Book reviews are promotional tools
Anyone can write a book review. You don’t need to have connections to literary magazines.
I’m not sure about you, but getting my books reviewed has always been kind of an ordeal. Asking friends and other writers to read my work and then take the time to write up an advertorial analysis (analytical advertisement?) can be awkward, and also it’s a big ask! Everyone is busy and probably already have other projects to work on. It’s nice when my publishers did that legwork for me in advance of the book’s release, but being involved in indie publishing for as long as I have been I know that it’s not always the case. Writers have to be their own biggest publicists a lot of the time. Doing the promo is often more work than writing the book itself.
Having some sort of system where writers can easily have their books reviewed is a problem I’ve been trying to solve for a few years now. After posting about it on social media and wondering out loud how to make something like this work, and getting some feedback from writer friends (shout out Alex DiFrancesco) I put together a little google doc spreadsheet to help connect writers who want to be interviewed and/or have their books reviewed with people who are interested in conducting interviews and/or writing book reviews.
Book reviews are promotional tools. They don’t have to be long (but they can be if you want). Book reviews are basically a summation of why you like the book, think middle school book report but make it literary. Notes about the language, notes about themes, notes on what grabbed you and made you interested. Most book reviews are usually positive with some criticism, but negative reviews exist. Personally, I don’t think I would write or review for a book I hated or didn’t like. When I find that I’m not enjoying a book (cough, Norwegian Wood, cough) I just put it down and read something else. Though I do think it’s funny to read these one star reviews of books from the canon (readers trashing Middlemarch, for example) compiled by Lit Hub.
Book reviews are a thank you to the writer for providing you with some beautiful to indulge in, a thank you for creating something thought provoking and memorable. Anyone can write a book review. You don’t need to have connections to literary magazines. In fact, there are a ton of magazines that want new writers to submit book reviews of new (and new-ish) books. Like really, a ton! Chill Subs has a great database of lit mags that are open to submissions of book reviews and interviews. Also, I’m totally here for you if you have any questions about how to start or what to do or if you just need a bit of encouragement.
Before I had any of my own books or any of my own poems published, I was writing book reviews and getting them featured on literary sites. One of the first books reviews I wrote was in 2013, of The Moon’s Jaw by Raun Klassnik. I was a nobody then, but I was eager and willing and didn’t really know what I was doing but I had fun with it. And it got published on HTML Giant, which was a big deal for me in 2013. If 2013 me can do it, so can you!
If you’re interested in reading a new book and then taking a stab at writing a book review, please check out this spreadsheet and get in touch with one of the writers listed. There are some really great books on here! I included American Mary as wanting to be reviewed and interviewed, since I recently put it on Gumroad for free download. Still waiting to hear back from one of you eager reviewers/interviewers, so don’t be shy!
Five reasons to write indie book reviews (even if you aren’t a “big name” writer)!
#1: it’s good neighbor behavior. indie lit is a community. you know the term “literary citizenship?” part of being a good literary citizen is helping promote other literary citizens good work. we’re all in this together so let’s lift each other up!
#2: it’s a fun way to break out of your comfort zone. writing reviews means you get to put your critique hat on and write in a way that you might not be used to. it’s a good exercise to switch things up and see what develops!
#3: it gets your name out there. before i had any published books, i was writing reviews of new indie books (for fun), and getting them placed in online lit mags. it was a cool way to get in touch with writers i admired, as well as add some credentials to my c.v.
#4: it really does help the writers you’re reviewing. most indie writers can’t afford publicists, so any bit of promotion they get outside of their own efforts is incredibly beneficial!
#5: it’s a great feeling to recommend books you love to others. an angel gets its wings every time someone takes your advice and checks out that book you suggested to them!
Do you have any tips for writing book reviews? Anything you’d like to add? Do you want to have your book reviewed? Do you want to try writing a book review? Let me know in the comments below!