On Bio’s…

Am I the only one who hates writing about themselves?

Ok, let me clarify. I’m not talking about the kind of writing where I am telling a story about my life, I’m talking about those little bits of information where I am telling others about myself in online bio’s. Or as I like to call it, bragging about yourself. Ok, I just made that up… but meh.

And no. I’m not talking about online dating site bio’s, even though I hear people struggle with that all the time. I’m talking about that little box that you can find right now, down at the very bottom of this post, where I am telling you about who I am in a much shorter version than what is posted above it (I mean here, just in case you missed that).

But anywho… 

A few days ago, I wrote an article for John Robins site Epic Fantasy Writer’s (if you are big into epic fantasy stuff, it’s a great site to check out and as it’s just in the birthing process, please check it out, please) and I was forced to write a bio for my article. I labored over that process and eventually came up with something that remotely passed for one.

Remotely. As in barely. As in… come on, why do I need to write about myself?

I’ve had to do this on a few occasions and I have read some tips and tricks on how to write one of these that is semi-professional, but I tend to fail at it as I really do hate writing about myself (just in case you forgot I said that a hundred words ago).

When faced with this daunting task, I feel like I am back in the Navy having to write an eval. I’m told to use words that sound impressive, to sell myself, to make it grandiose and larger-than-life. So, in a word… lie.

That just doesn’t seem right? Does it?

Sure, I am a creative writer. It’s my job (not that I get paid for it… yet) to piece together words and form a story, so should I have such an issue with this? Or better yet, why do I have such an issue with it?

Maybe somethings broke in my head.

Or, as is more likely the case with anyone who has issues with this, I see myself much more harshly than the rest of the world. I see my flaws, I see my shortcomings, I see my failures and they all add up to an image that is very hard to write in a positive light. Could you imagine if I wrote the real me in a bio?

R.Todd is a middle-aged man who struggles with his faith and coming to grips with the fact that he might have missed the chance to follow his dreams, and now is struggling to make up for lost time, all the while attempting to make sure that those who he loves don’t feel the brunt or hurt from his own inner demons that torment him daily. Oh, and death is always present, a constant reminder of how fragile his life really is.

Honest? Absolutely. But is it the kind of thing you would want to read about someone who’s article, story or book you just read and were amazed by? You are amazed by my writing, right?

So, instead, I write something that is witty, funny, or deflecting away from myself, as is my nature when I feel like things are getting a bit too close or real. Or I list mundane facts about my life, default to the most prevalent and popular addition of how I am a servant to my cats, or spin a positive twist into the books that I am hoping to one day complete and publish.

All in the name of a good bio.

Hrmph.