How to Become a Book Reviewer

Do you have a love for good books? Do you want to get free books and promote authors? Become a book reviewer. This step-by-step article will show you how.

Since 2002, I've been assigned more than 200 book reviews. Though I'm usually not paid for the reviews, I've gained:

• Dozens of free books, many of which I would have purchased
• The ability to read some of my favorite authors' books before they release
• Connections with authors who've appreciated the reviews
• Practice with writing concisely
• Connections with editors that have led to articles
• Connection with a website that led to a part-time job

Tips:

Practice before you start contacting magazines and websites. I wrote reviews for the employees of my local Christian bookstore for a few months. This will also allow you to get an idea of what's good and what's not in different genres.

Prepare several sample reviews in different lengths.

Contact editors for an assignment. Most have a questionnaire, request sample reviews, or ask you to try one or two books to see how you do.

Follow guidelines exactly, but let your personal writing style shine through as magazine style allows.

If you have a choice, pick books you have a reasonable chance of liking. If you choose a genre or author you hate and write the review with that bias, it's not fair to the author. Pick books you might normally purchase, but don't be afraid to branch out a little.

Don't read others' reviews of the same book before you write your review. You don't want them to influence your opinion. Read them afterwards to see how they did it.

Make sure your review isn't just rehashing the back cover. But don't give away the ending - or the surprise twist in the middle (for fiction). A good rule of thumb is never to give away more than is on the back cover summary or in the first few chapters.

If you write reviews well, you should be able to generate a steady stream of assignments. But don't allow yourself to burn out. If all your reviews are starting to sound the same, it's time to scale back.

Keep your eyes open for new opportunities. New magazines/websites may have a need for experienced reviewers, and you can have an influence on the magazine's future. If you own the rights to your reviews, you may be able to reprint them or feature them on your own site. And your reviews have the opportunity to be quoted in press releases, online bookstores, and perhaps the authors' future books.