BookBlogWriMo – My Review Process

Welcome to BookBlogWriMo day 13! The theme today is “Your Review Process.”

It’s funny that this is the theme today as I just got done writing a review (of Afterworlds – up tomorrow). I’m trying to think of what my process was while writing it, but I don’t know if I really have one.

Let’s see.

1. I always, always, always take notes while I write. I have a notebook that I keep with me, and if a passage, sentence, few words stand out to me, I write down the page number and whatever stood out. If I have a feeling while reading or a reaction to something, I write that down too. If I can, I site a page number for that as well, so if I need to, I can go reread it to feel it again. General thoughts about the book or characters or writing go in the notebook too.
2. When I finish the book, I immediately write down what I think in that notebook as well. I try to write out a general review outline, maybe even a few sentences that I’ll use in the review. As much as I like to do this, sometimes I don’t always have time.
3. If I have time, I’ll write a review of the book that day, but that pretty much never happens. Since I don’t usually do it that day, I just try to write the review in the few days after I’ve finished the book. I find that if I wait too long after I’ve finished reading to write the reviews, my feelings and thoughts completely leave me. This is because I’m reading other books in between finishing that previous one and writing the review, and so my reactions to that previous book will be pushed aside for the new book. Does that make sense? I honestly don’t know how some people could write an in-depth review months later.
4. Once I sit down to write my review, I’m pretty much good. My review kind of just flows out of me, and I think that the format for each review is different. What I talk about and where depends on the book, so I don’t stick to one specific format. Of course, I have my bottom line and rating, but what happens in between that and the pub info depends on the book. I just write my honest reaction to the book and whatever happens happens. 🙂

What is your review process? Any tips for writing you want to share?