But to give you two examples of how I have handled some of my own issues, I will relate two brief stories. I received ARCs on the material and had to make a decision.

The first one involves my own standard of ethics. I am not one for blatant use of other people’s material. A book that an author was promoting to launch several associated ventures he had going used material from other sources and constantly compared the material to two well known series. While the material may or may not have been copyright infringement, depending on how you interpret copyright laws, I was not impressed with the content, the value of the book or the author‘s cheap comparisons to boost his own presence. And I said so in my review.

Needless to say, I received some very off color emails, hate mail from his diehard fans and eventually the review was removed from the posted location because of constant pressure from the author. But not before some other readers agreed with my thinking. I believe, and this is my opinion, that I stuck true to my own set of ethics and it appears that there were readers who agreed. I am not loved by the author in question, but neither do I care. But I still have the respect of the reading community and to me that is more important than the ire of one bad author.

As a side note – I still receive ARCs for this author‘s work.

But in another instance, what started out as a really good series got itself trapped in constant squabbling between the main characters and the original focus was lost, at least to me. Looking for the original theme of the series, a mystery, became impossible to find once the main characters started bickering between themselves and became wrapped up in themselves. The mystery aspect became lost.

But the series is successful. And I am very fond of some of the early stories. They are well written, great pieces of literature in their own right. So, rather than get into a situation where in the future the author may work out the issues and produce some first rate work again, I dropped the series for now, and will revisit the works at a later date and see if the material has improved to my own level of interest. Because I have not reviewed any of the books in this series lately, I do not receive any more ARCs, but I can pay for the book if I feel the material has improved enough to interest me.

You may find yourself approaching some similar situations as a review writer, and you may find yourself handling these differently, but that is the choice you make and live with.

To be considered by a publisher as a reviewer worthy of ARCs is a position of responsibility as well as honor. And we find ourselves in a seat that can be uncomfortable. But we also know that once we receive that first ARC from the publisher, we have reached a level of success in our chosen career. It is something to work towards as you start out reviewing.

To be in a position of receiving ARCs is very coveted within the book reviewing community for many reasons. First and foremost, the books are sent to reviewers for free. Not only do you get a free book, you get it in advance of anyone else and you usually get plenty of advance time to read and review the material. Many times it is a finished product. Some major publishers will mark the book as an ARC, others will not.

It also establishes the reviewer as one who has “made the grade”. The reviewer is now one whom publishers recognize has excelled in the book reviewing community, one who has the ability to influence the readership and one who has a vaguely perceived power over the actual sales of the book. After all, a good review from the right person can boost initial sales of the book tremendously. In some cases, the review of the book is almost as important as the content of the book itself, as the review will influence buyers.

ARCs are not sent to every reviewer and it is a position that is earned within the various publishing communities. It is sometimes perceived as a “one hand washing the other” position, with the expectation that the reviewer will give the book a fair and unbiased review.

It can be an ethical dilemma for some people should the book turn out to be a lemon, but it has millions of dollars tied up in its actual publication and release. Consider for a moment the amount of money involved worldwide in the release of the final Harry Potter series book. A couple of poor reviews from the right reviewers could have flattened sales of the final release and cost the publisher millions. It does not surprise me that ARCs were not available and the book handled the way it was. (Ah, so that’s why so many copies sold – Ed). However, the book was a winner. Did we expect anything less?

So, we go back to the ethical ramifications of being a review writer who receives ARCs. I have been in that position for many years, and allow me to tell you it can be a problem for the reviewer.

How do we handle the issue of good author/bad book? We did cover this a bit in the last article – So You Didn’t Like the Book. But in this scenario, you received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, you have seen the promotional material (just as a side note, the publisher will always include promotional material with an ARC) and you know the author carries the publisher to an extent, the publisher is counting on this book being a good seller, but the material from the author this time is not as good or well written as previous books. Or maybe this book is just a real stinker.

I do not want to say not to write the review. There could be some serious reasons why you should. And it may not endear you to the publisher or author. Do you want to bite the hand that feeds you? If the review, once published, does affect sales that much, you could lose the support of that publisher.

What about the readers? Are they going to appreciate your half hearted attempt to make a bad book look good once they plop down as much as $25.00 (15.25 GBP) for it? Will they respect your opinion in the future?

Each reviewer will come across this situation at least once in their reviewing career. It has sparked many debates within the reviewing community. Mind you, not just publishers send out advanced review copies. Many product manufacturers send out samples to select reviewers for comment and promotion. The music industry also powers its sales with advanced review copies. And I’ve received advance copies of television shows and received copies of movies for comment and review.

