Bio, advice please

[Andy Hitch]

First of all, thanks in advance for the advice, I hope some day I'm worthy enough to offer some of my own to other writers. Here is my bio, please let me know what you think. It's as honest as I can be, maybe to honest?

Bio
I wish I could say I graduated from some prestige’s college. I wish I had something, anything, that could accredit my ability to write, but I don’t. All I have is who I am and where I come from. I was raised in the Colorado Mountains without electricity or running water. I spent my childhood chopping wood so we wouldn’t freeze and hunting so we could eat. It was a hard life, but my humble upbringing taught me humility, honesty, work ethic, respect and I think more than anything, how to dream, and with the lack females around, I became a hopeless romantic to boot. My book “MOSES” is about a character much like myself, the difference being he faces unimaginable adversities.

[C K]

Andy,

You're getting ahead of yourself. Don't worry about nailing your bio section yet. Spend several weeks getting to know the world of agents and editors and the publishing process first. That way when you go to work on your query package, you'll be doing so with an understanding of what agents are looking for and how you can match your work and life to those needs.

This is a very competitive process. Maybe three percent of the folks who query will get an agent. Don't go into battle without thorough recon, supplies, training.

First make sure the manuscript is as perfect as you can make it. Cut it down. Get your punctuation sorted out.

Second, know the market. Read all the recent published book in your genre. Know which agents are selling similar books. Learn as much as you can about those agents.

Third, read everything about how to craft queries and synopsis. Read until you can judge good advice from bad.

Fourth, brainstorm. Before you write anything. Brainstorm how you can use what you have to play to entice your target agents.

Then start working on your query.

[George Kramer]

Andy,
While I don't pretend to be the guru of query writing, some things are worrth mentioning.
Please don't put yourself down as a prelude to your introduction.
"I wish I could say I graduated from some prestige’s college. I wish I had something, anything, that could accredit my ability to write, but I don’t."

Could you put a spin on this without telling the agent or publisher about your lack of experience? Your first sentence doesn't instill confidence to the people you're
trying to get interested.
Try eliminating that first sentence and the sentence about the lack of females around. It's just my humble opinion and I mean no offense.
" I was raised in the Colorado Mountains without electricity or running water. I spent my childhood chopping wood so we wouldn’t freeze and hunting so we could eat. It was a hard life, but my humble upbringing taught me humility, honesty, work ethic, respect and I think more than anything, how to dream I became a hopeless romantic to boot."
Get rid of 'to boot'.
You can use your life experience in helping you sell your works.

REVISED:

" I was raised in the Colorado Mountains without electricity or running water. I spent my childhood chopping wood so we wouldn’t freeze. We hunted so we could eat. It was a hard life, but my humble upbringing taught me humility, honesty, work ethic, respect and I think more than anything, how to dream. I became a hopeless romantic which in turn provided an outlet for me to write."

"My book “MOSES” is about a character much like myself, the difference being he faces unimaginable adversities."

You need to eleborate much more than this. Is there a conflict and/or a resolution you can provide to the potential person you're writing to? How many words are there in your story? How many pages?
I hope this helps and good luck in your search!

I won a short story contest and it appears in an anthology book. I had to write a bio too. Here is mine and a little bit about the story (to help you a little):

"Story: Troy Spencer is awakened by a phone call from his estranged sister, Joan, with the news that their mother has suffered a heart attack and is in the hospital. Outside a storm is raging, with wind tearing small limbs from trees and the rain pelting down. At first it seems as if the sister is the one who is close to their mother, but we learn that Troy is really the one who was most like the older woman.

Their mother dies, and with her last breath makes Troy promise that he will attempt to reconcile with Joan. Skeptical of any positive outcome, but determined to try for his mother’s sake, after the funeral Troy suggests that Joan meet him at their childhood home to sort through their parent’s belongings.

Troy and Joan find some wine and share a bottle. Will the alcohol open up the siblings' emotions so that they can share their thoughts?

Commentary: The story is told from Troy’s point of view, and we don’t get a glimpse of what is happening inside Joan until late in the story. Many people who have trouble getting along with relatives will probably relate to this story– wondering how the other person can act the way they do– and then coming to see things from a different perspective."



"Author info: George Kramer has been writing since fifth grade and has over 150 articles published on line, in addition to writing short stories which he is organizing into two collections. He has recently finished a medical thriller, and is working on the sequel.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Kramer was raised on Long Island. He currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife and daughter.

He says, “I want to be recognized for quality work that instills thought.” Learn more about George at George's Blog and More."
My short story had a favorable review.
I really hope this helps!

[leslee]

JUST MY OPINION, FEEL FREE TO IGNORE:

I wouldn't use one word of what you have posted here as "bio" information. It is all chatter, no substance. Please don't send this to anyone.

[Jena Grace]

If you are writing fiction and have no relevant publishing credits, you don't have to say anything about yourself at all.

[Avonne Writer]

ditto leslee and Jena. bios are for publishing credits, or for non-fiction if you have a particular expertise in your subject.

You could state that this is your debut novel, (which wraps up your pob credits) or leave off completely.

Unfortunately, agts don't care if you chopped wood or hunted to feed your family unless it speaks of your expertise.

best of luck

[leslee]

Unfortunately, agts don't care if you chopped wood or hunted to feed your family unless it speaks of your expertise.

Yeah, if your book is about being a fighter pilot and you were a fighter pilot, it's worth mentioning.

Otherwise, don't put anything in the Q letter. You can tell the agent about yourself after they have shown some interest in your writing.

[Smiling Curmudgeon]

Wait a minute.

I have wrote a book about livin' in a goddamn cave. (Naw, it ain't a rip off of Jane Auel.) (Sp?) Seems like my chainces is better if I say I live in a goldern cave with Mrs. Cur. Thazz a platform.

Have also wrote a tome about the intricacies micro-vascular surgery. Same platform applies. Mrs. Cur once had to cut my arm open and repair a buncha nerves and things I don't like to think about. That war after I got in a scuffle with a feral rabbit. Sumbitch tore my arm open.

Right after that I strangled it afore it could kill me. People take rabbits fer granite. What I'm sayin'.

Point is, one platform's gonna work fer two books. Efficiency is important.

Oh, before I forget, any of you folks know when Valentine's Day is. I got to climb down the mountain and bring up some wildflowers. They's gonna be trouble if I forget. Mrs. Cur, bless her, is not as forgiving as many of you folks seems to be.

Thankee fer yer help.

Cur

[Jena Grace]

>>You could state that this is your debut novel

Except it's not a "debut" novel until it's actually published. So I'd leave that out, too.

[Zoe Saadia]

I've heard about these kind of rabbits... 'fraid you were lucky to get off that lightly...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCI18qAoKq4