You may be wondering, “Do literary agents really read query letter bios?”
The answer: Yes, they do!
And if you want to catch their eye, your query letter needs an interesting bio section.
Agents often skim through most of a query letter, but they pay close attention to the bio section. This is where they evaluate your credentials and your potential as a marketable author.
In this post, you’ll see the most important features that should be in your query letter bio. This guide will help you write a query letter bio that stands out in a crowded inbox by making your professional background, writing experience, and personal touch work together to leave a lasting impression.
What Is a Query Letter Bio?
The query letter bio section is a professional summary of your writing qualifications. It’s a short section that provides the literary agent with insight into your writing career. It shows agents and publishers that you are a professional human being and not a bot.
Typically, your bio is one paragraph in length and comes at the end of your query letter, right before you thank them for their time and consideration. It should be brief, yet clear and concise, and should include your writing credentials, including any courses, workshops, awards, publications, and any other literary achievements you have.
Keep in mind that your query letter has one goal: to make the agent want to read your manuscript. Your query letter bio’s goal is to show them why you are the best person to write the book.
What Should a Query Letter Bio Include?
It’s important to remember that when you’re writing your query letter bio, relevance is key. Only include things that are relevant to your book and your future writing career. Here are some things your bio should include:
Professional Background
If you work in a job that is somehow linked to the topic of your book, include it in your bio. This shows that you are knowledgeable in that area and can be a good marketing tactic for your book.
Education
This is optional, but if you have a degree that is relevant to your book’s theme, include it as well. For example, if you studied psychology and your book is a psychological thriller. Just like including your relevant job, this can also show that you know what you’re writing about. (Another good marketing angle!)
Writing Experience
Include things like:
- Being short-listed or long-listed in any writing competitions
- Published short stories in paid markets
- Any professional writing work (paid)
- Successful self-publishing (Only relevant if you’ve sold thousands of copies of your book and have thousands of reviews. Otherwise, just leave it out.)
- Any organizations you are a part of (This shows how serious you are about your writing career.)
Personal Touch
If you have hobbies or interests relevant to your book, write those as well. It’s considered research! For example: you love watching true-crime documentaries and reading true-crime books and you’ve written a crime fiction novel.
Platform
If thousands of readers and fans follow you online, list the number of followers and where they follow you. For example: a blog, YouTube channel, social media, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Depending on your genre, not all of these are relevant. You may want to include some of these, but it’s best to avoid including these things in your query letter bio:
Listing Your Writing Journey
There are things you don’t need to highlight in your bio about your writing journey, such as:
- how long you’ve been writing
- how many drafts you’ve written and edited
- how you’ve improved as a writer
- the number of rejections you’ve had
Writing Your Opinion About Your Book
Your book’s themes should shine through in your writing, so you don’t need to mention these in your letter. Nor do you need to talk about why wrote the book, what it’s based on, or how you felt while writing it.
Listing Writing Groups/Beta Readers/Freelance Editors
It’s common for writers to be in writing groups, either online or in person, and many writers have beta readers to give them advice on their work. There’s no need to list these things in the bio section of your query letter.
Also, if you’ve worked with editors or received professional feedback on your manuscript, there’s no need to write about that either.
Sharing Pen Names
Sharing pen names in your bio makes it look like you’re assuming your book is going to get published. Unfortunately, that may not happen. Since you’re in the beginning stages of publishing, it’s best to save ideas for pen names for when you’re signed on with an agent/publisher.
Writing About Your Personal Life
Your query letter is about making the agent want to read your book, not about your personal life or your family. However, if your personal life is relevant to your book, then it’s okay to mention it. For example, if you’re a medical examiner and your book is a crime story, then it’s okay to mention that. It shows you’re an expert in the field and you know what you’re talking about from personal experience. However, avoid including irrelevant job histories.
Also, leave out any random interests, such as how many books you’ve read, and hobbies that aren’t related to your book. If you’re writing a horror novel, your agent doesn’t need to know that you crochet on the weekends.
Example Author Bio
As a dedicated Christian writer, I have a passion for exploring the intersections of faith, hope, and divine guidance. I hold a degree in Creative Writing and have been an active member of the church community for over 15 years, contributing to various ministries and outreach programs. I’ve written several devotionals for church Bible study groups. With a background in religious studies, I bring a unique perspective to the spiritual journeys depicted in my writing. Personal experiences inspire my debut book, Divine Intervention, and a deep desire to share the transformative power of faith with readers worldwide. I live in Virginia with my family, where I continue to write and inspire others through my faith-based storytelling.
You can see that in just a little over 100 words, I’ve included my professional background (religious studies, contributing to various ministries and outreach programs), education (degree in Creative writing), writing experience (written several devotionals), and a touch of my personal life (live in Virginia with my family).
Tips for Writing an Interesting Query Letter Bio
- Don’t be too vague. Be specific about your achievements and experience.
- Use a professional, yet approachable tone. Avoid sounding too formal or impersonal. Remember, agents and publishers need to know you’re a person.
- Research the agent so you can customize your bio to align with their interests and preferences.
- Keep it short. Query letters are usually no longer than 300 words, so make sure your bio isn’t overdoing it.
- Write in first person. You’re addressing the agent directly, so your bio section needs to sound like a letter, not the author section on the back of your book.
- Put your bio at the end of your query letter after you’ve made your pitch and introduced your book.
- Don’t brag about how many people love your book and write about how you’re positive it will get published and sell thousands of thousands of copies.
- Remember that you’re trying to sell yourself, so don’t be negative about your work or say anything detrimental. (Negativity is a major turnoff.)
Conclusion
Writing a good query letter bio is an important step in capturing the attention of literary agents. It’s your opportunity to show off your qualifications, experience, and unique voice, demonstrating why you are the perfect person to bring your book to life. By including relevant professional background, educational credentials, and writing achievements, and by avoiding common pitfalls, you can create an interesting bio that stands out. Remember to keep it concise, specific, and personable. With the right approach, your query letter bio can make a significant impact and move you one step closer to achieving your publishing goals.
Now that you know what to include and what to avoid, you are prepared to write a bio that will leave a lasting impression on any literary agent!
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