Writing a biography is a fun way to share your story, and it's great to hear what other people have to say about you. Whether you want to write a professional biography or for the purposes of applying to college, the process is actually quite simple.
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Method 1 of 3: Writing a Professional Biography
Step 1. Identify your goals and target audience
Before you start writing, you need to know who you want to read your biography to. Biography is the first self-introduction to these readers. A biography should immediately and effectively convey who you are and what you do.
The bio for your personal website may be very different from the bio you would write for a university application. Adjust your writing style so that your biography sounds formal, fun, professional, or personal
Step 2. Look at examples aimed at your target audience
One of the best ways to understand a potential reader's desires is to look at examples from other people's biographies. For example, if you want to write a professional biography for your website to market yourself and your skills, visit similar sites created by other people in your field of work. Watch how they describe themselves and determine what their strengths are.
Some great places to study professional biographies are websites, Twitter accounts, and LinkedIn profile pages
Step 3. Narrow the scope of your information
Be cruel-–you may even have to delete your most interesting anecdote. For example, an author's biography might mention his past accomplishments in writing, while an athlete's biography on his team's website often mentions height and weight. While these things are common, make sure they don't become a big part of your biography.
Remember that your credibility is what matters. While it's perfectly fine if you enjoy going out to bars with friends on the weekends, this information may not be appropriate for advertising in your biography, aimed at finding work. Make sure the details you enter are relevant and informative
Step 4. Use third person point of view
A third-person point of view will make your biography sound more objective-as if it was written by someone else-and so can be useful in a formal setting. Experts recommend that you always write a professional biography from a third-person perspective.
For example, start your biography with something like "Joann Smith is a design designer based in Boston," instead of "I'm a designer living in Boston."
Step 5. Start with your name
The name is the first thing you should write down. Assume that the people reading your biography don't know you at all. Give the full name you want, but avoid using nicknames.
Example: Dan Keller
Step 6. Write down your claim of success
Why are you famous? What are you doing? How much experience or expertise do you have? Don't state this at the end of the biography or leave the reader guessing, or they'll soon lose interest. These things must be stated explicitly in the first and second sentences. Usually, combining your achievements and your name is an effective trick.
Dan Keller is a columnist for The Boulder Times
Step 7. List your most important accomplishments, if any
If you've had any relevant achievements or awards, list them all. However, be aware that this is not necessarily easy and can be used in all situations. Remember, a biography is not a curriculum vitae. Don't just list all your accomplishments; explain one by one. Your readers may not know about the achievement, unless you explain it to them.
Dan Keller is a columnist for The Boulder Times. His follow-up, “All that and More”, published in 2011, earned him the “Up-and-Comer” award for his innovation.”
Step 8. Enter personal, human details
This is a good way to get the reader's attention. Apart from that, this trick is also your chance to convey your personality. However, don't be too self-deprecating and mention details that are too intimate or could embarrass both you and the reader. Ideally, choose details that can serve as conversation starters if you meet real-life readers.
Dan Keller is a columnist for The Boulder Times. His follow-up, “All that and More”, published in 2011, earned him the “Up-and-Comer” award for his innovation. When he's not sitting at a computer screen, he spends time tending the garden, learning French, and trying his best not to become the worst pool player in the Rockies club
Step 9. Summarize information about all the projects you have undertaken in your profession
For example, if you are an author, state the title of the book you are working on. Make sure this information is only one or two sentences long.
Dan Keller is a columnist for The Boulder Times. His follow-up, “All that and More”, published in 2011, earned him the “Up-and-Comer” award for his innovation. When he's not sitting at a computer screen, he spends time tending the garden, learning French, and trying his best not to become the worst pool player in the Rockies club. He is currently writing a memoir
Step 10. Provide your contact information
This information is usually given in the last sentence. If your biography is going to be published online, be careful with your email address, as it can get you sent a lot of spam messages. Many people write their e-mail addresses on the internet this way: greg (at) fizzlemail (dot) com. If possible, also provide some other means of contacting you, for example through your Twitter or LinkedIn page.
Dan Keller is a columnist for The Boulder Times. His follow-up, “All that and More”, published in 2011, earned him the “Up-and-Comer” award for his innovation. When he's not sitting at a computer screen, he spends time tending the garden, learning French, and trying his best not to become the worst pool player in the Rockies club. He is currently writing a memoir. You can reach him at dkeller(at) email (dot) com or on Twitter via @TheFakeDKeller
Step 11. Write a biography of at least 250 words long
A biography so far is considered adequate enough to tell your life and personality, without boring online readers. Don't write a bio that's longer than 500 words on your profile.
Step 12. Reread and edit
Usually a written work is not perfect in its first publication. And, because a personal biography describes only a small part of a person's life, as you reread your biography, you may notice information that you forgot to include.
Ask a friend to read your biography and provide feedback. This is important because that person can tell whether the information you convey is clear or not
Step 13. Keep your biography up to date
Read back and update your biography every few moments. By doing this regularly, you won't have to work hard to rewrite your bio when you need to.
Method 2 of 3: Writing a Biography to Apply for College
Step 1. Tell me something
The arrangement described above probably won't apply to most college entrance exams: although the style of the biography, which is usually requested simply, will make it easy for you to write this biography, know that the main point to consider is that you need to stand out. The best way to do this is to tell something, instead of highlighting a few key facts. There are many story structures to choose from, including:
- Chronological: This arrangement follows the order of events from first to last. This arrangement is the most direct, but it is effective if you have experienced an interesting event, which made you change/move from point A to point B to point C, in an unusual or memorable way (for example, you've actually made it through very difficult event).
- Circular: This structure begins at an important moment or brings a climax (D), then goes backwards (back to A), then explains all the events that lead to a moment (B, C), so that the reader is taken in circles. This structure works well when you want to create a sense of suspense, especially if event D is so weird or unbelievable that the reader won't mind a little twist.
- Zoomed In: This structure focuses on one critical event (for example, C), to tell something bigger. This structure may use some small details from the surrounding environment (a, d) to help direct the reader's attention, although the main story can stand alone.
Step 2. Keep the focus of your bio on yourself
The university wants to hear stories from your life so they can determine if you are the right candidate or not. This means that you should not explain the state of the university trying to fit it into your life.
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The wrong way: "UCSF has one of the best medical departments in the world so that can help me build the foundation for achieving my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor."
The university of course already knows the facilities and programs they run, so don't waste their time. Also, complimenting them just because you want to explain yourself to be more likely to be accepted can make the university lose interest in you.
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The right way: "Watching surgeons work to save my sister's life when she was five years old is something I will never forget. Since then, I've wanted to dedicate my life to medicine. My sister was lucky that her surgeon studied at one of the the best medical department in the country. By following in the doctor's footsteps, I hope one day I can do something meaningful for a family, just as Dr. Heller did for mine."
The narrator's explanations here are on point, personal, and memorable. While this explanation compliments the UCSF facilities in a subtle way, the impression is not that you are trying to curry favor with them.
Step 3. Don't write down what you think the university board wants to hear
Even if you can do it well (usually not, because you're not inspired by the truth), you'll end up looking like hundreds or even thousands of other students using the same strategy. Instead of doing this, talk about the things that are important and real to you. Your life is not very interesting? Focus on the positives in it-tell it without exaggerating it. Dramatizing a story will only make you look ridiculous, especially when compared to some of the fun stories from the life experiences of other applicants.
- Wrong Way: "Reading The Great Gatsby was an important moment in my life because it made me rethink what it means to live in the modern American world. Because of the assignment, I now know I want to study the American World."
