Category: Writing Blog

The “Author Bio” section of your book is a vital piece of information because it will impact sales, reputation, book marketing and social media. It is one of the most underestimated elements of the book writing process (for self-published authors anyway), and you as the author will have to complete all of the legwork (meaning you will have to write this section all on your own).

Below you will find the steps to crafting a compelling author’s biography. Keep in mind that these elements are a must and the order does not matter so long as they are covered.

An author’s bio should contain the following:

1. Qualifications/Credibility of author to write the book
   • State facts and stick to credentials (without overselling) that DIRECTLY RELATES to the content/genre of your book. Qualifications may include but are not limited to: college degrees, awards, bestseller lists or accolades. This statement should be one sentence max and should not contain a lot of info (this will overwhelm the reader)!
2. Personal Information
   • Personal information humanizes you to readers who do not know anything about you. Include general information about your family, where you live (state or city), hobbies and/or interest.
3. Link to Website
   • As an author, you should definitely have a website and it doesn’t need to be extravagant, but it has to exist. Your website will eventually become your online base for all future published works. If you do not have one, then make it a goal to get one (this topic will be covered in a future post).
4. Write in Third Person
   • An author’s bio should be “ABOUT YOU” the author INSTEAD OF WRITTEN BY YOU. Readers tend to trust a bio if it sounds like it was written by someone else. Research examples of various authors bio’s and start drafting your own as soon as possible.

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Copyright exists automatically in an original work of authorship once it is fixed, but a copyright owner can take steps to enhance the protections. The most important step is registering the work. Registering a work is not mandatory, but for U.S. works, registration (or refusal) is necessary to enforce the exclusive rights of copyright through litigation. Timely registration also allows copyright owners to seek certain types of monetary damages and attorney fees if there is a lawsuit, and also provide a presumption that information on the registration certificate is correct.

Copyright registration also provides value to the public overall. It facilitates the licensing marketplace by allowing people to find copyright ownership information, and it provides the public with notice that someone is claiming copyright protection. It also provides a record of this nation’s creativity.

Did you know that you only have 3 months to register your copyright once your work is:

1.) Published/Distributed, and

2.) Before infringement occurs, to recover full damages and attorney fees.

If you’ve written a book or created some other original work such as a blog, photo, or illustration, you must register your copyright to prevent unauthorized use. Copyright’s registration protects you against illegal copying and theft or plagiarism of your work. In order to protect your work, you must first register your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office to fully enforce your rights and the ability to:

1.) Recover up to $150,000 in statutory damages.

2.) Protect your work for life.

3.) Establish a legal record of content ownership.

How to begin registering your published works? First you go to: www.copyright.gov, click on “Register Your Works” and follow the online instructions. Once your work has been submitted, pay the filing fee and you should receive confirmation via email regarding the approval of your application. Since the Copyright Office is currently teleworking, a Copyright’s Certificate will be sent when the staff returns to the office.

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At some point in the process of publishing your book, you’ll need to turn your attention to the sales copy. This is the copy that you see as part of a book’s description when shopping online or on a book’s dust jacket (if hardcover) or back panel (if paperback). A sales copy hints at the genre, introduces the main character(s), does not give away the plot and entices the reader to buy the book.

• First you must start with a captivating headline that will capture the reader’s attention. This eye-catching statement should entice the potential reader with promises of discord and what they will gain by reading your novel. The goal is to have the reader form some type of emotional attachment to the headline that draws them into purchasing your book.

For example, my book, PNĔUMÄ starts off with:

A prohibited union between two species…Marred by deception and greed…            

This caption is brief but straight to the point, confirms that there is a conflict on the horizon and promises that a villain or two is surely to make an appearance.

• Next, the body of the sales copy will need to focus on what your book is about and not give away the ending. It must stir human emotions while strumming the reader’s imagination to a point where they feel connected to the characters in some way, shape or form. Choose a voice for your book that matches your genre and fuel it with sentiment and excitement.

• And finally, leave a cliffhanger that will have the reader wanting more. As mentioned previously, do not give away the ending but teasing is perfectly acceptable which will give them just enough to at least take a closer look or even purchase your book.

When in doubt, write several drafts of the sales copy until you are completely satisfied. You may even take it a step further and have a few beta readers provide additional feedback before finalizing.

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