How to Become a Book Reviewer

The life of a book reviewer is enviable: to read books about one's favorite subjects and then to comment about them. This is a position that many would like to hold. Many book reviewer positions are unpaid, and are very much a labor of love for the people who hold them. A great benefit of being a book reviewer is getting to read all of the latest books in your favorite subject, even before they have been released to the general public!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Make a list of topics and subjects that interest you. This will help you decide what types of books you would like to review.

2. Do an online search for book review positions. Use a search engine and type in "book reviewer wanted" or "book reviewer position."

3. Write a sample review of one of your favorite books. Often a potential book review position will ask for at least one sample review, and writing about a favorite book will inspire you to be passionate about the subject.

4. Consider writing some book reviews for an online book store for some of your favorite books. These reviews could also be helpful to present to a book reviewing position.

5. Read through an online bookstore about your favorite topic to see what books are soon to be published that look like they would be fun to review. Make note of the publisher information.

6. Request review copies from the publisher once you have been hired for your book reviewing position. Remember that books will need to be read quickly and thoroughly for all reviews.

7. Take notes while you read about anything of note in the book. Get all of your impressions down on paper while they are fresh.

8. Be open-minded and fair when doing book reviews. Many people will read book reviews and it is important that you be objective and responsible when doing book reviews.

Tips & Warnings

• Your local paper might be interested in reviews. Consider researching if any local authors have recently written a book.
• Book reviewers must be conscious of deadlines. If you have trouble with the pressure of meeting a deadline, this may not be the position for you.
• Learn about your writing style to discover if you like to give your opinion in a review or if you like to give a summary of the book, or a little of both.
• Don't skim books; make sure you get all of the details.

[reddragonsgem]

on 7/11/2008 This is great, especially if you want to write in a certain genre, too, because you'll be reading lots of good and bad books, and you won't have to spend money buying books to research!