This issue arises many times among writers
new to professional writing. Do you submit a resume or a biography?
Are they the same? What is their differences and how do they relate
to a potential career in writing fiction?
Introduction:
When you venture into professional writing, the rules of employment change. No longer are you limited by academics or references, there’s no need for copies of diplomas or honor awards, and with this new field there are several things to consider.
A resume tells a potential employer about you, as a person. You are pitching yourself, you are trying to sell the interviewer your work skills. In writing, you will not be selling any skills aside from writing.
Resumes aren’t used because they list so much irrelevant information. If you had fifty clients or more to take care of, plus a desk full of potential authors every morning, you would be pressed for time. Where you attended high school is unimportant, where you attended college is usually unimportant, unless you fit into one of the exceptions below. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve had your current job nor how many awards you have for attendance, unless that is what your book is about.
You use some principals that go with resumes. Any writing awards, history, or accomplishments can prove other people have enjoyed your work. First, we will address some general facts:
Academics and Fiction:
Academics do not get you published. Just because you have a degree in English does not promise publication. Once you consider how many writers go into English as a profession, the odds of making a lasting impact from a degree diminish.
Education is important, it can make your future better and your life easier. However, it should be undertaken with the appropriate expectations and realistic goals.
Almost all professional authors and writers are mostly self-taught. They constantly read English and grammar guides, they strive to improve their construction and style, and they write on a continual basis.
Take into consideration possibilities behind the credits. A person may be an accomplished and highly successful doctor. They may achieve a regional respect akin to stardom. They may save ten lives a day on a routine basis. But, do they write well?
It will be the only consideration an agent or an editor will use. They will look over profession, other qualities, and judge you for your work. That same doctor may be on the creative writing level of a teenager. Their abilities are impressive and their knowledge is extensive, but it is not in the field of writing. Their daily activities are far from fiction.
Exceptions:
There are some exceptions to these rules. Certificates and degrees don’t promise an author will receive an automatic acceptance, but they can prove an author knows what they are writing about. If an author produces a non-fiction book on psychology, and happens to be a PhD. in that field, they will certainly receive a great deal of attention. If an attorney writes a fictional legal thriller, the agent/editor will take into consideration their writing about a field they specialize in. However, if the writing is bad the attorney will not be accepted.
Writing fiction puts all players on the same field.
Selling Your Work:
It may seem even harder to sell your work instead of yourself, however that is where creativity rules.
Biographies are wonderful for writers. They are brief, concise, and only list what a writer wishes to place there. Since the offices of agents and publishers are so rushed, only placing two or three sentences about you in a query is considered thoughtful. If you have more qualifications, you can always increase the number of sentences to five or six, but for general etiquette it shouldn’t go over four.
Look at these sample biographies of hopeful writers. Both are unpublished in novel-length fiction, both have a novel completed and ready to submit to a professional. They are attempting to interest the same agent. The submission guidelines at the agency has requested a, "brief bio," with every query. One of these writers has a wide advantage:
Martha Gibson
Martha Gibson was born in Seattle, Washington. She attended the University of Washington and received a degree in business management twenty years ago. After seven years as a stay-at-home mom, she returned to Adkins Investments as a Investor Consultant. She loves to knit, play bridge, and visit her grandchildren often.
Fredrick Jones
Fredrick Jones has published two full-length articles in the, "Iowa Journal of Business." He has been writing for seven years and attends several writing seminars yearly.
Martha’s biography became a train-wreck of useless information. Her summary about herself was long and had nothing to do with writing.
What to avoid:
1. Irrevelent education. Martha has written a fictional drama, her education was in the field of management.
2. Long-winded. The professional will not care where a potential client was born.
3. Frivilous length. The bio was extensive, but had many flaws. A writing professional will not be concerned with your hobbies, your personal history, or your job record. The only exception being they somehow influence the work you’re submitting.
Fredrick has the perfect query in comparison. It’s brief, summarizes his writing-related accomplishments, and moves on. When you leave more of yourself out, you must add more about your work.
