Getting Your Author “About Page” Right
By Lindsey Danis
Why It Matters and How to Do It
For writers, talking about themselves and their writing is only slightly less nerve-wracking than answering that dreaded question: “What is your book about?” Even the most verbose writers can become stumped when trying to write a few hundred words about themselves for an “About Page” on their author website. Any author website needs an “About Page” — which means you need to face down the demons and talk about yourself in a way that engages and informs potential readers.
To silence your inner editor, learn what your “About Page” needs to do for you and how you can create the best possible “About Page”.
What Your “About Page” is Really About
First and foremost, your “About Page” is about you, the author. It is written for your target audience of readers and can help you connect with marketers in your niche. As such, your “About Page” should speak to your target audience in their language, which would look very different for romance writers than for historians.
Your “About Page” is the place where you get to tell your story: Who you are, why you write, and what motivates you. The page showcases you as a writer while also letting readers gain insight into what you like to do aside from writing … to peek behind the curtain and get to know more about someone they admire.
Be casual, be funny, be you. Enjoy the freedom to write honestly about who you are and what drives you to write. Your readers will appreciate it.
When it is well-written, your “About Page” will help you spend less time marketing yourself. It can help you get invited to perform at author events or be offered publishing opportunities.
While we are covering what the “About Page” is really about, it is important to note what it is not about. Your “About Page” is not a place for selling your books. You can certainly mention your books (and you should); however, refrain from using sales pitches or “buy now” buttons in this page.
Three Tips to an Effective “About Page”
1. Sell Your Brand — YOU
As a writer, you are your brand. Book clubs choosing your book, conferences looking for speakers, readers looking for a great thriller all want to know who you are and why it matters to them. This means not just talking about yourself, but singing your praises.
As a brainstorming exercise, think about what your best friend, spouse, or parent would say about you and your work. What compliments would they give? Are you getting nervous as you make this list? Write everything down anyway and work your list into a compelling biography.
These compliments represent the praise that your biggest fans give you and your work. That’s just what an audience wants to see in an “About Page”.
2. Be Authentic
If you are nervous about writing your author profile, you may adopt a formal tone to project the confidence you desire. Unfortunately, this can backfire by giving readers a false impression of who you really are!
Readers who click on your “About Page” want to find out more about who you are, what motivates you, what led you to writing, and what you like to do in your spare time. When you give them the opportunity to learn more about the “real you,” you make a human connection.
When readers feel that connection, they will want to engage with you by inviting you to do a reading or workshop, following you on social media, or eagerly awaiting your next book.
Try listing your hobbies, skills, unique talents, favorite vacation places, or other things that make you unique. Pick a few of these and work them into a paragraph for your “About Page”.
To increase your authenticity and personalize the page for your readers, don’t forget to add a photo. If you really want to stand out, make a short video.
3. Revise
By putting together the personal information your readers want with the branding information that will help you make the most of marketing opportunities, you have a rough draft of your “About Page”. Before you publish, polish it.
Read your “About Page” not only for clarity and grammar, but to make sure that it has the right tone to speak to your audience in their language. Does the page read in a stiff or boring manner? If so, revise the language and tone to be engaging and persuasive.
A well-written “About Page” will sell you and your books, turn readers into fans, and let your personality and your passion for writing shine through. Put the time into creating quality content and you will be more than rewarded.
Lindsey Danis is a freelance and creative writer. She’s had several short stories published and multiple novels in the work, in addition to performing freelance blogging and website writing for clients in various industries. Learn more about her and download a FREE “About Page” Power Worksheet at Ask a Working Writer.
Chair & Pen publishes stories on the writing process and the writing life. It is edited and curated by Writing Coach Annalisa Parent. To learn more about how to work with Annalisa, visit www.DateWithTheMuse.com
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