Working as the editor for the SelfPublishedAuthors.com newsletter, I have had the opportunity to get to know the next generation of professional authors. One such author is Sara Webb Quest, an internet writer and reviewer.
Her latest book, BECOME A WELL-PAID BOOK REVIEWER, has been published by SelfHelpGuides.com. In it, Sara gives step-by-step instructions, tips, and tricks which can help an avid reader take a love of reading books and make a living at writing reviews.
The guidebook format provides key steps for breaking down the standard review style along with helpful hints to start critical thinking. She has given many examples from her own query letters and reviews which show us what to aim for in quality and content.
There are exercises in each chapter geared to helping the writer hone the skills the book explains. There are good solid tips in the guidebook as well, especially involving speed-reading, and in writing biased versus unbiased reviews.
Another feature of her book is the listing of a good spectrum of websites to submit reviews to. While finding places to submit to is always a challenge for a new reviewer, the ones she lists here are tried-and-true .
The tip that struck a chord for me was on speed-reading. This is a skill I have never learned, though I have tried most methods. Reading faster and still reading effectively will be the key for me; my slush pile is already beginning to grow. Her pointers accented my understanding of how vital this will be for a successful review writer, and will help me with future reviews.
Sara has a strong background in writing, and I have read many of her reviews. This guidebook shows off her skill as a writer, and her knowledge is easily passed on to the reader. I enjoyed this guidebook and believe it is a fine resource and writing companion. It is a unique guide that does fill a niche for new and potential review writers like myself.
Sara Webb Quest is a book editor for JMH Creative Solutions. She is the Review Editor for FirstWriter.com. In addition, at Suite101.com, she is a regular columnist, a course developer and instructor for two SuiteU courses, the Senior Dean of the SuiteU Writing and Publishing School, and the Associate Editor of Suite101's Professional Writing Hub. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and daughter where she even operates her own writing service, S. Webb Quest.
