So I have to write my bio today, that thing that describes me on the back of my book. Somehow, as soon as I heard that, my mind went completely blank, as if I knew nothing about myself.
Serious or silly? Short, for sure. But just how boastful or loony should I be? What, if anything, in my life, is really relevant? What would folks actually care about?
This is a good problem to have, don't get me wrong. It's thrilling to think that info about me will appear on a book by me. It's mind-boggling, in fact. But I find it hard to describe myself. Tall, red hair, prone to using a long word when a short one will do...
A friend on Facebook suggested I do a bio from the POV of a tiger. Very cool idea! However, after writing something like: "Nina Berry smells like cantaloupe and single malt scotch," I thought better of it.
Another friend offered to write it for me. But I've known her since sixth grade, and she knows waaaaay too much about me. I mean, we used to sing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" after French in the most hideous high pitched tones and imagine certain teachers who shall remain nameless dressed in giant rubber bunny suits, for crying out loud.
Sigh. Off to try to find a balance between giant rubber bunny suits and "I went to college in Chicago." Wish me luck.
2 comments:
At the risk of being self-promotionally douchey, I wrote about this same thing here: http://jenkleinbooks.com/2011/07/05/bio/
There's just no good way to do it without feeling like a jerk.
But good luck to you -- and keep in mind that the fact that you NEED to write your bio is an awesome thing.
Oh, I'm so glad to hear we're in the same boat, Jen! But you're so right - we're lucky that we have to write the darn things.
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