What's A Bio?

As executive editor of Starsongs magazine, one of my responsibilities is to obtain a bio from Starsongs contributors. After I sent out the request for bios, I realized that some young writers, being published for the first time, might not know what a bio is.

Readers are fascinated to know about the person who wrote the stories, poetry, articles, etc that they read. That is the purpose of a bio. It tells your readers about you, the writer. As you write your bio, consider the things you believe your readers would like to know about you.

A bio is usually limited to a certain number of words, so include the facts that are most important and that relate to your work. Let's create a sample bio:

Jane Doe is a high school student at Anywhere High School in Somewhere, New State. She lives on a ranch with her mom and dad and four brothers and two sisters. Jane likes to ride horses and take care of them. She also helps her mom and dad by feeding the chickens and gathering the eggs every day. She has been on her school basketball team for three years. Last year, her team went to state. Jane wants to go to college and be a veterinarian after she graduates. She likes to write short stories and won a county short story contest in fifth grade. She visits her aunt and uncle in New York City every summer.

Okay, all of the things that Jane has written are important to her and her life. However, this bio is 117 words and the editor has asked for no more than 50 words. Uh-oh! That means 67 words need to be cut out of this paragraph!

Let's take a look at the things that are most important to the reader. Where you live and your approximate age, as well as your writing history are usually of interest. However, the fact that Jane won a short story contest and has submitted a short story to the magazine tells the reader she likes to write short stories, so "she likes to write short stories" can be eliminated. Five words gone, 67 more to go!

The other facts mentioned in this bio can be kept or eliminated depending on the type of story Jane wrote. If her story is about horses, then the information that she lives on a ranch and works with horses would be relevant. The fact that she plays basketball would not, nor that she visits her aunt and uncle in New York City every summer.

Suppose Jane has written an essay about basketball, Now her participation on her school basketball team and in state competition would take precedence over the fact that she lives on a ranch. The sentences about fishing and gathering eggs from the chickens are not necessary at all unless Jane's story is about her battle with an attack hen! Neither is the fact that she visits family in New York City every summer, unless she wrote a story about the difference between country and city life, for example.

When limited to a word count, consider the aspects of your life that relate to the subject of the work you have written. Speak to the here and now instead of the future. Therefore, "Jane wants to go to college and be a veterinarian after she graduates" is not important at this point in time.

Always write you bio in third person. In other words, write "Jane Doe is...." instead of "My name is Jane Doe and I...". It may seem strange to write about yourself in third person, but this makes your bio sound more believable. No one likes to hear someone brag on themselves, but if someone else is bragging about you, then it's more easily accepted!

As always, be careful what you reveal about yourself. When you present your information in a bio, hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people may read it. Don't ever give out anything personal, such as your street address or telephone number. It is best to make general statements, such as the city and state where you live, or if in a small town, the name of your state only. Don't mention the specific school that you attend. Your grade or level of school is plenty.

A bio is a great way to tell your readers a lot about yourself in just a few words. It is also an opportunity to let people know your accomplishments and the things that make you special.

Happy writing!

Where Did They Get That Idea?

Ever read a really good story, then wonder where the idea for it came from?

Where do authors get those ideas?

Ideas are all around us.

Take a look at your friends and imagine how they would handle different situations.

Listen to a conversation held in a public place, like the grocery or convenience store. Even though you may catch just a snippet, you can build a situation where that conversation would fit and write your story from there.

Think of a conflict or problem you have encountered in your life and how you solved it, then make up a story about it.

Write about a place that you know about, such as your home town or somewhere you have visited on vacation.

Create a fantasy world of your own!

Take incidents that have happened to you and add a few fictitious characters.

There are always interesting stories that can lead to great ideas on the news and in the newspaper.

Talk to a person who has a unique interest or hobby.

Build a story around a special event in your town or tradition in your family.

Just remember that fiction is not true, so don't use real people in your stories without their permission!

We'll talk about developing characters for your fiction stories next time.

