| Inside every one of us there's a critic. We | | | | they can only do that by buying the book! |
| love to give opinions about many things. And | | | | |
| writing book reviews is another chance to | | | | Writing Great Book Reviews - Be Honest |
| share our thoughts and feelings about a piece | | | | |
| of writing that impacts our lives. | | | | Don't even think about writing book reviews |
| | | | without first reading the book. You may get a |
| We've all read book reviews. Many times, we | | | | way a few times - but when you get caught |
| buy a book based on reviews others have | | | | out, you lose all credibility instantly. |
| written about it. And maybe you have even | | | | |
| written book reviews. | | | | Stick to facts and don't run off with your |
| | | | interpretations or assumptions of what the |
| Do you want your book reviews to carry | | | | author might have meant. If you have any |
| massive impact? How would you like people to | | | | doubts, it's best to contact the author, |
| read your book reviews and say to themself: | | | | explain you're writing book reviews, and want |
| "Wow, I've got to have that book!" | | | | to clear up something. The approach may even |
| | | | end up giving you a chance for a detailed |
| If you follow these 5 tips to writing great | | | | interview - and that's another form of doing |
| book reviews, your opinion will count - to | | | | a book review. |
| many others who will read (or not read) the | | | | |
| books you review. | | | | Writing Great Book Reviews - Be Detailed |
| | | | |
| Writing Great Book Reviews - Be Passionate | | | | Don't just gloss over the whole book very |
| | | | superficially and expect your book reviews to |
| Insipid, weak, limp reviews get audiences | | | | get a flood of readers to bookstores. It's |
| into the same stupor - and they won't care | | | | far better to delve deep into one section of |
| about what you say. Be energetic, passionate, | | | | a book and review it in detail than skim over |
| emphatic. Use powerful headlines, words that | | | | more sections without giving a reader details |
| stir up strong emotions or deep feelings in | | | | critical to them in making a buying decision. |
| the mind of a reader. | | | | |
| | | | List out pros and cons. Explain what you |
| Think about the headlines in tabloid | | | | liked most about the book. Show how you think |
| newspapers - those should be the ones you | | | | a potential buyer would benefit from owning |
| model for writing book reviews. After all, if | | | | or reading the book. |
| your headline doesn't grab a reader's | | | | |
| attention, they won't see the rest of your | | | | Writing Great Book Reviews - Be Consultative |
| review anyway! | | | | |
| | | | Too many reviewers hesitate about making a |
| Writing Great Book Reviews - Be Interesting | | | | recommendation. Don't be scared to go out on |
| | | | a limb. HIstory is rife with examples of |
| No one reads book reviews as a chore. They do | | | | critics who condemned something that went on |
| it for relaxation and entertainment. Be | | | | to be a best seller. |
| interesting in your book reviews. No matter | | | | |
| whether you are praising or trashing the | | | | Sure, it may make you appear silly when you |
| writer and the writing, make sure you are | | | | rubbish something the rest of the world is |
| providing value to your reader - the person | | | | raving about. But if you don't offer a |
| looking at your book reviews. | | | | consultative recommendation, most people will |
| | | | ignore you anyway. |
| Weave little stories into the sections you | | | | |
| are reviewing, crack a few jokes at the | | | | People read book reviews because they want to |
| expense of the author or characters in the | | | | know if buying the book and reading it will |
| book, point out topical issues or | | | | be worth their time. They look to you for a |
| controversial subjects the book touches on - | | | | 'Yes' or 'No' answer. Give it to them. Your |
| and get the reader involved to the extent | | | | book reviews will soon be in demand! |
| that they are curious to know more... and | | | | |