What Does Your Bio Say About You?
What Makes a Decent Bio Anyway?
This article by Judy Derby caught my attention, she asked about interesting bios that we’d seen.
I commented and then realized that it was going to turn into an article.
So here are my views on the subject of the bio.
I hate when people don’t complete their bio.
Why?
It’s 160 words! And you don’t have to use them all.
A few words to say who you are, what you like. It’s that chance to promote your writing.
Is that part of the problem? Writers aren’t always good at promoting themselves.
But they can write a bio surely? They want to be writers — don’t they?
I haven’t so far followed anyone with a blank bio. That may be small-minded of me. But hear me out.
Here’s why I don’t follow anyone with no bio.
They can’t be bothered to write a few words about themselves.
How likely will they be to hold down the little clappy button and boost my story?
Let alone write a comment.
Or engage.
That’s if they even read what I have written at all.
My 3 Big Irritations About Bios
#3 No Bio At All
These are the worst offenders. They just can’t be bothered. See above.
#2 Promotional Bios
Completely, opposite to the above.
They provide just a link to their website, an email address, or a Twitter handle.
Why?
Why should I have to go somewhere else to find out about you?
What makes you so special?
Maybe say a few words about yourself then I may be more inclined to do so.
#1 Bio’s that think they are clever or smart
The following are actual bios I have come across.
Bios with a couple of words like:-
I’m human,
I think,
Too dead to die,
I’m a potato,
Realize you,
Barely alive,
Hardly makes me want to find out more or maybe that’s the point.
It is supposed to be intriguing to make people want to find out more about them. (Sorry, it hasn’t for me, it may for others and that’s great, I guess we just don’t connect and your bio has done its job).
Here’s What I Think Makes a Good Bio
1. It Shows Who You Are or What You Do.
Shows your main interests or
Tells what niche/s you write about or
Maybe what inspires you to write
Here are some which stood out to me:-
‘Writing my way to a better life, one article at a time’ Benny Lim
‘Starting conversations about relationships and finding humour in life!’ Jessica Rabel
If you have top writer status sing about it ‘Top writer in Parenting and Diversity. I write on autism, parenting writing on writing’ Scot Butwell
If you have services to offer, and there are many freelance writers here, then do so in a non-pushy way like this Elna Cain ‘is a freelance writer for hire, consultant, and mom to twins. She mentors new writers on her award winning writing blog (then a link to her website)
2. What Are The Top Writers Doing?
I went to see what the top writers on Medium have on their bio
Zulie Rane — 41.3K followers “Content creator and devoted cat mom. She/her. Get 2x weekly emails about how to make money by writing online” (then a link to her website.)
Tim Denning — 225.5k followers “Aussie Blogger with 500M views + — writer for CNBC & Business Insider. Inspiring the world through Personal Development and Entrepreneurship — ” (then a link to his website)
Niklas Göke — 86.2k followers “I write for dreamers, doers, and unbroken optimists. For my best articles & book updates, go here” (then a link to his site)
The bio’s do their job. Tell who they are, what they do, how they do it, and how to find them.
None of them have left it blank, or just left their website or email address. So why would you?
3. Just Fill In Your Bio
We may not all have those followings or be ready to add all those elements to our bios. That’s fine. Your bio is evolving, and you can add to it and change it as your journey as a writer changes.
But Please Just Fill in Your Bio.
Here’s how to fill in your bio:
Click on your picture icon in your Medium account.
Go to settings.
Scroll down to Short Bio and click edit.
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