How to Write a Biography in the Third Person with Examples, Pen and the Pad, and 100 Word Bio Examples.

Most literary journal submission guidelines require that you include a brief biographical statement.The bio needs to be 50 words or less in the third person.

It is difficult to describe a life in 50 words or less.You are better off not doing it.The editor of the journal doesn't care if you have been divorced twice.

I like to include one or two personal details, but I prefer that they relate to your writing.I included the line "Emily Harstone just moved for the 18th time" when I submitted a lot of geographically themed poems.

You should include what you actually do for a living.Most writers do not work for a living.They do other things to pay the bills.Adding complexity to your bio can be done by mentioning what that is.It might affect the way you are considered.It would have a different effect if you mentioned that you are a lawyer in your bio.

The majority of writers focus on writing.This can be a good thing.That can be difficult as well.Mentioning the same things as every other writer is the biggest pitfall.I once scanned through a literary journal and every single contributor's bio included the fact that they had a Masters of Fine Arts degree.The schools they attended varied, but that single fact kept repeating to me.I removed the fact that I have an MFA from my bio after reading all of the bios.

There are too many literary journals that you have been published in.This seems like a good problem to have when you first start.The most recent or prestigious journals should be included in your biographical statement after your work has been published.

It would be boring to include all of them.I never include the names of more than 5 literary journals.I usually limit it to three.

Some authors don't mention the names of literary journals they've been published in.Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to literary journals.It would be better to name the three best literary journals you have been published in than to refer to all of them.

There are two examples of biographical statements of less than 50 words.

Maria Smith lives in the Pacific Northwest.Her work can be found in Tin House, The Liner, and Tidelines.Her second book is called Pancakes for Dinner.

Joshua Thomas is a poet, editor, and recovering New Yorker who now lives in Idaho.Joshua wrote a sonnet for 24 hours straight.He likes to hike, cook, and read.

One interesting personal fact is my ideal bio fact.The area where writing and life intersect is where the rest of the bio should be.I include a link to my website in my bio.Readers who like my writing can learn more about me.

I use my bio for a year after I write it.Most of the time, I submit the same bio.I write a new one after a year.

It is important to remember who is looking at the bio.If they do blind submissions, the editor might not see your bio until after the issue is published, and then the readers of the literary journals.

To appeal to both the editors and the readers, you want your bio to be short and professional.It gets a lot easier when you have time and practice.