You're smart, you're ambitious, and you're a writer. It's time for you to make your mark on the publishing world. So how do you go about doing it? Simple. By writing a book.

Nothing says success in the publishing world like being a book author. Articles and short stories are fine, but writing a book will give you credibility like no article or short story ever could.

How do you get a book published? As anyone who knows anything about publishing will tell you, there’s really only one way to do that these days. With a book proposal. And every book proposal has to have an “about the author” section in which you tell why you’re qualified to write the book.

Stay with me here. It’s not that difficult. You don’t have to be another Shakespeare or have writing credentials galore to get a book contract. Of course it helps to have previous publications, and if you do have them, by all means mention them in the “about the author” section. But even if you’re a fledgling writer with no prior publications, I’m going to let you in on a secret that will help you breeze through the “about the author” section.

THE ABOUT THE AUTHOR SECTION OF YOUR BOOK PROPOSAL

The first thing to keep in mind about a book proposal’s “about the author” section is that the literary agents and editors who read it are primarily looking for evidence that you have some knowledge of your subject above and beyond the norm. Even more than writing skill, knowledge and expertise are what they’re looking for. If you’ve worked with trout all your life, for example, if you fish for trout, research trout, sell trout, and go to trout conferences, well then it’s pretty clear that you’re the guy, or the gal, to write that new “Guide to Trout” book you’ve been outlining for years.

Come right out and state boldly in your credentials section that you have all the expertise needed to write the book. Even if you don’t have previous publishing credits, put your best foot forward and tell the reader that you know more about this subject than the average person. If you’ve won awards, mention that. If you’ve traveled to study your subject, mention that. Anything you can think of that will bolster your credibility belongs in this section.

BOOK PROPOSAL CREDITS

If you have some smaller publications, but nothing national, then it’s okay to mention them, although they probably won’t help you much. On the other hand, Hemingway started out as a newspaper reporter, so if you’ve made continuing contributions to a local paper, that might be something you want to emphasize, even if the paper is local.

Mention your education, especially if it’s pertinent to your book subject. For example, if you’re an optician and you’re writing about contact lenses, mention your education right up front. Also don’t forget to mention any experience you have with your subject. The point is to highlight your special ability to write on this topic.

Even if you have no special skills but instead have a great enthusiasm for your subject, then that belongs in the book proposal’s “about the author” section. Yes, even enthusiasm, if genuine, is something you should mention.

HOW TO BE MODEST

“I find it embarrassing to write about myself,” say many young writers. “I just don’t know how to tell people I’m good at what I do.”

Well, here’s another secret that will save you plenty of angst when putting together the “about the author” section of your book proposal. Instead of writing in the first person -- “I wrote an article...” -- write it in third person: “[Your name here] wrote an article...” By writing in third person you’ll avoid feeling like you’re boasting.

Another tip that works wonders: You’ve got to approach your credentials section as if you were writing it for someone else. Make believe you’re a publicist, and write as many glowing things about yourself as you would write for, say, William Faulkner. In other words, say things like, “He has been a writer all his life,” or “He knows this subject because he has lived in the South for forty years,” or anything else that will give editors confidence that you can write this book you’re proposing to them.

By writing a solid “about the author” section for your book proposal you’ll ensure that your literary agent and editor have faith in you as a writer. And that’s the surest way to get a book contract.