Becoming a Book Blogger - Getting Books and Writing Reviews

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today, we're gonna discuss how you write your reviews on the blog you've been creating, and where to get books. You should already have your rating system in place, as well as a review policy, and you may already have a few titles in hand (because of that last post and the weekend you had to nurse your social media connections. Anyway, grab your pen and notebook and let's get to it!

Here are the past posts and what's coming

• Choosing a Name and Review Policy
• Branding Yourself With Imagery
• Picking a Platform for Publishing
• Design Considerations
• Structuring Your Rating System
• Building an Audience - Social Media Crazy
• Writing Reviews (you're there now)
• Money, You Say?

First off, go out to your social media outlets and put out an APB for some books that need reviews (I can promise, you'll very quickly become overwhelmed). Then, make a reading list. Write down the titles in the order you plan to read them.

Start with the first one, and get it read from front to back. Make notes on things as you go along (if you wish to do so). And, you're ready to write your very first review (don't publish it yet, wait until Friday's post for that).

So, read book in hand, or close by, sit down and think about all the things you liked.

Consider:

• characters
• plot
• pacing
• grammar and punctuation
• inconsistencies
• tone
• writing style
• even point of view (if you want)
• anything else related to the story
• cover image and typography (if you so choose)

Write it down.

Now think about all those things you didn't like using the same guide as above.

Write it down.

Somewhere in your review (IF YOU GOT THE BOOK FREE), you need to add a disclaimer that you were sent a copy of the book for free, and who it came from, in exchange for an honest review.

Like so: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Or: Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Go on to talk about how the book made you feel, what you thought, and whether you'd recommend it to someone else. There's no need to restate the plot or summarize the book in your review, people will see that on the book's page on the sell site, or (if you summarize the book before your review), they'll see it on your blog.

Don't post spoilers (telling people how the book turns out or ends). IF you do, be sure and put at the BEGINNING of your review: ****SPOILER ALERT**** That way, those who have a serious interest in reading the book won't read your review. You can probably see how that could be an issue (you want your reviews to be read).

Yeah, it's gonna take some practice to fall into your groove, but I know, once you do, you'll grow to love writing reviews more every day.

So get going and hold on to that review post until Friday, when I'll discuss money and posting your reviews to the relevant sites.

Any of you old hats wish to add some advice here? You're more than welcome!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo