- Home
- Publishing Knowledge
- I Want to Publish
- Author Biography Guide
Prepare Your Submission
Author Biography Guide
How to prepare a concise, accurate and professional author biography for submissions, book pages, media, events and publisher records.
Your biography should establish relevance without becoming your life story.
Publishers use an author biography to understand who the writer is, what qualifies them to write the book and how they should be presented to readers, media, booksellers and event organisers.
A strong biography is factual, proportionate and suited to the manuscript.
What is an author biography?
An author biography, often called an author bio, is a concise professional description of the writer. It may appear in a submission package, on a book jacket, on a publisher’s website, in publicity material, in festival programmes or in media notes.
Its purpose is not to record every stage of the author’s life. It should present only the information that helps readers and publishing professionals understand the author’s work, authority and identity.
Biography, profile, résumé or autobiography?
| Document | Purpose | Typical Length |
|---|---|---|
| Author biography | Professional introduction for publishing and publicity | 50 to 250 words |
| Author profile | Broader presentation of the author’s work and public identity | Variable |
| Résumé or CV | Detailed record of education, employment and professional history | One or more pages |
| Autobiography | First-person account of the author’s own life | Book length |
Why publishers ask for an author biography
The biography may be used by several departments and professionals:
Understanding relevance
Editors assess the author’s connection to the subject, genre or story.
Positioning the author
Marketing teams use the biography to identify useful themes, audiences and opportunities.
Preparing media material
Publicists use it in press releases, interview briefs and event introductions.
Presenting credibility
Booksellers and retailers use the bio to help readers understand the author.
Author biography versus author note
An author biography is generally professional and factual. An author note may be more personal and may explain the origin of the book, the author’s relationship to the subject or the reason the work was written.
Some books use both. The biography establishes identity. The author note adds context.
Prepare several biography lengths
A professional author should maintain more than one version. Different settings require different amounts of information.
| Version | Typical Use | Recommended Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 25 to 50 words | Contributor notes, short forms and compact event listings | Name, role, principal credential and current work |
| 75 to 100 words | Submission forms, websites and short publicity material | Relevant background, publication and location if useful |
| 150 words | Publisher pages, books and formal submissions | Career context, authority, publications and present literary direction |
| 200 to 250 words | Media kits, proposals and detailed event material | Fuller professional narrative and selected achievements |
| Extended media biography | Interviews, festivals and institutional profiles | Career history, major work, expertise and public relevance |
What to include
Author name
Use the same professional name that appears on the manuscript and submission.
Professional role
State the author’s occupation or area of work where relevant.
Relevant expertise
Include experience, study, research or lived knowledge connected to the book.
Previous publications
Mention published books, journals, essays or other recognised work where relevant.
Awards and memberships
Include only credible and relevant distinctions or professional affiliations.
Current residence
Location may be useful where it relates to the author’s identity, subject or publicity.
What not to include
- A complete life history.
- Unrelated employment details.
- Private family information without a clear purpose.
- Unsupported claims such as “world-renowned” or “celebrated.”
- Political or religious statements unrelated to the work.
- Every course, workshop or certificate ever completed.
- Old information that is no longer accurate.
- Jokes or casual language that may not suit professional use.
Every sentence should help explain who the author is in relation to the book.
Biography guidance by category
| Category | What to Emphasise | What to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Fiction | Previous publications, literary interests, relevant background and current location | Overexplaining personal history or claiming authority over the story |
| Memoir | Relevant life experience, professional background and connection to the subject | Repeating the full memoir narrative |
| General non-fiction | Expertise, professional authority, research and public relevance | Credentials unrelated to the subject |
| Academic | Institutional affiliation, qualifications, research field and publications | Promotional language |
| Children’s books | Relevant work with children, education, storytelling or illustration | Infantilising language or excessive personal detail |
| Poetry | Previous collections, journals, residencies, readings and awards | Abstract claims that do not identify actual work |
First-time authors
A first-time author may not have previous books, awards or media appearances. This is not a weakness that requires apology.
Focus on the author’s connection to the work, relevant occupation, education, research, life experience or present literary activity.
First-time fiction author example
Neha Verma is a teacher based in Jaipur. Her fiction explores family, migration and changing urban life. The House Across the Courtyard is her first novel.
