Blog Reviews - Read This First!

[Dawno]

Welcome to the Blog Reviews sub-forum. Please use this ONLY to ask for reviews and reviewing AW member blogs. Respect your fellow writers and all will be well.

I actually didn't think this sub-forum needed a sticky post with rules, and so far there's only been one thing I've felt necessary to moderate. As a result of that incident, I want to make one thing clear, this isn't the place to grind personal axes of any kind. If you have something to say that's not a critique, either post it in the main blogging forum or over in TIO.

Thank you to everyone who's participated - this forum has the nicest, most helpful folks around. I'm grateful to all of you who make it such a great community.

[L M Ashton]

If you've posted your blog for review and you're not getting any bites, here are some tips to help get things rolling.

1. Review other people's blogs. They're also waiting for a review. By giving a review to them, you're earning good karma, but you're also increasing the possibility that they'll review yours in return. As a bonus, when you look at their blog and you notice what works and what doesn't, it also means that you're learning to recognize what does and does not work about your own blog. This is true for critiquing fiction and non-fiction writing as well, by the way. Please also keep in mind that most people are looking for a little more than "Good job!" or "Loved the posts!" They want to know what works and what doesn't work. Look critically. What strikes you? Tell them both what works - and why - and what doesn't work - and why not. No, you're not an expert, you're just a reader, but that is enough. Most of the other people who will visit that blog are readers, too, not experts, so your opinion is valid. Remember, the person asking for a critique on their blog is asking for help to improve.

2. If you're new here and don't have many posts, get involved. Whether it be in novels, freelance writing, genre sections, or elsewhere, become an involved member of the community. Members who have less than 10 or 50 posts are less likely to get a blog review than established members, mostly because, in our experience, some people join up for the sole purpose of getting a blog review, putting a link to their website or blog on the site, or getting crits of their fiction or non-fiction, and then disappear. If you want other people to give to you, give back first.

3. Put the request for a blog review in your signature so that, when you post elsewhere in this forum, others will see it. If you post meaningful helpful posts elsewhere, it becomes more likely that someone will see that, notice your request for a review, and come here and review your blog.

4. Subscribe to your blog review thread. That way, when someone posts a reply in your thread, you'll know about it. You can do that through the Thread Tools drop down menu.

5. Thank the people who review your blogs. No, really, I'm not kidding. Do it. It's important. These people are going out of their way to do you a service and they're (usually) asking for nothing in return. It's only polite to say thank you. Also consider giving them a rep point. It's all about good karma. And, you know, I hate that I have to mention it, but given the number of reviews I've done and the complete lack of thanks I got - less than 20% of those I reviewed even acknowledged my post, never mind bothered with a thank you - it seems that it's necessary.

6. Indicate what you're looking for in a blog review. Want to know what people think of the content? Worried that your design doesn't look that good? Concerned that the design might break in other browsers? What, exactly, do you want to know? Specify this in your post.

[Peggy Blair]

I'd be very happy if someone would take a look at my new blog on my lengthy journey towards getting published -- happy to have comments and feedback as to what I could write about to help other new writers avoid some of my mistakes.
peggyblair.wordpress.com (http://www.peggyblair.wordpress.com)

[Sharon23]

I liked the idea that you gave an insider's point of view, letting people know pubs want writers to have blogs and websites. It's fantastic when writers share any tips that have learned along the way of getting published.

[veinglory]

If you want a blog reviewed please start a new thread.

[Peggy Blair]

Sorry, Veinglory, a big confused. "The opening line of this thread says: Welcome to the Blog Reviews sub-forum. Please use this ONLY to ask for reviews and reviewing AW member blogs.

What is this thread for if not reviews?"

[veinglory]

"This" is the Blog Reviews sub-forum. Please start youf own thread in this sub-forum.

Here: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=169

This specific thread is to explain what the subforum is for.

[Peggy Blair]

Will do, thanks!

[veinglory]

I'll be watching for it :)

[falcondance1]

http://rachaels-rambles.blogspot.com

[veinglory]

"This" is the Blog Reviews sub-forum. Please start youf own thread in this sub-forum.

Here: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=169

This specific thread is to explain what the subforum is for.

[tlotp]

Hi guys, here the link to my blog "The Whisper of Papers" http://thewhisperofpapers.blogspot.com/ ... I would love to see a review about the blog contents .... thank you .... :)