Saturday, 28 August 2010

How I write reviews

I love hearing about how other bloggers approach their review writing so I thought I'd put my approach out there in the hopes that you might to!

Bloggers that have taken up the challenge:

12 comments:

Ynysawdre Elderly Residents Association said...

Great post Adele. I have to take notes as I am reading or as thoughts occur to me :D
I tried to review without notes a few times and found I just waffled and it took me ages to put a review togetehr.
So my notebook is now glued to my hand

Megan Burke said...

Really interesting!

I find it interesting that you make such comphresenive notes on every book!

And, of course, the coke and the chair :P

I took up the challenge and here's mine:

http://bookworm-megs.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-i-review-meme-from-persnickety.html

Splendibird said...

This was fascinating. The way that I review is similar to you in some respects, but different in other. I will certainly be posting about this and hope lots of other bloggers do also.

Ruby said...

Hi Adele!

It's interesting that you decided to do a vlog about how you write your own book reviews because I have recently been asked to do a book review for a conference - my first verbal review. My book is in a different context, as it is non-fiction, but I like what you have said about the subject.

I was given this article to help me with mine, and it was talking about how the best book reviews (verbal) are short and to the point. One thing they did mention, which you obviously did not given that your website is devoted to YA, is target audience, and I find that this is pretty crucial...

Anyway, I'm sorry, I'm rambling, but thank-you for your thoughts and I will keep them in mind when writing my review (especially in regards to the technicalities in book writing) :)

Elle said...

This was such an interesting post/vlog!

I have to write either first thing in the morning or last thing at night. I've tried to do it in between, but I fail. Caffeine helps. :)

I'm also hesitant to type my posts on Blogger as I make them. So I always write them in an MS Word document, then transfer it to Blogger.

As for writing little notes as you go along, I cannot make myself do that in time because there's never a pen or paper around (or I'm just too lazy ;)). But it's something I'm going to develop in the future, because that makes review writing a whole lot easier.

Looking forward to read the comments of other bloggers too! :)

John The Bookworm said...

I took the challenge to get out some needed stress and wit. I really loved your explanation, though, and I admire your no-nonsense style. I wish I could draft and write out my thoughts as I read, but that distracts me and really makes reading HARDER as opposed to easier.

Here's the link if you're interested. I don't want to seem like a spammer though...

http://dreaminginbooks.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-i-write-those-things-that-may-or.html

April (BooksandWine) said...

I responded:
http://www.goodbooksandgoodwine.com/2010/08/my-review-process-method-to-madness.html

I definitely pre-write my reviews as well. And, omg, HONESTY is the most important thing ever. However, I do differ with you as far as writing the summary goes, I like to write my own.

Thanks for providing such a thought provoking prompt!

Audrey (holes In My brain) said...

i laughed at the baby analogy xD
hmm, I pre-type my reviews, but I'm not sure if thats the same thing.. very interesting vlog!

Robyn Bavati said...

Thanks for such a fantastic post. I absolutely love getting insight into a writer's process. How interesting that you find the review is more honest if you give yourself a few weeks to think about the book. I'd have assumed the more accurate review would have resulted from writing the review immediately, while it is still fresh in your mind.


I appreciate your honesty and integrity, and the time you spend providing such a fabulous service, especially when you get no renumeration for doing so.


I'm new to blogging - only started this month - and at first I thought my blog would include YA book reviews. Then I realised I wouldn't want to say anything negative about another writer's work (unless it was sexist/racist/etc.) because I know how much time and effort has gone into it, and also because I think authors need to support each other.

I discussed this very issue recently with Tye Cattanache (The Book Gryffin) who, similarly reluctant to criticize a writer's work, said she only reviews the books she likes. My view is that if you are reviewing a book, it's best to be honest, and for this reason it's probably best if reviews are left to readers and bloggers - not other authors.

BookChic said...

Great vlog! I loved hearing your thoughts on the review process. I'm actually getting ready to write a review myself this afternoon. I kinda wish I'd done a vlog for mine but typing it out was better at the time. Besides, you know how I am in my vlogs and I ramble A LOT so I imagine it's probably best I kept it to text.

I love listening to your accent!! I need to watch more of your vlogs, lol.

Anyway, I emailed you my link to my thoughts, so I won't re-paste it here. Great idea! I hope more bloggers get a chance to do this. It really is interesting to see how everyone works.

Jesse Owen (Reading to Life) said...

Great post Adele, I always wondered why my reviews never matched anyone elses lol.

Anyhoo, here's my process if your interested :)

http://www.books4teens.co.uk/blog/how-i-write-reviews.html

Jordyn said...

I love this and finally finally made my own post.

how i review