We’ve all seen the title under someone’s name: acim author. What is that? How do they get paid to do something they love and what are the benefits? If you love to read, how can you start working as a book reviewer?
A book reviewer is someone who usually receives a beta copy of the book before it’s released. While it’s the final draft for the author, they still have a chance to make changes and revisions based on review suggestions like your own. Oftentimes, this is a great way for authors to check the sale value of a story before they invest money into a full-on publishing contract. It also lets them see if there are any glaring mistakes that need corrected before the launch date.
Go Where the Authors Are
When you see a group of people you want to talk to, do you just stand across the street and wait for them to notice you? Of course not, so keep that in mind when you’re online as well. One of the best places to meet with professional authors is through Facebook and Twitter. Become a member of their reader groups and take part on their pages. Communicate with them and respond to their posts.
Let them know you’re in the market for a great book and check out their previous titles. Once you’ve been able to introduce yourself like this, they will pay more attention when you offer your services as a book reviewer. If you have done anything like this in the past, share that information. Keep in mind though that not every author requires previous experience to entrust you with this job. They may want a fresh pair of eyes entirely.
If you’re a member of a local book club that meets with authors, then start making contacts there as well. This face-to-face contact can often lead to productive working relationships and more opportunities based on personal friendships. If you want to meet these people, you must have enough faith to step out and go for it. You’d be surprised how much a simple Hello can get you in terms of valuable contacts and professional associations.