If I Had To Give Some Advice...

Remember Behind the Blog two weeks ago? I asked all ten reviewers to give their advice to both teen and "normal" (normal? or simply senile?) reviewers, and here's a digest of what they said.

Don't write a review with the mindset of "I'm writing a review." Write it with the mindset of "I'm writing my thoughts of this book." Your personal thoughts are the unique thing that only you have to offer. It's what makes you different from all the other reviewers out there. - Miss Erin, www.misserinmarie.blogspot.com

Read whatever you like. It doesn't have to come from a reviewing program, agent, or publisher; it came be from your library. All that matters is that it's a book. - The Book Muncher, www.thebookmuncher.blogspot.com

Just because nobody's commenting or you think nobody's reading your blog doesn't mean you should stop blogging. Somebody will find you and somebody will appreciate your opinion - or argue with you over it. Never give up!.. [and] don't be afraid to have fun - use crazy smilies like *-* and spruce your site up. - Nicole from WORD for Teens, www.wordforteens.blogspot.com

Reviewing anything is entirely subjective, and if the reviewer communicates his or her opinion clearly, that's all you can ask. - Alex Bledsoe, Guys Lit Wire www.guyslitwire.blogspot.com

You only need two things: honesty about what your reviewing, and regular, consistent posting. - Justin, Guys Lit Wire www.guyslitwire.blogspot.com

If you want to review books for guys, consider nonfiction. - Edward, Guys Lit Wire www.guyslitwire.blogspot.com

Be honest. Don't be mean but say what you think, and WHY... Be respectful, and fearless, and read as much as you can of all kinds of things. - David, Guys Lit Wire www.guyslitwire.blogspot.com

Try to decide who you want to write for: do you want to be professional or more casual? I like to write a review like I’m talking to my best friend or my sister. - Kristi, The Story Siren www.thestorysiren.com
... if you want some cheap advice from me anyway, allow me to say this: Never make your blog your top priority. It's not. Real life is. Never fall behind on that. - Steph, Reviewer X www.reviewerx.blogspot.com

Be honest. Be professional. Be positive. Read a little bit of everything, and re-read old favorites every once in a while. Read for fun, for research, and for the love of a good book. - Little Willow, www.slayground.livejournal.com