I've got a terrible case of reviewer's block today.
I sat down to write a review for Wave this afternoon - a review which I had promised to post today - and the words just wouldn't come. It must have taken me over 2 hours to eventually write the damn thing - and it wasn't a particularly long review. I typed words, then deleted them, then got up and wandered round the house trying to collect my thoughts, before sitting down and writing a paragraph, then coming to a screeching halt as I tried to think what to put next. Every single word was dragged out of me and they were all pretty crappy.
Eventually, I managed to arrange my thoughts into some sort of coherency in order to set them down on screen, but it still isn't a great review. There's a LOT of repetition of words, lots of woolly phrases and a lack of elegance in my writing. I'm a bit ashamed, to be honest. If it wasn't for the fact that I promised the review to Wave for today, I may have just given up and tried again tomorrow. But, as usual, I'd left it to the last minute and so the review went up in a less that satisfactory (for me at least) state.
I always find it a bit odd that some days I can start a review and 'clickety, clackety, click' I can summon up an erudite review containing lots of fancy words and insightful views in about 45 mins and other days it's like pulling teeth as I drag each word, each phrase, out of me, one at a time, and when I do produce something it's trite and sub-standard. Why? Why can't I be clear and focused in my reviewing at all times? I had no problem yesterday when I reviewed Dakota's book, so why should today be all about hard work?
It's very frustrating.
Anyway, for those of you who are interested in my below-par review, it's HERE. Please be kind, my reviewing muse obviously has a dreadful hangover. Although why he was getting drunk and having such a great time last night, when I was at yet another dull evening meeting is anyone's guess.
Hi, Jen! I wouldn't really call it a below par review at all. You gave it a thorough analysis, made a detailed allusion to Firefly, and even put in some commentary on the science fiction genre in general. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI do know what you mean about having to eke out a review and taking hours, sometimes. Usually for me, that happens when the book is either spectacularly complicated or spectacularly good.
It took me a year to review Wicked Gentlemen because it was spectacularly good -- lucky for me that no one cared if I wrote it or not because I definitely took my time on that one.
Of course, the more I procrastinate on writing a review, the harder it gets because the days go by and I forget things. The easiest reviews for me are when the book is good but not spectacularly good and I can write the review directly after reading it, or maybe the next morning.
Great post!
Hi Val
ReplyDeleteThat's for the encouragement :).
With me it's often if I liked a book but it wasn't fabulous where I start to come unstuck - like today! I want to be able to get across the generally positive feel that I have of the book whilst also pointing out the flaws without coming across as overly negative. It's a fine balance.
I also like to leave a couple of days between reading a book and reviewing as that gives me time to think through my feelings. Then I'm not giving a gut reaction but a more thoughtful review. If I leave it too long though, I start to forget the details, like you do.
Jen, I think you presented your thoughts on the book quite well.
ReplyDeleteI usually spend a bit of time when I first sit down to write a review writing, deleting, staring off into space and then repeating. After a bit my thoughts kind of settle and I can get the review done.
Earlier this week for some reason I just couldn't get anything written. Finally after about 3 days I was able to write again. My mind went on a vacation and didn't take me with it, I guess. :D
Jenre...
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain - I look forward to your reviews and found nothing wrong with the review...
I knew what worked and what didn't - and more over I know your style, so all was good .....
But as Val said, I do so understand this mood/block that you are in - I am at that phase now and, remember my sum up are just off the chuff...
You may either need a night or two out on the rags....
Or
Just a step back from it all - My one month step back is going verrryyy well....
Have a cup of Earl Grey on me hon....
E.H>
Poor thing!
ReplyDeleteFor crying out loud, Jen, you're starting to sound like a novelist!
ReplyDeleteCrawl into bed with hubs and nuzzle his armpit. That should bring you around. ;-)
Hi Lily: Things like this do tend to come in phases. I'm glad your mind came back from holiday :).
ReplyDeleteHi EH
ReplyDeleteIs your month off just from reviewing or from blogging in general? - you have done some posts, cos I've read em I've spent a few weeks doing almost nothing but reviews but this week haven't felt in the mood for reviewing at all. Perhaps this week of taking it easy with reviews at least on this blog will help for next week.
Hi Ingrid
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about me, I was just fed up earlier that things weren't going smoothly and pondering on why this was. No doubt I'll feel better tomorrow.
KZ: No, I'm not a novelist, only a lowly reviewer. But even us lesser literary life forms sometimes go through lean patches :).
ReplyDeleteIt happens, this thing with taking hours to grind out a review. I have completely failed to review a fantasy anthology I read last week, even though I liked it and wanted to point at it as a couple of the stories would interest some of my friends. This is not *just* the problem with slipping on the last of the ice on Friday, because I can use Dragon perfectly well to write reviews, even if I can in no way use it for writing my own fiction. (Being tired and slightly spaced out from pain and codeine was not helping, but was not all of it.) Sometimes you just can't find anything sensible to say, no matter how much you liked something.
ReplyDelete@jenre
ReplyDeleteI am still blogging, but just everyday things...no reviews no heavy booky stufff... (and I am also a realist, if I have no post for a month, I might as well have no blog to come back to)
I am just enjoying reading at the moment and not having to think of world building and characters description and all the other things that make up a review....
I am liking it alot...
I can see the lure of having a blog to just chat and discuss whatever is on your mind...
E.H>
Jules: You slipped on the ice? Yikes! Hope you weren't hurt too badly - although being doped up on painkillers makes it sound like you were.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that sometimes you can't think of anything sensible. Repeating 'it was great' over and over again doesn't really help when people want to know why it was great :).
EH
ReplyDeleteIt certainly sounds like you're enjoying the time off. I'm quite envious - a month of only reading for yourself sounds really good. Actually, I'm so used to reading/reviewing now that I probably wouldn't last a week before my fingers are itching to get to the keyboard!
Good for you though :).
I'm with EH! And that, kids, is how the whole concept of reviewettes was born. :)
ReplyDeleteGood review! I have the same thing. Sometimes it just all flows out, sounds not to shabby and I've used the word *cool* less than usual. Other days it is definitely like pulling teeth!!!
ReplyDeleteThem two K/C-hris are very bad for my non review month....
ReplyDeleteDont you listen to them and their mini reviews and cover pimpage, this has cause me more trouble than anything else....
Bad kitty mommy....
E.H>
Chris: Ah reviewettes. They sound good, but also a little frustrating to write - how much do you put in, and how much do you leave out? Basically, I'm too long winded :).
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
With me the repeat word is 'well' - as in well written, well plotted, well constructed, etc, etc.
EH: I don't read as much as K/C do and I basically write long reviews of everything I read so I think the curse of the mini-review is not going to affect you from this blog :).
ReplyDeleteExcept maybe my Saturday Shorts post.
The pressure to write when you can't = horrible. I hope you're over the reviewer's block soon!
ReplyDelete