How I Became a Book Reviewer for Publishers' Weekly

How I Became a Book Reviewer for Publishers Weekly

 

Let’s go back a few years when my sister suggested that since I enjoyed reading so much (as I visit the library the way that most people visit the grocery store), that I should consider freelancing as a book reviewer. It sounded like a great idea, and guess what?

It was.

 

I logged onto the internet and began researching companies that might take on freelance book reviewers.

Publishers Weekly was first on my list of seven possibilities. As instructed by the Publishers Weekly’s website, I submitted my writer’s resume along with two book reviews, books that were published in the last year. This was, of course, after I researched how their reviews were formatted and written. Included in that submission was a list of the types of books I enjoy reading. After a couple of weeks, I received an email from Publishers Weekly, stating that there were no openings at this time, but that they would keep my information on file. Similar responses (or no response at all) from other literary journals, such as Booklist and Bookmarks, would soon follow.

 

Then something surprising happened two months later.

 

I received an email from one of the editors at Publishers Weekly, asking me if I was still interested in writing reviews. My answer was only: Yes. Yes. Yes. This particular editor sent me the links of five books and asked me to choose one, which I promptly did. After enthusiastically receiving my first book via regular mail, I read it from cover to cover, studied a few reviews from the Publishers Weekly website and then wrote my first review. Little did I know, this was the beginning of something absolutely amazing happening to me.

 

I enjoyed every minute of the process, from receiving the book that had yet to be released to the world (a real perk), reading the book, taking notes, compiling my notes and then drafting the review. Everything about the process of book reviewing and working for “The Big Cheese in Book Reviewing” screamed my name.

At this time, I am working with two different editors who assign me two different categories of books, categories of my choice I might add.

 

Side Note: According to the rules at Publishers Weekly, I am not at liberty to ever disclose the titles of the books that I review for obvious reasons, however, what I can say is that I only review nonfiction, and am loving it.

 

Though I work with two different editors. One editor allows me to choose my titles, whereas, the other editor chooses them for me. At first I didn’t think that having my titles chosen for me would work. I mean, what if I am assigned something that I don’t like. News Flash: Being assigned something that you are not passionate about is a bona fide given. It will definitely happen, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Speaking of which, my sister made a valid point when I expressed my disinterest for a particular title. She stated promptly: “Do you think that the late Roger Ebert wanted to see every movie that he reviewed? Of course, not,” she replied.

 

And you know what?

 

She was probably right.

 

Now after having reviewed hundreds of titles, I can attest that there have been a few titles that I was not thrilled about reviewing, but guess what? I am one-hundred percent okay with that.

 

Why?

 

Because I’m a professional. I read what I am assigned, not necessarily what I want to read. For me, book reviewing is a job, part-time no less, but still a job. However, of all the jobs I have had in this world, writing book reviews is second only to writing full-length books. In the beginning, I just thought writing book reviews would be a good way to make a little extra money, which it is, with the operative word being little. But more importantly, the best part is being associated with Publishers Weekly.

 

It just doesn’t get any more awesome than that!

 

Brooklyn Weaver is an author, freelance writer and book reviewer for Publishers' Weekly. She lives in Oak Park, Illinois.