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What is an Editorial Review?


Editorial reviews are objective, third-party reviews of a book by a professional editor, columnist, critic, or other authority in the book’s genre or subject. These professionals will focus on a number of elements within the book - technical vs emotional takeaway. This includes consistency in POV, pacing and plotting, as well as use of dialogue, character development and narrative consistency. They may point out grammatical errors and other inconsistencies.


Most new reviewers will usually repeat the book's blurb in the review and follow up with a star rating and a 'buy this book' recommendation.


A good and experienced reviewer will tell what the book's about in their own words but will also offer a more lengthy opinion of the book, to include both positives and negatives in the story...example - "Mary's character was well-developed and I could relate to her, but John's character needed a bit more depth for me to understand him..."


Editorial reviews may also explain the book's plot before their review, but it will be more concise and based on the actual read vs repeating the blurb. And the review will be based on more technical aspects.


Who are professional editorial reviewers? As above, those working in a professional capacity within the industry. Such as, an expert on the time period one writes in or something with in the plot - a geologist or heart surgeon, for example. Or a professional editor working with periodicals or who edits professional but has had no hand in editing the book in question. Or a columnist, such as a reviewer or critic for a periodical or even a TV or radio show.


There are certainly websites dedicated to editorial reviews, and there isn't a problem with this, BUT look at the quality of their reviews, look at the quality of the books they're reviewing, are they only providing these reviews for self-published books, or do they include small press, and are there some recognizable names among their clients?


Ask the hard questions if you're paying money for any review, such as:


What qualifies this company or reviewer to provide editorial reviews?

How long have they been in business?

How do they vet the reviewers they bring on to review books?

Is there an editing process of those reviews before you receive them?

Are those reviews edited before being released and/or sent to the author?


Why does one pay for reviews? Because we expect professionalism and trust with those we give our hard-earned money to.


Ask yourself, are you going to hand out $100 to a random stranger on the street? No. Why would you do that? You don't know them and don't trust them...giving to the homeless aside. So you shouldn't be giving money to random companies who say they'll give you a particular type of review but who can't back up their reputation with qualifications.


Other than paid services offering editorial reviews, who else is qualified? See the above - experts in the subject you're writing. This includes...(drumroll)...other published authors! Ones you don't have a normal working relationship with. Even branded authors.


Example -


If you write Thrillers, try Robert Crais, Michael Connelly, or Tess Gerritsen.


If you write Historical Fiction, try Elizabeth Chadwick, Ken Follett or Bernard Cornwell.


If you write Fantasy or Sci Fi, try Suzanne Collins, Hugh Howey or Neil Gaiman.


You normally need to go through their publicists or their publishing house. The latter has all kinds of information on the authors they publish. Of course, if you have a longstanding connection with any branded authors, you can go directly to them.


If it's only a hook up on social media, ask them for their publicist's name. If they ask you what it's about, tell them you wanted to go about asking for a review or comment in the professional manner. They may be kind enough to talk to you directly.


Finally, don't forget to go back to reviewers who reviewed your book(s) before. Ask them to review for you again. Remind them that they loved your previous books and would they be interested in the next installment?


But for editorial or professional reviews, do the research and be comfortable that you can trust the service before handing over the money. These days, anyone can hang a website and call themselves professional, so ask the important questions.


I hope this helps.


If you have any questions, please reach out via the emailer on the sidebar.


Note: Your contact details are NOT made available in any way to third parties.

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