Your Monday mote

Born on the bio

Why is it so hard to write your own bio?

I’m crashing out here as I try to do two seemingly impossible things:

1. Write an ‘About Lisa’ page for my Lisa Marks Media website (kind critique accepted).

2. Edit a 100-word bio for a podcast I’m guesting on (not yet completed as my head is currently exploding).

Sounds simple but both are driving me mad, I tell you!

It’s the same kind of cringe as being asked: “What’s your most attractive quality?”

I don’t know, maybe:

• Not sobbing at the thought of answering this question?

• Being able to name all of the actors in the original Magnificent Seven movie?

• Remembering all the words to the rap in Kylie Minogue’s pop classic, Shocked?

Come back for more insightful answers later.

But seriously, how we see ourselves, and how we think we should present ourselves, are two completely different things.

And throw into the mix the fact that as a writer you’re supposed to be able to process this kind of information without having a full-on breakdown, and the entire endeavour becomes as stressful as trying to find a pair of jeans that fit perfectly.

So, I’m currently (and endlessly) grappling with those pesky 100 words, trying to make myself sound professional, educated and a little bit intriguing. I’m not sure I can meet the brief but it has to be done.

It reminds me of a similar cringe when a magazine would ask for a contributors blurb, which was usually found at the front of the magazine. They’d print a headshot and underneath would be a few words about the article and yourself.

This is one of my all time favourites from back then.

(Enjoy baby-faced Lisa).

Hold on, should I use this instead of something new?

I mean, I am still awaiting my first commission from The Daily Planet, so it’s not completely without merit.

Hmmm…

More next week (you lucky people, you!).

Lois.