Question 18 is asked by Susana Thank you for asking another question to our reviewers 🙂
Susana: I do not know if this question has been asked/answered, but I’m intrigued because I do some amateur review at goodreads and I’m always at a struggle to find time for it. So how does being a reviewer fit in your every day life? Do you have other jobs, or do you work exclusively as reviewers? If you have another job, is it hard to find time to review? Thanks.
JenB.:
The best part is when someone tells me how much they enjoyed the book I recommended. That’s a great feeling and the whole point of doing this. The other favorite part is getting my hands on some true gems before they are released. That’s a privilege, which usually means some free promo on my part if I enjoy it, so I spread the news. 😉
Caroline:
Time is definitely an issue for me as I work full time and have a family that demands a lot of my time. I listen to audio books whenever I am in the car or when I walk (I walk a lot!). I take my kindle everywhere! I don’t watch any TV so my evenings are free for reading. My biggest problem is being strict with myself when it comes to actually writing up my reviews. I try REALLY hard to write them as I read them but often I end up with 3 or 4 to do at once and I find doing it that way takes up more of your time. I guess everyone is different when it comes to when and how much they can do – I think as long as it remains fun you are onto a winner.
Louisa:
It can be hard to fit reviewing into life when I have other things going on. But I usually make sure I set up the review when I start reading (the formatting) and then I jot down things as I am reading that I liked, or didn’t and then when I finish the book it doesn’t take me too long to write a review. I then go back the next day and re-read the review before uploading it. I find doing it in steps means I don’t have to hurry or find a large amount of time all in one space to write a review.
Chris:
For a large part of the time I have been reviewing “professionally” (here on a blog) I didn’t have a job so reviewing and fitting books into my day wasn’t a big deal. Then four months ago I became gainfully (ha!) employed…and boy did that take a huge adjustment of my reading priorities. Where before I could just pick up a book and read for hours on end, now I had things like work taking up that large chunk of time. Oddly enough my bosses are not huge on the whole paying me (minimum wage) for me to sit around and read about dudes falling in love. So reading now is basically what I can get done to and from work, as well as a few hours in the evening before I inevitably fall asleep over my kindle (I actually fell asleep last night at 8:30 while in the middle of a sentence. I have never felt so old). To make sure that I get all my review books done on time I have a calendar set up that marks out exactly how much I have to read a day for that book to get done in time. I try not to read more than one review book at a time, so I have to make sure when I schedule things to give me at least three days between books so I have the time to get the reading done. Luckily my commute is done by train/bus so I have nearly an hour–if not more–each weekday of reading time set aside. I still miss my wild and carefree reading days though.
Cinnamon:
When I started reviewing I had a full time job and family. As reading is a permanent part of my life it wasn’t too difficult to find the time. Evenings and weekends gave me the few hours necessary for my survival. I always write my review in a few hours after finishing the book. I at least write a rough draft and when I have some more spare time I write the full review. I don’t start a new book till it’s done. Now I have more time, so I can take more books but the method is the same.
Pizzygirl:
I have a very hectic day job that is very much science and math and government regulation based. It’s stressful and often leaves me brain fried at the end of the day. Reading and reviewing mostly happens for me on the weekends except for audiobooks, which help fill the two hour drive I have each day.
Alexander:
I work full time as an insurance investigator, volunteer approximately 60 hours a month and care for two properties in addition to doing reviews. My daily commute to work is about 60-75 minutes which is why I almost exclusively review audiobooks, so I can listen in the car, as well as on my breaks. I also proofread audiobooks for an author, and beta for another author…and somewhere in there I eat and sleep.
Sarina:
I’m a stay at home mom so I work everything around my son. I can usually get a good amount of reading done during the day but my reviews are done before he wakes up or after he’s asleep
Cindy:
I have a day job as a manager in a store and then of course, I write myself. Fitting in reviewing is hard sometimes, but I always make sure I have time to read so if I’m going to read, then I will find time to squeeze in the review. It’s not always easy, but I enjoy it so it gets done.
Tammy:
I mainly write my reviews either late at night after the kids are in bed or first thing in the morning before anyone’s awake
Roberta:
I find that I think of being a reviewer just the same as a pleasure reader. I usually fit my review books for the weekend, so that I can dedicate my time to reading. I have a day job and that’s why for me…it’s easier to knock out a book or two, sometimes three on the weekend and leave my pleasure reading for during the week where, if i’m interrupted…it won’t really bother me as much.
Vicki:
It can be a challenge for me, absolutely! I do have a job, I own a business, and at times I can’t find the time to review. Well, it’s not always time so much as mental energy. I pay closer attention to books I’m reading for review, and sometimes I just can’t think about one more thing. My busy season at work is in the summer so I cut way back on reviewing then, although this last year we really didn’t slow down much…. I also find I need to review the book immediately after reading it, or I lose the details. Unfortunately I don’t have a great memory! So yeah. It can be tough!
Dan:
For me, it’s also sometimes a struggle. In addition to reading and reviewing, I’m also writing my own stories, working a 2 day a week job, going to the gym 3 days a week, walking 10,000 steps every day and taking care of my husband who recently had a major surgery. There are never enough hours. I tend to read late into the night and write my reviews as soon as I finish a book. It’s all about juggling and trying not to look out the window by my desk at that plant bed that desperately needs weeding! 🙂
Kat:
I am fortunate enough that I was “discovered” just a few weeks after I retired. I am a snowbird in Hawaii, where the sun goes down early, so I review in the evenings. I am a very fast reader and I think that helps too.
