Ten Tips on How to Write a Good Review

You see them everywhere; on the back of books or magazines, listed on websites, on posters if they are films and sometimes whole sites on the internet are geared to listing them for every conceivable product. So, what are they? And, why are they so important?

They are reviews and they are important because they help consumers decide whether or not they want to purchase that particular product or service. They are also an excellent marketing tactic for the companies or authors who request them. The trouble is, anyone can write a review but not everyone can write a good review. Quality will be the key factor in encouraging the consumer, to buy or not to buy that particular product, so that review must grab them almost straightaway.

So, how do you write a good review? Easy. Here are my Top 10 Tips to becoming a good and respected reviewer whatever the product. Please note these tips can apply to anything that you need to review. Some of the suggestions might even be obvious but you will be surprised at how often they are omitted:

1. The most important tip is to enjoy what you do. You must be an avid reader and enjoy discovering new talent and products. If you don't, it will show in your review and you are in the wrong job.

2. As you read or browse, make a mental note or write it down if you think you will forget, of specific areas of the product that spark something in you. This could be an act or situation in a novel that you can personally relate to.

For example, I could relate to the title of one novel that I reviewed recently. I was interested to see if the title mirrored my own personal experiences. Whether it did or didn't, in the end, is immaterial but what I felt on a personal level was then added to the final review.

3. Think about what the product says to you as a reviewer. Do you hate it? Are there particular facts or information that you feel are incorrect e.g. historical dates or myths? Does it excite or anger you? What other emotions does it instill in you? As an example, I read and reviewed a novel some time ago, that stated, what I saw as, two incorrect historical facts. It didn't mean that I hated the novel, far from it, but it did mar my enjoyment of it.

I stated my feelings in the final review, but unfortunately I received no acknowledgment that the author had received the completed piece. So, be warned. It does not automatically mean your opinions will be liked or accepted. You will, however, gain respect and a good and fair reputation as a reviewer. If you are not honest with yourself and/or your clients, then what is the point of the review?

4. One of my bad habits in writing is repeating the same word over and over again. Make use of a thesaurus to find another way of saying a similar thing.

5. Make sure you have all relevant information correct in your review. Sometimes, it can be easy to forget the name of a specific character in a novel, product name or even contact information for the author/webmaster. Check the facts again. Try not to make any errors in that respect otherwise it looks like you haven't even looked at the product or that you care about what you are reviewing.

6. If you are reviewing a novel or book, don't just write what the novel is about in your own words and have, at worst, one line of your own thoughts. Believe me I have seen reviews out there like this. This is an example of a very poor review. A review is an opinion; yours. The reader wants to know what you thought of the novel not just what the book or product is about even if it is written in your own words. Remember: That is what the synopsis is for!

7. Unless you are working for a review site that asks for this way of writing a review, don't mark separate areas of the novel or product with ratings or points. This method is extremely hard and boring to read. Reviews for books should be short and to the point. They are supposed to be designed to attract the buyer in a limited time. Reviews are not always the most exciting things to read unless you are looking for a specific item. Using this way of reviewing guarantees the loss of interest or sale for your client.

8. Develop your own style of writing. When I started reviewing I had to follow a set standard review format because that was what was required at the site I worked for. Over the years, I have stuck to this basic format but have developed my own style and pattern. Personalize your work.

9. Communicate with your clients. Have a happy, cheerful, friendly disposition and they will submit to you again in the future.

10. And, finally, have fun!

So, there you go. If you follow the tips above I can guarantee you will be well on your way to becoming a proficient reviewer.

Happy Reviewing!

Source: Free Articles

About the Author

Carrie White has written a number of erotic short stories, self published a few of her own e-books and has been published both in print and online. More of her writing can be viewed at http://www.hentracks.co.uk

Hook your Reader From the First Sentence: How to Write Great Beginnings

Author: Lucia Zimmitti

Let's face it: when you send your writing off in the hopes it will be published, every word is important. You wouldn't give yourself permission to get sloppy after page 37, assuming the editor can handle choppy prose or "inventive" spelling if she made it that far. But what you may not realize is that the beginning of your manuscript is by far the most important part because it will encourage an editor to read on or to toss the whole thing aside. After all, you may have crafted an admirable middle or a breathtaking ending, but no one will get there if your beginning is mediocre.

Despite the fact that more books are being published than ever before, the publishing world is more competitive than ever before. Agents and editors are inundated with staggering heaps of unsolicited manuscripts, and it is physically impossible for them to plow through -- in their entirety -- every one. The beginning is the only chance you have to make the right impression.

Face it, unless you have to, how often do you push through a book when you're under-whelmed by the beginning?

Which brings us to some rules for great beginnings. There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but often those exceptions are only successful in the hands of experienced writers or those with multi-book deals. For the writers who make up the majority, it pays to heed what the current market demands.


Make your beginning shine:


~Start with action.

"Action" doesn't necessarily mean a fist fight or an explosion or a sky-dive gone awry. Action means starting your book or story at a compelling place, with a scene, with something at stake for your characters. Look closely and you may find that you have pages of material that shouldn't be in the beginning. They fill in some important blanks for readers, but that backstory can safely be moved to somewhere after your opening.

Don't start your story with history -- start it with a riveting now that grabs the reader by the collar and doesn't let him/her turn away.


~Never put dialogue or straight description in your opening lines.

To clarify: Dialogue is fine in the first scene. Actually, many experts agree that first scenes without dialogue don't achieve their potential. This is because the most compelling reading material involves tension between people, and people usually talk to each other. However, if your very first lines are dialogue, it's impossible for the reader to understand who is speaking right off the bat (or why s/he as a reader should care), since the reader hasn't had any history with the characters.

