How to Write an Editorial Book Review
Editorial book reviews, also known as traditional or professional reviews, are an effective way to build your author platform. They have greater value than user reviews and influence potential readers significantly.
They’re an excellent way to boost preorders, boost sales and promote your book from day one. But how do you write an editorial book review?
Research
A book review is an objective analysis of a book’s content and purpose. It requires documenting your reactions to the work: what stands out, whether or not the arguments made by the author were persuasive, and how they deepened your comprehension of the research problem under investigation.
In some books, authors advocate for a particular theory about an event and then present their own research to back it up. You should evaluate what kind of theory the author is advocating, how much evidence they use to back up their scholarly claims, how valid that evidence appears, and how experienced they appear to be when making this determination.
Additionally, include any background information relevant to the book and your analysis, such as the author’s time period and personal experiences. However, be mindful not to include unnecessary details that could confuse readers.
Outline
An outline is a tool used to arrange your written ideas about a topic into an organized manner. It’s the best way to ensure you have a firm grasp on your thesis statement and main points before beginning writing.
Outlines typically consist of sections and paragraphs, with pertinent points or evidence listed under each. This makes it simple to adjust the structure if necessary.
When creating an outline, many writers start with notes and quotations they’ve taken while researching their paper. They may use a straightforward system of labeling the notes by subject.
An outline should include a thesis statement, points of discussion and supporting evidence. The thesis statement will guide the writer as they craft the body of their paper, while supporting evidence will back up each point made.
Writing
When writing an editorial book review, it is essential to carefully consider your argument. Unlike reader reviews which focus on the author’s own experience with a book, editorial reviews must be objective and free from any form of prejudice.
As such, it’s essential to use precise language and avoid any grammatical or spelling errors that could detract from your editorial review’s credibility. Furthermore, make sure all quotes from outside sources are properly cited.
There are a number of ways to obtain an editorial review for your book. One easy option is reaching out to trusted review agencies like Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly and Readers’ Favorite.
Editing
An editor will assess your book to guarantee it’s written clearly and easily for readers to comprehend. They also eliminate any mistakes, such as improper grammar or spelling.
Editing is an essential step in publishing and selling your book. Doing so can prevent costly errors and a bad reputation in the publishing industry.
Finding a professional editor to work with is as easy as searching for an agency or freelancer that provides editing services. These individuals will help improve your writing by eliminating repetitive phrases, poor grammar and unclear wording that is keeping your book from capturing the attention of agents and publishers.
Many editors offer a complimentary consultation to get your project off the ground. Some even send you a complimentary sample edit so that you can decide if they’re suitable for your manuscript.