Conference Prep: Writing a Selling Bio

Writing a Selling Bio:

A writer’s life almost always informs the stories that writer tells, be they fiction or non-fiction. Publishers love to publish capsule bios on the back cover in order to help sell the book, and such bios are also useful on Amazon, Goodreads and the writer’s own website.

However, most writers produce bios that are little more than resumes, a chronological listing of all the writer’s accomplishments. This is especially true among those who have been stand-outs in their fields, such as physicians and lawyers (i.e., professionals) or those who have garnered professional awards in their field, regardless of how little relevance this has to the book. They’ll even include their academic credits and other, less relevant items.

In his program on “writing a selling bio,” Barnett will lead you through the process of determining what to include, what to remove, and how to present what is included – all with an eye toward selling your book – first to an agent and a publisher, and later to individual book-buyers. This presentation will include practical examples of how this works.

HWG is presenting this program in early March to help Las Vegas Writers Conference registrants prepare their own capsule “selling bio” for the agents and publishers they’ll meet at the conference.

Our presenter:

Ned Barnett is the author of 39 published novels and non-fiction books, with number 40 – The COVID Diaries – set to be published in May, 2021. In a writing and promotion career spanning more than four decades, Barnett is now an award-winning marketing and promotion expert.

A passionate writing coach, Barnett successfully helps other authors bring their books from concept to final manuscript, from printers’ galley proofs to bookstores. He is an active and visionary non-fiction and novel developmental editor, as well as a detail-focused copy editor.

Barnett lives in Las Vegas with his wife, Lynn – herself an accomplished author and book editor – along with their cats, Mickey and Lloyd.

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Presentation preceded by group business, announcements, officer reports, and brags. Open to the public. For information visit our website www.hendersonwritersgroup.com