During the recent Monster Review-a-Thon, there were some mini-challenges that involved tasks for us to complete that centered around organization. I loved reading other people’s posts because it was a great way to see how others get things done and you could find an easier or better way to do something. So my curious mind wants to know how do you prepare to write your reviews?
I use a voice recorder. I found mine in a box of stuff a few months ago and thought ah-ha! I could use this again. My voice recorder hasn’t seen the light of day in over 9 years but imagine my surprise when I tried it out and found that it stilled worked. I haven’t even had to replace the batteries yet. (I had used the voice recorder during my college years so as not to miss anything important during lecture notes.)
I’ve tried jotting my thoughts down in a notebook but I slack off and don’t catch everything I want to retain. And sometimes when I had a good thought, by the time I was ready to write that thought down, I’d forgotten what that thought was. Talk about frustrating!
Using a voice recorder works best for me because my mind goes 100 mph and my hands can’t keep up (whether it’s writing it down by hand or by pounding away at the keyboard). I can talk a mile a minute so recording myself is the best way for me to capture and retain my thoughts. Yeah, my kids think it’s funny that mommy talks into a recorder (my daughter wants to use it herself but I don’t like sharing) but I’ve found that ever since I’ve been using the voice recorder, I’ve had a lot more to work with when it comes time to writing my reviews.
What method do you use? Do you write down your thoughts in a notebook? Do you use sticky notes and mark sections in the books? Something else?
I just free write. I was a Language Arts teacher for 8 years and it just comes naturally and in order all summed up as I go. I do write page numbers down if there is a quote or scene I might want to include, but nothing fancy.
ReplyDeleteA recorder is a great idea! I usually use sticky notes, or if I'm reading on my Nook I highlight things.
ReplyDelete@A Tale of Many Reviews
ReplyDeleteI envy you!! I'm so scatterbrained - it leaves me forgetting things all the time.
@Somer
ReplyDeleteI highlight things in my Kindle too but I suck at typing in notes. My fingers can't keep up with my brain. So I use the voice recorder when reading on my Kindle as well :)
I think the voice recorder is a fabulous idea! We've already established that I write my reviews right after reading a book, which is the best way for me to have everything fresh in my mind. I'm sure that I still forget things between the time I read and the time I sit down to read, but I've never been good at taking notes. I've thought about using little flags to mark pages I like, but I always forget about it while reading.
ReplyDelete@Amanda @ On a Book Bender
ReplyDeleteI'm going to seriously put in an effort to start writing my reviews as soon as I finish reading a book. The few times that I have done that, I get a lot more in my reviews. And it's easier as well. I need to re-train myself. It really does help when the book is still fresh in your mind.
A voice recorder... why didn't I think of that. My thoughts disappear so quickly sometimes.
ReplyDeleteRight now I use these little sticky flags to mark really great sections or quotes I want to think about. I use sticky notes to try and jot down a thought, but I find it interrupts m reading experience.
I find the best thing is to write my review right after reading it - that is when my thoughts are the most raw and honest... if I wait too long I start forgetting important things or mixing them with other books I'm reading.
A voice recorder is a great idea. I use a form that I made for my reviews. It has a few categories on it such as characters, plot, themes. Mostly I just record what my thoughts are on each category as I read the book. This helps me a lot when writing reviews.
ReplyDeleteMarcie-To Read or Not To Read
I have a format: Plot without spoilers; Of literary interest (structure, word choice, interesting forms); and "Just gotta say" (things that grab me). So, I'm looking to sort of complete these sentences as I read. I keep notes in a reading journal. Great question, btw!
ReplyDeleteI admire people who can but I could not. I need to read and not think. Not stop and write (or talk) just write. Then after the book is finished I sit down and write my review quickly
ReplyDeleteI have never thought of using a voice recorder. I tend to highlight and use pages tabs for important parts and scenes if I'm reading a hard copy and I used the highlight option on my Nook if its electronic. I usually mist things out before I actually write the review, things I liked, things I didn't like and then put it all into a cohesive review :]
ReplyDeleteWhen on my Nook, I bookmark and highlight. When a print book, I use post it note tabs. And I always make notes in a notebook while reading.
ReplyDeleteMy sloppy shorthand comes in handy when it's time to put it all together for the review.
This is a great post, I write my reviews usually right after I finish the book but often I get stuck and have to go back and look things up - I've tried sticky notes but there is usually just so much I want to include that it makes it hard. The voice recorder is a great idea and one I can incorporate without breaking the bank. I'm also curious as to whether you have a word count you try to hit for reviews. I can't seem to get under 600 words for even the short books..lol
ReplyDeleteMy iPhone has a voice recorder and I tried using it but there is always so much background noise in my house it's just silly. LOL. I use post it notes to mark pages and keep notes.
ReplyDeleteI could never use a voice recorder cause my voice sounds horrible when I listen to it on a recorder. I've done it once and never again:)
ReplyDeleteMy method is simply to ramble down words when I write my reviews. While reading a book I have thousans of thoughts and opinions. But when I forget some parts I was thinking to have in my review, I just think it wasn't probably that important:)
@Chrystal
ReplyDeleteYou're right, it is best to write your review right after you finish reading the book. Everything is fresh in your mind. But sometimes I'm on a 'reading roll' and just want to keep reading. LOL
@Blodeuedd
ReplyDeleteAnother reviewer who writes their review right after reading the book! I envy you!
