There are many ways that writers can get their books reviewed. It varies from scouring the web for book bloggers who love reading and promoting authors—but also paid services through book tours with publishers or reviewers for sites like Readers Favorite or Kirkus Reviews.

But have you ever considered how writing book reviews could help you as a writer?

1. Writing book reviews is often subjective, relaying how a book made you feel. It is good practice to learn to express your emotions and can improve your ability to express your characters' feelings better or master the emotive language used to convey emotions in specific scenes.

2. A book reviewer often reads more critically. They analyze the different aspects of a book to see what works and what doesn't. And also try to figure out why it did or didn't work. Applying this knowledge can help you to improve your book.

3. You start building a valuable network of contacts when you review books for other authors in your own or similar genres. It can lead to cross-promoting each other's books on social media and email lists, leading to increased sales for all the writers involved.

 4. Limiting the word count of your reviews to a certain amount of words (for example, the 250-word count of Readers' Favorite reviews) helps you to write concisely. You will learn how to express yourself clearly with the least amount of words, leading to better comprehension for your reader.

5. If you read a book in your genre that you feel has merit but needs some work, you can write a review and share it privately with the author. Thus your suggestions can help an author improve their book without negatively affecting ratings and sales on platforms like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.

6. Book reviews often contain a summary of a book. Reading a book knowing that you will need to summarize it helps to increase your focus and concentration and also helps to improve your memory. Keeping track of all the plots and subplots in the books you read and how the author wove them together will also help you with the planning of the narrative of your book. 

7. Reading a book for a review helps you to increase your proofreading skills. Indeed, we often don't spot our own mistakes - but when you notice the common spelling, grammar, and typing errors in the books you read, you can create a checklist for proofreading your book. 

8. Are you struggling with writer's block? Writing something different - like a book review - often helps to get your imagination working again. While doing something different and not focusing on your book, your subconscious mind will start working, making creative connections. It may surprise you with a plot twist or unique character trait you've never expected.

Once you have written a few reviews and built a solid network of contacts for cross-promoting your books, be bold and ask other authors to review one of your books. Or should you dare - try to distance yourself - and read and review one of your own books.