember that your actual writing is all that counts. Credentials don't mean a damned thing in fiction. So, no worries.

veinglory · Dec 21, 2009

I agree, don't gush. You only need two or three sentences for a bio. Name, age, where you live--then maybe any life experience that relates to the book at all.

LuckyH · Dec 21, 2009

You’re new, you’re fresh, they’ve got your sample writing – you’re holding all the aces, that’s all they want to know.

Don’t embellish, don’t spoil the agent’s dream that they’ve found a new talent. If you were ten years older, then the advice would be entirely different.

ex_machina · Dec 21, 2009

Okay everyone, thanks so much. This really helped set me straight. I was very worried.

So here's what it looks like so far;

My name is ____ ______, I'm 19 years old and currently attending ______ college. I've been writing ever since I was very little, English is my strong suit. I was involved writing fanfictions for most of my youth, which were edited and beta-read and helped me refine my writing. I am enthusiastic, passionate and ready to take the literary world by storm. I look forward to working with you.

Oh man, was it too corny? Please do help edit it

Also, they requested this; add page I.D. (your last name and title of your work) on the upper-left corner and page number on the upper-right corner of each page (both in font size 10).

I don't know how to do that. I've fiddled with Word for a bit but couldn't find it at all. :/ Any tips?

Mr. Anonymous · Dec 21, 2009

I am enthusiastic, passionate and ready to take the literary world by storm.

I'd delete this sentence. It doesn't really add anything and it's also kind of cliche.

Good luck!

lucidzfl · Dec 21, 2009

ex_machina said:
Okay everyone, thanks so much. This really helped set me straight. I was very worried.

So here's what it looks like so far;

My name is ____ ______, I'm 19 years old and currently attending ______ college. I've been writing ever since I was very little, English is my strong suit. I was involved writing fanfictions for most of my youth, which were edited and beta-read and helped me refine my writing. I am enthusiastic, passionate and ready to take the literary world by storm. I look forward to working with you.

Oh man, was it too corny? Please do help edit it

Also, they requested this; add page I.D. (your last name and title of your work) on the upper-left corner and page number on the upper-right corner of each page (both in font size 10).

I don't know how to do that. I've fiddled with Word for a bit but couldn't find it at all. :/ Any tips?

Uh, seriously. I would throw all of that away. Do not mention that you are ready to take anything by storm, and of course you're enthusiastic. You have an agents interest and you're 19. Do not mention beta readers. Do not mention having your writing reformed. Mentioning that English is your strong suit reeks of college student. If you wrote something decent, stand behind that, who gives a shit what you're good at in school. School matters fuck-all. (Not being harsh, just honest)

Above all, Act professional...

Here's my "edit".

My name is ____ ______, I'm 19 years old and currently attending ______ college.
I started writing seriously at age ***. (This next section ONLY IF YOU MUST mention your illustrious past, I say skip it) I finished my first (short/novella/novel) XYZ date and have written XYZ works since then. I am an active member in the writing community and am enthusiastic about becoming published.

Enclosed is the 50 pages you requested of my work "LOL AND ROFLMAO".

Thank you very much for your interest in my work, and I look forward to working with you.

katiemac · Dec 21, 2009

Also, they requested this; add page I.D. (your last name and title of your work) on the upper-left corner and page number on the upper-right corner of each page (both in font size 10).

I don't know how to do that. I've fiddled with Word for a bit but couldn't find it at all. :/ Any tips?

Go into Word. Click on Insert > Page Numbers. Make the position "top of page" and the alignment "right." You'll be able to set the font and size by highlighting it in the document. Play around with the Format tab if you don't want page numbers to start until a few pages in.

For your last name and title, click View > Header and Footer. Type in your name and title. Make sure it's left-justified, and it will appear on all subsequent pages of the document.

For your bio, keep it even simpler. "I am a (major) student at ___ university. I love writing, scuba diving, and raspberry iced tea."

