book critic/reviewer

lulalolly

Morning all!
I was just wondering if there were any book critics on here that could give me a little nudge in the right direction??
I'm a stay at home mum and looking to earn some pocket money to put in the kid's savings.
I love reading and can read a book a day.
I've been doing some researching and have found looooooooads of websites where you basically review books for free, which is fine if that is where I need to begin. I just wondered if anyone could advise me if eventually there is a way of making some money out of this (I'm not talking get rich quick!!!) and if so what is the process??
I accept it is something I will need to put a lot of work into to see a reward but I'm ready and willing .
Your advice would be much appreciated
Huuuuge thanks
L x

Sixer

You could start a book review blog and earn a few pennies via AdSense and Amazon affiliate purchases.

But it's a very busy market and you'd need to do an awful lot of networking to a) get enough hits to make any money and b) get yourself sufficiently established to get free books from publishers.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

You need to belong to a site like Goodreads and or Library Thing.
http://www.goodreads.com/
Goodreads does Giveaways which is done on the understanding that the Book is reviewed, be good at Reviewing and that will increase your chances of getting more books. Publishers want to giveaway books before General Release so as to get feedback on them.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

You read a book a day! Is that 7 days a week or 5? depending on what you read don't you feel need for rest sometimes to refresh yourself? What kind of books do you like to read?

MummyMummy_2

i can't believe you're a full time mum and get time to read a book a day! please share your secret!! haha by the time i've done chores, fed and watered the kids, done school/work pick ups and drop offs, homework and whatever else crops up during the day there's no time to read until bedtime and by the time i get to bed and i've found the page i was up to i manage to read like 5 pages at the most before i fall asleep!! or mebbe i should be reading now rather than on here while the kids are drawing/colouring haha

Sixer

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver wrote: »

You need to belong to a site like Goodreads and or Library Thing.
http://www.goodreads.com/
Goodreads does Giveaways which is done on the understanding that the Book is reviewed, be good at Reviewing and that will increase your chances of getting more books. Publishers want to giveaway books before General Release so as to get feedback on them.

But GoodReads (great as it is) won't monetise the hobby. You can't sell proof copies from publishers, only finished copies, and these would sell for tuppence.

lulalolly

Thanks all for your replies!!
I read a book most days, but it's more difficult when my ohs at home i.e the weekend lol so I average about 5 a week.
I love allllll genres, I'm less keen on things that are really hard to believe in such as sci-fi or fantasy but can still enjoy them if they are well written.
I guess I'm lucky because my children are 5 months old and 22 months old, so I typically get up early and do all chores, then do the usual mummy bit until they both go for a nap between 10 and 1-2 ish, then mummy bit, then they go to bed at 7-8 ish and I'm not a very good sleeper!! I'm also a very quick reader lol!
I miss working a lot and came from a very busy job where you didn't get chance to think so reading keeps me going or I would probably go a bit crazy lol!!!
Thanks for all your helpful responses so far, I can always rely on this forum.
L x

Sixer

What about writing reviews on Ciao and Dooyoo? It's pennies, but it's still money!

lulalolly

Haven't heard of them, will look them up now thankyou!!
L x

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Goodreads features a thread that I can't find at the moment called 'Do you write a Book Blog' basically a Blog listing your Reviews.
Some of these Blogs are so good that Publishers send them freebies and the bloggers themselves do giveaways.
I would look into it if I were you @lullalolly as I think it has a lot to offer.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Most Blogger blogs for instance use Google Adsense? to monetise blog. I don't know about Wordpress but I think proper Book Review Blogs generate very specific advertising for revenue generation purposes.