The Most Challenging Assignment

I've sat here during the last few days working hard on one of those writing assignments I dread. The client is difficult, the subject matter challenging, and the pay...what pay?

What I'm working on is updating my bio. For all the things I can write easily and eloquently about in this world, writing about myself is the subject that causes me the most angst. What should I say? Should I try to sound witty? Or should I be serious and straightforward? Should I employ literary mechanisms? Or go with a to-the-point journalistic style?

I must have rewritten variations of my bio about a half dozen times last year. Each time I tailored it specifically to an article I'd written, or a workshop I'd conducted, or a speaking engagement I'd given.

I can no longer afford the time, redundancy, or inconsistency that comes with continuous rewrites of my professional life story. Although the process itself has helped me to wrangle in  "who I am" on paper, I need to settle in a specific message and overview that doesn't read like War and Peace. I realize now that I need two distinct bios: one that can be used more broadly for my business marketing, speaking gigs, and events, but can be easily tailored when needed; and one for my literary writer self for when I publish essay collections, children's books, or novels.

At one time or another, everyone has to provide a written response to the request, "Tell us about yourself." Here's is a quick formula to help reduce the angst and put your best words (and profile) forward:

• Open with a succinct statement that puts your value statement up front. For example, "Jane Doe is an experienced pony wrangler who enjoys helping horse-loving farmers keep their charges safely and securely in their paddock."

• Follow with a service statement that briefly describes more specifically what you offer or what you do. "Jane offers training and coaching services that combine horse whisperer techniques with proven command discipline modeling."

• Add in your credentials. "Jane is the author of the book, Keep Your Ponies Penned, and delivers weekly advice on her internet radio show, Horses Galore."

• Conclude with final credits. "Jane earned her veterinary science degree at Yucataw University."