To be continued…

When discussing fiction, there are probably more good books then bad out there, and with so much good, why waste your time on the bad? Try to remember that your favorite author cannot always crank out a good book. We all have our moments of glory, and then there are the dogs. Please note that even dogs can make it to a best seller list.

Dealing with fiction can also be messy if your opinion of the book does not match the opinion of the fans. Fans – short for fanatics – can be just that, fanatical. Nothing their favorite author can do is poor or bad. And should you decide to go against the grain, you will find yourself swimming alone in an ocean of sharks ready to bite your head off.

I decided long ago that writing a good review of a really good fiction book was well worth my time, but writing a good review about a bad book was a challenge. While trying to say somewhat nicely that “this is not the best thing this author has written“, I also did not want to just leave it at that. I found that emphasizing some good aspects of the book while mentioning the downside made for a better review than just bashing the book all together. That is the challenging part. Good plot with poor character development is a good way to say the story could have been good had the author created better characters. The author can be over descriptive, which means wordy, or the author applies a short, abbreviated style, meaning he is not descriptive at all. It is all a matter of how you play with the language in your review.

Mind you, I have also read some really bad books that deserved bashing. And going to my favorite review website, I have found that most often there were many other reviewers who felt the same way as I did and they saved me the time of having to write a review to repeat what they said. Then again, I have considered that it would speak poorly of me if I left my voice out of the crowd of reviewers who stomped all over a particularly bad piece of writing, and have added my voice in more than the usual “This book sux” manner.

When faced with “how to” manuals, technical journals, or historical books where we find blatant flaws or incorrect information, what can we do about this? Especially, for example, when the author is a well known “expert” in the field and you just tried out his favorite “trick” and it came up flat or found a blatant date error. Do we, the non-expert, point out the flaw, the inaccuracy, the obvious error, or can we do this with a bit of class and look like a really good reviewer?

When dealing with historical information as I have, it becomes a matter of research, and this is where the really good reviewer shines. Quote two or three other experts in the field who do not agree with the author’s evidence and then make the statement that the author “goes against the modern consensus of other experts in the field”. This is a good way of making a clear statement. Of course, if there are blatant errors, pointing those out is not considered out of line; rather it is a sign of good proof reading or knowing your topic well.

Technical manuals are really for the enthusiast who wants to shine. I am an IT person, and I have to say there are numerous books out there that discuss “how to”, yet fail when applied in the field. Sometimes it is because the material was tested only in the lab, or only tested on certain equipment. Then there are the errors which cannot be explained – it just never will work and you really cannot figure out what prompted the author to include the information. Maybe someone else told him it would work and he wrote it without testing it. In these cases, personal experience inserted into the article is the best method to add to the review and is the preferred touch.

There are things that are not worth trying to review if you were not pleased with it. Rather, return the book and ask for a refund or resell it on eBay to get your money back. Some authors are very sensitive and will either have the review removed, or even go so far as to scream defamation of character if they feel that you have gone too far. If the book is really bad, unless there is a life threatening reason to write a review (other than mentioning that the reader will lose precious time from their life if they bother with it), the best you can do with a book like that is to recycle it into the fireplace. At least it will keep you warm for a few seconds or add to the ambience of a good evening with a choice bottle of wine.

Which brings us to another note: never write a review about a book when you are angry at the content or the author. That can get you into more trouble than it is worth.

Of course, if you feel especially driven, you can write the book smashing review that will deal a blow to the author, and take your chances that others will feel the same way. I suggest you write the review, put it aside for a few days, and then go back and re-read it. If you still feel the need is warranted, then go for it and hope for the best. But be warned it can backfire.

There are ways to write a review without giving the book a stamp of approval. There are ways to politely say a book is not the best you have read. Add a bit of class to your writing and it will make your review stand out.

I’ve seen reviews that mimic these reports. While the basics are there, there is no flair, no style and they are as boring as many of the reports I remember having to sit through and listen to in school. Very few were of any interest to any of us. After all, we all read the same book or books, and we were all bored to tears with the same report presented over and over again.

There is a key here to presenting a really good review. While it may have been the format required in school, it is not the preferred format for a review that the mass public wants to read. Rather, the public is looking for information, and they are looking for a presentation that keeps their interest whilst also entertaining while providing some much needed information.

I read the Books section of the Times each Sunday, and find myself looking forward to that section just to see what is new and exciting. While I may not read each and every book, I get a really good feel for the content, the author and the review writer as well. There are some reviews I read first, simply because the reviewer is one of my “preferred” writers.

