Rebecca Skloot is an award-winning science writer, and a contributing editor at 
After seven happy years serving as a vice president, I have just finished my second term on the National Book Critics Circle board of directors. While I was on the board, I put together a document of tips for breaking into book reviewing called, Strategies for Breaking in and Staying in: Getting started as a critic, building your reviewing portfolio, going national, and keeping editors happy. It's no longer available on the NBCC's website, and I've gotten quite a few requests for it recently, so I've posted it here for those interested. I put these tips together a few years ago -- if folks stumble across broken links that need fixing, please let me know and I'll update. And do post any tips I didn't think of in the comments section below.
I'm sure I'll run for the NBCC board again at some point in the future. As you'll see in the tips document, if you're interested in book reviewing, I highly recommend membership.
(Props to Elaine Vitone for helping me put together this tips document. And to Anik McGrory, who drew the Fox Critic image above -- which I've always adored -- for the original Critical Mass blog.)
Education & Careers
Comments
Is it just me, or are the hotlinks in the pdf not working for anyone?
Posted by: Diane G. | April 3, 2009 1:25 AM
Not just you. Links in pdf do not work.
Posted by: Danimal | April 3, 2009 9:11 AM
Thanks for letting me know! I've just uploaded it onto an HTML page instead of a PDF, and the links work fine now. It's here
Posted by: Rebecca Skloot | April 3, 2009 11:37 AM
Thanks for letting me know! I've just uploaded it onto an HTML page instead of a PDF, and the links work fine now. It's here
Posted by: Rebecca Skloot | April 3, 2009 11:37 AM
Good document :)
Thanks...
Posted by: frMerkez | April 24, 2009 3:55 PM
Thanks for the fix! Safely filed away in my "Writing" folder now.
Posted by: Diane G. | April 25, 2009 5:51 PM
thanks :))
Posted by: The Cosmic | May 1, 2009 5:52 PM
Interesting!
Posted by: Successful Researcher: How to Become One | May 15, 2009 5:32 PM