How to Write the Perfect Medium Bio

Don’t look at me. I can’t do it. But here are people who can.

“Without promotion, something terrible happens… nothing!” — P. T. Barnum

If you want to grow an audience you have to use every tool in the shed to trick people into opening the book of your incredible words. The biggest tricks are awesome titles, clever supporting subtitles, captivating feature photos, and intriguing beginnings that hook the reader.

You have to come up with a new title, photo, and hook for every story you write but there is another lesser trick you only have to nail once — your bio.

Does it really matter, you are probably asking yourself? Most people don’t cruise the internet and click on follow or subscribe buttons because an incredible bio lured them in. No, you read a good story, check out a few more from the person, and then follow.

But a good bio can be the difference between whether someone bothers to clicks through to your profile. When I read a clever comment on a story, I’ll hover over the writer's name to get a pop-up of their bio. I might click through if the bio is dull but I will click through if the bio captivates me.

One writer caught me so thoroughly, I clicked through to his profile and hit follow before I even bothered to read a story. I knew I was going to love Paul Combs and I was right.

Writer, bookseller, would-be roadie for the E Street Band. My ultimate goal is to make books as popular in Texas as high school football…it may take a while.

Anatomy of a bio

The job of the bio is to attract readers who will like your writing. You want to send signals about who you are, what kind of topics you write about, your style of writing, your expertise, and what makes you distinct. That’s a lot to wrap into 160 characters. You might not do it but you should aim for as much as possible.

Don’t waste space. Every word can pull double and triple duty. Let’s walk through Paul Combs’ bio.

Writer,

I like this strong start. Too many people say something like “wannabe writer” or “trying my hand at this writing thing.” Are you writing and publishing even if it is only on Medium? Call yourself a writer. Own it. If you don’t believe in yourself why should I?

Confidence sells. Fake it till you make it and all that jazz. If your imposter syndrome stops you from claiming the title “writer” fine but then don’t put it in your bio with a qualifier.

bookseller,

Interesting, there are lots of writers floating around in these waters but bookseller is a bit more unusual. This person probably knows books and what does and doesn’t sell. I wouldn’t mind reading about that.

would-be roadie for the E Street Band.

This phrase works on so many levels. First, it shows rather than tells. “Springsteen fan” wouldn’t hit nearly as powerfully. Even if I don’t care about Springsteen I love the clever phrasing here.

Second, it is an excellent use of the rule of three. Humans like groups of three. Put three items in a row and you have a satisfying set. Add an unexpected and slightly humourous twist in the third item and you have gold.

One sentence into his bio and already I’m building a strong mental image of this writer.

My ultimate goal is to make books as popular in Texas as high school football…

This is the bit that won me over. So much packed into this flippant little phrase. People from Texas love to tell you they are from Texas. Combs tells us he is from Texas but isn’t a typical Texan. Plus the line is funny. “I’m a modern-day Don Quixote,” Combs is saying.

Consider the options: “Writer, bookseller, Texan” or “I like books more than football.” Not nearly as strong as the option Combs runs with.

it may take a while.

Self-deprecating humor is golden when done well. “I dream the impossible dream,” says Combs here. Every bit of this bio hits the right spot. It paints a picture of who Combs is and what you can expect from his writing.

And it’s accurate. Combs delivers every ounce of personality, cleverness with words and phrasing, humor, and Springsteen love this bio promises.

Listed below are a handful of bios that caught my attention. Many of the best fit in more than one category even though I list them only once. Read these for inspiration of what is possible in 160 characters or less.

Loving the list

Many bios make effective use of a list of characteristics.

Danielle Loewen

avid reader | gamer | feminist | meditator | reluctant idealist | she/her | Top writer in Diversity, Reading, Books | recovering academic | body lover

Cassie LaBelle

Novelist. Trans lesbian. Early thirties. Former Hollywood hench-person. Lover of cats, mountains, bad movies, good TV, coffee, beer, and games.

John Werth

Musician and conductor, repairer of woodwinds, owner of dogs, former band director, lapsed mathematician, and scribbler of thoughts.

Marilyn Flower

Writer, sacred fool, improviser, avid reader, writer, novel forthcoming, soul collage facilitator, prayer warrior and did I say writer?

In each of the above cases, the writers use disconnected items to paint a picture of who they are and what they write. All of the above are so much more powerful than something like, “I write about relationships, bitcoin, and travel.”

Three is the magic number

Here are more examples of the power of three in action.

Lindsay Rae Brown

Mother, writer, user of too many hashtags.

Toni Crowe

Sarcastic escaped executive. Best-selling author. Writes whatever she wants.

Karen Lappa Haas

Always: an Illini grad and mother of three. Formerly: a paralegal and an award-winning journalist and publicist. Currently: a reinvigorated freelance writer.

