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Writing A Book Review
Many times I talk with people who are interested in writing, but they aren’t sure where to begin.
They’re fascinated, yet puzzled as they notice the success that authors such as Kendra Norman-Bellamy, Eva Marie Everson, Bishop TD Jakes, and Pastor Rick Warren have experienced. However, while each one of these authors is well-known and respected in his/her genre, they had to write their first book, their first paragraph, their first sentence, and even their first word.With this in mind, how should you get started? One way to jumpstart your writing career is to write book reviews. These are articles that give a summary of the book, (which should only whet the reader’s appetite for more), and share the reviewer’s opinion of the book.
If you’re interested in taking the first step towards your writing career, below are some tips for writing book reviews:
- Pick a book of interest, (fiction or non-fiction), and read it through entirely.
- Make some mental or written notes of your main characters, (good and bad), themes, or qualities.
- Discuss some of the problems and ask questions about what could happen. (However, don’t give the end or solutions to the problems away.)
- Read other book reviews from newspapers, Publisher’s Weekly magazine, and other periodicals to learn how book reviews are written in general.
- Stay positive about the author’s book. If you don’t like the book then you may not want to do a book review. (Remember, you will one day want another writer to do a positive review about your book.)
- Let someone who is proficient in English proofread your book review.
- Post your book review on web sites such as Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com.
Benefits of Writing Book Reviews:
- It enables you to practice your writing.
- You can add the title, “Book Reviewer,” to your business card and resume.
- You will feel a sense of accomplishment.
Doing book reviews will help you to practice and sharpen your writing skills. It also shows that you are serious about pursuing a career in writing. Go ahead and take that step of faith by reviewing your first book!