If youre not quite ready to make the final leap into becoming an Author, consider getting your feet wet as a book reviewer. Book reviewers tend to attract a lot of recognition in the writing industry because they have the authority (arbitrarily speaking) to influence the opinions of scouting readers. Another appealing benefit is that there are no barriers to entry for becoming a book reviewer. In fact, a simple browse through Amazon will affirm that millions have tried their hand at writing a book review. So for you, the goal becomes distinction. You have to make yourself stand out amongst the masses; and here are a few tips of what NOT to do in your quest for differentiation.
DO NOT Neglect to add a synopsis
Very often reviewers tend to start writing a book review without providing a short synopsis of the book. This is not the best approach. Readers need to know a little about the book before thrusting them into the details of your review. Offering a short synopsis about the book not only grabs the attention of prospective readers, but it also gives you more credibility by showing that youve actually read the book. The overview doesnt need to be long; a short two-three sentence summary to kick-off your review will suffice. In the end youll find that not only will readers look forward to your book reviews, but Authors will come to recognize and appreciate the thoroughness of your work.
DO NOT Give away the ending
Everyone hates spoilers! Still, there are reviewers that have a habit of giving away the most intriguing details of a book in their reviews. Try not to make this mistake. If you give away the conflict, climax and resolution when writing a book review, then youll leave nothing left for the reader to look forward to. Instead, try and highlight what the reader can expect to gain from reading the book. This can be an emotional benefit or something insightful and educational. Your review becomes valuable when youve given readers an idea of whether or not the book can fulfill their own personal needs.
DO NOT Provide a superficial insight
Dont be superficial in your reviews by simply providing a basic idea of the plot and characters. If you start rambling too much about characters, there is a good chance the reader wont know what youre talking about anyway (unless of course its a sequel). Your job is to dissect the books deeper meaning and transfer your analysis into a comprehensive review. You can even personalize your review by sharing what you gained from reading the book. The more insightful you are, the more youll stand out from other reviewers.
DO NOT Lose balance
Imbalanced reviews have the tendency to either be overly positive or excruciatingly negative. The overly positive reviews have this is my relative written all over them, and the brutally negative reviews scream Im a miserable loser. Consider writing a book review that blends the positives and the negatives. By doing so youll help the reader make a well-informed book choice without damaging the Authors character or self-esteem.
All-in-all youll be able to differentiate yourself from other reviewers by providing readers with an insightful and balanced review of what youve read, without giving away all of the books juicy details. More importantly, when writing a book review, keep in mind that your primary goal is to help the reader, not hurt the Author.