Happy writing!

Interview With Justus Stewart

Hi Justus. Welcome! I'm so glad to have you here.

I am glad to be here.

Justus, you have a series of three books published. That's quite an accomplishment for a young man of 12 years. Tell us a little bit about your story line.

Well, it is a fantasy fiction about a young king called Kyle Oaks from the planet Nighta who ends up going to Earth after the evil Dr. Larry erased his memory to take over his throne. King kyle has to figure out who he is and how to get back to Nighta. Along the way he meets new friends on Earth. In the three Kyle Oaks books, King Kyle and his friends have to keep figuring out his new enemines to save his throne. The ending of the trilogy really caught my fans off guard. They told me they never expected it to end the way I wrote it.

Where did you get the ideas for your stories?

It first started off as a comic strip I started when I was nine years old. I noticed kids my age did not read as much as I did. After I met Russell Banks at a booksigning, I decided if I turned Kyle into a fantasty book, maybe kids would start reading more. I was already reading Narnia, Harry Potter, and the Hobbit at the time. My friends told me that those books were too big. I thought if I could write books smaller, then they would read it. I always felt that reading is how you gain knowledge.

What kind of other stories do you have in mind to write?

Honestly, none at this time. I did write a poem that was published in our local paper and I put it in the third Kyle Oaks book, Traitor on Nighta called Taking a Bath in Tragedy. It's about how I felt about the Iraq War. I am more into making videos and movies. I do write short scripts for the movies, though. So I am still writing, but just not books at this time.

What do your classmates think of you as a published author?

At first, they were excited and happy for me. They knew I was writing a book and wanted to become published. But now, they are used to me being an author and like to read my scripts and help act in my short movies.

When you grow up, would you like to be a full-time writer, or do you have another career in mind?

Writing is something I will always do.When I have an idea, I write it down as a script or a song, since I can play the guitar, piano, saxophone, and am learning to play drums. Right now I am working on also being a songwriter. So I guess I am working on being a director or songwriter.

I understand you donate a portion of your sales to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Does this particular charity hold special significance for you?

I donate some money, but also send them small toys, coloring books, and other books I have bought with the money I made with Kyle Oaks. I also do the same with Vermont Children's Hospital. Two reasons, one is because when I was in Kindergarten, I had rotavirus and spent many weeks there. I felt really bored. That is when I first started to read a lot. I know how it feels to be stuck in a hospital for a long time. Second, my sister Angel was born just under two pounds and spent a lot of time in the Burlington Hospital. So if I send them money, books, and toys, I feel I can help the kids pass the day away and keep reading. I wish I could do more for St. Jude's and VCH.

Tell us how you happened to recieve letters from some very important people, including President Bush and the governor of New York.

Not long after being published and trying to get kids to read more, I got a proclamation from New York State. I think Assemblywoman Betty Little must have seen a news report and told members of the NY senate what I was doing. I figured if someone as important as her paid attention to what kids do to make our future better, then why not send copies of my books to the governor of New York and President Bush with a letter explaining to them to not cut fundings to schools but to increase funding so kids can have better education. In return, I recieved letters from them, thanking me for encouraging kids to read more. I learned this is also a good way to get autographs from some celebrities I like. I sent an autographed book to someone I wanted an autograph back from. In some cases it worked and others did not. But, you win some and you lose some. Ha!Ha!

What age group is your target audience?

9-11 years old, but many adults have written or told me how much they enjoyed reading Kylle Oaks.

Where can we order copies of your books?

You can order them from any bookstore. They can be ordered on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and thousands of other web sites world wide. Sometimes I get a book mailed to me asking me to autograph it for them or to someone. I am always happy to autograph Kyle Oaks. I am very proud of how it all turned out. I sign kyle Oaks with 'Enjoy Reading'. I hope everyone can enjoy reading, whether it is Kyle Oaks or another book, a magazine, or a newspaper, as long as they read.

Justus, thank you so much for a great interview!