Review Writing Tips
While reading is fun, writing reviews can tend to feel more like a chore. If you struggle with writing reviews or posting reviews, these top tips may help you.
Posting schedule
Are you giving yourself reasonable time frames to write your reviews? Now this may be relative to your idea of “reasonable”, but once you have an idea of when you will be posting your review, it may help to alleviate the pressure of writing your reviews.
For example. Apart from the latter half of last year, I would know a month in advance what I planned to read & when I would aim to post my review. Having this timeline in mind helped to ensure that I didn’t become overwhelmed with a stack of reviews to write at one time.
Format of your review
What format do you want your reviews to follow?
A brief synopsis, followed by key themes, your thoughts & a star rating?
A quote, the good bits, the not so good bits followed by a star rating?
A bookish reflection, that takes others through your journey with the book in question & whether you recommend it or not?
These are just a few examples to choose from, but themost important thing is to do what feels right for you.
There is no wrong or right way to write a book review, so don’t stress, find out what works best for you and stick with that.
Star Rating
I remember when I first began blogging that I started on a 10 star scale, that swiftly changed to a 5 star scale. 5 star for me is easier to measure a book against.
1 star - I did not like it, I may have awarded 1 star purely for the cover art
2 star - I struggled to finish it, but it may have included some themes that I enjoyed.
3 - A fair read, I would likely read this author’s work again, it was an easy read.
4 - I really enjoyed this book, there may have been some areas of the plot or characterisation that could have been improved upon.
5 - This book will never leave my heart or mind.
But of course, you don’t have to include star ratings in your reviews.
Taking notes
This has really helped me during the task of writing book reviews. Reading doesn’t have to become an arduous affair, but if you want to refine your book reviewing, it may be time to utilise your notes app.
Last year I became a die hard for the Storygraph app, I love the reading journal aspect of it.
Alternatively, if you frequently use your kindle you can also highlight words or quotes & make notes within the app, which are very easy to find once you begin to compose your review.
You don’t have to review every book that you read!
This is an important one!
YOU DON’T HAVE TO REVIEW EVERY BOOK THAT YOU READ!!!!!!
There may be some books that do not move you, nor leave an impression upon your mind, and that is ok, so don’t feel compelled to write a review for every book that you read. it will not compromise your book blogging authenticity in anyway. Post & review what you feel comfortable sharing.