Freelancing for Pleasure and Profit

Issue #23

Greetings, Gather writers, and welcome to this issue of Freelancing for Pleasure and Profit. If you haven't yet been published, and are looking for unique opportunities to do so in order to pad your portfolio of published clips, I strongly suggest learning to write compelling reviews.

Reviews are needed for all forms of arts and entertainment. There are book reviews, movie reviews, CD reviews, and performance reviews. Performance reviews include reviews of plays, concerts, speeches, public events, and comedy routines---to name just a few. Big events and books by well-known authors are typically covered by regular writers for newspapers or magazines, but smaller events are often overlooked. The publication either isn't aware of them or hasn't the available staff to cover them. Of course this may mean a stint of writing for free (which I must add is severely looked down upon by some folks in the freelance writing world) which I think is okay once in a while if the result is a professional looking published clip.

What makes a compelling review? Obviously it's a must to include the who, what, where and when of the subject, but compelling reviews go a step higher. A compelling review relates the audience or reader's take on the book, movie or performance. Did it leave them teary-eyed and reminiscing? Did it close with the audience longing for one more song or one more page? Instead were they antsy and dying to leave? Why?

As you attend a performance or read a book to review, it's always a good idea to solicit the opinions of others prior to writing the actual piece. No, you don't write a review based on someone else's thoughts and feelings---you use your own. But hearing what someone else thinks is often just the edge a writer needs to convey a thought or feeling. It may help a writer rethink his initial reaction or to view the concert or play from another train of thought. Reviewing something from different angles allows diverse perspective and that is often key to a thorough review.

It is always worthwhile to include a bit of biography in a review. An anecdote about the author or an actor in a performance...preferably something that's not widely known adds interest and intrigue. Why did a musician write or perform a certain song? What is the history behind that second novel? These tidbits don't directly hurt or help your written review, but they add a little zip to what otherwise might be a little on the bland side. Reviews aren't typically exciting reading. Livening them up with these added features may help get your review noticed.

How does a freelancer go about landing an assignment for a review? Call a local newspaper's features editor and offer to do the job. Mention that you're a freelance writer and that you'll be attending the event anyway. Wouldn't they like a write-up of your take on the play/concert/book? Smaller community papers sometimes lack news, and would jump at the chance to feature a review on something of interest.

Practice writing reviews and asking someone who attended a performance along with you to critique it. Please note, however, if the person isn't a writer, be sure to ask only for a critique of the content...not the format. It's good to be certain you've covered all the details, and...as the old cliche says, "two heads are better than one." The next time you finish reading a book, write a practice review.

Read reviews. You'll find them in local and national newspapers, magazines, and even right here on Gather. Study the style and format of the reviews you read. What do you like or dislike about them? Try to formulate an outline for reviews that is thorough and unique.

Creating your own style as a writer is imperative to drawing a following; and a following ascertains your work will be read. A solid reviewing style with a sense of fun and flair will draw readers, and make you a more viable option for hire by publications.