Your bio is probably the most important piece of work you will produce. It’s also one of the hardest things to pen. Knowing when and how much to put into your bio without coming across as. . .well. . .showy or self-serving, is something we all deal with.
Perhaps the working word here is “knowing.” When we know what type of bio we need as well as where this bio will be printed, then we are able to narrow down the important and necessary facts needed.
In a nutshell, there are three types of bios. You’ll hear them called different things throughout your career, but the fact does not change that there are three basic bios.
Working Bio – The working bio is short. Generally, one line to one short paragraph and it’s used on submissions. The working bio lists your name, education, and one or two writing accolades. You’ll see this bio at the bottom of devotions, articles, or guest blog posts.
Example – Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. She is the Lead Managing editor for Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals.
Friendly Bio - The friendly bio is a few paragraphs long. It’s found on your website and on blog posts where you want folks to see your more relaxed side. The friendly bio will contain your name, education, hobbies, writing accolades, and family information. From time to time, humor may be included.
Example - Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. She is the Lead Managing editor for Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals. Her devotions and articles are found in newspapers across the eastern seaboard. Cindy is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference and a writing mentor. She is a cume Laude graduate of the University of Phoenix, holding a BS in business and journalism. She lives with her husband, Tim in the mountains of East Tennessee where they raised four sons.
Professional Bio – The professional bio is just that. Fully professional. It will list your personal information, formal schooling. Positions or jobs held. Writing credits by title (i.e. – CBN.com, christiandevotions.us, or ashevillechristianwritersconference.com). There’s no need to list every article written, just published credits and then, choose the more recent). The professional bio does not require your hobbies, family, or pets. Please abstain from listing all your pets. Remember, this is professional. This bio is necessary to showcase your qualifications.
Example - Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. She is the Lead Managing editor for Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, imprints of Iron Stream Media. Her devotions and articles are found in newspapers across the eastern seaboard. Her most current being The Voice Magazine – circulation of over 300,000. Cindy is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference and a writing mentor with Yvonne Lehman and Write Right. She is a cume Laude graduate of the University of Phoenix, holding a BS in business and journalism. Cindy’s award-winning books are published through Kregel Publications and Revell Publishing. With twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, Cindy is both knowledgeable and dependable. She can be contacted at www.cindysproles.com or by emailing, [email protected].
Your first assignment is to craft three bios that you will be able to use in various situations. Write them, ponder them, and then rewrite them. Remember your bio is vital to your career.
Assignment 6 - Creative Non-Fiction
2/15/2021 12:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Assignment 5 - Don't Waste Your Conference Experience
2/6/2021 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
January 31, Assignment 4 - Bring Your Characters to Life
1/31/2021 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
January 24, Assignment Four - Time to Shoot the Weasel Words
1/24/2021 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Assignment 3 - The Role of Speaker Tags and Beats
1/21/2021 7:34:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Assignment 2 (2 of 2) Week of January 10
1/13/2021 7:00:00 AM by: Andrea Merrell
January 10, Assignment 2 (1 of 2 assignments)
