Tricks to Writing About Yourself for Your Book
People who read books like to know who wrote them. Every book has an About the Author (or ATA). This is where the readers can learn about the person behind the book. Usually, this includes a professional photograph, so the readers can put a face to the name.
Writing an ATA can seem straightforward — it is just writing about yourself, right? However, it can be deceptively tricky. Sometimes, people struggle to write about themselves, do not know what to write, or just need a guide. This article will explain what goes into writing your very own About the Author.
Basic Technicalities of an ATA
First and foremost, you need to understand the basic technicalities of writing your book’s About the Author section. Some of these may seem like common sense, but it is always good to lay the foundation.
Your ATA is almost always going to be written as a paragraph with complete sentences. Do not use bullet points or sentence fragments as that can come across as unprofessional. Often, these sentences will be written in the third person; avoid using “I” and other first-person words. As a reader, this makes sense and allows them to read about you without confusion.
As for the ATA’s length, use your discretion. It should not be too long or too short, but it should convey all your relevant information. Anywhere from one to three short paragraphs will likely be appropriate, but adjust as needed. For the most part, your ATA should fit on a single page of your book. Feel free to look at other books’ ATAs as reference points when writing yours.
The final technicality to consider is your author photo. It is suggested, but not necessary, to include a photo of yourself. This allows the reader to put a face to the person who wrote the book in front of them. Your photo will often be a high-quality, professional headshot against a neutral background. The more professional your headshot looks, the more your readers will trust your authority.
What to Include in Your ATA
Your About the Author is just that, yours. You can write about whatever you want your readers to know about your life. However, there are a few standard components to include in a basic ATA. Your ATA should never be too long, so balance all of these components accordingly.
Personal Life
Readers like to know who the author is outside of writing. This can include some basic autobiographical information about your personal life, depending on the type of book. Of course, you do not want to get too personal as to invade your privacy. This can include where you are from, if you are married and/or have children, and any other basic information. You can be as vague as saying the state you are from and who you live with. Or, it can be as detailed as including your town, spouse’s name, children’ s name, etc. Write whatever you feel comfortable sharing.
Education and Work Experience
For some books, it is more important to lay out your professional and educational credentials. This often goes for academic, non-fiction, historical, political, or self-help books. Readers will want to know that the author whose book they are reading is qualified in the area. Most commonly, this will include where you went to school and any relevant work experience. You do not have to go into too much detail, but always factually represent your credentials.
Past Works
If you are already a published author in any medium, be sure to include that in your ATA. This allows readers to seek out your past works or recognize your previous writing. If you have an expansive roster, tailor your ATA to the book at hand. Then, direct readers where to find your complete catalog of work.
Fun Facts
Finally, you can include any fun facts that you think define you as a writer or person. This part is the most optional to include, but have fun with it. Let your personality shine through. It is especially helpful to include fun facts if the rest of your ATA is lighter.
Future Uses for Your ATA
If you are a first-time author, writing a strong ATA now will help you going forward. Once you have an initial ATA written and accessible, it can be used for both future books and current opportunities. When using your ATA for future books, you can make small adjustments and updates, but the bones are already there.
Your ATA will be helpful to have on hand during the marketing process of your book. This includes social media, book signings, panels, media appearances, etc. Many of these request ATAs or something similar, so have one ready to go. Having a single ATA to use across mediums will allow for a coherent identity as an author across the spectrum.