Some examples:
Here are some examples from published and unpublished writers on how to apply the biography to your query letter:
I. The Unpublished Author’s Query:
Dear (Agent’s Name):
I am seeking representation for The Willow Man, this 80,000 word novel takes readers on a wicked journey through the mind of Philip Carson.
The small town of Gleason, Ohio has became grounds for many disappearances. People go for walks, run errands, and follow daily routines with a dire consequence. They never return.
Janet Ebert is a citizen who becomes a target. She escapes the clutches of Carson and survives. Her life suddenly becomes worse than before the attempted murder. She knows who he is, Philip Carson. She knows he is the town’s mayor.
Philip knows power is on his side, and he will stop at nothing to destroy Janet’s credibility and her life.
I have been writing for years and have achieved recognition for my work on a regional level. My areas of writing are primarily ficiton, with only a few brief essays in non-ficiton.
I look forward to sending you the entire manuscript.
Warmest Regards;
Jane Doe
Key Points:
1. Jane has no experience or credits to add to her biography, therefore, she breezes the professional through quickly. She leaves their primary attention on her novel and doesn’t draw it to a lengthy summary of her non-writing life. If a professional has a desire to know more about a potential client, they will request it.
2. She builds suspense and leaves room for shock at the end when the known villian, Philip Carson, turns out to be a person of status and power. When querying, you should feel comfortable with revealing your entire plot. The professional will not be judging your work as a reader, but as a potential representative. They want to know what you are trying to "pitch." They must have some excitement over the final climax and believe it is something they will enjoy as well.
3. She addresses agent by name and not title. Nothing makes most agents more annoyed than addressing them as, "Dear Agent."
4. She uses estimates in the word count of her novel. Actually, her book is 76,589 words, but for appearance and ease of reading, she elected to round it to the nearest tenth.
5. She leaves a positive closure on letter. She doesn’t say she will send them the manuscript or speak as if she knows they’ll be interested. She simply states she is looking forward to sending them the book.
II. The Published Writer
How a query should read if Jane Doe has credentials:
Dear (Agent’s Name):
I am querying with you regarding The Willow Man, this 80,000 word novel takes readers on a wicked journey through the mind of Philip Carson.
The small town of Gleason, Ohio has became grounds for many disappearances. People go for walks, run errands, and follow daily routines with a dire consequence. They never return.
Janet Ebert is a citizen who becomes a target. She escapes the clutches of Carson and survives. Her life suddenly becomes worse than before the attempted murder. She knows who he is, Philip Carson. She knows he is the town’s mayor.
Philip knows power is on his side, and he will stop at nothing to destroy Janet’s credibility and her life.
I have been writing for years and have worked as a freelance writer with several publications. I have four shorts stories published and ten articles in paper.
I look forward to sending you the entire manuscript.
Warmest Regards;
Jane Doe
Key Points:
1. The credits are presented in a concise and open manner. There aren’t any details or names mentioned. Any agent or editor will have to request more information from her if interested. This keeps the letter flowing and doesn’t remove from attention towards book.
When Making Your Biography, Try These Steps:
1. Never use more information about yourself than needed.
2. Don’t list education or previous employment unless it relates specifically to your work.
3. Don’t list personal information in a professional biography.
4. You do not have to mention names or dates of publications unless you feel it is worthy of noting. When you have amassed many credits, to keep the bio concise, just list number of publications. Example:
*I have four short stories published with, "The Journal." Seven articles published with, "The Times." Nine articles published with, "The Local," and eight short stories with, "Reader Interest."
This could be shortened to read:
I have twelve short stories published in various periodicals,as well as sixteen articles in print.
5. Don’t format a bio like a resume. It’s just a few sentences, not a diagram. The person you query is very busy and will not have time to read a page or two about you, unless requested.
Leaving a bio simple is quick, concise, and shows the professional that you respect their time.
©2003, Laura Wright. All rights reserved.