Writing a review

How to Write a Review


by Gale Barker, Jun 21, 2008

Are you mad about movies? Do you love to read the latest books? Do you have a season ticket for concerts or the ballet?

Do your market research. Study the publications you want to write for, which reviews they include, and the style, tone, and format of the reviews.

Make sure you have all the relevant pieces of information to identify what you are reviewing. Mention them at the beginning e.g. if it is a play, you will need the name of the play, the playwright, the theatre where it is being performed, and the dates that it is on. (But sometimes some of this information is given at the foot of the review.)
If it is a television programme, you will need the title, the television channel it was shown on, and the date and time of transmission. Tailor this information to the conventions normally used by your target publication.
How to Write Your Review
Begin by mentioning what you are reviewing without making it sound like the introduction to a school presentation: “I am reviewing Coronation Street which was on ITV on Friday 29th February at 7.30 p.m.”
See what sort of techniques the usual reviewers use. Try to incorporate the information in an attention-grabbing hook.
Adopt a tone that's suited to the publication you are aiming for - serious, flippant, humorous, witty - and make your review a similar length to ones which the publication usually prints.
Make Your Review Readable
Give enough detail to give your reader a brief idea of the content, without reproducing the entire show/play/book/ exhibition.
Give the review an angle - let the reader see why you chose to review this particular thing. Is it because it was terrible, shocking, exciting, original, unforgettable or exceptionally good? Give as much of your own personal response as the publication normally allows.
Illustrate any claims you make with examples, but remember you are aiming to inform, entertain and be thought-provoking. This is not a school or university essay!
Use original, striking language, and avoid clichés. Don't “state the obvious” or you'll turn your readers off straight away.
Make sure your spelling, grammar, and presentation are immaculate.
Give it a Proper Ending
End with a sentence summarising your conclusion - was the subject of the review worth watching/visiting/buying? Did it have certain strengths, but fall short in some way? Try to end your piece with a memorable phrase.