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I stumbled across this site in April of this year. I was already a member of four other review/critique sites but I wasn't really satisfied with them, for various reasons. In all honesty, if it hadn't been for the free trial offer, I wouldn't have joined. I like to know what I'm buying before I cough up the cash, if at all possible. After the week was up, I coughed up the yearly membership fee, and here I am.

I have been a reading and reviewing fool since I joined. I've amassed enough points now that I can spare the time to read/review postings that don't offer points. These are the ones I read simply because I love the story and want to see where it goes. I've found that most people here reciprocate reviews on a fairly consistent basis. Not everyone jumps right on it when they receive a review. There's not always a pay-back review waiting on me ten minutes after I post a review. And that's fine. I don't expect that. Some never give pay-back reviews at all. And that's fine, too.

I've been a prolific reviewer for several reasons. One, I'm a fast reader and a fast typist, so I can plow through a review in a relatively short time. Two, I'm retired and have wwwaaayyyy too much free time on my hands. I do grab a bit of extra income each month by freelance writing, so that takes a bit of my time. But I do less than ten freelance jobs each month, so I still have a lot of time on my hands. Three, I'm not a big fan of TV so I don't spend a lot of time glued to the idiot box. I'm thus free to do reviews pretty much whenever I want. (I'm also a recluse wanna-be, but that's not working out so well at the moment because family and friends aren't cooperating, but there's still hope.) I understand that everyone's situation in their lives doesn't allow them to spend as much time reading and reviewing as mine does. So when I don't get a pay-back review right away - or even if I don't get one at all - it's all good. I don't get bent out of shape over it (not saying that anyone here does.)

It is a bit disheartening when a reviewer faithfully does reviews chapter after chapter, up until chapter 20 or so, then sort of drifts away. It saddens me but I don't take it personally. People have their reasons. I'm guilty of the same thing in a few instances. It's usually a genre that isn't my favorite or, to be honest, the story just doesn't really hold my attention. But I do try to stick with a book once I start reviewing it. I also try to offer a review for new people to the site. If the free trial users post something, I do my best to review it. That's the only way new members will cough up the fees for an on-going membership. Had I not received several reviews during my free trial, I would not have joined up. So I think it's important to make the effort to review postings from those listed in my 'new members' section on my dashboard.

Right now, I'm not reviewing as much because I simply had to step away for a while if I was ever going to get my own book finished. I sent messages to most of my connections who review my work faithfully, letting them know I wasn't dropping off the face of the earth or abandoning their work. Honestly, I found I was spending so much time reviewing the work of others that I was neglecting my own writing. So I'm taking a bit of "me" time to do some serious editing before jumping into the (potential) publishing pool.

Most of the reviews I've received have been very helpful. I can tell the reviewer put some thought into the remarks. Some have been less-than-flattering, and that's okay. I don't want sugar-coating - it doesn't help me. Some have been soft-ball, but even that can be helpful sometimes. Either way, I appreciate someone taking the time to do it.

As for the forums, I'm not much of a forum participating kind of girl. It's just not usually my thing.

One change I would like to see. I would like to have those who close their accounts, don't renew their accounts, or don't sign up for a subscription after the trial purged from the roles. I've got multiple connections in my connections list that are no longer involved on site. I'd love to see them go bye-bye automatically, if possible. If there's already a way to purge my connections list, I'm not aware of it.

Since joining up here, I've let my other memberships lapse or cancelled them outright. I found it is just too much to try to keep up with more than one active review site. And while I don't always get multiple reviews within minutes of posting a new offering here, I found I got more reviews here than other sites. The caliber of the reviews here are much better. There's more of a sense of community here than the other sites to which I subscribed. So, here I am.

I don't know how things used to be around here but I've been satisfied here, for the most part. I don't like the lulls in the action but I understand it's going to happen from time to time. With the holiday season coming up, I don't expect a lot of reviews. That's one reason I chose now to pull back from reviewing so much to take an editing meat cleaver to my own manuscript. When I need a break from that, I drop a review or two.

Bobbie

The first thing that comes to mind is tuberculosis. It can also infect the kidneys, which totally screws up blood chemistry, especially potassium. Lots of nasty things can happen with hyperkalemia (high potassium.)

Thromo-embolism can cause coughing up blood. (hymoptysis). Others that come to mind are COPD and bronchiectasis.

Do a search for 'hymoptysis inflammatory disease' and you should get plenty of nasty conditions to choose from.

Bobbie

1. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. I think the Judge in the trial says the line.
2. "A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone."

Thanks, MJ.

Now it clicks in my little pea brain. I'm a techno genius, in case you didn't notice.....

Bobbie

Hi Will.

I don't know you but congrats on the wedding!! I'm new to the site - loving it! - and thought I would just say welcome back.

Bobbie

Woohoo!! Way to go Brett!! Congrats.

That's great, Rachel! Congrats!

Go for the premium package, Brett. It is WELL worth the fee. I've only been here a few weeks myself but I can see a HUGE improvement in my writing already.

Come on...join up...you know you want to... 

Bobbie

Hi Brett. Welcome to the site. You are going to LOVE this place!

I'm still a newbie myself. I've been here two weeks, maybe. And I am seriously in love and completely addicted. I've gotten the most constructive feedback on my writing EVER! I can tell a difference in the way I approach my writing already, and I think there's actually been some improvement in what I write. (Which proves you can teach an old dog new tricks.)

Best advice: go premium! Bite the bullet, cough up the fee and collect those points! It is really much easier than it sounds and it's fun, too.

Look forward to reading more of your work.

Bobbie