Welcome to Issue 75 of Writing and Other Stuff, a newsletter by me, Kim Scaravelli. Every second Wednesday, I share tips on finding your voice, creating content that connects, and enjoying the process. Not a subscriber? Sign up now!
😊Got a brilliant compliment last week!
A prospective client told me they love the About section of my LinkedIn profile. This was lovely to hear, because writing about yourself isn’t easy.
It’s a tricky balance. You want to sound confident without feeling like you’re bragging. You want personality, but not so much that people forget what you actually do. And if you tilt too far in either direction, you either sound like a walking résumé or an oversharing stranger on a long-haul flight.
Most of us struggle with this. It’s easy to downplay your expertise (“Oh, I just help people with words”) or, on the flip side, wander off track until your bio is more about your caffeine habits than your actual work.
So today, let’s talk about that sweet spot - how to write a Bio/About that sounds like YOU, without losing clarity or credibility.
Curious about how I've tackled mine? Here's my LinkedIn page, where you can check out my About section. And here's the About Page on my website, which I've done in bullet-form. May add an FAQ section to that Page at some point, but in general, I like it. Concise is kinda my jam.
Cool Quote
"The trick is to be authentic and honest without oversharing or having verbal diarrhea."
- Mindy Kaling
Something To Try: A Bio Template That Works
If you like the general layout, style, and vibe of the About section from my LinkedIn bio, here’s a simple template to help you craft something similar.
No matter where you are in your career, your bio should highlight what you do, who you help, and why it matters. Below, you’ll find two fill-in-the-blank options for each section: 🔹one for established folks and 🔸one for those in the earlier stages of their journey.
1. Start with a strong opener
🔹 "At its core, my work is about [big-picture purpose] and I love every minute of it."
🔸 "I’m passionate about [industry or skill] because [why it excites you or what drew you to it]."
2. Clearly state what you do & who you help
🔹 "I help [specific audience] [achieve goal] by [your core expertise]."
🔸 "I work with [specific audience] to [solve key problem] so they can [positive outcome]."
3. Highlight experience or what makes you stand out
🔹 "With [X years] in [industry], I’ve worked with [type of clients] to [accomplishment or skill focus]."
🔸 "My background in [related experience, education, or skills] allows me to [key strength or unique perspective]."
4. Add a credibility booster (or a forward-looking statement)
🔹 "I’m the [author/host/founder] of [thing], which helps [audience] [achieve outcome]."
🔸 "I’m currently [building/learning/working on] [thing], with the goal of [impact or future achievement]."
5. Wrap it up with a personal touch
🔹 "Outside of work, you’ll find me [hobby or interest]."
🔸 "When I’m not working, I’m usually [hobby or interest], because life’s too short for just one passion."
🤖 AI can help, but it can’t replace you. If you like, use tools to refine your wording, but make sure your bio still feels human, natural, and uniquely you. READ IT OUT LOUD. If it doesn't sound like, you, keep tweaking!
Stuff Worth Sharing
If you’re stuck in an endless loop of tweaking and overthinking, your sentences might be the real culprit. Before you rewrite your bio for the 47th time, check out my article: How To Tighten A Sentence: 3 Easy Ways To Improve Readability.
For the Word Nerds
Résumé vs. Bio
The word résumé comes from French, where it means summary, which is exactly what it’s meant to be: a factual, concise list of experience, skills, and achievements. No fluff. Just the basics, presented in a well-organized format that's easy to scan.
The word bio comes from the Greek bios, meaning life, which makes sense. Because a bio isn’t just a list of what you’ve done. It’s about who you are, why your work matters, and how it connects to the people you serve.
If a bio feels stiff, transactional, or lifeless, it’s usually because it’s leaning too much toward résumé territory - listing facts instead of telling a story. A few small tweaks can shift it from summary to something that actually sounds like you.
A résumé tells people what you do. A bio makes them care.
Thank you for your time. See you again on March 24th. In the meantime:
👉Need a way to make your voice stand out that won't add to your stress? My Free Brand Voice Course is designed to be gentle but effective. No elbows required!
👉Email me your thoughts on this issue. Feedback makes me happy!
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