Writer are also voracious readers so whenever someone asks me what they have to do to become a successful writers or whenever someone asks me what they should write about, the first thing that I ask them is what do they like to read. I never realized until recently that I was echoing the very words of one of my favorite authors, Steven Coontz. Steven Coontz, not to be confused with Dean Koontz, one of today's best known authors of fast paced horror novels, is one of today's best selling authors of adventure novels. Steven, in his blog Tips For Writers: Scribbling for Fun and Profit writes, "Whenever someone tells me they would like to write, my first question is always, What do you read? Writing is not for you unless you have spent a lifetime reading, a lifetime savoring stories. All too often, the answer I receive to my question is, 'Oh, I don't have time to read. I watch TV and movies, but I would like to be a writer.' The conversation usually ends there."

Your opening paragraph should give your readers the essential information about the book-title of the book, author's name, publisher, ISBN, price, a general description of the material covered and any special features like maps, tables, graphs, etc. The general description of the material covered and special feature apply mostly to review of nonfiction books. If you are submitting the review to an online site, this paragraph, as a rule, can be omitted because the review becomes part of a sales blurb for the book and that data is usually located right above the review for the book.

Whatever you do do not let the book review become a book report. Never tell the reader so much about the story line that the reader doesn't need to read the book to know how the story ended.

Include information about the author, his or her characters, the plot line, etc, but never ever give away the ending. I know, I'm being redundant, but never giving away the story's ending is essential. The object of book reviews is to promote the author and his or her books. Review site like Amazon wants to sell the book and if you give away the ending many people will not buy the book to find out why the story ended that way.

Develop your own style, you unique book reviewers voice, so to speak.

Tell the reader how the book affected you. Did it make you laugh? Did the story bring you to tears? Did the action keep you on the edge of your seat? Did the pace of the action keep you from putting the book down until you finished it? Did it bore you to death?

Write reviews on books that you have purchased and submit those reviews to online writing sites that you already belong to, sites like this one, Factoidz.Com.

Sign up for writing list. Topica and Yahoo have a wide variety of writing list that you can sign up for.

Submit your reviews to sites like Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Authorsden, etc.

Research ezines that publish book reviews, then after reading them for a couple of months, submit to those that interest you. Reading them first will allow you to determine whether your personal style fits their needs

Many publishers are actively seeking freelance reviewers. Check the listings in Writer's Market.Many authors will pay you to review their books if they like your style.

After having a few reviews that you are really pleased with published send an email to the author with the link to the review. Send them a short message telling them about yourself and your experience as a writer as well. Tell the author how much you like his or her books and that you would enjoy reviewing his or her future work for them.

I spend my working hours researching and writing nonfiction articles for publication online and for submission to print publications but in the evening like to relax with a real page turner. Please don't ask me who my favorite author is because it would be impossible for me to answer that question because I have dozens. I read a couple of novels every week, like I said earlier, "writers are voracious readers." If you are a serious writer you will also be a voracious reader so why not turn your leisure time reading into another source of income by writing book reviews for publication online as well as in print. You will never get rich writing book reviews but it can turn into a substantial second income and you can, once you establish yourself, receive all the free books that you can read. Book reviews are not to be confused with the book reports that we all had to write when we were in school. Book reviews are short pieces, usually six paragraphs in length, giving your personal evaluation of the book. It's your personal reaction to the strengths and weaknesses of the book. It's how you felt about the book's content. There is no right way and no wrong way to write a book review because they are all personal opinion pieces. One rule that you have to follow is the one on word count: If you are writing a book review for an online site like Amazon.com, they have to be concise and to the point but if you are submitting to a print publication they can run 1500 words or more in length. Here are some general guidelines to follow in writing book reviews.Ok, I hear you thinking, "great idea but how do I become involved with writing and submitting reviews." There are many different paths that you can follow. Here are just a few suggestionsYou won't get rich selling book reviews unless you become famous and start writing syndicated review columns but there are other benefits like free books from publishers and authors a like. Thew books they send you to review are yours to keep and considering the average cost of a full length hardcover novel today is $30 or more, that's a pretty good fringe benefit.