Reviews. The biggest part of book blogging. Sure, there will be blog tours and giveaway hops but reviewing is one of the reasons you have this blog, right? So, here are my tips:
1. This may as well be the most important tip I can give you: be yourself. Write with your own blogging "voice" as if you are actually talking to the people reading your reviews. Trust me, it helps. If you need help doing this, pretend you're talking to a friend.
2. Explain yourself. Do not just write a statement along the lines of: the characters annoyed me. Tell us WHY. You will see this in some of my earlier reviews.
3. Use pictures.
I don't mean going all out, just a picture of the book cover will do. And preferably the author too.
4. Synopsis and author bio.
You can write your own synopsis as part of the review or use an already written one. Just mention where you got it from if you did not write it yourself. People will appreciate a synopsis and author bio. Sometimes authors have similar names, so it is handy to be sure you a certain wrote the book in your review.
5. Mention your source of the book.
Whether you borrowed, bought, gifted, won, received for review - tell us. This works as a bit of a disclaimer.
6. Be honest.
Your readers will want an honest opinion. Don't write a glowing review of a book you absolutely hated. Don't be influenced by other reviews you have seen. Make it your review. Just don't be nasty if you didn't like the book or judge a book by it's cover.
7. Be sure to give a rating!
Let's face it. A lot of times people will scan for a rating, particularly in a hurry.
1. This may as well be the most important tip I can give you: be yourself.
Write with your own blogging "voice" as if you are actually talking to the people reading your reviews. Trust me, it helps. If you need help doing this, pretend you're talking to a friend.
2. Explain yourself.
Do not just write a statement along the lines of: the characters annoyed me. Tell us WHY. You will see this in some of my earlier reviews.
3. Use pictures.
I don't mean going all out, just a picture of the book cover will do. And preferably the author too.
4. Synopsis and author bio.
You can write your own synopsis as part of the review or use an already written one. Just mention where you got it from if you did not write it yourself. People will appreciate a synopsis and author bio. Sometimes authors have similar names, so it is handy to be sure you a certain wrote the book in your review.
5. Mention your source of the book.
Whether you borrowed, bought, gifted, won, received for review - tell us. This works as a bit of a disclaimer.
6. Be honest.
Your readers will want an honest opinion. Don't write a glowing review of a book you absolutely hated. Don't be influenced by other reviews you have seen. Make it your review. Just don't be nasty if you didn't like the book or judge a book by it's cover.
7. Be sure to give a rating!
Let's face it. A lot of times people will scan for a rating, particularly in a hurry.