When you contemplate where to go to dinner or browse the aisles in search of a book or ponder which movie to rent or which play to attend, you generally do not make the decision in a vacuum. You'll probably consider what you have heard from others — people you respect, friends, and family. Sometimes however, word of mouth hasn't made the rounds — especially if the movie has just been released or a new restaurant has opened. Because you don't want to leave it solely to chance, you might seek out a review in your local paper or a regional magazine or go on the Internet. This is why there has always been and likely always will be a strong market for reviewers.

While some knowledge or expertise in the subject of your review is always helpful, it is not a prerequisite to write a review. What you do need to know is how to write a review, which is what you will learn in this chapter.

There Is Much to Review

With so many books published each year and publishers clamoring to have their books reviewed, there is a robust market for book reviews and as a reader and writer, you will find many opportunities to freelance in this area. Unfortunately, when it comes to other subjects — restaurants, music, theater, art, and movies — editors frequently have a specific individual in mind, often someone on staff, to write a review, although you can still establish yourself as a freelance reviewer specializing in any one of these categories.