And when I say might need some work, what I mean is really needs a complete overhaul.
Maybe not so much my “About Me” page. I put legitimate effort into that. Not that I don’t put legitimate effort into everything (Okay. Most things. 95% or so of the time). But I sat and thought long and hard about my About Me page because, as much as I apparently like taking pictures of myself, I don’t actually like writing about myself. What I think needs work is the little subtitle under The Rambling Jour. The hot momma writing a novel thing. Which, catchy as it is, isn’t exactly accurate anymore.
I’m still hot, obviously.
But, said novel? Done! Edited countless times! Ready to be edited again! Why? Just because I’m an overachiever and a perfectionist. Yes. I’ve submitted the first fifty pages and a query to the agent from last Friday (squeal!). But as the 1960s philosophers Sonny and Cher sang, “The Beat Goes On.” La de da dee dee.
Anyway.
In a previous post, where I heavily debated log lines, I came up with this winner in a moment of sarcasm. It is, in all actuality, the TV Guide description of me:
Sassy southern gal changes her clothes a lot, flirts with any man in uniform who stands still long enough, and generally gets caught up in the war and Jeb Stuart.
That’s actually too many characters to fit in the subtitle space. I think.
So I Googled myself. Because really, when you need to know something, where do you turn? Google. And Wikipedia, but although I’m a huge fan of myself, I haven’t hit Wikipedia heights yet.
Anyway, so I turned to Google for some input. When I did a google image search of myself–Heather Hambel Curley–the following results popped up:
- Jeb Stuart
- John Bell Hood
- Cupcakes
- A surprised turtle
- Artillery pieces at Antietam
- The chocolate flan cake I made for Mother’s Day
- One actual picture of my face
When it comes down to it, I can honestly say that yes. I can find satisfaction in photographic association with Jeb Stuart, cupcakes, and surprised turtles.
This doesn’t in anyway help me write a new…whatever it is. Subtitle about myself? Caption? I mean, sure, I guess I could be all dull and boring. Something simple like, “historical fiction author.” But what part of this blog is even remotely dull and boring (the answer you’re looking for is the About My Photos page, but it’s dull and boring. And I don’t think people actually look at it)?
I’m at such a loss. Not even diet Mountain Dew is helping.
You know what’s going to happen. I’ve been sitting here staring at the computer for forty-five minutes and then I’m going to get up and go brush my teeth and BOOM. Caption.
Or, maybe I’ll just leave it as it is. I mean, after all, technically I am writing another novel. And guys, get this, I actually started an outline for it. I have no idea who I am, with this whole plotting-before-writing thing. I don’t do that. But I did! And I feel like it’s totally out of control!
The writer’s bio is a great white void to many an artist. I personally like to have fun with it. 🙂
I agree! My personality and my writing are vibrant–why shouldn’t my bio be the same?? 🙂
LOL @ surprised turtles
I’m in the same predicament…I can write and edit to my heart’s content, but as soon as I try writing anything about myself, I draw a blank and my words get bland. My current bio is about as bland as it gets.
It’s funny, because I was like, “How suprised can a turtle look?” Quite surprised, evidently, lol!
I try to make my bio fun and outgoing because I like to think that’s how I am! It’s not as dull as my “About My Photos” page, but I still think it’s pretty cut and dry. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks to you I Google searched myself…LOL! I, too, found one picture of me…and a zillion of Eartha Kitt…LOL!
LOL, that’s pretty cool though! I actually expected more pictures of me to come up on my search, especially because I post so many of myself, but oddly enough it was just the one. At least it was flattering!
Flattering is important…LOL! 😉
Think up the question(s) that will get you the information you seek i.e. when you think of me as a human being…when you think of me as a writer, etc. and ask several people who know you to answer. Then let how others think of you guide you through the bio process. Keep it short – the general public isn’t interested in what qualifies you, just an interesting look into who you are.
With as much as I generally blog about myself, it’s weird that I have a hard time writing a bio. Maybe it’s because I narrow it down too much and then get with distracted with how uninteresting I am. I narrowed it down to keywords I use a lot with blogging and came up with “awesomely awkward writer who likes cupcakes.” It’s probably true. Maybe not caption worthy, but definitely true!
Gotta say, I love the one you have. It caught my attention and made me smile. Really clever. But so is this entire blog post, so I’m guessing the next one will be just as fun.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
I like what you’ve done, but I feel your pain. I tried to be as tongue in cheek as possible in mine, but even then my ex-husband called complaining because I said I married him just because I loved literature (he overlooked the part where I said I married my current husband because of my love of history!).
Even worse: The author interview question, “Tell us about yourself.” Trying to come up with an answer to that – and an original one each time! – has proven most challenging. I am about to start saying I’m in the federal witness relocation program and cannot discuss it.
Hmmm, tell us about yourself. I’d probably say, “Pale, awkward, and a history girl with a writing problem. Stand back gentlemen, I’m married!” LOL.anks
The Hubs doesn’t even read my blog anymore. He just shakes his head and tells me he probably doesn’t even want to know. Which might be true.
Thanks for stopping by!