Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Become a reviewer
• Method 2 of 2: Strike through as a reviewer

If you enjoy reading books, have a knack for writing, and enjoy expressing your opinion, you may well become a book reviewer. But how do you get started? Fortunately, there are now more options than ever before. Depending on your interests, you can become a book reviewer for fun, for free books, or maybe even professionally.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Become a reviewer

1. Read a lot of books, and a lot of reviews. If you don't like to read, you won't like writing reviews. Read a wide range to familiarize yourself with the latest trends as well as the classics, and read reviews for inspiration and guidance.
   • If you've already focused your eye on reviewing a particular publication, or genre, read lots of relevant reviews. Become familiar with the language style and content the other reviewers use. Notice what you think works and what doesn't.
   • Try to realistically assess your skills and commitment. Can you read books quickly, but still understand everything? Are your writing skills on the same level as the other reviewers? Either way, there are options for you, but you may need to rein in your dreams of happiness and fame. (You better not aim for this anyway!)
2. Review books on retailers' website. There is nothing wrong with starting small in a low-pressure environment. Some people make a reputation and even an income by reviewing books on sites like Amazon, but you should see it more as an exercise that can help some book lovers search for a book.
   • In most cases you will need to create an account to review books, but take the process seriously if you are really serious about becoming a book reviewer. Read the books you review, of course. Take some time to construct thoughtful criticism that you can be proud of.
   • Even simple reviews like this one can be used as examples of your work if you want to continue in the book review business. So make them right.
3. Start a book reviewing blog. If you simply enjoy sharing your thoughts on books, that may be enough. But it can also be a potential "springboard" to better things.
   • Refocus on producing quality work. You are the boss and your own editor, but don't be too lenient. Take the time to write your reviews and be sure to read them again. Quality reviews on blogs can be used as "clips" (examples) for a job application.
   • After you've started your blog, contact publishers about your interest in reviewing their books. You might get free books to review. The only obligation is that you have read and rated the book thoroughly (positive or negative), but please state in your review that you received a free copy of the book in exchange for a review you would give.
   • Besides the fact that you have a free book for your book collection, you may be able to earn a little money by reviewing your blog. For example, if you receive an "affiliate code" from Amazon, you will receive a small commission every time someone clicks the link in your review and buys the book from Amazon. Again, you must mention this agreement to your readers.
4. Plan your next steps. Congratulations. Once you've reached this point, you can call yourself an official book reviewer. If you have more in mind, but are still not thinking about a real career, there are a few more options to consider. For instance:
   • There are numerous book review websites that will give you even more free books and maybe even a little cash in exchange for quality independent reviews.
   • If you really want to see your name (and work) on paper, you can contact many literary magazines. They need evidence of your review skills in order to sign up with a freelance community. Again for free books or for a little money.
5. Find a professional job writing reviews. If you want to work your way up to reviewing books as a job, you need to make connections and build your portfolio. Of course, there aren't thousands of professional book review jobs just up for grabs, so you'll have to be persistent and realistic.
   • Contact a group like The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC, http://www.bookcritics.org/) and ask for a directory of book review editors. Use this to determine which publications to address and which editors to contact.
   • If you have connections with someone from the inside who is working on one of the publications, use this person to facilitate contact with the editor. You need all the help you can get.
   • Collect the best "clips" from your existing reviews and contact the editor (s) of the target publication (s). (Don't expect to start right away with a high-quality newspaper. Focus on smaller, local, or regional publications.) Express your interest and offer sample work.
   • Ask for catalogs from major publishers so you can pitch reviews for upcoming titles as part of your application. Ultimately, you will not be reviewing books that have already been published.
   • Be persistent, but not aggressive with follow-up emails. You want to show your genuine interest without annoying the overloaded review editor.

Method 2 of 2: Strike through as a reviewer

1. Develop a specialty. It is valuable to show that you can evaluate any kind of book, from children's books to romantic novels to biographies. Displaying a particular specialty will make you more attractive to the market if you want to become a professional reviewer.
   • At best, your area of ​​specialty will be based on your personal taste, your training, education and / or experience.
   • If you want to offer your review specialty in an area where it is needed, you will be more likely to get a job. Keep reading to familiarize yourself with the genres that are currently "hot" in the publishing industry.
   • Your goal is to become the person to judge a book when publishing a particular book in the genre in which you specialize.
2. Follow the rules and deadlines. With your blog you make the rules and you choose the deadlines. If you want to achieve more as a reviewer, you need to quickly learn that making your editor happy is essential.
   • Be strict with style or format guides and take a word limit seriously. Place is lacking with most book reviews, so you should be able to shorten your review to the essential while still providing the necessary information and criticism.
   • Don't take a job if you are not sure you can finish it on time. Missing deadlines regularly is one of the easiest ways to get on the bad side of the editor. Because of this, the editor might choose someone else.
3. Guide the reader in the book. There is no single correct way to write a book review, of course. Today every book has a review with all the information and an opinion. Although, (just think Amazon) a standout review will be worth more
   • Reading a book, especially a good book, is about making a personal connection between the reader and the world of words on the page. Your job is to prepare the potential reader for that world. Share your unique experience of the work as a guide for them.
4. Listen to expert advice. About 40 years ago, acclaimed author John Updike came up with a list of six lines for book critics. These rules still circulate worldwide and are still embraced by reviewers today. They are definitely worth considering for any aspiring reviewer. Here they are:
   • Try to understand what the author intended to write and do not punish him or her for anything he or she wanted to achieve.
   • Please quote enough of the work to make the reader feel that it is of quality.
   • Confirm your description of the work with quotes and other evidence from the book.
   • Keep the plot description short and never tell the ending. Don't ruin the experiences for others.
   • When a book is poor in quality, quote some similar examples of good books (maybe even by the same author). Try to understand and explain what went wrong, don't throw the ax at the author right away.
   • Don't judge books that you already like or dislike (for example, a book written by a friend). Don't see yourself as a keeper of a tradition or standard of literature. Don't try to put the author "in his place" with your criticism and always judge the book, not the reputation.