Argumentative Penguin

Playwright. Screenwriter. Penguin. Big fan of rational argument and polite discourse. Find me causing chaos in the comments section. Leave a DM to get in touch.

Location, location, location

Sometimes where you are from, travel to, or currently live strongly influences what you write. If so, it’s great if you can cleverly work that into your bio.

Ash Jurberg

I’ve been to 105 countries and am welcome back in most. Join my mail list at ashjurberg.substack.com

Ulf Wolf

Raised by trolls in northern Sweden, now settled on the California coast a stone’s throw south of the Oregon border. Here I meditate and write.

Bob Merckel

Reader, writer, not so much arithmeticker. English teacher/language consultant in Barcelona via London, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and Cincinnati.

How old are you?

If you frequently write about topics tied to your age, it can be great to signal that in your bio.

Linda Kowalchek

Member of the typewriter and bottle of White-Out generation. Reach me at [email protected]

Milan Kordestani

Milan Kordestani is a 21-year-old serial entrepreneur whose most notable startups include Guin Records, Dormzi, and The Doe.

Denise Vitola

Writer, reader, lifelong rebel. Learning things the hard way since 1963.

Humor me

Going for the laugh is wise if you write humor.

BOFace

No woman ever murdered her husband while he was washing the dishes.

Matt Butner

High school Class Clown runner-up, 1997. Still salty about it. Wacky words in Slackjaw, McSweeney’s, Points in Case, Greener Pastures, The Haven.

Shani Silver

NPR once called me a humor essayist, let’s go with that. Host of A Single Serving Podcast. shanisilver[at]gmail

Dallin Merrill

Based in Washington, D.C., which is a city where a person “is based” rather than “lives”.

Signal your personality

All good bios do this in some way. The ones below are especially explicit about it.

Crystal Rutherford

I take the path of most resistance. I have been writing since grade 3. I have a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts with a major in Drama and a minor in English.

StephanieVuckovic

Project manager by day, fledgling humorista by night.

Darrin Atkins

writer and novelist. traveler and adventurer. looking for fun in the sun. chasing the dream. can’t stop the feeling that time is going faster.

Still don’t know where to start?

Christopher Kokoski recently published an excellent tutorial How To Write a Medium Bio (With 27 Examples & Bio Template). When his story splashed into my feed while I had the above half-written, I had one of those crap, well this story I’ve been writing was a waste of my time, moments. Upon reflection, I decided to continue writing my story.

Kokoski gives you the nuts and bolts. I’m giving you a bunch of examples to flesh out how it can work. Read us both I’d say.

Kokoski also leads with his credentials. Let’s just say he earns a lot more than I do. Maybe it’s his bio?

Street cred and contact info: Yea or Nea?

Have you noticed some writers put a list of where they have been published?

Medium models this in their Creator’s Hub article How to Optimize Your Medium Bio (and Why It’s Important). Two of the six bios they choose to list as good examples include a list of publications.

Should you follow this example? Maybe. Ask yourself two questions:

• Do I have relevant publication credit worth bragging about?
• Who am I targeting with my bio?

If you write political pieces, name-dropping Washington Post might help. If you write about Covid, mentioning a medical journal makes sense. If you write self-help, listing a handful of big-name Medium publications just makes me roll my eyes. It’s like my reaction when someone says they went to school in Boston.

Decide who the main target is for your bio and craft it accordingly. Are you trying to look professional and attract publishers from outside of the Medium world? Follow the advice in the Creator’s Hub article.

Are you trying to sell yourself to other writers/readers on Medium and anyone who stumbles upon one of your stories from a google search? Having a bit more fun and creativity in your bio is likely to take you further.

How about adding a link to your sign-up, newsletter, email, or website? I’d preface it with something clever if possible then go for it if you have space.

Analyzing a so so bio

I’m not happy with my own bio. I’ve been collecting the above examples for months now while I reflected on my own. I wanted to come up with something I was proud of before posting this.

Instead, I’ve decided to go with my bio as a work in progress. Here’s what I’ve got.

Writing, wondering, and wandering across three continents. Finding the funny everywhere I go. https://marydj03.medium.com/membership

Note that I employ the rule of three, but minus the humor. I tell rather than show you that I write humor. This bio highlights my introspective nature but doesn’t draw the reader in. It’s a placeholder bio.

So why write about bios when I’m not happy with my own? As a writer, if I wait for perfection before publishing, I never share my writing with others. Today, I’m facing bio block and saying okay, what I have isn’t great but it is good enough.

I may not be great as a writer yet, or even ever, but I’m good enough. Good enough to put my work out there.

Which is my final encouragement to you all. Give some thought to your bio. Play around. Switch it up. Give us the best you got right now. Let a lack of satisfaction drive you to try new things, write different ways, but don’t let it stop you from publishing. You’ll only grow as you get stuff out there.