Chris Webb

So, tell me a little something about yourself…

A good bio tells your prospective publisher you who are, and why you are uniquely suited to write your book. In fact, the bio should be tailored to your book’s topic, expressing your expert qualifications in the field. When you write this section of the proposal, consider the following advice:

1. Write your bio as if I was going to copy and paste it onto the back cover of your book.
2. Consider providing a short and an extended biography.
3. Tell me why you are qualified to write your book.
4. Be sure to include where you work and what you do if it’s pertinent, some of the big clients you may have done work for, and any certifications you may have.
5. Finish it off with a personal bit such as your hobbies, or something about your family

Here is an example that includes many of the suggestions above:

Chuck Freedman is the Sr. Flash Developer for Yahoo! Maps, leading development for both the consumer and API versions of the Flex-based Map application. With a Communications degree in Film and Television from Boston University, Chuck’s development approach combines his education in multimedia with expertise in content management, server-side scripting and database and interactive design.

In recent years, Chuck has produced some of the most highly visible dynamic Flash content, developing modules for the homepages of eBay, eBay China and Fidelity. Born in Boston, Chuck relocated with his wife Jamie to sunny Santa Clara, CA to join Yahoo! in 2005. Still a season ticket holder, he is planning many trips back east to see his beloved Red Sox win another World Series.