First off, thank you for taking on this task. I appreciate you.
I find bios so impossible to write. My mind goes blank, and I just copy-paste the same generic resume stuffed into my notes app that I use for everything. But, LET’S BE HONEST, who cares that I graduated from some Arts college in Miami no one has ever heard of?
The most famous people that have ever come out of my Alma Matter are Glenn Howerton, the guy from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Tarell Alvin McCraney, who wrote Moonlight, and Tarell technically graduated from the High School of my Arts Conservatory, not even the college so does it even count? No shade to them, of course. I’m pumped for them. Both of their work is amazing. (OMG can you imagine if they ever read my blog? “hi, guys!”)
Anyway, I don’t think we need to put anything about New World School of the Arts in there. They’ll get I’m a melodramatic, latch-key, ex-theater kid eventually.
And let’s scratch the resume altogether. What Ad Agencies I’ve worked at, what plays I wrote 100 years ago for Mad Cat Theatre Company, have no bearing on who I am now, you know?
Bios and “About Me” sections are expected to be surface summations about someone. What you’d be comfortable a stranger knowing. You don’t want to get too deep; they don’t want to know too much. I get it.
That said, this feels different. This feels like the place to really let loose. Really get into it. Into the weeds, the crevices of my mind. Granted, I’m hoping strangers will read this bio and subscribe. So, work your magic not to deter them from doing so.
I’m sure you’ll make it sound great. I trust you.
Here are some things I think we should mention…
Let them know that I’m actually happy and grateful and truly #blessed despite what I might write about in these newsletters sometimes. But I’m also human and not delulu.
That I was born with a bleak perspective and equally dark humor, but I’m FINE. I like those qualities about myself; I think they're fun. I’m…fun. (Maybe add some references of people who think I’m fun here?)
Yes, I do think about aging, death, and dying more than the average person, but I’m pondering it with wonder, humor, and hopefully vulnerability, but not in any other way. I’m brainstorming. I’m problem-solving. I’m working through it, finding comedic bits and some comfort.
That I’m hopeful but also bracing myself. Sometimes at the same time.
That chit-chat makes me uncomfortable, and sometimes I sabotage conversations with “dark” topics. But I’m truly far more interested in someone’s thoughts about Euthanasia, what they’d do during a purge, or what they think about the existence of aliens rather than the weather, you know?
Tell them about my smoke-show boyfriend? (If you can sneak it in somehow—I think that will put them at ease for some reason.) Like, “She has a cat, but she’s not alone, so it’s okay!”
Tell them that this is a space for me to wrestle with my humanity and my mortality. The mundanity and absurdity of the human experience and the unsaid things I have in my head. A place where I can say those things and not feel “weird.”
Do we mention that I’ve been in therapy for over 8 years, and I’m pretty mentally healthy, according to my therapist? (Ew, does that sound like bragging?) I’m not. I swear. It’s just people love to call me “negative,” and I think they just don’t know how to label it. Label me. And that’s OK. Maybe this will shed some light (in the dark.)
Tell them the format will be unsent correspondences of some kind.
Tell them that may change someday.
Tell them I’m looking for my people.
It’s less a bio and more a battle cry. (Is that cheesy?) A battle cry, but…cute.
Thanks for letting me ramble. Can’t wait to read the first draft!
Best,
Me
Look at the comment section poppin off!
I also would rather know what people would do in a purge 😂👏🏻