1/10/2021 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Assignment 1 - ACWC January 5 - Let's Start with a Bio
1/5/2021 11:25:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Assignment 8 & 9 - Titles & Sentences - Nancy Lohr
2/13/2020 7:29:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Assignment 7 - What in the World is a One Sheet - Andrea Merrell
2/7/2020 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
February 1 - Assignments 5 & 6 - Linda Glaz
2/1/2020 7:31:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Sensory Perception Enhances Your Writing - Assignment 4
1/26/2020 10:09:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Don't Write Your Bio - Write WHY ME? - Assignment 3
1/18/2020 7:00:00 PM by: Bob Hostetler
How to Make the Most of Your Conference Experience - Assignment 2
1/18/2020 4:15:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Appropriate Emails - [email protected] - Assignment 1
1/11/2020 7:47:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
How Not to Get an Agent - Assignment 7
2/10/2019 5:47:00 PM by: Bob Hostetler
January 27 Assignment 5 -Storytelling Your Life Lessons
1/27/2019 8:55:00 PM by: Lucinda Secrest McDowell
It's Not What You Know; It's Who You Know - Assignment 4
1/20/2019 5:44:00 PM by: Bob Hostetler
Stay on Track with a Writing Schedule - Assignment 3
1/13/2019 7:35:00 PM by: Larry Leech
Assignment 2 - Finding Speaker Topics
1/5/2019 7:38:00 PM by: Beth Fortune
IMAGERY–WHEN THIS IS LIKE THAT
12/30/2018 9:00:00 PM by: By Ann Tatlock
Asheville Christian Writers Conference Privacy Policy
6/4/2018 8:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
2018 Writers Charge
2/18/2018 10:20:00 PM by: Cindy
Last Chance - Assignment 7
2/11/2018 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
An Adjective Safari - Assignment 6
2/4/2018 7:30:00 PM by: Denise Loock
Get in the Mood to Write - Assignment 5
1/28/2018 7:10:00 PM by: Larry J. Leech II
Getting Rid of “I” Disease - Assignment 3
1/14/2018 9:37:00 PM by: Andrea Merrell
Curb Your Adverb Addiction - Assignment 2
1/7/2018 7:30:00 PM by: Denise Loock
WHO ARE YOU? - Writing Your Bio
11/17/2017 7:30:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
WRITING IN A PICKLE
11/13/2017 9:45:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
THE NaNoWriMo CHALLENGE
11/10/2017 11:30:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
BRINGING YOUR CHARACTERS TO LIFE
2/12/2017 3:35:00 PM by: By Andrea Merrell
DON’T LET SPEAKER BEATS RUIN YOUR MANUSCRIPT
2/5/2017 3:43:00 PM by: By Andrea Merrell
HOW TO CRAFT GREAT DIALOGUE
1/30/2017 3:49:00 PM by: By Andrea Merrell
AVOID REPETITION AND WRITE TIGHT
1/20/2017 3:55:00 PM by: By Andrea Merrell
THE QUOTATION QUOTA – ASSIGNMENT 2
1/13/2017 3:38:00 PM by: By Andrea Merrell
ELIMINATE THE EXCLAMATION POINTS – ASSIGNMENT 1
1/7/2017 3:43:00 PM by: By Andrea Merrell
WRITING ADVICE FROM MARK TWAIN: WRITE WITHOUT PAY UNTIL SOMEBODY OFFERS TO PAY
12/22/2016 3:48:00 PM by: By Sandra Merville Hart
WHEN THE STORY STALLS IN THE MIDDLE
12/20/2016 3:51:00 PM by: by Sandra Merville Hart
WHO REALLY SELLS YOUR BOOKS ?
9/20/2016 3:53:00 PM by: by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR 15-MINUTE APPOINTMENTS
9/16/2016 3:56:00 PM by: by Cindy Sproles
ARRRGH! ANOTHER REJECTION – CINDY SPROLES
9/12/2016 3:59:00 PM by: by Cindy Sproles
FROZEN IN PLACE – ICEY SELF-TALK TO FREEZE YOUR WRITING
9/8/2016 3:15:00 PM by: By Cindy Sproles
THE BIO – THE FRAGRANCE OF WHO YOU ARE
9/3/2016 3:21:00 PM by: by Cindy Sproles
THE PAIN OF UNSOLICITED
8/29/2016 3:24:00 PM by: by Cindy Sproles
REDUNDANCY: AN EXCESSIVE, OPPRESSIVE, PERVASIVE DISEASE
8/26/2016 3:31:00 PM by: By Denise Loock
7 THINGS TO DO NOW TO BE READY WHEN WRITING INSPIRATION STRIKES – EDIE MELSON
8/23/2016 3:33:00 PM by: by Edie Melson
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR 15-MINUTE CONFERENCE APPOINTMENTS
8/20/2016 3:36:00 PM by: by Cindy Sproles
WHY SHOULD I ATTEND THE ASHEVILLE CHRISTIAN WRITERS’ CONFERENCE?
8/17/2016 3:47:00 PM by: by Cindy Sproles
YOU NEED A PLATFORM – LIVING A STORY- ASSIGNMENT 3
1/20/2016 3:49:00 PM by: By La-tan Murphy
THE ONE SHEET
1/8/2016 3:51:00 PM by: by Cindy Sproles
OVER-EDIT?
11/4/2015 3:54:00 PM by: By Steven James