@S. Leighanne
ReplyDelete*gasp* You highlight in the actual book?
@Maria
ReplyDeleteI definitely recommend giving a voice recorder a try. And you can find them cheap at places like Target. (That's where I got mine, many years ago.)
I think my reviews tend to be 300-500 words, on average. I don't make too much of an issue about word count. I just want to make sure I get all my thoughts and feelings about the book across in my review.
@Fiction Vixen
ReplyDeleteIf only you could hear what my playback sounds like! I've always got kid chatter in the background. LOL
I'm a post-it note gal myself but I kept finding that I would be out somewhere when a review epiphany would strike. I didn't always have a pen & paper handy so I would type notes on my phone notebook - then I discovered the voice memo feature. Now I can record things much easier than scrambling around for paper.
ReplyDeleteSome reviews hit me immediately and others come months after I've put the book down....often at around midnight. LOL
Fun post.
A voice recorder is brilliant! Although I'd probably ramble into it. Hahaha.
ReplyDeleteRight now I keep a index card in every book I read with the title and the author on it. Then I jot notes on it while I'm reading. Plus it doubles as a bookmark!
What an interesting post! Wish I was that organized! I try to write my reviews immediately after finishing a book, but it doesn't always work. I tried having a notebook right next to me and/or using post it notes to mark important passages, but I get into the story and forget all about the notes. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI just free write as well but a voice recorder is a great idea! Unfortunately I do my best thinking in the shower so a recorder or post it notes wouldn't do me any good in there :)
ReplyDeleteI do use post its in my books to capture things I may need in my reviews. I also start the posts in draft modes as I have time. I will put in the book cover and the synopsis and add quotes, pics, or ideas into the draft so when I open it to write it, I have it all there.
ReplyDeleteI put sticky notes on my favorite pages and then I re-read them to get my mind going about my favorite or not so favorite points... I really like the recording idea!
ReplyDeleteI take notes in a post draft on wordpress while reading (either on my computer or iPhone). And I always write a rough draft or short hand of a post as soon as I finish a book. Even if I'm writing on random scrap paper (once I did one on my airplane ticket!) Oh and I bookmark in the nook and in physical books...i'venever been a highlighter
ReplyDeleteI always like reading these kinds of posts and finding out how other bloggers get their creative juices flowing :) I'm like Kiya,I like sticky notes too
ReplyDelete@Amused
ReplyDeleteGood ideas and thoughts usually come to me in the shower or when I'm driving :)
@thelibrarianreads
ReplyDeleteI take notes on my iTouch as well :)
What a great topic!
ReplyDeleteI however, have no means of preparing for writing a review and REALLY need to do something about that. Why? Because it can end up being MONTHS before I sit down to write a review. I know, I'm such a BAD blogger!
I recently came across some bookmark pads made of paper (DUH!) that I may buy for this very thing. I end up forgetting secondary character names and especially the town name.
I always use the same template when I write the review. I almost need to print it out and fill it in as I read, but honestly, I wouldn't enjoy that kind of a distraction. It would almost feel like work then, and reading is not something I want to feel as work.
Thanks for the idea on the recorder. I think I'd be best with written notes though.
I was thinking about using my voice recorder just the other day - I will often finish a book and just do not have time to write the review at that time and I will start a new book as soon as I finish - thanks for validating that idea :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes (rarely though) I take notes on the books that I'm reading, but the majority of the time I just go where my thoughts lead me when I write my reviews.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have been known to write a review months after I read the book just because I couldn't sum up my thoughts till then.
A tape recorder sounds like a great idea, wish I has one because I think way faster than I can write. =)
Orchid
The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia
I write my thoughts in a journal notebook when I'm collecting notes to help my reviews. I never used to do this, one day i did and realized it did help a lot!
ReplyDelete@Jess (The Cozy Reader)
ReplyDeleteI've waited months before writing a review before and it just makes it so difficult for me. I've lost most of my thoughts by then. (Not for review requests but for personal reads.)
I forget names too if I wait too long. LOL
@Denise Z
ReplyDeleteThat's happened to me before too - no time to write a review after I've finished reading a book. Or I finish reading a book before going to bed. Or I'm in reading mode and want to read another book and not write a review. LOL
Let me know if the voice recorder works for you :)
I just write my reviews straight onto my blog as soon as possible after I've finished reading. I reckon that if I can't remember something then it isn't worth mentioning. I end up with some rather short reviews sometimes. but I think they contain all I want to say.
ReplyDeleteI use a notebook to take notes. I'm pretty good at forcing myself to write down my thoughts as they come to me whether I think they'll fit into a review or not just so all of the context is there. Then I put it to one side and when I come back to write the review I get out my highlighters and go through the most relevant points and then form a review from that. My notes are enough of a reminder to remind me what the book was like and what I can say and the highlighters help me to organise my thoughts!
ReplyDeleteOnce Upon A Time
What a great idea! I don't have any set method. I try to write my review as soon as possible after reading the book, but that doesn't always happen nowadays. The longer I wait, the more thoughts/ideas I lose. Until it's been days/weeks since I've finished the book and I have absolutely nothing to say about it.
ReplyDeleteI have just started reviewing books on my blog and don't really have a sytem, but thanks for this post-it was VERY informative!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think I am going to borrow the idea from one of your commenters about using an index card as a bookmark and to jot things down on!!
Shannon
http://extremereadingandwriting.wordpress.com/