Unless they specifically asked for age, I'd actually leave yours out. College student kind of covers it. "Voice" helps a bit in bios, too, so don't worry about being a little quirky or funny showing them what you like aside from writing. It shows them who you are, and since you don't have writing-related credentials to gush about, you are what you've got!

ex_machina · Dec 21, 2009

Good thing I have you guys to slap me around when I get too silly.

Thank you so much katiemac for that mini-tutorial on inserting page numbers and such. The wonders of technology! Sometimes I am amazed by it.

I am such a bland person, it's hard for me to be humorous. It is also entirely too difficult for me to be 'professional', but I will try my best.

So from futher advice, this is what the new bio looks like;

My name is _____ _____, I am an International Studies major at _______ college. I love writing, watching sappy romance movies everyone else barfs at, and Janis Joplin, though not neccesarily in that order. I'm an active member of the writing community and am enthusiastic about getting published. Thank you for your interest and I look forward to working with you.

Can't figure out where "ROFLLMAO" should go, lucidfzl.

(I'm getting a bit scared I might mess this agent thing up.)

katiemac · Dec 21, 2009

ex_machina said:
Good thing I have you guys to slap me around when I get too silly.

Thank you so much katiemac for that mini-tutorial on inserting page numbers and such. The wonders of technology! Sometimes I am amazed by it.

I am such a bland person, it's hard for me to be humorous. It is also entirely too difficult for me to be 'professional', but I will try my best.

So from futher advice, this is what the new bio looks like;

My name is _____ _____, I am an International Studies major at _______ college. I love writing, watching sappy romance movies everyone else barfs at, and Janis Joplin, though not neccesarily in that order. I'm an active member of the writing community and am enthusiastic about getting published. Thank you for your interest and I look forward to working with you.

Can't figure out where "ROFLLMAO" should go, lucidfzl.

(I'm getting a bit scared I might mess this agent thing up.)

You don't have to push the humor if it doesn't feel natural.

My name is _____ _____. Period I am an International Studies major at _______ college. I love writing, ~~watching~~ sappy romance movies ~~everyone else barfs at,~~ and Janis Joplin, though not neccesarily in that order. I'm an active member of the writing community and am enthusiastic about getting published. Thank you for your interest and I look forward to discussing my work with you~~working with you~~.

Works for me. The bio's not as big a stressor as it probably feels right now. They just want to know a bit about who they're talking to. It's not a make-it or break-it part of the equation. And I tweaked the last line a bit since there is no representation offer yet so 'working with you' isn't quite right. Feel free to substitute something else. And if you are signing your e-mails with your full name, you don't necessarily need the "my name is" line.

Good luck.

kellion92 · Dec 21, 2009

I don't think a bio is going to sell you or hurt you much -- your writing is what counts.

I'd keep it strictly professional -- you don't even have to include factoids or even mention your age, unless you think it will help.

Albannach · Dec 21, 2009

katiemac said:
Go into Word. Click on Insert > Page Numbers. Make the position "top of page" and the alignment "right." You'll be able to set the font and size by highlighting it in the document. Play around with the Format tab if you don't want page numbers to start until a few pages in.

For your last name and title, click View > Header and Footer. Type in your name and title. Make sure it's left-justified, and it will appear on all subsequent pages of the document.

One tiny point. You can include the page number in the header. That's where I always put it.

lucidzfl · Dec 21, 2009

katiemac said:
You don't have to push the humor if it doesn't feel natural.

Works for me. The bio's not as big a stressor as it probably feels right now. They just want to know a bit about who they're talking to. It's not a make-it or break-it part of the equation. And I tweaked the last line a bit since there is no representation offer yet so 'working with you' isn't quite right. Feel free to substitute something else. And if you are signing your e-mails with your full name, you don't necessarily need the "my name is" line.

Good luck.

Agreed. Its not a personals ad. Be professional. Keep the humor to a minimum.

kuwisdelu · Dec 21, 2009

I like katiemac's edit. It has pretty much what I wrote when a submission asked for a bio with it.

Oh no! They want WHAT from me?

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