Unfortunately, the vast majority of bios are poorly written and terribly mind numbing. Crammed with unnecessary details that spill over countless pages will have your reading audience running toward the hills. Contemplating your experiences on the playground while attending grammar school isn’t the best place to begin sharing your educational achievements. Expounding on your love for unicorns and passion for rainbows isn’t going to win over any one either. Simply put, great bios are few and far between, but what makes them stand out is what they share in common.
To this day it remains a mystery as to why so many bios choose uninteresting over compelling content. Great bios stand out because they’re enjoyable to read and memorable afterward. For instance, some great bios use humor, which shows that the author doesn’t take himself/herself too seriously. It also demonstrates that the individual enjoys what he/she does. A bio isn’t an application for a job with the Federal Government, it’s an opportunity to let your personality shine through. Need some inspiration? Read attorney Kevin Gliwa’s bio for a chuckle.
A great bio will highlight a single defining moment that changed, shaped or inspired a life decision for the author. Rather than discussing countless and irrelevant details, choosing one key moment to elaborate on is like having a mini-thriller built into a bio. It captivates a readers attention and gives them insight and perspective regarding the author at the same time. Great bios that choose a significant event to share will be clear stand outs.
Great bios avoid using hyperbole. Exaggerations discredit the author, appear as misleading and read like statements made by the guy from the used car lot. When a bio is well written, it doesn’t need to rely on claims like ‘the best writer in the world’ and ‘the queen of the most self-published books’. The best bios will stick with the facts and leave embellishments at the craft store. A great bio delivers information concisely, but with a touch of personal creativity.
Take the time to gain a better understanding of the characteristics that make a bio good and those that make them bad. The Internet is an excellent place to start your hunt. You may end up finding motivation in unexpected places, as well as learn a trick or two along the way.
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Hello,
Came across this while looking for advice on bio writing, good advice and liked the example, but would love more of them to peruse…