Similarly, description right up front will not pull your reader into the story. Not because it confuses or disorients them like dialogue does, but because static description can be dull and plodding and doesn't tell the reader anything about the story (the action, the story problem) itself. If the setting is somehow crucial to your first scene and you feel you must start there, limit it to one or two sentences and then get right into the meat of the scene. There will be time for description later.


~Make sure your writing is accessible and engaging.

Your beginning is not the place to try out some experimental stylistic device or to stump your readers with a puzzle. You want to make your readers think, but you don't want them to feel stupid or say, "Huh?" If the reader feels frustrated and confused right away, you can bet they won't sign up for 300 more pages of it.


~Set up the story promise.

You've seen shoppers at bookstores. They scan the bookflap for a description, and, if that intrigues them, they'll flip to page one and skim the opening to see if it's the kind of book they want to read. Immediately make it clear what kind of story yours is. Don't start with a knock-knock joke if it's an essay about a serious subject. (Although there's room for humor in almost any piece, it must be appropriately woven into the work and not tacked onto the wrong place. But that's a subject for another article.) Don't start with the point of view of a character you're planning to kill off by page three. You get the idea.


Readers like surprise -- they don't like to feel disoriented.


~Always remember that boredom kills readership.

If you're bored when you write the opening, if you fall asleep at your desk when you reread it, and if trusted readers can't stop yawning when they review it, what makes you think strangers you send it to will be riveted by it? Readers have more choices than ever before (in print and online), and they will not stick with you past a few dozen words if they're bored. Make sure your beginning glues your readers to the page, wide awake and eager for more.

To discover more ways to give your writing the best odds in a highly competitive market, visit http://ManuscriptRx.com and sign up for "Write Through It," a free, monthly e-newsletter that offers tips on writing more clearly and effectively.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fiction-articles/hook-your-reader-from-the-first-sentence-how-to-write-great-beginnings-339631.html

About the Author:

Lucia Zimmitti, a writing coach and independent editor, is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Editorial Freelancers Association. Her fiction and poetry have been published in various national literary journals, and she has taught writing at the high school and college levels.

Copywriting Tips – 9 Powerful Ways to Grab and Hold Your Prospects’ Attention

Author: MemberSpeed, Inc.

One of the most important copywriting tips is to immediately grab your target prospects’ attention. Once you’ve captured their interest, you have to keep them glued to your message.

All your efforts in creating the sales letter will go to waste if people will not even begin to read it. Once your prospects read the first 25% of the entire sales message, there’s a good chance they’ll continue reading.

That’s why it’s vital that the first few parts of the sales letter grab their eyeballs or arouse their curiosity so much that they can’t stop reading.

Here are some vital copywriting tips to grab your prospects’ attention and keep it longer.

1) The most important part of your sales letter is your headline. This is the first part of the sales copy that people will read. Reading the rest of the message depends on whether the headline has captured their interest enough to make them read further.

The headline should be the most persuasive part of your entire sales letter. To grab attention, some copywriters devise headlines that relate to a massive controversy or astounding claim, which might make it sound too good to be true.

Therefore, it’s also important to immediately show proof if the headline sounds a little too “hypey” for the normal person to believe. You can provide a visual image, statistical figures or case studies immediately after the headline to support the incredible claim.

2) Keep your sentences as short and as simple as possible. Write down your copy in such a way that a 10-year old can understand it.

Eliminate unnecessary fillers and state your message in the fewest possible words. Long sentences and unnecessary words might create confusion (or even irritation). When people are confused, they leave your message and don’t buy anything.

3) Arouse interest with a story. People are naturally drawn to stories. Stories lower people’s resistance to accept your ideas, make things easier to understand, and affect emotions like no other method. Stories allow you to easily slide in your “sales message” in an undetected manner.

4) If you don’t have a great story to tell, or in addition to your story, you may also use amazing facts or information to get them to stay interested. One site where you can find true and extraordinary facts is www.thisistrue.com.

5) As you’re writing your sales copy, you must continuously anticipate any questions or objections that the readers may have, and address them right on the spot. Be sensitive to any possible doubts and concerns that might come across their minds, and clearly answer them in your sales message. This is one of the most profitable copywriting tips you can apply.


6) Tell the readers that you’re revealing something very important, or something that will have a dramatic impact to their lives, within the sales copy. This stimulates their curiosity and will motivate them to continue reading until they’ve found that one special aspect you’ve mentioned.


7) Talk directly to the reader in normal everyday conversation style. Don’t use formal words like “Please be known…” or “It has come to my attention…” Write like you would speak to a close friend.

Use “you,” not “one” or “a person.” If you’re telling a story, it’s fine to use “I” often but still get the readers involved if possible. For example, in your story, you may say, “I went from being poor to being homeless and hungry. I’m sure you’ll feel as devastated as I was if you’re in my position."


8) Put plenty of white spaces to make your sales copy inviting to read. Strive to have 3 sentences or less per paragraph. Long paragraphs look intimidating. You don’t want them to exert any extra effort in reading your copy. Your aim is to set up an ideal and comfortable buying environment where they can go through the purchase process with the greatest of ease.


9) Write subheadlines so that those readers who are simply scanning your sales letter could immediately find the topic they’re searching for. Subheadlines may include topics such as your background, your bullet points, your list of bonuses, your offer, or your guarantee statement.


Hope these 9 copywriting tips to grab and hold your prospects’ attention bring you lots of sales for years to come.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/copywriting-articles/copywriting-tips-9-powerful-ways-to-grab-and-hold-your-prospects-attention-395658.html

About the Author:

Discover the most profitable ways to make money online and increase online traffic with the very techniques, knowledge and tools that have made the Dynamic 4 millions at http://www.dynamic4marketing.com