What to put in blurb about self?

[Zoidberg]

I need to write "brief details about yourself" to go with something I wrote - what do I say?? Zoid is in her midthirties and lives by the sea....argh, how to Not be boring but not be kooky? Any help much appreciated. This is to go with a short story btw.

I'vealways thought the ones that said things like"Zoid lives by the sea, with her husband and two sons, three cats and a tortoise. Her hobbies include making bread and eating chocolate." were fine, and don't Out you. Makes you sound ok without being a nutter. Can you tell I read a lot of Chick Lit?

i have written a lot of bios and I tailor them for the publication they are intended. Most places are looking for publishing credits and competition placements. But if you are a beginner - it's perfectly acceptable to write that you live by the sea etc. Do you want to post it here? What kind of place are you pitching it to?

Thanks. I am a beginner, have no previous publications at all so yes I will go for the living by the sea type line, and it will be v short. It is to go in the anthology story is going in. Or I could put jokily that I have previously been published in the International Journal of Cultural Policy.

I Googled and one piece of advice was to include a line that connects you to the subject of the story you've written, do you think that's a good idea? And I wondered about saying where I work, or at least the field, as is possibly interesting/relevant. If people were to Google my name they would find that out anyway.

I guess editor will cut anything they think shouldn't be there?

Adding an element from your story sounds quite good - unless your story is Sarah and The Joy of Serial Killing!

Yes, an editor will ultimately decide - it's all a learning curve.

Well done on the anthology! Now when you write your next bio, you must put that credit in....and that's how you build it up....