When creating and editing book reviews for the OneWomansMind.net Education Newsletter, please consider the following guidelines:

Review Outline
Book reviews should include the following information and be told in your voice:

• brief plot summary without giving away the ending
• what you love most within the story (i.e. a scene, author's writing, characters, etc.)
• your opinion of the author's craft
• your opinion of the value and worth of the book to the reader

Word Count
Word count should be about 250 words, not less than 150. The word number is a guideline appropriate for a review format in a small newsletter. However, more important than word count is that you, the writer, share your voice in totem so that your reader is able to conceive your vision.

Three "Cs": Combine - Condense - Clarify
Three "Cs" to help you on your writing journey are Combine - Condense - Clarify. As you edit your finished drafts, look for sentences that can be combined; tangential ideas that can be condensed; and vision that can be clarified. Brevity is the art of the review.

Grammar
Grammar matters. Using excellent grammar is a way of honoring words and respecting language. Grammar gives your creative writing the flow and ease of reading necessary to take your reader where you want he or she to go. The classic Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. offers the best tutorial information on grammar and can be found at http://www.bartleby.com/141/.

Here are a few grammar hints that will keep you on the right track while creating your review:

• Refer to your book by name rather than writing "this book."
• Refer to your author and/or illustrator by first and last name when beginning your review. You may choose to use only their last name during your review, then close with the full name.
• Do not use "this" to begin a sentence. Instead, specifically state the item to which you are referring.

Spelling
Spelling matters. Use your spell check and your dictionary. Merriam-Webster is on-line at http://www.m-w.com.

Take Heart
Writing is a subjective, personal, creative act. Each person who reviews or edits your work will have an opinion about exactly how it should read. Take heart in knowing that your work is fantastic and that you are an excellent writer - always. If you don't agree with an editing recommendation, tell the editor - whomever she or he is. If you don't want to change what or how you've written a piece, don't. Keep looking until you find the right home for your work and the right person with which to share your vision. Writing is a passion and a joy for those who are called to it. Practice, enjoy and keep moving forward. Your voice matters.

Submission
Please make certain to include the following at the end of your book review:

• your first and last name
• your age
• your home state
• the complete book title
• the complete author name
• the book ISBN number
• the book copyright year

Please copy and paste your book review into an email and send to me.

I will review and if necessary, edit with recommendations to incorporate into a second draft. Once your book review is finalized and you're ready to have it published, I will include it in the next Education Newsletter. You will retain the copyright and all rights to your work for republishing.

Contact
If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact me. Book review examples can be found in the OneWomansMind.net Education Newsletter archives.