Read through Amazon.com and you will find some very unique styles, some very humorous review writers and the usual assortment of three word reviews: “This book rocks!” and “This book sux!” reviews, which never seem to be anywhere near “helpful”. It’s a shame that there are so many of the three word reviews listed. However, there are some really powerful review writers on Amazon, and they are well worth your time if you are seriously considering a book they have reviewed. And they will also give you an idea of how to approach such writing. Read through the various reviews for a popular book and you will see all kinds of material presented.

There are the “fan reviews”. Anything the author writes is “great”, the review praises the author rather than examining the book and its content, and the review seems to lack substance, but apparently the fans love it as it receives more “helpful” votes than it deserves.

Then there are the “dust jacket” reviews. If you get a copy of the book, you will find there are reviewers who do nothing but copy the dust jacket blurb to the website. There are also those who do not read the book through all the way, and apparently decide from the opening chapters what the book is about. Unfortunately, it also shows in the review when the information is incorrect about main characters and the content of the book.

The other problem is finding the reviews by the good reviewers. A popular book will attract over 100 reviews, sometimes hundreds, and the good ones seem to get lost in the pile. While Amazon does do “featured reviews”, they base it on how many ‘helpful’ votes the review received. If the public did not agree with the reviewers take on the book, a possibly good “second opinion” gets lost in the plethora of three word reviews or fan reviews.

So, what do you want to include with a book review? A good review, in my opinion, discusses the book, gives an overview of the author and presents the facts or discusses the material presented in the book. While some people may see the need for a different approach to either fiction or non-fiction books, there are some basic elements that need to be discussed about both.

First, read the book. Do not shortcut the material you are about to review. Do some research about the material if it is required and look into the author if you are not familiar with him or her. If the book is non-fiction, be sure you are familiar with the material.

Assume that the audience knows nothing about the author or the book. You are going to “enlighten” them as to the overall package. You are going to give them a short, condensed bio to familiarize your readers with the author. If the author is pretty well known, reference their last book, or the genre that the author is most associated with. If the book is non-fiction, mention the author’s credentials. Validation is important in the non-fiction field, especially when you get into health books or technology books. You want your readers to know why you initially sought out the book by this particular author, and credentialing the author is a good way to start off.

While who, what, when, where, how and why are good guidelines, they are not the total review experience. I believe that “personal experience” adds so much to a review. How did you personally find the book? Did it grab your attention? Did you like the style? Do you find the material interesting from beginning to end? When dealing with a non-fiction book, have you had experiences with the topic, did you try the recipes, have you worked with the technology and how did it compare with the contents of the book? Use the basics, but add the personal touch.

Another point to make is the print job. Sorry, but I have bought $175 text books that have fallen apart before I finished the term with them. I have had art books that were just gorgeous to behold, and trade paper books that had cheap paper that yellowed quickly. Cover art can be a major attraction to the buyer but might not reflect the contents. Mention if the book is hard cover, soft cover, trade paper, paperback, glossy paper, color prints, b&w prints, photos and cover art if it is worth mentioning in any way.

Finally, check your spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. Typos and poor grammar will kill a review and send a reviewer to the bottom of the ranks. Re-read your review, edit it; modify it till you are happy with the content and style. Have someone else review it as well, and look for honest feedback.

Develop a style. Do the reading and the research. Add a piece of yourself to the review and make the review count. You will be very surprised how fast you will attract an audience.

[For another article about Review types, click HERE]

Ah, book reviews. Those snippets of writing that can recommend someone to pick up a book or to avoid it like the plague. A review by an ‘acclaimed’ critic, (I’m still not exactly sure what this means. Someone who knows what they’re talking about, presumably) in a magazine or newspaper can quite often make or break a new book. Unfortunately, there are a lot of reviews out there that don’t quite manage to balance properly between information and opinion. The rest of this article will take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to book reviews. Most of which fit into a handful of different categories.

Let’s begin, shall we?

Type 1 – Blurb Reviews

Blurb reviews are thusly named because all they seem to do is regurgitate what’s on the back page of a book. This is all very well and good, but it shouldn’t be classed as a review. Especially when you take into account the actual meaning of the word ‘review’. It’s nice to know what happens in the story before I buy it…but if I needed a plot breakdown I can just read the back of the actual book.

Type 2 – Unsubstantiated Opinion Reviews

At the other end of the spectrum are reviews which blather on about how great or horrid the book is, without actually giving the reader any information as to why this conclusion was reached. Ok, so the critic liked/hated it. For all the reader knows it could be because they simply don’t like the genre, or hero-worship the author. If the writing is poor or the plot looks like Swiss cheese, then personally, I’d want to know why as opposed to simply having to read a rant.

