Wikipedia Initiative/Tips on writing for Wikipedia

[edit] Do's and Don'ts

DO keep all the language neutral and deposition-like
DO write in the third person
DO refer to people by their last name
DO use section headers such as "Biography", "Works", "Early years", etc.
DO keep privacy concerns in mind. Unless the information is clearly public, check with someone first before posting the names of their spouse and children, and other information which they may not want public.
DO try to find a picture which can be used, but be cautious that it is a picture that is in the public domain or that you have permission to use.

DON'T think that you can use Wikipedia as a promotional vehicle. Emotional "sales language" is just going to get an article deleted
DON'T refer to people by their first name
DON'T post someone's resume. The companies that they've worked at are going to be less important than what products that they've worked on.
DON'T worry if someone else comes along and edits your work. That's what Wikipedia is about -- multiple people working on the same article. Don't take someone editing your writing, as an indication of disapproval -- take it as a compliment that your writing got them interested enough in the subject, to want to help out!

Opening paragraph: Who are they, what did they do, where are they from, when were they born, what are they most famous for?
Biography: Something about their childhood and early schooling
List of works
References
External links
Categories

Check out some other bios for example layout. For example: Gordon Walton, Elonka Dunin, Steve Meretzky.