The Internet has made submissions a lot more informal than “the old days” when we were submitting to the print media. However, there are still some sites that ask for many of the same things that we had to do years ago. One of those things is to include an author’s bio in each submission.
I did something similar to this last year and was stumped by the lack of submissions. I always thought that everybody wanted to talk about themselves and it turned out that very few did. For some reason a lot of writers seem to be ashamed or embarrassed to admit they’re writers.
We’re going to change that!
You’ve just published your first hardcover book. When a potential reader picks it up and reads your bio, what is that reader going to learn about you?
This Week’s Challenge:
Write the bio you want to see on the dust jacket of your next published book. Your publisher will specify the length but, for our purposes, you have three paragraphs with no more than one hundred words in each paragraph. If it’s a book of poetry, it would make perfect sense to write the bio in poetry and you have only three stanzas with no more than ten lines in each stanza.
Ideas:
You only have a few paragraphs to tell people who you are, why you wrote this book, what makes you the right person to have written it, and why the reader should buy it -- make every word count.
Watch Out For:
Do not thank anyone for his or her inspiration. That belongs in the preface.
Do not talk about how your family supports you in your writing aspirations.
Never say that your child/spouse/friend read your work and loved it.
Recap:
Great responses this week and I’ll ask that you read each of the following. Remember, your post might be listed next week and you’ll probably appreciate these same people reading your work.
BIG BLUE [Open Doors (Saturday Writing Essential] by Joann B.
Happy Easter from an old Easter Bunny. (SatWE) by Ms Lee P.
I didn't give up on love. By karen vaughan
Open Doors (Saturday Writing Essential) — My dungeon by Pam Brittain
Opening that Door (Saturday Writing Essential) by Len Maxwell
Saturday Writing essentials by Dave M.
Timeless Changes : Saturday Writing Essentials: Open Doors: Changes by William Dotani
Submissions to Previous Challenges:
WHILE LEN SLEEPS [Your Turn 3 (Saturday Writing Essential)] by Joann B.
William Dotani hates to admit that he’s a science fiction writer, but this past week he proved otherwise with these three posts.
Time Machine Chapter Two: (SatWe)
Weekly reminder: Don't forget to recommend an article that you like (to learn why, read Ann Marcaida's article Attract More Writers and Artists to Gather!). Also, try to place a comment on at least one article and say more than you liked the piece. Tell the author what worked and what needs work.
The Rules:
- Put this challenge statement at the beginning or end of your submission so readers will know what you’re supposed to do.
Challenge: Write the bio you want to see on the dust jacket of your next published book. Your publisher will specify the length but, for our purposes, you have three paragraphs with no more than one hundred words in each paragraph. If it’s a book of poetry, it would make perfect sense to write the bio in poetry and you have only three stanzas with no more than ten lines in each stanza.
- There is a limit of three submissions from each member per day. If you’re extremely prolific, spread out your work and post only three submissions per day.
- Post to Gather Writing Essential.
- Tag your submission with SatWE.
- Include (Saturday Writing Essential) as part of your title.
- I ask that you make your submission(s) by next Friday afternoon.
Good Writing!
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Comments: 69
Ed Da Head was born.
Some of his criminal accomplishments, was to beat a vomiting on a cop charge in court,, he wasn't caught the second time he puked on a cop, since that cop was directing traffic at an intersection at the time, and his most famous act, for which he was not caught, was when he urinated on a cop car; with the cop in the car, who was looking at my naked Lady roommate.
He turned to writing late in life, as some will say, as he lost his mind to Altimeters. SO he is thankful for good editors.
One thing you could do is post something about your life and see what response you get to it.
I think most people feel that way, I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the way some of us were raised, like when we are hushed as children because we wont stop talking about ourselves Lol. Then you have others who never talk about themselves and we all know how irritating than can get.
I've actually got finals this week so I probably wont have time but I still think it's a great challenge.
Good luck on your finals.
I meant to say in the previous comment "others who never STOP talking themselves and we all know how irritating that can get" in deference to co-workers and what not.
Kathryn....last name discovered that she was a better writer than a pyromaniac when she had to write an apology letter in the newspaper when she was five. Not only did 1,000 readers write in to thank Kathryn for her brave admission, but the newspaper also promised her a job...when she became 18. Not to be out done by the mere problem of chronological age, Kathryn proceeded to write screen plays, novels, short stories and plays while in elementary school, hoping one day that some poor publishing house might sete fit to give these poor projects a loving home on paper. Some were sold but many sat in her desk drawer. However, a fortnight before her 21st birthday, she decided to compile her scribblings and put them into a book. To wit, she did and posted them on Kindle. She hired a marketer, who then stole all the profits. However, by this time, Kathryn was 25 and used to the rough wrinkles of living. She wrote a true-life story of her life and made millions with the movie rights. She settled into a cozy farm in the midwest, refurbished it to 21st century standards. Bought two cats and two dogs, a parrot and hired a couple of hunky farm hands. We hear she's busy at work on her next novel or three.
(internal thoughts from hunky farm hand)
(Takes a swig of Coke, then wipes his mouth with his thumb. Sniffs the air. Sees Barbary and adjusts his jeans.)
Why she'd have to come today? Her eyes cut me down, then her silky voice wraps tight around my throat and I can't breathe. His eyes focus on hers. And she moves her hips in time with my pulse. Damn. Trapped again.
Thanks for sharing and submitting to
The Surreal Circus.
Thank you submitting to Gathers Luminous Writers and Artists. Now Featured.
Thanks for the feature.
Perhaps the first step is to select a photo of this chap; then write about the image; who he could be; why he writes like that!
I love that movie. I have it on tape and I'll be watching it tomorrow.
Thank you for submitting to: Not Gathering Dust!
To back up Divine.
Allen is a New Zealander living and working in Sydney, is Past President of the Ryde Rotary Club, and is proud of his wife and children.
People say I'm: funny, smart, caring - a family man who tries to make a difference at work and in the community, A Catholic Christian committed to the faith, an IT professional who serves a large Australian company keeping its ERP systems running (think Dilbert), a Husband and Father who takes both jobs seriously, a Rotarian who is trying to make our World a better place.
On Gather, I'm Looking For Nothing - I only joined so I could comment on my Wife's brilliant poem "Waiting for Brian to come home."
By the way, if you’re going to plug your wife’s poem, I’d suggest you put in a link so we can take a look at it.
There are 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Clubs are non-political, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by the motto “Service above Self”, Rotary’s main objective is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Interact is a Project of RI, with Interact Clubs only Chartered under the sponsorship of a Rotary Club. My Club sponsors an Interact Club at James Ruse Agricultural College with 175 members, the strongest in the State.
I only joined so I could comment on my Wife's brilliant poem "Waiting for Brian to come home."