Type 3 – Off Topic Reviews

We’ve all read at least one of these. This type of review tends to start off all very well and good…and ends up talking about something almost entirely unrelated to the actual book. Usually, regarding a certain technique, or similar author. Reviews need to stay succinct and to the point, otherwise there’s a danger of this occurring.

Type 4 – Wrong Tone Reviews

Although this is a rare type of review, they do still exist. How many times have you been reading a review that completely and utterly bored you with their use of formal language and boring, purely analytical description? On the other side of the coin, there are some who insist upon using humour and informal language when talking about a more serious novel.

Type 5 – Balanced Reviews

Finally, we come to the type of book review which actually works. It has stated opinions and reasons of the critic, as well as a [small] plot summary to show that they’ve actually understood what the heck is going on within the novel. It’s in the correct tone, and it sticks to the point. That is, reviewing the book in a clear manner with little to no waffle.

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So what have we learned? Well, obviously different people do things in different ways, but the key to a good book review is to take all of the above points into careful consideration. Reviews are there not only to voice opinions, but to influence the opinions of others, and to do that they have to be well thought out and carefully written.

To leave you with a quote: “What is in question is a kind of book reviewing which seems to be more and more popular: the loose putting down of opinions as though they were facts, and the treating of facts as though they were opinions.” – Gore Vidal.

Review writing pays. You can get everything from about $25 starting pay for a magazine article reviewing a particular book or CD or movie to free merchandise for reviewing multiple items. There is also the “Advanced Review Copy“, a much sought after and very coveted position to have with an author, publisher or recording artist.

What do I review? You have to look at where your interests lie. Do you favor books, or music or movies? Maybe you are a coffee snob who feels they are on top of the coffee business and can tell their Starbucks from their Seattle’s Best. Maybe you prefer toys, or baby clothes, or how about local businesses?

The first thing you have to do is decide what you are going to review. And if you pick something popular, remember you are going to have to distinguish yourself from the rest of the crowd with some spectacular reviewing by getting in the latest whatever before anyone else gets there to review it. This may require you to put out some cash, depending on what it is you choose. Gamers put in lots of cash and time before they ever make the coveted “Beta Tester” position.

You have to want to keep after this, doing this on a regular basis if you ever want to make a name for yourself. You do not become a well known and sought after reviewer over night. This is a long term investment. What may help many folks get into this are circumstances in their life.

You will find many moms who focus on children’s items, such as clothes, food, child care products, children’s books etc. IT workers will get into software or hardware reviewing. Diabetics will get into sugar free products or medical supplies. I have a friend who is wheel chair bound who reviews vacation spots for the handicapped. This becomes part of your everyday activities if you plan this correctly. Secretaries will rate calculators, typewriters, white out (tip-ex) brands, supply stores, etc. A new appliance will be written up if something malfunctions and the manufacturer or the distributor does not come through with promised repairs or warranties, or if they do come through with exceptional service.

Reviews are not just about what goes wrong. They are also about what goes right, how the product makes you feel, or how it fits into your life style. Sometimes the “extras” that go with an item get reviewed instead of the item itself. Buy a car in New York City then find out it’s not about the car; it’s about parking in New York City that is worth reviewing.

There are also the specialty items. The “niche market ” that no one seems to bother with, that can become a runaway success for you if you know what you are talking about, are very familiar with the market and can write creatively and express the market coverage and needs. Women’s Health Products, products that address specific disease needs, specialty books; all these are “niche markets” of specialty items that can make someone a very sought after reviewer. You just have to look for them.

The key is being able to know your own level of knowledge, be willing to expand it even further and then work at reviewing and keep at it till you are finally noticed. Because, other than writing a bestselling novel, there is nothing like being asked to review a product.

This is not bribery. Nor are you expected to give a glowing review because the manufacturer sent you a free item, or sent you a product to test. Rather, these people are going by your perception of the product, your expertise in this particular field. They are asking you to be honest, to review the product looking at all the pros as well as the cons so that they can perfect their product.

Before you go any further, write down what topics you feel you would like to work on. Focus on topics that you are well acquainted with. Write down how much time you have weekly to devote to such a project. Look at each topic, and see how much time it will take you to thoroughly test the product. There are no shortcuts. Remember, there is also research time. A well written review needs proper research. How much time are you willing to dedicate to this project?

There is a lot to consider before you even touch a piece of paper with a pen. What are you good at? What would you like to spend time doing? What processes are you involved in on a daily basis that you could turn into a review? And do you have the time and the patience to stick to this project long term to launch yourself into a position of expertise and respect?