How to Write an Author Assessment

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:WriteAuthorAssessment
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How to Write an Author Assessment

Introduction

From time to time, writers or their publishers will ask for an author assessment, something for a book jacket or other promotional use. The author assessment is something to be approached from a literary and a marketing angle. A good author assessment should include reviewing the work, and the context of the work, to provide a good overview. Read on to learn how to write an author assessment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Steps

1

Step One

Give a little background. The author's age and place of origin are common additions. Sometimes, the assessment will include a place or vocation that has had a lot of influence on the author's life and work.
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Step Two

Talk about diction and style. Address the way the author works with language. Is it dense or light, classical or postmodern? Give the reader a brief glimpse of the author's overall style.
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Step Three

Use other authors as a reference point. This is done all the time. A new writer will be compared to an established one, or a few known authors will be noted as either influences or parts of a similar "school" of writing.
4

Step Four

Talk about what is the general content and setting of the author's work. Are all of the novels set in Anchorage, Alaska? Is the author's work all about plant life? These details are good to include in an overall assessment. If the work is more diverse, give multiple examples of fundamental themes.
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Step Five

End with an upbeat sentence. A good closing sentence will make an assessment. Include something that uses the author's work to appeal to something in the reader. Think about your target audience and their interests. The rest will come.

Tips & Warnings

  • Avoid unnecessary extras. Don't get off on a tangent, the author assessment needs to be concise.
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