A Bass-Ackwards Bio Writing Strategy That Works Like Magic (and Won't Induce Heavy Drinking or Hair Pulling)

Isn't introducing yourself one of the most awkward things sometimes? I mean, in person, if you're not a total introvert, you can usually smile and get away with some light banter. It's easy to make nice when you have the other party to kind of work from, backchat with.

Unless they're a total dud…

...in which case, you might want to consider creating a predetermined exit strategy like ole George Plimpton. (Apparently, he mingles while double-fisting it. If he finds himself needing to scoot from a boring conversation, he simply holds up one of the drinks and excuses himself. The gesture is universally understood.)

But when tasked to introduce yourself in writing, as in on your website or like here on this blog (hi!), it can feel like a dense fog descends upon you, clouding your clarity about the thing you know most in the world—your dang self.

So your bio stretches out for days as you nervously ramble about everything from your high school achievement as the Lady Porcupine's mascot to your new personal belief on balancing the law of attraction with religion and your CrossFit goals.

You drone. The reader gets bored. They click away.

As someone who finds their clients online, introductions well-written introductions should fall under the make-it-or-break-it category for you.

Why?

Well, because you've got to…

establish yourself as someone who knows their shit

without all the off-putting braggadocio

all while coming across as more interesting than arrogant

as your readers fall head-over-heels for you.

No pressure, eh? It's a tall order. And not the good barrel-aged kind. But rather than reaching for your on-the-rocks remedy, why not just breathe and stick to the basics? Just write what you know to be true and interesting about yourself.

Write your story.

But here's the kicker: write it so that all roads of your story lead to your readers.

Whaaa?

I know. But hear me out.

Yes, people hit up your About page to see who you are. To judge you. To either choose you or not as their beta reader, proofreader, book editor, ghostwriter, etc. But what they don't realize is that just like every other human on this giant ball of dirt racing through space, they are seeking themselves in everything. They want to know, so what? What does this have to do with me?

And it has everything to do with them.

I know that's confusing—I am talking to you about writing your bio…about you. But if you think of it more as a story, one complete with a theme (a why it was written at all) that centers on your ideal client, it will begin to flow.

And remember, just as your life continues and your story evolves, so will your bio or About page. It's not static. So make a point to revisit it every now and again.

And while your story will never be about your client (it's still about you), it will always hinge on what's in it for them.