How to Craft a Winning Query Letter Author Bio
By rhiannon richardson
editor, published author, and writing teacher.
A lot of writers have questions about the query letter author bio, and rightfully so. This is one small paragraph in your query letter, but it’s important. If you hope to get your book traditionally published, one of the first things you’ll want to do is approach literary agents. While this can seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be if you have the right approach. The query letter author bio is a subtle way to draw in the agent and keep them reading. Here are some tips for writing a successful one.
Keep Your Query Letter Author Bio Short
When creating a powerful query letter author bio paragraph, don’t forget to be concise. Agents don’t want lengthy passages about your life story. They just need important facts about yourself and what makes the topic of your book relevant to your life. (If you’re writing nonfiction, this question is easier to answer. Sometimes, fiction writers are working with a topic that’s unrelated to their life. That’s okay, too!) Make sure your query letter author bio is two or three sentences maximum, unless you have a long publishing history that you need to note. Whether you’re an experienced writer or new to the game, emphasize what makes your work special and how you connect to it. That personal touch might make your query letter more compelling.
Highlight Your Achievements In a Query Letter Author Bio
Your qualifications should always be featured in your query letter author bio, as these help prove you are a talented writer and show why you'd be a great asset to any agent’s list or publishing company’s list. This means you should include any awards or distinctions you've earned in your query letter author bio. All of these things demonstrate how much others esteem your work and that there is an audience who will read it. If you have “social proof” supporting your writing skills, all the better.
Make Sure to Loop In Your Author Platform
Don’t put contact details in your query letter author bio, but make sure to include contact information and social links at the end of the query, after your signature. Don’t hide these details. You want to make it as easy as possible for agents to contact you if they want to get to know you more or possibly team up.
This ought to include appropriate accounts on social media (Twitter particularly), email address, author website URL (if applicable), etc., so that publishing professionals can easily connect with and learn more about you without spending time scouring the web. (This way, you can also curate their sense of your web presence, especially if you have some strange or interesting Google results.)
A great query letter author bio paragraph increases your chances of receiving a response from literary agents. Fortunately, it doesn't take long to craft one that stands out. Simply follow these query letter tips and you can be sure to catch the attention of agents seeking fresh talent.
craft your best story
Do you want to tell a compelling story that resonates with readers? Let author and editor Rhiannon Richardson help you take your writing to the next level. With her expertise in middle grade, young adult, picture book, and memoir, she can guide you to your best story.
