Sharon's Journal/Blog

Is reviewing taking up too much time?

Since I renewed my WDC membership this year on Sept. 30th, I find that I have devoted a lot of my time reviewing rather than writing. I love reading other authors' work and try to critique it and offer suggestions without upsetting anyone.

I have passed over a number of poems and short stories that I just can't review, usually because I don't know where to begin and I don't want to discourage anyone. There are also genres that I don't feel comfortable reviewing (fantasy and erotica).

When I signed up with WDC back in 2007, I wrote a lot and entered contests. I also started writing articles for an online magazine. That magazine editor asked me to edit all the articles he was receiving, so I became a copy editor and proofreader. When I critique poems and stories at WDC, I want to edit the grammar, spelling, and punctuation, but I don't want to offend anyone. I just want to help improve their writing.

Unfortunately, reviewing takes away time I would otherwise spend on my writing. I guess I'll just have to reach a balance.