Quote:
Originally Posted by bashfulbanshee
Hah, I know what you mean. Reviewing *is* work. You've been reviewing for a while so I'm sure you've gotten faster with it over time, but it still takes me hours.
For me, it takes some time to think about the structure of a review, what to focus on and what not to focus on, write a draft, and then edit out the less necessary stuff. I need some time before the first draft and later revisions to make sure that the review carries the correct tone, which is why I'm currently sitting on three drafted reviews. For now, I'm sticking to an every-10-days schedule so my blog can survive through my own reading and reviewing slumps.
I think I've read on the Simon Royle website that you try to review books immediately after finishing them. Have you been making notes as you've been reading like crazy? I'm just curious about how you keep track of it all with your prolific reading/reviewing skills @_@
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Good questions! I always wonder how people can wait and write reviews/finish reviews days after they'e read the book. By then, I've done 10 zillion other things and I can't remember the things I wanted to remember. I'm a bit compulsive, I have some trouble moving on until I've finished the step before. So it frustrates me to have a book read and the review not finished. If I finish a book just before work, for example, and I can't get to the review until after work, that is one of those niggling "undone" things in the back of my head until I get to it.
I still take a little while to write reviews, just to be sure I'm saying it the way I want to say it. I find it especially tricky when I have lots of constructive feedback to give
I also find it tricky when I can't think of anything I'd really change. Those reviews tend to be shorter (just had a 5-star book posted today, and it's a shorter review).
I'm flattered that you've read my "IndieView" on Simon's site! When I first started reviewing, I used to keep notes about things I wanted to be sure to mention. I don't really do that anymore, unless I'm near the computer and something really struck me as important to include. Now, I'm better at remembering the things I want to remember.
So here's my general process: Finish a book. Do the "housekeeping" stuff (set up the post with the links and book cover). Whip through and make a skeleton post, listing all the things that I feel more important/striking about the book. Write a blurb that reflects the book as I saw it, without spoilers. Flesh out the rest of the post. Hit "preview" and read the whole thing as my readers will see it. Edit as needed. (sometimes I do those last two steps many times)
Sorry, such rambling!
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