Tag: How to Write Review

The EXACT 10 Steps You Need- to become a BETTER Writer

I receive more than 50 E-mails a day from people all over the world asking me for “TIPS” on becoming a WRITER. Didn’t you just write me a mail ? That makes us all writers. But people think of writing as an ART which only few possess, WHY? Because they write everyday. However there are some who simply want to get better at writing just like you and me.

Here are some tried and tested steps on how to become a writer specifically a better one:

5 Steps To Becoming a Professional Writer | BKA Content

STEP 1:

Pick up a pen and a paper without thinking too much. Nowadays, I write on my mobile phone by typing whatever comes to my mind. So pick up the writing tools of your choice and sit in a comfortable place.

STEP 2:

There is no style of writing or rules to what not to write. You are your own rule-maker so instead be the rule-breaker. Write your own style.

STEP 3:

DO NOT start writing for the trend of it. Write what you feel connected to. Become the trend setter by pouring your heart into those words.

STEP 4:

If the purpose of your writing is to publish the work then write what you will read as an audience.

STEP 5:

It is okay to take inspiration from other Writer’s work. BUT don’t copy the entire content. Ideas can be shared but thoughts should be your own.

STEP 6:

There is no Language of Writing. My thoughts occur in my mother tongue-Tamil– and my regional language- Hindi/Marathi-; however, my education was in- English; hence I find comfort in it. Never feel embarrased about the language of your writing, it is your greatest super power.

STEP 7:

Write Everyday or at least every alternate day. Writing was an art in the past but today it is a skill which can be developed by practice and habitual scribbling of thoughts and opinions.

STEP 8:

Be relatable in your writing. Readers like to read articles which relate to them and hence they feel hostile and comfort in your words. I often portray myself as the character in my stories, the one who got to gain the experiences that life threw at me. Chances are all humans face similar challenges in life. Relatable AF!

STEP 9:

Let your writing be creative and free-flowing. You can always edit it later with but your initial draft should be fresh. To put it more easily- WRITE DRUNK BUT EDIT SOBER.

STEP 10:

Send your works to people who always motivate you – friends, family or even professional writers like me and many others. This will motivate you to write more regularly and also to feel validated and improve yourself in the process. Learn and grow fellow WRITERS!

Hope these tested steps qualify as practical tips to anybody in need. Do COMMENT your steps, to becoming a better writer in the comments below or leave a comment if you need more TIPS.

Till then – EAT- SLEEP- WRITE- REPEAT.

Tips for Writing the Book Review

Once you have made your observations and assessments of the work under review, carefully survey your notes and attempt to unify your impressions into a statement that will describe the purpose or thesis of your review. Check out our handout on thesis statements. Then, outline the arguments that support your thesis.

Your arguments should develop the thesis in a logical manner. That logic, unlike more standard academic writing, may initially emphasize the author’s argument while you develop your own in the course of the review. The relative emphasis depends on the nature of the review: if readers may be more interested in the work itself, you may want to make the work and the author more prominent; if you want the review to be about your perspective and opinions, then you may structure the review to privilege your observations over (but never separate from) those of the work under review. What follows is just one of many ways to organize a review.

Introduction

Since most reviews are brief, many writers begin with a catchy quip or anecdote that succinctly delivers their argument. But you can introduce your review differently depending on the argument and audience. The Writing Center’s handout on introductions can help you find an approach that works. In general, you should include:

  • The name of the author and the book title and the main theme.
  • Relevant details about who the author is and where he/she stands in the genre or field of inquiry. You could also link the title to the subject to show how the title explains the subject matter.
  • The context of the book and/or your review. Placing your review in a framework that makes sense to your audience alerts readers to your “take” on the book. Perhaps you want to situate a book about the Cuban revolution in the context of Cold War rivalries between the United States and the Soviet Union. Another reviewer might want to consider the book in the framework of Latin American social movements. Your choice of context informs your argument.
  • The thesis of the book. If you are reviewing fiction, this may be difficult since novels, plays, and short stories rarely have explicit arguments. But identifying the book’s particular novelty, angle, or originality allows you to show what specific contribution the piece is trying to make.
  • Your thesis about the book.

Summary of content

This should be brief, as analysis takes priority. In the course of making your assessment, you’ll hopefully be backing up your assertions with concrete evidence from the book, so some summary will be dispersed throughout other parts of the review.

The necessary amount of summary also depends on your audience. Graduate students, beware! If you are writing book reviews for colleagues—to prepare for comprehensive exams, for example—you may want to devote more attention to summarizing the book’s contents. If, on the other hand, your audience has already read the book—such as a class assignment on the same work—you may have more liberty to explore more subtle points and to emphasize your own argument. See our handout on summary for more tips.

Analysis and evaluation of the book

Your analysis and evaluation should be organized into paragraphs that deal with single aspects of your argument. This arrangement can be challenging when your purpose is to consider the book as a whole, but it can help you differentiate elements of your criticism and pair assertions with evidence more clearly. You do not necessarily need to work chronologically through the book as you discuss it. Given the argument you want to make, you can organize your paragraphs more usefully by themes, methods, or other elements of the book. If you find it useful to include comparisons to other books, keep them brief so that the book under review remains in the spotlight. Avoid excessive quotation and give a specific page reference in parentheses when you do quote. Remember that you can state many of the author’s points in your own words.

Conclusion

Sum up or restate your thesis or make the final judgment regarding the book. You should not introduce new evidence for your argument in the conclusion. You can, however, introduce new ideas that go beyond the book if they extend the logic of your own thesis. This paragraph needs to balance the book’s strengths and weaknesses in order to unify your evaluation.

Any suggestions will be welcome.