The Helium Guide to Review Writing
The purpose of a review is to inform consumers about a product. Before they buy the book, see the movie or eat at the restaurant, consumers want to know if their money or time will be well spent. Reviews can include:
- Product reviews
- Book reviews
- Movie and TV reviews
- Website reviews
- Restaurant reviews
Use these tips and resources as a starting point for writing reviews.
Fundamentals of review writing:
- It’s not about you. It’s about what you’re reviewing. Focus on the product.
- Speaking of the product: Know the product! (See the movie. Play the video game. Read the book.) Do not compile other people’s opinions and call them your own.
- Know your audience. What does the reader need to or want to know?
- Avoid using first person (“I”). Even though the review is your assessment, avoiding first person emphasizes that your evaluation is as objective as it can be, that it is based on evidence and that the work has been judged based on the standards it set for itself.
Points to consider when writing reviews:
- What are the product’s accomplishments and failures? (Abandon general terms such as good, awful, fantastic, etc. You sound unclear, and readers feel uninformed.)
- Is it worth the time, money, etc., for readers to invest in the product?
- How is the product unique?
- Who would find the product most useful (chefs, teens, hard-core gamers)?
- How does the product compare to others in its genre/field?
- What personal experiences have you had relating to the subject/product?
Writer resources
If you are interested in learning more about great review writing, read great reviews. Here are some places to start:
Writer resources