I need your input, if I have to write a biography -

Although this might be difficult for some writers, author biographies should always be written in the third person. In other words, you would say (about yourself): John Smith was born in Easely, South Carolina, and now resides in San Diego. Never write your author biography in first person - it sounds unprofessional and will mark you as an amateur. Besides, who wants to read an author biography that says, I was born in Kentucky and I really hope you enjoy my book?

Where You Live

Your author biography should state where you live and where you're from. For example, if you were born in Houston, Texas, say so. However, if you live in a small town that no one is likely to have heard of, it is acceptable to say that you live in the closest major city. I live in Katy, Texas, which is twenty miles west of Houston, so my author biography states that I live in Houston. Your readers will want to know where you live, especially if you write novels based in your hometown.

Previously Published Works

Always include any previously published works that are relevant to the current work. For example, if you have written a book on beginning photography and you've published several articles in Photography Magazine, then you would include the titles of those articles in your author biography. However, if you've only published articles in Parenting, you should leave those out. Publishers and readers only want to know about previously published works that have to do with what you're writing now in your author biography.

Goals & Aspirations

You don't need to include your desire to have ten kids and forty-two grandchildren in your author biography, but your goals as a writer are perfectly applicable. For example, if you are hoping to write novels for young adults, you should put that in your author biography if it is relevant to your current work. Relevance is the key to your author biography; write things that are interesting to readers and publishers of the book or article you are trying to place.

Education

If you have an education, say so, especially if it includes a Master's Degree or a Ph.D. Although all writers are not well-educated, it certainly won't hurt if you are, and be sure to include the school from which you graduated. It is not, however, necessary to include your G.P.A. or the types of clubs and organizations with which you were involved. Listing the name of the school and the type of degree earned is sufficient for your author biography.

When You Have No Credits

If you've never published anything before, don't say so; simply don't mention your publishing history. It is much better to leave it out than to draw attention to the fact that you are a new and amateur author. Instead, focus on your education, your professional experience or other endearing qualities. Leaving out your publishing history might lead the publisher or reader to assume that you are inexperienced, but saying it flat-out will let them know you're unpublished.

Be Brief

An author biography doesn't need to be six pages long; in fact, it shouldn't. Keep the author bio to a few paragraphs - five at most. If you're not sure exactly what it should look like, read some of the author biographies included on the dust jackets of your favorite books at home. You'll find that they are all pretty similar in length and context, which is how yours should be.

Writing your author biography shouldn't be a major undertaking nor a source of undue anxiety. If you really don't think that you're up to the task, as a fellow writer friend to do it for you. He or she can interview you based on the information required for your author biography, then format it into a few paragraphs for you. This is a much better option than worrying about it for months, and you might find that the biography comes out better that way.

Writing the Bio

So here's where we actually get down to it, step-by-step.

1. Your Theme - What is the theme of the work that you're writing the bio for? If it's your body of AC articles, you'll want to look for what your overriding subject matter tends to be. If it's for a novel that you're submitting, brainstorm the individual pieces that make up the plot.

2. Your Expertise - Speaking to the theme of your work, what expertise do you have? A non-fiction writer who is creating books for teachers would be much more effective concentrating on experience they've had working with teachers, degrees and certifications that they've obtained, and success that they've had than listing who they live with and how many pets they have. You want to let people know why your work is worthy of their attention.

3. Line One - Looking at your lists, you'll want to construct the first of 3 sentences for your bio. Line one usually highlights what degrees and certifications the author has (speaking to the theme, if possible). If you don't have a degree, show off the experience you have.

4. Line Two - The second of the 3 sentences in your bio should tell why you are writing the book/articles you're writing, or what prompted you to start writing in the first place. In other words, if you're writing that book on career and motherhood, you might have your second line read, "She is inspired to write for other women, to share her experiences and offer insight."

5. Line Three - Most author's bios are not more than 3 sentences in length. If they're more, it doesn't run past 4 sentences. Seriously, go count for yourself if you want to check. This last sentence is your spot to tell something more personal and/or professional than you have in the previous two. Many, many authors use this line to share the number of children, pets, and whatnot that they write around. The rest of the authors usually use this line to tell what other kinds of writing they've published.

6. Re-read - Go back through your bio and look at what you've jotted down. You might find it useful to go to the last page of a few books in your own shelves and see how it compares to the way your favorite author's bios are written. Then, make sure that the entire piece is written in 3rd person. Yeah, you're tooting your own horn here but you want it to look like someone else is tooting it for you.

Finally, here's a thought if you're not happy with what you're able to factually put into your bio: Write a fantasy one. Not for submitting, of course, but something that you can pin above your desk and look at. What would you like your bio to read eventually? Include the awards, the best-sellers, the degrees and certifications. Then, use this as your daily inspiration; how can you work toward achieving that dream bio today?

When You Have No Credits

If you've never published anything before, don't say so; simply don't mention your publishing history. It is much better to leave it out than to draw attention to the fact that you are a new and amateur author. Instead, focus on your education, your professional experience or other endearing qualities. Leaving out your publishing history might lead the publisher or reader to assume that you are inexperienced, but saying it flat-out will let them know you're unpublished.

my autobiography will start like this

"i was born just outside of wedlock, in the state of confusion, and raised by my mother who bored me."