An author bio is a necessity — but how do you write one?

Here are some tips on writing a killer author bio:

• Write in third person and present tense: “John Doe is an award-winning author,” not “I won several awards.”
• Add relevant facts only: Do include awards you’ve won, professional organizations you belong to (if they fit with your book, that is), and experience you’ve had. Never mind where you live or how many pets you have (unless you’re writing about pets, of course).
• Keep it short and sweet: A short to medium bio should be one paragraph, and a shortish one at that.
• Layer it: Start with the most relevant facts and end with your contact information.

As with everything else in the writer’s world, practice makes perfect.