Writing in first person or third person
Submission biographies and book-jacket biographies are usually written in the third person. A first-person version may be suitable for an author website, personal essay or informal platform.
Third person
Arjun Mehta is a civil engineer and writer based in Doha. His work focuses on cities, migration and family memory.
First person
I am a civil engineer and writer based in Doha. My work focuses on cities, migration and family memory.
Using a pen name
Where the author uses a pen name, the biography should normally use that public name. The legal name may still be required privately for contracts, tax records, identity verification and payment.
Discuss with the publisher whether the legal identity should remain confidential.
Professional photograph
Publishers often request an author photograph for the book, website, media and events. Supply a clear, current and high-resolution image.
- Use a simple background.
- Ensure the face is clearly visible.
- Avoid heavy filters and distracting graphics.
- Confirm that the author owns or has permission to use the photograph.
- Provide the photographer’s credit where required.
Author website and social profiles
Include an author website or relevant professional profile only where it is current, accurate and suitable for public review.
Social-media follower counts should be mentioned only where they are relevant to the book and can be stated accurately.
Media biography
A media biography may be longer than a standard submission bio. It should help journalists and interviewers understand the author’s background, current work, expertise and public relevance.
Speaker biography
A speaker biography should be written for oral introduction. It should be concise, easy to read aloud and focused on why the author is qualified to speak at that event.
Speaker biography example
Dr Mira Sen is a historian and author whose work examines migration and memory in twentieth-century South Asia. She teaches at a public university in Delhi and is the author of two books on displacement and identity.
Sample author biographies
50-word fiction biography
Rhea Kapoor is a novelist and teacher based in Bengaluru. Her short fiction has appeared in Indian literary journals. Her work explores family, memory and urban change. The Borrowed Summer is her debut novel.
100-word non-fiction biography
Sameer Nanda is a financial-services professional with more than fifteen years of experience in investment banking and corporate advisory. He writes about work, retirement and personal decision-making. After leaving full-time employment at forty, he began researching how professionals understand freedom, identity and financial independence. His first book examines the emotional and practical realities of retiring early.
150-word memoir biography
Kavita Rao is a physician, educator and memoirist. She trained in Mumbai and worked for more than two decades in community health across rural and urban India. Her writing examines care, family duty, professional identity and the emotional cost of public service. Her essays have appeared in health and literary publications. Her memoir grew from journals she kept during the years she worked in under-resourced clinics. She currently lives in Pune, where she continues to teach and mentor young medical professionals.
Academic biography
Dr Aamir Hussain is Associate Professor of Political Science at Crescent University. His research focuses on federalism, public institutions and regional governance in South Asia. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and contributed chapters to edited academic volumes. His current book examines the changing relationship between state administration and local political authority.
Common biography mistakes
- Writing too much.
- Using vague praise instead of facts.
- Including outdated employment or publication information.
- Listing every qualification regardless of relevance.
- Changing the author name between documents.
- Using different dates or facts across profiles.
- Including private information that should not be public.
- Copying the same biography for every context without adjustment.
Final author-biography checklist
Frequently asked questions
How long should my author biography be?
Follow the publisher’s instructions. A submission bio is often between 75 and 150 words, while shorter and longer versions may be needed for other purposes.
Should I mention my education?
Include it when it supports your authority, subject or professional identity. It is not compulsory for every author.
Should I mention where I live?
Location is optional. Include it when it is useful for identity, publicity, local media or the subject of the book.
What can I write if I have never been published?
Focus on your occupation, experience, interests, research and connection to the manuscript. State simply that the book is your debut where appropriate.
Should I write in first person or third person?
Third person is standard for submissions, books and publicity. First person may be suitable for a personal website or informal platform.
Can I use the same biography everywhere?
Keep a master biography, but adapt the length and emphasis for submissions, books, media, events and websites.
Once your author biography is prepared, review the publisher’s exact submission requirements before sending your manuscript.
Continue Preparing Your Submission
Previous and next guides
Related TGEP Resources
Complete your submission package
Is your author information ready?
The Good Earth Publishers asks authors to provide clear, accurate and current information with every manuscript submission.
Submit Your Manuscript