QueryTracker and the Two-Bio Problem

[Aeryn_Rudel]

I'm running into a situation on QueryTracker with my author bio. My query letter includes a bio (obvs), but I'm finding that a fair number of agents ask for an additional, separate bio on the query form. Instead of copy/pasting my query letter bio into that space, I've been adding the bio I use when I publish short stories. It includes the same information (publishing credits and such), but it has a tad more info about me and is a little lighter in tone. (Both bios are roughly the same overall length.)

I don't think it would make much difference, honestly, if I used the same bio in both spots, but this way I can inject a little more personality into the query. I've been getting full manuscript requests with this format, so I guess it's not completely wrong to do this. lol

Anyway, if you've run into the two-bio problem, how have you handled it?

 

[Woollybear]

I just lined up some promos and there's a related issue--the two-blurb problem. Some sites say "do not use your amazon blurb here."

So, the amazon blurb is the official blurb, but on these promos there's the opportunity to highlight something else. I tend to take advantage of the opportunity and maybe start with the fact that the books-in-series all standalone, or that they are on sale for a limited time, or that the reviews are pretty good, or sometimes I try the logline and leave it at that as a shorter blurb.

Basically, yeah, the two-bio problem (or two-blurb) problem just means a single individual (for you, an agent and for me, a potential buyer) will see the same field twice, so why not make the most of it? I think you and I reached the same solution.

 

[Janine R]

I took the bio out of the query letter and put it into the form.

 

[Aeryn_Rudel]

I took the bio out of the query letter and put it into the form.

I considered that, but my query letter just felt, I don't know, wrong without it. I think that's a perfectly reasonable solution, though.

 

[gtanders]

I took the bio out of the query letter and put it into the form.

Agreed. I don't think an agent needs two bios.

 

[Jazz Club]

I took the bio out of the query letter and put it into the form.

Yeah this is what I do too.