Writing and Publishing Book Reviews
Thesis Statement: A book review is just as much an act of spirituality, creativity, and growth as any other type of writing, and it should be treated that way.
Why should you write a book review?
To open people up to new literature. It’s important to read new books, but it’s very difficult to find good new work.
It helps you to internalize the reading that you are doing, so you are growing as a writer. You do this as much for yourself as for anyone else.
It’s a great way to break into writing and increase your platform.
Edgar Wright and Neil Gaiman as examples.
Professional Ethics
The thumbs up/down approach ends the conversation and misunderstands the point of a review.
A good review develops the conversation of a book and the book’s mission.
What are the ethics of a negative review generally? What about for dangerous books?
Avoid cliche, word packages, cuteness, and triteness.
How to write the review
Amazon/ Goodreads (either full or summarized review)
Most reviews follow a standard academic style
Introduction
Background to the book
Thesis
Body paragraphs
Topic sentences
Evidence
Analysis
Conclusion
Styles
Analytic (Discussion of structure or style)
Synthesis (Drawing on your own areas of expertise for an understanding)
Evaluation (Understanding the book within a larger contextual framework)
Relationship to your own life
Book within a narrative of your life
Book’s meaning to your life
Body of work reviews
Create your own form
Magazine Reviews
Anthology Reviews
What to do after you’ve written a review
Publishers to look for
How to write the letter
After it’s picked up (contact the author and publisher)
Canibalizing your review for Goodreads and Amazon
Keeping a list of where you’ve published
Making this part of your writing group. If you like a book, reviews from 5 people will make a big difference.
Creating a relationship with a magazine to become a regular contributor.
Creating goals for yourself (50 this year)
Become a specialist.
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