by John Riddle
Founder, I Love To Write Day
Writing book reviews can be a great way to break into print. If you have never been published, a book review can help launch your freelance writing career. (My very first byline was a book review!)
Let’s begin creating a list of publications that use book reviews:
1. Newspapers
2. Magazines
3. Trade Journals
4. Websites
5. Newsletters
Book reviews are also used by many radio programs, but if you are just starting out as a freelance book reviewer, you should concentrate your efforts on those five categories first. You can find potential markets for your book reviews by looking through Literary Marketplace. It is a rather expensive reference book, but most libraries will have a copy in their reference section. There are several sections in Literary Marketplace that list newspapers and magazines that publish book reviews. You will find the name of the book review editor for each publication, but before you send a query letter asking if they need any additional book reviewers, visit the publication’s Website first, to make sure the editor is still there.
You can also look through Writers Market and Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide to find additional publications that use freelance book reviews. Another good way to find publications and Websites with book reviews is to use your favorite search engine. If you live near a large university visit their library and you will find hundreds of publications that feature book reviews. Also, spend time at a large bookstore, such as Borders or Barnes and Nobles, and browse through the many publications they have available. Before you know it, you will have compiled a rather large prospect list of book review editors to contact.
If you are just getting started as a freelance writer, you should contact your local newspaper and see if they need any freelance writers. Check and see if they are using freelance writers in their book review section. If they do not have a book review section, why not write to the editor and offer to write a weekly book review column? Some newspapers will not pay freelance writers for book reviews; it varies from newspaper to newspaper. When I wrote my first book review for the News Journal, they had a book review section, but no budget to pay freelance writers. However, they did give me a free copy of the books I reviewed, and once my byline started to appear as a freelance book reviewer, I took those clips and went after book reviewing markets that paid. After publishing three book reviews for free, I contacted The Washington Post, and they let me write a book review for their Health section. They liked it, and gave me a new assignment each month.
How to Find Books You Want to Review
The best place to find new books that will be in the bookstores over the next few months is by looking at Publishers Weekly. As a freelance writer, you will find that publication a goldmine of information about the book world. You will learn who has just signed the latest book deals, what’s happening at different publishing houses, and of course, reviews of forthcoming books. You can subscribe to Publishers Weekly for about $175 a year; several times a year they always have a half price subscription offer, so it pays to shop wisely. If you don’t want to spend that much money, you can usually find the magazine at a larger bookstore, like Borders and Barnes and Noble. You can always browse through the issues while you sip your favorite beverage. Or you can visit your local library and make friends with the librarian. Every library subscribes to Publishers Weekly, because they use it to decide what new books to order. You may have to ask the reference librarian for the most recent issue; odds are it will still be on their desk.
When you see a review of a book you would like to obtain, write down the name of the book, the author and the publisher. Then visit the Website of the publisher and look for a link or an e-mail address for their publicity department. If you can’t find the name of the publicity director, you can simply send an e-mail to the publisher and ask them to forward it to their publicity department. When someone requests a review copy of a book, a publicist will act quickly to get the book into your hands. A good publicist knows the value of a freelance book reviewer, which is why they are always willing to work with them. Here is how your e-mail should read:
Dear Publicity Director:
I would like to obtain a review copy of “Be Still America...I Am God” by Amy Bartlett. Two copies of each tearsheet will be forwarded upon publication. Please send the review book and a media kit to: Your name, your address, etc.
That’s all there is too it! Within a few weeks (sometimes even a few days) the review copy of the book will arrive at your home. While you are waiting, you should be looking for places to sell your book review. As I already mentioned, the best place to try and break in as a freelance book reviewer is with your local newspaper. But don’t stop there, because there are hundreds of places that publish book reviews everyday.
Here is how your e-mail or letter to the book review editor should read:
Dear Book Review Editor:
I am a freelance book reviewer and would like to submit a review of (name of book). The publishing company will be sending a review copy to me. Would you like to see a review of (name of book)? The book is scheduled to be released in bookstores on (give the date that the book will be available in bookstores), and I can have the book review to you before the release date.
See how easy it can be? Once you obtain the review copy of the book and find a place to sell your book review, you are on your way to a new chapter in your freelance writing life. I reviewed books for over ten years for a variety of newspapers, magazines and even Websites. Some book reviews have paid as little as $25, while others have paid as much as $500 and more.
After you have written a few book reviews you might want to check out “book summary” companies. They hire freelance book reviewers to write “summary reviews” of the books, which can range in length from 3 to 10 pages. Those companies pay an average of $1,000 for each summary. One summer I earned a bundle from writing those summary reviews. If you love books, and love to write, the sky is the limit!
For more information about Freelance Writing, visit www.ilovetowriteday.org
If you are not selling articles to Websites, you don't know what you are missing. For the past 4 years I have been selling content to Websites all across the country. Many of those sites are paying $1.00 per word, and higher. Complete instructions can be found in the e-book, "How I Made $66,270 in 9 Months Writing for Websites." It costs only $14.95, and when you purchase it, you receive a second e-book, absolutely free: "Getting a Book Contract in 30 Days or Less." Learn how to find publishers that have ideas for books, and who are looking for new authors. I wrote 34 books in three years, and you can too. Visit www.ilovetowriteday.org for more info.
