Writer's Resources

The Writer's Toolbox

Writing the story is only part of a writer's journey. Eventually, we will explore some of the tools writers use when they're ready to send their work out into the world: query letters, synopses, sample pages, book proposals, and finding publishers or agents who might be the right fit.

We'll take our time with all of that. One step at a time.

But why wait to start playing with some of these ideas?

Try This: Meet Yourself in the Third Person

You spend plenty of time writing about other people. Now, turn the page around.

Pretend you're not you.

Write a short introduction to yourself as though someone else wrote it.

Instead of:

I write stories about ordinary people who find themselves in very strange situations.

Try:

Jane Smith writes stories about ordinary people who find themselves in very strange situations.

Pick Your Challenge

25 words — The Quick Introduction
Who are you?

50 words — The Writer Behind the Words
What do you write? What draws you to it?

100 words — Meet the Storyteller
Give us a glimpse of the person behind the page.

Now, Break a Rule

Write it again—but this time, let your third-person self become slightly larger than life.

Jane Smith writes stories from a kitchen table perpetually occupied by cold coffee, unfinished characters, and one extremely judgmental cat.

Make yourself mysterious. Funny. Dramatic. Odd. Completely serious. Try something you normally wouldn't.

It's your third-person self. See who shows up.

Why Are We Doing This?

Because someday someone may ask you for an author bio.

Writers use author bios when submitting work, publishing a story or poem, appearing at an event, creating an author page, and introducing themselves to readers.

So, yes—we're playing.

We're also practicing.

And somewhere between the two, we might discover something about the writer behind the words.

Ready to give it a try?

Use our Share Your Writing page when you're ready to send yours our way.