Writing a Valuable Review

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Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 Start the Conversation

Sitting on the cusp of a new book release, the reality of good book reviews weighs heavy. The natural questions of acceptance raise our worry level just a smidge. Will readers like the book? Will they even post a review? What about the hate reviews?

I’ve often wondered what good a review is. Reviews do serve a higher purpose. Whether you have one book review or hundredsshowing, they guide the possible reader to your work.

Writing a review is more than telling others that you liked the book. Though that is a primary purpose, a review can make or break the success of a book simply because those bad ones always seem to be the ones that stay at the top of the pack.

The purpose of a review is to let others know about the book. How they liked it, and what impressed them most about the words you’ve written. It doesn’t have to be 800 words long to make a substantial impact. The most significant impact is that the reader took the time to post it. These days, this is a plus. Let’s look at some dos and don’ts of writing a review.

Write one

Getting a reader to write a review is a chore, so how do we make that happen? Truthfully, write an impactful book. When a writer truly crafts a strong story that moves the reader, their excitement forces them to want to share. Whether your book is just a great story or a piece of non-fiction that speaks to the masses, a well-written book will move readers to want to share it. That aside, make writing a review part of your reading habit. Every time you read a book, post a review.

Write a review, not a novel

Goodreads is a great place for reviews. The problem with Goodreads is reviews are paragraphs long. When a reader looks to purchase a book on Amazon, they tend to read the first three to four lines. I asked readers what makes them read or not read a book review. Their first response – I like a short review. Second, I hate it when a review tells me the whole story. This circles back to “short and concise.” These takeaways tell me something. Make your review short and to the point. Don’t paraphrase the entire book. The average reader wants to know: 1) do you like the book 2) was it a fast read or slow and thought-provoking 3) would you read more from this author? As you pen your reviews, keep that basic information at the forefront. A good review is short and gives the reader the answers to the questions they seek about the book’s continuity.

Pen with kindness

I get it when a reader hates a book. It’s important to go into reading reviews with tough skin. Every book is not going to be loved by every reader. My first novel was a very hard subject; to top it off, the bad guy was a pastor. I knew the subject matter would draw some heat. To my surprise, only a handful of reviews were harsh, and only one was horrible. A reader accused me of being a horrible person, and if that wasn’t enough, she attacked my family. It upset me, but truthfully it probably worked to my advantage for some readers, sparking a curiosity to see precisely what horrid things I had done. When you write a review, even if you hate the book, be kind. Simply state that the was not a book you enjoyed and why. Here is an example of a 1-star review written nicely.

Writing a Valuable Review By @CindyDevoted on @BRMCWC

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I can’t lie. This was not a book I’d recommend. It was filled with violence, and I’m just not good at reading that stuff. In fairness, the writer of this book made an engaging book which is why I finished reading it. You may want to skip if you have a history of being abused.

The reader didn’t care for the book, but her remarks were honest and kind. Avoid getting personal. It does nothing for either of you.

Respond to bad reviews

Many folks will tell you to just look past the bad reviews. Don’t respond. No response is best, but if you are compelled to respond, do so with gratitude, even when you want to attack the reviewer. If I receive a bad review, this is my response. Thank you for taking the time to read ___________. I realize it wasn’t your cup of tea, but I wanted to thank you for investing your valuable time in reading and posting a review. I am grateful.

Why do I do that? 1) the reader bought the book. That sale generates a royalty payment. 2) everyone’s time is valuable and worthy of a thank you. They may not like my book, but they took the time to purchase, read, and post a review. When you get a bad review, simply be grateful for the positive. Don’t respond with a snide remark. That only makes you look bad. When you respond in kindness, the reader may give you a second chance with a different book.

Don’t mention you know the author

One surefire way to have Amazon rip your review from the list is to mention you know the author. Big no-no. These reviews appear to be coerced or paid. Do your review and your author friend a favor and stick to a tight concise review without the fact you know them personally.

When you read, write a review. Keep the suggestions in mind, and you will see how writing a review becomes something you anticipate.

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. Having served for a number of years as a managing editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Ironstream Media, Cindy now works as a mentor, coach, and freelance editor. She is the co-founder of Writing Right Author Mentoring Services with Lori Marett and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Cindy is also the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and www.christiandevotions.us, as well as www.inspireafire.com. Her devotions are in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and her novels have become award-winning, best-selling works. She is a popular speaker at conferences and a natural encourager. Cindy is a mountain girl, born and raised in the Appalachian mountains, where she and her husband still reside. She has raised four sons and now resorts to raising chickens where the pecking order is easier to manage. You can visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com or www.wramsforwriters.com.

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