How do you write reviews for different genres?

1 Know your genre

Before you write a review, you need to know what genre you are dealing with. Different genres have different conventions, expectations, and standards. For example, a review of a fantasy novel might focus on the world-building, the magic system, and the character development, while a review of a thriller might emphasize the plot, the suspense, and the twists. You should also be familiar with the genre's history, trends, and influences, so you can compare and contrast the work with other examples in the genre.

2 Identify your audience

Another important factor to consider when writing a review is your audience. Who are you writing for? What do they want to know? How much background information do they need? How do they value different aspects of the work? For example, if you are writing a review for a fan site, you might assume that your readers are already familiar with the genre and the work, and focus on your personal reactions, opinions, and interpretations. If you are writing a review for a general publication, you might need to provide more context, summary, and explanation, and balance your subjective views with objective criteria.

3 Use specific examples

One of the best ways to support your review is to use specific examples from the work. Examples can illustrate your points, back up your claims, and show your attention to detail. They can also help your readers to visualize, understand, and appreciate the work better. However, be careful not to spoil the work for your readers, especially if it has surprises, secrets, or twists. You can use spoiler warnings, vague descriptions, or general references to avoid revealing too much.

4 Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses

A good review is not just a summary or a praise. It is also an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the work. You should analyze how well the work achieves its goals, meets its genre expectations, and appeals to its audience. You should also consider how the work compares to other works in the genre, or by the same author, artist, or creator. You should be honest, fair, and respectful in your assessment, and acknowledge your own biases, preferences, and expectations.

5 Provide recommendations

Finally, a good review should provide recommendations for your readers. You should tell them whether you liked the work or not, and why. You should also tell them who might enjoy the work or not, and why. You should give them some reasons to read, watch, listen to, or play the work, or some alternatives to consider. You should also invite them to share their own opinions, questions, or feedback on the work.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?