BY DIANE JORTNER
One easy and fun way to boost your social networking presence, build readers, and make valuable connections is to write book reviews. Book reviews are read by readers, appreciated by authors and publishers, and help create a sense of belonging in the literary community. But mostly, they are fun!
1. Find a book: finding books to review is not difficult.
a. Contact publishers or indie authors for advance reader or galley copies (ARCs) to write reviews in anticipation of new releases.
b. Review books you find interesting online.
c. Volunteer your services as a reviewer through readers’ or writers’ groups on Facebook and Twitter.
d. Join a team of reviewers for a publisher.
e. Join a blog hop. Authors and publishers are always looking for reviewers to post to their blogs about new releases. Search your social networks to locate someone that might want your help.
2. Prepare: preparing before you read makes the process easy. Learn about the genre and create a criteria list before even reading the preface. Create a list of those things you find important in whatever genre you intend to review. For example, below are a few possible things to look for as you read a young adult fantasy novel:
a. Inviting world building
b. Complex, conflicted, compelling young adult characters
c. A character arc of growth for the protagonist
d. A universal theme to which young adults can relate
e. Magic with interesting powers and limits
f. Tension which draws you in and keeps you turning the pages.
g. That illusive escape from reality quality. Did you feel you transported to another imaginary place and time?
h. Believable dialog
i. Creative scenes
j. Anything new to say
k. Similarities to other writers
3. Read the book: I know this seems obvious, but many authors can swear that some of the reviews posted on GoodReads or Amazon were written by people who have never cracked the book’s cover.
a. Take notes as you read
b. Bookmark particularly thought-provoking or fascinating passages
c. Enjoy the experience of reading something new
4. Write: compose as if you are writing for the New Yorker. Pull out your best wordsmith toolbox and make your review as fun to read as the book itself.
a. Be honest. Not every book is a five-star book, but some definitely are. Don’t be that person who gushes about everything she reads just to make people happy. But, neither should you be the writer who never has anything nice to say, who just looks for faults and picky little problems.
b. Be kind and constructive. If you hate the book, you won’t make friends or readers by bashing the person or the writing. Ask yourself: if it was that bad, why did I keep reading? If it was compelling enough to keep you interested to the finish, the book may have some merit. Most successful reviewers adopt the attitude that if they can’t stand a book in the first several chapters, they are not going to waste their time reading the rest. If they don’t read the whole book, they will either refrain from writing a review, or will include that information and critique only what they have actually read. There are many reasons people can’t finish a book, and not always because the writing itself is unprofessional. Whether you find the subject matter uninteresting, were misled by the back blurb, found the plot moved too slowly, or the voice failed to connect with you, be sure to include those reasons, and mention what you did find that was positive, especially if you feel it would probably connect with readers with different tastes.
c. Compare the book to others in its genre. Showing that you know the literary world will capture the interest of professionals and readers alike.
d. Include a short summary, but do not be “that guy” who ruins the reader’s experience of discovery and suspense with spoilers. Encourage readers, tell them what you think, but don’t tell the story.
5. Publish: consider your options before publishing a review.
a. Send it to a newspaper or magazine. Local, national and genre newspapers and magazines look for book reviews, and some even pay. Consider a query in advance and see if they are interested in what you have to offer. If you know a local writer, you might consider offering a review of her book to the local paper or radio station. If you are part of an organization, consider a review in a trade magazine.
b. Post your review on your blog or offer to post on the blog of another book reviewer.
c. Post to Goodreads and Amazon.
6. Publicize: let everyone know you wrote this review. It doesn’t help you or the novelist if no one reads the words you spend so much time putting to the page.
a. Tweet it. Connect to the author and publisher with their handles and attract the attention of the right audience with common hashtags: #amreading, #bookreview #blog #genre
b. Post to your Facebook page or profile
c. Post to the Facebook page of the writer
d. Post to any Facebook groups
e. Post to Pinterest, making sure you have a nice picture to go with your review.
7. Watch the responses! You may get other offers to review, or queries about reviewing your next book. A publisher might notice your style and contact you, or you might even get a job offer. No matter what though, you have added an arrow to your quiver of skills and can put “book reviewer” on a resume or “about” page alongside your name.
Social Media Specialist Diane Lee Jortner fell in love with the media as a high school newspaper editor. With BA in Journalism/Public Relations from Bowling Green State University and a MALS in English from Valparaiso University, she brings her fifteen years’ experience teaching English Composition and her extensive personal social networking experience to The X Team.
In the past year, Diane launched Kids #5 and #6 who graduated from college, #6, the youngest from high school, written a YA mystery novel, and started to blog. In her free time, besides reading almost all types of fiction, she likes to travel with her husband and children.