Creating an Author Website: The About Page

            In my previous post “Creating a Website: The Homepage,” I discussed the elements you can and should include on the homepage of your author website. The homepage is a vital part of your website, but another part that is just as important is your About page.

The About page is all about you, your writing, and your blog (if you have one). The purpose of it is to give visitors a better idea of who you are and why you write what you write. If a reader loved the book or content you wrote, they will want to know more about you outside of what is written in the About the Author page at the end of the book (though much of the information you use on your website may be used on that page).

Even though it can be a short thing, it can be daunting. Some may struggle to talk about themselves while others try to determine if they are saying too much. The truth is, it can be as long or short as you want it, and it can also be in different formats. In this post, I will discuss what your options are and help you create your About page. At the end, I will include a list of questions you can ask yourself so you can determine what you may want to include in your About page.

Format

            A majority of author websites contain a written About page. Some of them are a simple paragraph you may see at the end of a book, but others are multiple paragraphs long. It depends on what you want to talk about. My About page is three short paragraphs long, and I provide just enough information to give readers an idea of who I am as a person.

            You do not always have to have a written About page though – you can also post a video. One of my college courses had us create a video for our websites explaining why we write what we write, and I have kept it on my website. Though creating a video may be more difficult and take more time, you can connect with readers at a more personal level because they see you, hear your voice, and can have a better understanding of your character. You can create a video for your whole About page or use it for a portion (like explaining why you’re writing).

            Make note also that whether you have a video or not, you must include a picture of yourself! Like I discussed in my last post, providing a picture of yourself is a great way for the reader to become more familiar with you and even your branding.

What to Include

Deciding what to include in your About page is the tricky part. Authors who are already known list their bestsellers or awards, while those who are not as known may include little fun details about themselves. Education (like if you have a BA in English) is another thing you can list, and if you have a teaching position or another job that goes alongside your writing, you can include that as well.

            On my About page, I briefly introduce myself, say what area I live in (which is a common theme among all author About pages), the short story I currently have available, some fun facts like what careers I chose before turning to writing and what my inspirations are, and what authors influence me.

            Another element you may want to include is why you write what you write. You can explain this in a separate paragraph or create a video like I did. Here though, you explain what you write, why you write it, what your goals are, and what you hope readers will get out of it. Whether you’re a fiction or nonfiction writer, you can include this section so people can learn more about your writing.

            Something else I’ve included on my About page (under a different tab) is information about my blog. This acts similar to what I discussed above. I state what I write on my blog, why I write it, and what I hope readers will get out of it. If you have a blog, podcast, or some other platform, you can include a section or separate tab for information about it (and if it’s something outside of your website, include a link).

Here is a list of questions you can ask yourself so you can determine what you want to include on your About page:

·       What is your education (college, degree, honors)?

·       What state / city do you live in?

·       What does a normal writing day look like for you?

·       Have you always wanted to be a writer?

·       How did you decide to become a writer?

·       What do you like to do outside of writing?

·       Do you have another job besides writing?

·       Do you have any other published works?

·       Any bestsellers?

·       Any nominations / awards?

·       Do you have any speaking or teaching positions?

·       What was your debut story?

·       Are you known for anything outside of your writing or teaching / speaking position?

·       Have you been published anywhere else (like on websites)?

·       What are some fun facts about you?

·       What is your goal for writing?

·       What do you want readers to take away from your writing?

·       What is/are your inspiration(s)?

·       What authors / books / movies have inspired you?

You don’t need to include all of these things. Just pick and choose what is important for you and what you think will interest readers or potential agents and publishers. Like I said at the beginning, this is just a good way for the reader to get to know you a little more.

            Don’t let the About page intimidate you. In fact, have fun with it! Share some fun things about yourself if you’d like. The important thing is to show your personality as best as you can. Don’t make it stiff – let your style shine through so even visitors who have not yet read your works can get an idea of your writing style. Like the rest of your website, you want to draw readers in and keep them there.