Dani(elle):
It is always a challenge to find time for me if I am honest. Besides working 22 hours a week and being married and a mum with the amount of time I am spending on the blog in general with all the stuff happening behind the screens, requesting books, guestpost etc . I do need to read to live so to speak but often prefer to just relax a bit with reading which means reading a book that I don’t need to review.
How much time do you think it will take you to write a good review ?
Let us know and have a chance to win a $15 store credit for Ninestar Press.
I appreciate the time you spend on reviewing. I know it is time consuming but it has lead me to so good books. I review everything from books, to clothing, restaurants, hotels and attractions. If someone gets something positive out of it, that is a good thing. I also think it is important for the the company or person providing the service to know how they are doing. Good or bad, reviews are important. Thank you.
It is great that you all find the time to review with such busy lives. The time it takes to write a review depends for a large part on the book I guess and I don’t mean the length of the book. If you are blown away by a book it might be easier to write a review than for a book that is just ‘alright’. It is difficult to put a timeframe on it.
I really enjoy reading the answers for the questions I’m finding it so interesting. Now the question it would probably take me days to write a review I find it really difficult even writing an e-mail I’ve never been very good at expressing myself through words and I’ve never been very good at spelling so I’ve become hyperaware of my spelling mistakes and get to the point I can’t write anymore. That’s why I love to visit blogs and read the reviews.
I find that so-so reads are the most difficult – as an amateur (goodreads) review writer I try and make it non-personal and what didnt work for me (if it was good clean writing I say, otherwise omit) – often these I’ll leave overnight to make sure I’m ok with what I say.
I try not to regurgitate the story line on all reviews – thats the professional reviewers perogative – but focus on how I felt, even if not a favourite genre it can still be written well
Wow! I’ve always been impressed by reviewers, but now even more so. I actually don’t write many reviews because they take me so long, sometimes longer than reading the book. I just don’t put my thoughts together quickly. I feel guilty sometimes when authors ask for readers to leave reviews, but I’ve bought the book and I tell people about it when I love it, and that’s just how I contribute. I’m grateful for all the readers who give their thoughts, though.
Wow, it’s so much fun to read different perspectives on the methodology. I, too, read to live, lol, but wow, I wish I was as organized as some of you. I can get really bad and have sometimes 10 or more titles read but not reviewed. I find I really get stuck when I didn’t like a book because I feel bad about panning somebody’s hard work…so I put it off, and then others back up behind it because I feel I really should do the one I didn’t like first, lol. A review for a book I didn’t like can take me an hour or longer to write, which is frustrating, because that is time I could use reading the next book! If I really like the book, a review can take about twenty minutes, but like many of you, I have other obligations so I am often writing my reviews late at night. I have learned not to submit them until I read them the next day to make sure they are coherent, lol, but I think that many authors forget that giving a title to review can often translate into a commitment of 3-5 hours (and much longer for you folks who do the audiobooks). It is truly a labor of love and I salute all of you for your commitment to sharing your thoughts with us.
I think it depends on a lot of things: the length of the book; whether it’s an anthology, series, or standalone; my familiarity with the book and/or author, and of course, whether or not I liked it…so, hard to quantify offhand!
I am supremely appreciative of the time you reviewers commit to provide us readers with your helpful perspectives. Because I know it takes a while to write a review. Like some said, I too make notes along the way, so it lessens the time at the end. But it still takes at least an hour or two, sometimes more, because I want to do justice to the author.
Thank you for the answers. I usually write a review for all the books I read and post it on goodreads. Although in the past few years it’s been hard to keep at. A majority of the time I review the book as I read and sometimes I just write the review when I complete the story. It’s been 5yrs since i joined goodreads and in that time I’ve written 1565 reviews. In that time I know a really good review may take me an hour.
It will definitely take time for me … I write my own review on GR but I also occasionally guest-review for one other blog. And I need to time to write them down. Sometimes the words are coming easily, sometimes I have to mull my thoughts for few days before I am able to write anything. Even so, sometimes I also hit writing-review-block *lol*
Thanks for the question and answers. To me, it would take hours. Sometimes I struggle with words -English is not my first language- but I’ve realized that I have improved a lot since my first review. That one is just a sentence, lol.
Thanks for sharing your answers! I read so much but I don’t review everything. I feel like writing a good review would take me a long time!
Thank you for the great answers. It is good to know I am not the only only struggling to find time to review, even in my amateurish style!
It’s very impressing how many of you manage to review (audio)books regularly as a hobby despite your other obligations. Respect!
For every 20 books I read I might review one. And I wouldn’t really call those well done reviews. It’s more for me to figure out in the future why i (dis)liked that particular book. If I win a book in a giveaway I try to be a bit more thorough. I still get the feeling others – like you^^ – do a better job than me.
Depending on how much I struggle with a book I might take ten minutes or three days for a review. If I intend to write one from the start I take notes while I read and that usually makes it easier.
How much time I spend on my goodreads reviews depends on how much of a recap of the storyline I do. Sometimes I’ll go really in-depth and sometimes I don’t do much recap at all just review what I liked & didn’t like about the book. Really in-depth reviews probably take about 30 minutes each.
The time and effort you all put into your reviews is so greatly appreciated. I can’t begin to count how many referrals for fantastic books I have received through this site. I dabble at reviewing on GoodReads and barely find the time to do so. I’m disabled with no job and no kids (although I do cat-rescue, and I’m caring for 19 strays and ferals at present), and I still barely manage to post reviews for books I’ve read, or even add books I want to read to Mount TBR. Thank you for your devotion to reviewing for this blog. But mostly, thank you for bringing so many great books to my attention.
It really depends on the book I’m reviewing