Reviewing for New Members

Many new members are intimidated at the thought of reading and reviewing the work of others. "I'm not an expert" or "I don't feel qualified to provide feedback to another writer" are quotes we often see.

Do not feel this way!

As long as you are a reader, then your opinion is valuable. The books on this site are not just purchased by literary critics or English teachers (although they count also), they are purchased by readers. And readers know if they like a book or not (btw - if you do not read, then you probably do not belong on the site).

When reviewing, tell the writer what you liked or what you didn't, as a reader. Here are some questions to consider:

1) Did the story keep your interest? If not, where did it slow down?
2) Did you feel connected to a character?
3) Did you want to keep reading?

If you are reviewing poetry:

1) Did you like the meter or rhyme scheme?
2) Did you like the imagery?
3) Did you understand the poem?

These are just some starter questions. Then, when you are done, write your thoughts as a review to the writer. Your thoughts don't have to be long: the limit is only 50 words for a Regular Review. If you have specific instances you want to point out, you can also do an In-line Review. You can read about the differences between types of reviews here.

One Review Requirement

The key to being a successful reviewer is to provide a mix of positive and critical feedback and to be considerate in how you deliver that critical feedback. Considerate is the golden term. This is not American Idol and you should not see yourself as a Simon Cowell looking to deliver blunt criticism.

For some additional tips on reviewing, please visit the link below:

http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/member/ … eview-tips

Please also feel free to post any questions below.