by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

Book reviews are a necessary evil. Writers need them to spur readers, but at the same time, those reviews can become long, daunting, and sometimes hurtful. The truth of the matter is that if you have a published book, you’re going to need those reviews.

It’s best to begin by saying reading the reviews on your book is something you might want to skip. When your first book is released, reading what others think brings great anticipation, but as quickly as the excitement comes, it can be thrown to the rocks by a less-than-kind review.

As writers, we need to understand that we cannot control public opinion, but we can control how we present ourselves to others. Always choose integrity over anything else when you write a review. Here are a few rules you can observe as you learn to write reviews.

A review is not gospel

Did you hear that? A review is not the be-all-end-all. It’s an opinion, and as my mamaw used to say, “Everbodies’ got one. Pay ’em no mind.” I suppose that is the best advice I could offer you as one writer to another. Pay them no mind. You are one person writing a book you believe in. You cannot please every reader. Accept that now, and your heart will thank you later. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and it won’t always be pleasing to you.

Choose your words wisely when you write a review

We need those reviews to push sales, and it’s essential to understand that even a one-star review can be written with kindness. As you begin to write your review, keep kindness at the forefront. You don’t have to like every book you read, and an honest review is critical, but keeping even a hard review kind should be one thing you strive to achieve for two reasons. 1) You have the power to uplift or shred, and 2) you show others who you are when you review. Do you want to be seen as harsh or kind? Choose the words you write in a review wisely. Be kind and be honest. It is possible to do both in a very professional way.

Keep a review short

Open Amazon and read a few reviews. It’s easy to spot the writers. Readers give us a to-the-point review. I loved the book. The characters were so relatable that I missed them when the book was done. Then there’s the writer’s review. It’s of paragraphs detailing the book’s entire plot and characters. Finally, at the very end, writers offer one line of support. I recommend this book (slap to the forehead). Part of the fun of reading is—well—reading the book. If a review gives you the entire story, where’s the fun in reading the book? Just read the review, and you feel like you’ve read the story. Writers must learn to keep reviews sensible and to the point. Don’t ruin the read for the reader. The truth is that readers don’t care about deep details in a review. They want to know if the book is good and worth the time. Does the story flow well? Is it a fast read? Do you love the characters? Is the romance good or corny? A shorter review that answers those questions helps a reader, and it leaves the reading to them.

Be honest

We’ve seemed to have lost the ability to say, “I didn’t care for this book.” It’s easier to trash a book with insults and slams rather than saying what we mean. Yvonne Lehman, founder of BRMCWC, used to say, “Just write what you mean.” Though her words were about novel descriptions, they also apply here. If you read a book you don’t care for, it’s appropriate to say, “I didn’t like it. The skill of writing a review is learning to nicely state the things that stood out about the book, forcing this judgment. It is possible to be honest, professional, and kind. The subject matter of my first novel was hard. I knew there would be a lot of blowback from some of the content. However, I received one of the best 2-star reviews ever.

Appalachian historical is a genre I’ve not seen since Christy. Sproles nails the feel of the Appalachians, the people, and the culture. The writing was so beautifully executed. However, having said that, I can’t review this book honestly unless I say that I didn’t care for the subject matter and that a pastor was the perpetrator. This in-your-face, first-person account of abuse is not something I wanted to read. Though some would enjoy the intrigue and mystery, I could not manage it. Because the writing was so masterfully done, I’d probably give this author a second chance, but this story was not for me.

Though I didn’t want a 2-star review, this woman was kind enough to be honest without trashing me and the book. Whether this woman was a writer or not, I have no clue, but her professionalism, honesty, and kindness were superior. Her review stung a little, but I wasn’t devastated. Instead, I greatly respected her opinion. I have included her review in many of my classes as the perfect way to write a difficult review.

Make your review helpful

Readers come to reviews to see if the book is something they are looking for. Some love intrigue, others love romance, and still others love suspense. When you write your review, remember to include helpful information. If you choose to outline the plot, do so briefly (very briefly) and be careful not to give away the end. State the things about the characters you enjoyed or didn’t enjoy, but be helpful. Let readers know what drew you to the book and how was the feel about the book. Could you put it down? Readers are coming to you for help deciding if this book is for them.

Writing reviews is an integral part of a writer’s career. Always remember the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Wise words that are still valid.

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.