“Why is it so hard to write about myself?” the woman lamented. She went on to say that whenever she tried to write about herself, she worried that she sounded self-pitying, overly dramatic, self-absorbed, petty, stupid, and a whole host of other unattractive labels.
Here’s the best attitude to have when writing about yourself: don’t focus on what others may think. Write for yourself and yourself alone.
I tell people how to put into words the story of their personal and professional life—known in the public relations (PR) business as a bio (biography).
Some bios are lengthy, such as memoirs or autobiographies. Other bios are brief, such as the ones you read on a company website. Some bios are private, told only within a journal or diary. And some are public, revealed a bit at a time in blogs or vlogs.
But all bios tell a story.
What exactly is a story? It’s a way to structure information so that the listener feels an impact. A story tells us something significant about someone’s life journey. It conveys emotion and values. It has meaning and purpose.
I show people how to tell their story.
My book, “Write Your Long and Short Bios,” originated as a response to questions and requests for help from the writers and non-writers I’ve worked with during my stints in two separate public relations companies. I’ve also worked with people one-on-one, as a ghostwriter or editor, and within several different writers critique groups. I’ve written more than a hundred short bios and helped several people write their memoirs.
Your bio tells much more about you than a resume or a simple chronology of where you grew up and what your family and career were like. These elements are part of the bio, of course, but they are the skeletal structure, not the flesh-and-blood story.
Everyone has a story, but some are more heroic, riveting and moving than others. The reason stories have such impact is because people learn through experience. A story helps your audience remember and learn something. Facts and bullet points pale next to the person who simply stands before you and tells a story that comes from their heart.
The ideas I offer marry the storytelling techniques of fiction with the complicated and sometimes messy world of nonfiction. Defined as “true stories told through storytelling techniques,” creative nonfiction stories—such as bios—share elements in common with both journalism and fiction.
I share with people the techniques and secrets of the best storytellers, biographers and memoirists. My book and future posts will cover “how to” topics, such as:
- Explore your personal brand
- Find your theme
- Avoid libel
- Stimulate your memories
- Use storytelling structure
- Write your professional one-paragraph bio
- Create your social media bios
If you need to write a short bio right away for a website or other immediate purpose, my YouTube video, “How To Write Your Bio,” gives you a tried-and-true formula as your starting point—and then you may get as creative as your imagination allows!
However, I encourage you to at least start writing your long bio first, before attempting your short bio. The process will give you an in-depth understanding of yourself that will help you make your short bio all the more effective, powerful and rewarding.
Almost anyone who attempts to write their personal story needs encouragement and guidance at some point. Journaling. Scripting. Diary. Memoir. Autobiography. Scrapbook. Ebook. A Blog or Vlog—all can help you understand who you are, what you stand for, what you want, and how to get it.
Writing to yourself, about yourself and for yourself is both healing and empowering.
More than anything, writing helps you think for yourself. And that makes you more powerful in life. The more you write, especially about yourself, the more you discover how to live the way you really want.