A couple of weeks ago I had several poems accepted by a fine poetry magazine. The editor asked me for a bio – below 30 words. So I wrote:
Rob A. Mackenzie’s pamphlet collection, The Clown of Natural Sorrow, was published by HappenStance Press in 2005. He blogs at http://robmack.blogspot.com/.
The editor emailed me to say that the bio was too “flat” and could I have another shot at it – certainly, the first time I’ve ever had a bio rejected! The editor is probably right though.
I subscribe to the magazine, so I looked at bios people have contributed from past issues, such as (missing out names):
R. started writing short stories to help her get through the winter.
C. was born on a utility bed in the livin room of a flat in Drumchapel, Xmas Day 1955.
D. has finished novel 2 and hopes one day to finish his first.
W. is the only British poet to read in Shangri-La, Pokhara.
Some bios were like these, others were more ‘normal’ e.g. born in Ztown, published books A, B, and C, and work in such-and-such.
What should go in a bio? Humorous or serious? True or false?
