Craft a written bio by following this formula
It's common for highly skilled individuals to have unimpressive written bios. This includes individuals with PhDs who fail to mention their credentials, or experts who have presented at top corporations or appeared in national media without highlighting these achievements in their bios. For instance, a client once admitted to omitting a major project they collaborated on with a prominent Hollywood producer because it was unpaid. In my opinion, this detail is irrelevant as no one is aware of it or gives it any importance.
Authors have different bios for different needs. For example, you may have a speaker bio slightly different from your author bio on the back of your book. Regardless, any bio should have the same basic structure.
Your bio should read like a short introduction to your life's work and your most recent/relevant work—all in a few sentences. Include only the most significant, most important information, like your current profession, business, the title of your current book, degrees if they're from a well-known institution, prominent media if you've been featured in something national, places where you've spoken that are worth mentioning (like Apple, Amazon, Omega, TedX, etc.), and of course, your website. You should have a few versions of your bio: very short (50 words), short (150 words), and long (up to 500 words) – all available on the press page of your website. For anything longer, post a link on your website's bio page and make a PDF download of your CV. I also find it's nice to end with something personal and, of course, how to find more information about you and contact you.
Here's a good example of a medium-length bio:
Dr. Ken Druck is one of the world's leading experts on grief and resilience. Since losing his own daughter in a tragic accident and working with families after 9/11, Sandy Hook, and Columbine, he has dedicated his life to providing roadmaps for getting through life's most daunting and difficult times and navigating its daily ups and downs. Dr. Ken is a bestselling author of several books, including his most recent, How We Go On: Self-Compassion, Courage, and Gratitude on the Path Forward. He is a recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Contribution to Psychology award and a noted speaker for conferences, special gatherings, and global organizations. Dr. Ken lives in San Diego with his family and beloved Boxer, Jack. Find him at www.kendruck.com.
A bio aims to frame the you precisely as you want to be seen and provide a consistent message across all channels. By making your bio available quickly and easily, you're making the media's job easier, which puts you a step ahead of 90% of others and makes you more likely to get featured and asked back!
(image by: Dharma Comics)
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