I admit, some days I think that reading a book takes too much time, not to mention writing a book review about it. But, truly, book reviews help you as a writer in several ways.
First, reading another person’s writing, helps you find and create your own voice. When you read a book, think about how you would write a story or a book differently. What would you say and how would you write it.
Next, find the key points in the person’s writing that really hit home for you. What grabs your attention? Does the writer write descriptively? Are the explanations listed in the book a step up from what you would write? In other words, find the amazing parts of the book and discern how you can learn from them.
Why should you write a book review?
While writing a book review may seem like a waste of energy for more experienced freelancers, it honestly isn’t if you need to market or promote your book. However, if you are looking for a way to launch a freelance writing career, or you want to promote your own book, then this is the way to do it.
Reading the work of other writers really helps a writer, but writing a book review helps nonwriters as well. Writing a book review, even if you do not get paid compensation for it, helps readers decide if they want to dive in and read a specific book, or not.
How to write a book review
So, while it may be obvious, it really is pretty difficult to write a book review without at least reading it. Reading the book first and then digesting it assists you in writing a solid and fair book review.
Secondly, while some believe that writing up all the negative aspects of a book is necessary, I really do not think that is fair. A book written for the general audience of its readers is simply a piece of work. You personally may not like something, but others may find the book amazing. In other words, a book, like any piece of art, remains a work of art.
Therefore, criticizing someone for self-expression fails the whole reason for creating something in the first place. Everyone has their own tastes and having an opinion about a book really is personal. So, unless the book drives home a negative and socially unacceptable idea, excessive criticism isn’t necessary.
So, with that in mind, take each step to write a book review. Keep in mind, your book review should contain approximately 500-750 words, more or less.
Write a synopsis
The first step in writing your book review is to write a few sentences about the main idea of the book. Layout in general detail what happened without adding in too many details.
This part tells the reader what the book is about without giving away the ending of the story.
Discuss what you liked
This part of your book review explains to the reader what you thought was the amazing part of the story or nonfiction book. Gushing a bit really drives home your positive opinions and helps the reader of your book review get a picture of the positive qualities of the book.
Keep in mind your audience here. If you write a book review for a group of scholars, you point out the academic research and facts behind the book. However, if your book review is written for people reading for pleasure, then you focus on the everyday points in the story that appealed to you.
Mention negative aspects of the book
Again, this part of a book review does not need to become a criticism of the author and his or her work of art. Yet, if the book contains sensitive content, offer up a trigger warning.
Further, if the book includes illegal content or content supporting illegal behavior, this would really be the place to point that out. While there is free speech in democratic societies, this no longer becomes a work of art, but destruction.
Frankly, most people would not read a book this dark, but if you accidentally come across something not previously shared by others, it benefits society to shine the light on the truth.
In other words, truly full-out criticism should not be stated here. If you find the plot should be more organized, fine, say it. Or, if you wish the cliffhanger had been more exciting, then sure, speak it. Outside of that, it is necessary.
Summarize your book review
Finally, summarize your book review. Wrap up with a couple of sentences that tell us how the book impacted you. You might focus on a life lesson or a great application to your work life or business. You might even include a thumbs up or a rating of the book, if appropriate.
Whichever approach you take, wrap up your book review at this point.
Places to submit book reviews
We all love places to share book reviews on the books we love. If you are a newbie writer, especially, writing a book review provides some writing practice. Even experienced writers benefit from writing book reviews. Some book review websites actually pay a few bucks for your nicely written book review.
Try some of these sites to get started.
Goodreads
Everyone’s go-to site for books to read. Plus, you can share your insights about a book on your profile. If you read on Kindle, you can also connect your Amazon account with Goodreads, so sharing a quick book review becomes quick and easy at the end of a book.
Amazon
If you already have an Amazon writer page, you can write a nice book review on the book page and give it a rating. This is a nice public venue to share your writing with others and helps out the author of the book.
Having a positive book review on Amazon helps any author.
BookBub
Similar to Goodreads, BookBub works like social media and book reviewing all in one. While you are not compensated financially for your book reviews, you can share a quick review and create a profile and author page to share your own work and website.
Book Riot
I admit, I haven’t submitted any book reviews to Book Riot. However, it seems like they are looking for someone to write as in a job, not just book reviewers. So, if that interests you, check out their website. They have an interesting, quirky site and a podcast too.
Library Thing
Yet another bookish website, Library Thing, focuses on connecting writers and readers together. Library Thing allows you to find other members on Twitter and Facebook, so it helps you build your writing and reading connections as well. Writing a book review pays off in more ways than one here.
Love Reading
This website allows book reviews only, so if you want to find out the skinny on a particular book, or you want to search for a book in your favorite genre, this is the place. The website is based in the United Kingdom, so it will not be American in flavor. What it does contain is an amazingly eclectic mix of good reads.
Book reviews serve several purposes
While the obvious monetary pursuit helps if you find it, the more obvious pursuit is getting noticed. Whether your intention is to get your work noticed or it is to simply write book reviews for good books, these websites will help you write book reviews, and using the book review format will assist you in getting the job done.
As a freelance writer, you need to put out feelers for your services in many places. Why? Because this is how we get the word out online and off. Gone are the days when what we do online professionally does not meet the world offline. So, tell others you are open to freelance writing. Write a book review or two and then let the links do the talking!
