Your author bio is everywhere. But you should avoid using weak words that can reduce the effectiveness of author bios.
Poor vocabulary choices can diminish the value of your author’s image by using overused, trite, and hackneyed vocabulary.
Choose powerful words in your bio to send the right message. It is vitally important in building your author platform and reputation.
Avoid the mistake of following the crowd and using tired clichés and habitually collocated adjectives and adverbs.
Weak words to avoid in author bios
My quick list includes weak words (and a prefix) that you might think honestly tell the world about you.
But in reality, they can often be misunderstood or misconstrued.
You can always find better words to use that will convey a more powerful and convincing message.
There are too many words to avoid to list in one blog post.
But I have listed below my five favorite words for replacement or deletion. They can all weaken or diminish the effectiveness of your author bio and reputation.
1. Currently
Currently is a very weak adverb that I have noticed in in many author bios.
Firstly, it’s well and truly an overused word. Secondly, it has the sense of only being about now and very temporary.
By saying that you are currently an ebook author, it makes it sound as if it’s all just a passing phase. It says that you are not all that serious about being an author.
It is one word that you should never use in your author bio. Why not simply say, “I am an ebook author,” and drop the redundant adverb?
2. Ex
This prefix, ex, can give the impression of failure or advancing age. It is certainly not what you want readers to think.
An ex-FBI agent, ex-banker, or ex-journalist can sound a little negative and could infer that you might have been fired.
By using ex, you are probably trying to portray your vast experience. Why not use that better word instead?
An experienced FBI agent, an experienced banker, or an experienced journalist are all true. But they send a much more positive impression about you.
3. Aspiring
Ouch. I see this adjective in author bios far too often for my liking.
It smacks of being unimaginative and having no idea what message you are trying to send to potential readers.
It really is an extremely weak vocabulary choice.
Inspiring, aspiring, budding, and inspirational?
Why not respiring, perspiring, or tiring?
Use some imagination, and avoid copying those who couldn’t be bothered looking for a better word.
4. Dreamer
Writer and Dreamer.
These three words will have you joining the incredibly long list of authors who love using tired old clichés.
It’s often because they are too lazy to use an ounce of imagination.
Potential readers are not silly, so they will probably expect the same lazy use of tired clichés in your writing.
Go on, be daring, and try something new and original.
Writer on the edge? Daredevil writer? A writer who is an absolute wonder at using very clever words?
5. Retired
There are a lot of people who are discovering the pleasure of writing and self-publishing in their retirement.
But you don’t have to tell the world the whole truth.
The word retired sounds old, tired, and that you have nothing else better to do.
Drop this word, and like ex above, and use words that send a stronger message of experience.
Retired policeman? Why not say that you are versed in the criminal mind? A retired banker? Perhaps a battle-scarred financial expert.
Summary
Every author hates writing their author bio.
But using too many tired, overused, and redundant extra words can weaken your image as an author.
All it takes is a little imagination to write a compelling bio that will help you connect with readers.
You won’t need to use a lot of words to write your bio. But pay attention to a few key areas.
Use the active voice and never the passive voice. Also, make sure you use strong verbs. Break up any long sentences into short and sharp ones.
Lastly, don’t add lazy adverbs.
So, get out your thesaurus, check some well-known authors’ bios, and get to work.
It will only take half an hour to make a massive difference in how people perceive you as an author.
Be you, but above all, be original.
Related Reading: How To Write Author Bios And Book Descriptions With AI
I loathe the word “aspiring.” It sounds as if the writer doesn’t trust themselves or worse, is apologetic about writing. Own it! I am a writer. Powerful words.
I just whacked “aspiring” from ,my tagline on FB and Twitter.
I think the basic concept is this. You either are a writer or you are not. People are binary. Keep it simple.
Aspiring implies you are trying to be, but are not quite there.
I don’t want to read something from somebody trying to be, I want to read something by a writer.
Well whacked, KL!
The adverb currently drives me nuts. Always totally redundant and unnecessary.
I do understand this though.
Why use “Currently living” when living does just fine?
Why use aspiring, when you should act like you are a writer. You may not be a professional one yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t write your profile like one. You have made me think about my own professional summary and I am going to rewrite it. Thank you!
Question:
Why should I look for any other word but Aspiring, when aspiring tells me everything I ever need to know about what a person is trying to do?
Oh dear, I use ‘ex’ and retired. I thought I was demonstrating my experience and my age group as the books I write often include instances from my working life and probably do not appeal to under 35s (except for the last one, which might act as a contrast with how relationships are today)
Now I can sit down and rewrite my bio as suggested!
This is so true… I have nothing against Twitter and Pinterest users that use words like “writer and dreamer” or “wannabe novelist” but it is something that catches my eye. Awesome post!