A question on bios

heyjude · May 18, 2007

Hi new friends, I'm not sure where on this enormous board to go to ask this question, so if I'm in the wrong spot, will you please point me in the right direction? Thanks!

Now that I'm getting ready to query agents, many of them want a short bio. Here's mine: I'm a suburban housewife. I got nothin'. No awards, no published works, nothing. I've been writing forever, everyone loves my work (including some published authors, does this count or is too tooting-my-own-hornish?). But that's about it.

Has anyone else faced this problem? How do I get around the bio problem? Thanks SO much for any advice!

johnzakour · May 18, 2007

Ah, were you just born a suburban housewife? Were you cloned specificially for the job? I think not. (Though if you were that would be a story within itself.)

Surely you have a history that you can include in your bio. What kind of education you have... What sort of experience you have... Interesting hobbies you have...

They don't need a lot, just a few tidbits that make you, you.

Tish Davidson · May 18, 2007

DO NOT tell agents or publishers that everyone loves your work. This is totally amateurish and a real turn-off. Same with telling them that your book will make a great movie.

Has your background and life experience influenced your writing? For example, did you base any of the stories on places you have lived or jobs you have held? You might want to mention that.

LBW66 · May 18, 2007

heyjude said:
Hi new friends, I'm not sure where on this enormous board to go to ask this question, so if I'm in the wrong spot, will you please point me in the right direction? Thanks!

Now that I'm getting ready to query agents, many of them want a short bio. Here's mine: I'm a suburban housewife. I got nothin'. No awards, no published works, nothing. I've been writing forever, everyone loves my work (including some published authors, does this count or is too tooting-my-own-hornish?). But that's about it.

Has anyone else faced this problem? How do I get around the bio problem? Thanks SO much for any advice!

As a rural housewife and mother of two I feel totally qualified to jump in here! I write ya/mg fiction, so in my bio I mention my degrees as well as having made the decision to stay home and raise my kids. This way agents know that it is a choice I made rather than being optionless. I also say that while home I have remained active in... short list of hobbies and committees. Being an at home mom is not going to prevent an agent from at least looking at you. I queried an agent at Trident with that bio in my query and she asked for a full ms within 3 days. So don't let it hold you back just frame it in a strong unapologetic way. Good luck!!
-Laura

maestrowork · May 18, 2007

Tish Davidson said:
DO NOT tell agents or publishers that everyone loves your work. This is totally amateurish and a real turn-off. Same with telling them that your book will make a great movie.

I'll go one step further and say: do not even say how great your book is, that it's going to be a best seller, etc. etc.

AllieB · May 18, 2007

Honestly, I'd leave out committe work or activities/hobbies unless they are directly related to what you write (i.e., they gave you expertise or experience).

If it's your first work, then just state that:

"I have been writing for 4 years, and Name of Novel is my first complete work."

You could include degrees earned, I guess, but again only if they somehow apply to your work.

The bio section won't make or break your letter, IMHO. Agents will be more interested in your actual pitch, and whether or not you have an idea they can sell.

Good luck!

justpat · May 18, 2007

I've always read that if you have nothing in your bio which is specific to writing (such as awards or previous publications) then just leave it out. They really don't care about the rest of the stuff unless is directly relates to the book. Like if you're writing about Navy Seals and you used to be one, you should mention that.

heyjude · May 18, 2007

johnzakour said:
Ah, were you just born a suburban housewife? Were you cloned specificially for the job? I think not.

Heh. Good point. I often forget I was someone before I was someone's wife and mother.

Thanks everyone for the pointers. I appreciate them!

Tish Davidson · May 18, 2007

heyjude said:
Heh. Good point. I often forget I was someone before I was someone's wife and mother.

How easy it is to forget

Jamesaritchie · May 18, 2007

Tish Davidson said:
DO NOT tell agents or publishers that everyone loves your work. This is totally amateurish and a real turn-off. Same with telling them that your book will make a great movie.

Has your background and life experience influenced your writing? For example, did you base any of the stories on places you have lived or jobs you have held? You might want to mention that.

Unless that someone who loves your writing is a famous writer who says you can tell the agent he loved your work.

maestrowork · May 18, 2007

Jamesaritchie said:
Unless that someone who loves your writing is a famous writer who says you can tell the agent he loved your work.

In that case it's probably better if said famous writer makes the introduction or recommendation to said agent directly. Anyone can say "JK Rowling read my ms. and loved it" and that has absolutely no credibility unless JK Rowling actually calls this agent and says so...

Scrawler · May 18, 2007

I love this author's bio:

[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica][FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica]"Dick King-Smith was born and raised in Gloucestershire, England, surrounded by pet animals. After twenty years as a farmer, he turned to teaching and then to writing children's books. [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica][FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica]Dick writes mostly about animals: farmyard fantasy, as he likes to call it, often about pigs, his special favorites. He enjoys writing for children, meeting the children who read his books, and knowing that they get enjoyment from what he does. [/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica][FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica] Among his well-loved books is Babe, the Gallant Pig which was recently made into a major motion picture, and was nominated for an Academy Award. [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica][FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica]Dick currently lives with his wife in a small 17th-century cottage, about three miles from the house where he was born. "[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica][FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica]
There's only 1 mention of his publishing success. I can see something similar working for a SAHM, adding "HeyJude is a freelance writer..."
[/FONT][/FONT]

JoNightshade · May 18, 2007

maestrowork said:
In that case it's probably better if said famous writer makes the introduction or recommendation to said agent directly. Anyone can say "JK Rowling read my ms. and loved it" and that has absolutely no credibility unless JK Rowling actually calls this agent and says so...

But on the other hand, said famous (or semi-famous) writer may not know any agents that would suit your work. In which case I would recommend getting a quote from the author in question. Something like, JK Rowling "fell in love with [my book] from page one." I think this does you good if 1) the person is famous enough or 2) is a specialist in the same subject matter/genre.

maestrowork · May 18, 2007

I beg to differ, unless the agent can verify such a claim -- or else you risk coming off as posturing.

A question on bios

heyjude

Making my own sunshine

johnzakour

Dangerous with a Keyboard

Tish Davidson

LBW66

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

AllieB

justpat

QueryTracker

heyjude

Making my own sunshine

Tish Davidson

Jamesaritchie

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Scrawler

Bored fanatic

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray