One of the things that rarely, if ever, gets discussed in creative writing classes or how to write books is presentation, and I don't mean simply making sure your manuscript is formatted properly. No, I mean the nuts and bolts of what goes into a good submissions packet.

Your submissions packet, whether it's a simple one page query, or a query, synopsis, author bio, and first three chapters of your magnum opus, are like the clothes you were to a job interview. You wouldn't sit down with a prospective employer in a pair of ragged jeans and a tee shit right? Not even if those clothes JUST came out of the laundry, right?

No. you'd take time to choose the clothes that would make the best impression on the potential boss and you'd learn what they expect from their workforce. You want to look like you already belong at that job before you even shake hands with the guy or gal with whom you're interviewing.

Submitting content is exactly the same, and I know some of you are saying "my god not another rant about market research, we know already…" But that's not it. I mean the literal nuts and bolts of what you put into your submissions packet or query letter. And it goes beyond even the really basic stuff like, did you spell the editor's name correctly and did you include a word count? No, I mean, writing a grabber of a lead sentence, crafting an effective synopsis and outline, and writing a bio that makes you seem interesting. But that's a whole lot for one commentary, so let's focus just on the "about the author" bits.

I say "makes you SEEM interesting" because I'd wager the vast majority of us are somewhat modest, and don't lead an Indiana Jonesesque life of legerdemain and derring doo. But we have to say something, right? And that something better be worth reading.

Here's what I include in my submission packets just to give you sense of what I'm talking about –

Jeffrey R. DeRego earned a degree in English Literature and European History from New England College in 1995. He worked for two years as a columnist and reporter in Manchester, New Hampshire while working full time as an Instructional Designer, Editor, and Multimedia Course Developer for a telecommunications training company. His column, Beat 13, was twice nominated for the New Hampshire Small Press Awards.

I mention my accomplishments first, college degrees and some relevant real-world experience. I emphasize that I worked on a weekly column because it shows I can meet real-world deadlines, I mention that I was a reporter to show a history of conducting research. Both of these things are important if you're planning to do any sort of long form professional writing. Publishers, Agents, and Editors don't necessarily buy your book, they buy you, and what I mean is they buy the fact that you will write more than just the book about which you've queried. They don't necessarily want just a book that will earn them money, they want an author that will write many books and earn them lots of money.

And you have to convince them that you are just that author.

Jeffrey R. DeRego began writing fiction at age 22 and has published short works in Henniker Review, Lost Worlds Magazine, Flashquake, and multiple times in Escape Pod: The Science Fiction Podcast Magazine.

The next bit shows my writing and publishing history. I don't go into tremendous detail here because it's not so necessary. The details will be in your cover/query letter. So, if that's the case then why is it important to say I've been writing since I turned 22? Simple, it shows a dedication to the craft.

Jeffrey R. DeRego was born in the seaside city of New Bedford, Massachusetts and currently lives in Derry, New Hampshire with his wife Cindy, son Ian, and daughter Margaret. When not practicing Iaido and Hapkido, Jeff is usually buried in samurai movies, cartoons, and punk rock CDs.

Finally, I put in a bit about my personal life, wife kids, pets, home town, and any activities that might make me seem more interesting. I chose my martial arts background for this because, like with the awards stuff and the writing history stuff, it shows discipline and dedication to an art while the family stuff shows that I'm pretty normal. Finally, in this last bit I mention two literary references, Derry, NH and New Bedford, MA… The references are for Robert Frost and Herman Melville. Why? Well, for one I am proud of both my hometown and my current town for their literary history, and two it's a polite way of name-dropping, and also suggests I am a reader.

And if you're a writer, you've got to be a reader, or at least look like one.

Oh, and one final note, you'll notice that my About the Author stuff is all third person, and admittedly writing about yourself in third person ramps up the "this feels funny" factor by about a million. Still, put yourself in the place of a reader who just picked up your book, what you want them to know, you want the editor to know too.

And as a person who has torpedoed more than one job by running my mouth like an idiot savant with the gift of gab, remember that a good about the author should make the editor comfortable with you, but not necessarily want to come to your birthday party because you share a love of Godzilla movies. Be concise, be moderately honest, and be professional, these are the three-Be's of a good About the Author.

Be, Be, Be seeing you!

(c) 2007 Jeffrey R. DeRego