- The Right Way: "My family's historical attachment to this country is mediocre. Our ancestors never lived on the Mayflower, or experienced the massacres on Ellis Island, or received amnesty after fleeing from a foreign dictator. We only lived and settled in four states throughout the Midwest, and lived happily there for over a hundred years. That simple thing was something that fascinated me, so I decided to study the American World."
Step 4. Don't try to sound too smart
Your academic prowess will be shown by the results of your entrance test. You also shouldn't use slang or silly language in your essay, make sure your bio clearly states your qualities; don't overdo it with complicated words or your essay will become unfocused. In addition, the new student admissions board examines a large number of essays each year. They must have had enough of seeing someone trying to write long words just to sound smart.
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The Wrong Way: "Because I grew up in an unsupportive family environment, I realized that I always had to work hard and hard and live frugally, and these are the two things I consider the most important in the world, far above all else."
Unless you want to joke, don't do this or you'll look too much.
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The Right Way: "Growing up in poverty, I used to work hard and be frugal. In my opinion, these two things are the most important things in life."
It leaves an impression and gets straight to the point – using short words and sentences.
Step 5. Show, don't tell
This is one of the most important things for your biography to stand out. Many students will state things like "I learned something valuable from this experience" or "I gained a new understanding of thing X." Instead of writing it down, provide concrete details to make your biography more effective.
- Wrong way: "I learned a lot from my experience as a camp counselor." It says nothing about what you actually learned, and is a phrase that hundreds of other applicants will use.
- The Right Way: "After I became a camp counselor, I became more aware of empathy and relationships with others. Now, whenever I see my little sister acting up, I understand how to better help her, without having to sound commanding or controlling."
Step 6. Use the active verb
The "passive form" is when you use a verb that starts with "di-", and this passive form usually makes your sentences longer and unclear. Use active sentences to make your writing more lively and interesting.
Consider the differences between the following sentences: "The window was broken by the zombie " and "The zombie broke the window." In the first sentence, you won't know if the window is already in poor condition. However, in the second sentence, the point is clear: the zombie broke the window and you should run out immediately
Method 3 of 3: Writing a Personal Biography
Step 1. Consider the purpose of the writing
Would you like to write to introduce yourself to a specific group of people, or would your biography provide a brief general introduction to everyone? A biography written for your Facebook page will be very different than a biography written for a website.
Step 2. Understand the length limit of the biography
Some social media sites, such as Twitter, limit your bio to a certain number of words or characters. Make sure you can take advantage of those limitations to make as much impact as possible.
Step 3. Consider the details you want to share
This information will vary depending on your target audience. To write a personal biography, enter details such as hobbies, personal beliefs, and motto. For a biography that's a little "professional" as well as "personal," use details that explain who you are without alienating the reader.
Step 4. Write down your name, profession and achievements
Just like a professional biography, a personal biography should describe who you are, what you do, and how well you do it. However, you can use a more informal writing style than in a professional biography.
Joann Smith is a passionate knitter, who also owns and runs her own paper supply company. She has been in business for over 25 years and won several awards for her business innovation (though never in knitting). In his spare time, he enjoys tasting wine, drinking beer and whiskey
Step 5. Avoid the words “buzzword”
These are the words that are used so often that they become too general and no longer impressive to most people: "innovative," "expert," "creative," etc. Show it through concrete examples, don't just tell it.
Step 6. Use humor to express yourself
Personal biographies are a great time to connect with readers through the use of humor. Humor can help break the seriousness between you and the reader, and show who you are in a few short words.
Hillary Clinton's Twitter biography is an example of a very short biography, which is well written and shares a wealth of information with a sense of humor: "Wife, mother, attorney, women's and children's advocate, FLOAR, FLOTUS, US senator, SetNeg, author, dog owner, fashion icon, official pants lover, loft destroyer, TBD…”
Tips
- Think about the goals and target audience you set in step 1 during the biographical writing process. This will help guide you.
- If you're writing online, don't forget to link to things you mention, like projects you've worked on or personal blogs you manage.
