There are a few places that publish really great literary criticism and specifically invite newer writers to pitch them—my first byline was with the Cleveland Review of Books (https://twitter.com/clereviewbooks) and their editors are super kind, thoughtful, and perceptive
Congrats on the pubs! And yeah, reviews are (imho) the hardest thing to write, for the fewest readers, and for the worst pay. It's been a few years now since I've even written one, but I need to pub a few this year to scratch the itch!
I peer review for academic journals and that can be a difficult process for some of the same reasons, but here, with fiction, the subjectivity of the form makes me feel I'd find this a lot harder and more stressful. Great info and thoughts, Lincoln.
Interesting. I had never considered how difficult the thought process might be going into a book review. Might I suggest you focus on the first audience though? Those who read reviews to assess whether they should read a book. If more than half the US population have not completed reading a single book all year (as you mentioned in your prior post) then it becomes exceptional that the book review be primed for the typical non-reader!
These are great tips! Just to add some resources that have helped me…I started pitching and writing book reviews last year, and I found @Adam Morgan’s Twitter thread really useful https://twitter.com/adamm0rgan/status/1333462470015455236?lang=en as well as the National Book Critics Circle's list of publications https://www.bookcritics.org/publications/
There are a few places that publish really great literary criticism and specifically invite newer writers to pitch them—my first byline was with the Cleveland Review of Books (https://twitter.com/clereviewbooks) and their editors are super kind, thoughtful, and perceptive
Congrats on the pubs! And yeah, reviews are (imho) the hardest thing to write, for the fewest readers, and for the worst pay. It's been a few years now since I've even written one, but I need to pub a few this year to scratch the itch!
Useful advice for me as a would-be reviewer. Thank you.
What are some of your favorite book reviews? I also love ACX’s annual book review contest and I read almost all the finalists.
Great advice!
I peer review for academic journals and that can be a difficult process for some of the same reasons, but here, with fiction, the subjectivity of the form makes me feel I'd find this a lot harder and more stressful. Great info and thoughts, Lincoln.
Interesting. I had never considered how difficult the thought process might be going into a book review. Might I suggest you focus on the first audience though? Those who read reviews to assess whether they should read a book. If more than half the US population have not completed reading a single book all year (as you mentioned in your prior post) then it becomes exceptional that the book review be primed for the typical non-reader!