Wednesday Writing — A #Review Exercise & “Yay!” to No Facilities

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Welcome everyone.  I’m not just sharing a review.  I’m sharing a terrific example of writing outside your comfort zone.  Dan Antion at No Facilities is always saying that he is not comfortable writing reviews. He rose to the challenge. That makes his post even more important to me.  For someone who doesn’t think he’s good at reviews… well, it’s very well done, for anybody, seasoned reviewer or not.

Dead of Winter 8 Characters promo by Teagan
Dead of Winter 8 Featured Characters by Teagan

Great reviews are like oxygen for authors.  By great, I don’t mean well composed — I mean highly favorable.  Chris Graham did a wonderful post with tips and ideas for people who don’t feel comfortable writing reviews.  I don’t think of myself as a good reviewer.  I’ve referred back Chris’s post several times.  Simply mentioning one thing you liked about a book is enough.

I know many of you are dedicated and skilled book reviewers.  Whether you are or not — whether you live in dread of writing a review or you do it frequently, let’s do a little exercise.  In a comment, tell me the last thing you read and liked (or a current one) — and ONE (only one) thing you liked about it.  I say “only one” because I’d like everyone to participate, and I don’t want anybody to feel intimidated by seeing someone else do a detailed review.  So one good thing.  

I’ll get the ball rolling.  I’m re-reading “The Master Key System” which is a personal development book by Charles F. Haanel, written in 1912.  One thing that I like is the way it’s broken down into numbered “thoughts”. That makes it easier for me to stop and absorb the individual concepts.

Do you see my point, about a simple statement being enough?  Sure, an in-depth, mindful review is wonderful, and it means the world to me when people write them about my stories.  I’m just saying, don’t let the idea that you have to do it that way prevent you from doing a quick but favorable review of any of the books, by anyone, that you enjoy.

Click on over and visit Dan’s post.  He went above and beyond this exercise with a magnificently detailed review.

I admire people like Olga and Robbie, who make writing a wonderful review seem like child’s play. I struggle with reviews, and I feel bad, because I like supporting the authors whose work I enjoy. As anyone familiar with this blog already knows, I am a long-time fan of Teagan Geneviene. I love reading her […]

Please click the link below for Dan’s full post — It also has a slide show of my book-interior images!

Dead of Winter #Review — No Facilities

Remember, click Dan’s link, right there on the line above.

I hope you’ll play along with the “one good thing” in a comment. Hugs on the wing!

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Dead of Winter — All the Journeys

Universal Purchase Links

Journey 9, Doors of Attunement

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09F8Y5DML

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09F1BB9RW

Journey 8, The Lost Library

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09C6MPTYT

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09C34XR7P

Journey 7, Revenant Pass

Kindle:  relinks.me/B098MS8P48

Paperback:  relinks.me/B098GV1G5V

Journey 6, The Fluting Fell

Kindle:  relinks.me/B096CPJNSX

Paperback: relinks.me/B096CPJNSX

Journey 5, Llyn Pistyll Falls

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09431TD6G

Paperback:  relinks.me/B0942KC471

Journey 4, The Old Road

Kindle:  relinks.me/B092G5LB7R

Paperback:  relinks.me/B092M51Y88

Journey 3, the Fever Field

Kindle: elinks.me/B08XTNZ9M8 

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08XXY3JXF

Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 3, the Fever Field eBook by Teagan Riordain Geneviene – 1230004609599 | Rakuten Kobo United States

Journey 2, Penllyn

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08VMNSF97

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08VLMR2KD

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dead-of-winter-journey-2-penllyn

Journey 1, Forlorn Peak

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08RBBVRGX

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08R7RH4F5

Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak eBook by Teagan Geneviene – 1230004446033 | Rakuten Kobo United States

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This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2021 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved. 

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

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58 thoughts on “Wednesday Writing — A #Review Exercise & “Yay!” to No Facilities”

  3. Wow, you make doing a review so easy, everyone would qualify. Guess most of us who like to read are too intimidated (moi) to even try:) You would be a great psychologist (now I think of it, I’ve had doctors in my counseling room, but never a writer/author – which says a great deal!) Emille (Jesh)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’m glad to see you, Emille. My computer crashed yesterday, so I’m trying to catch up — again.
      It’s funny you should say that. My first attempt at a degree was in psychology. I had to give up that particular ambition. Although I sometimes wonder how different things might have been.
      Anyway, I loved the point Chris made about just saying even one good thing is enough to help authors.
      Heartfelt thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs on the wing!

      Like

      Reply

  4. I recently read Brene Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection. It told of many helpful new perspectives of old things like perfectionism, fear, anxiety and advocated mindfulness, stillness, and calmness–all defined as separate entities by the author.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you kindly, Deborah. Dan’s review was so engaging on a personal level. That’s what made it so wonderful to me. Plus his inner conflict about writing reviews prompted me to do the rest of my parallel post. I hope you’ve had a great week. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. You’re welcome, Michael. I’ve used the advise from Chris many times — because I don’t feel that I’m a good book reviewer. Plus I don’t read fast, and so I don’t write many. Those of us who don’t feel good about writing reviews have different reasons. I simply wanted to point out that we can help an author by writing any positive remark. We don’t have to be a literary expert to do that.
      Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    2. Michael, I have an idea that may or may not be helpful. A vintage episode of the 1960s game show “Password” was just in my Youtube feed. It occurred to me that it might be helpful to people learning English. The “words” are stated and printed, and the players exchange clues/synonyms for them. Just a thought.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. Heading over to Dan’s!
    I bought #3. Kobo didn’t have #4.
    FYI… the price is double+ that of 1 & 2.
    Thought I’d let you know in case Kobo did that, not you.

    Like

    Reply

      1. I appreciate your writing!
        How counter instinctive of Kobo… Kobo the Bobo.
        You’d think they would want to create a platform where they could give Amazon a run for the money.
        No wonder Jeff Bezos made billions and Kobo had to sell to Rakuten!
        I’m happy to have #3!
        Teagan, thank you so much for trying Kobo for myself, and those like me.
        You are truly the Cat’s Pyjamas.
        (Although I’m sure I’ll want to read 4)

        Like

        Reply

    1. I can relate to that, Jan. We get excited about a twist or reveal that we enjoyed, and it’s hard not to share it. You write lovely reviews. I hoped to encourage people who don’t write them at all. If this has helped those who already write them — that’s a terrific bonus.
      Dan’s a treasure — and so are you. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. Reviews are hard to write, but I like to keep them short so anyone interested in reading the book might be likely to read it. Or that’s how I think and prefer as a reader. Although I do enjoy indepth reviews to get a better feel if I’m on the fence. I’m reading Journey 9 right now. One thing to focus on is your detailed scenery 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. You are so right on every count, Teagan. I love EVERY review whether it’s one sentence or a 500 words. And I’m grateful for each person who takes the time to jot something down. I wish more readers knew how much an author appreciates the smallest comment. So, here’s a single sentence on a great book I’m just finished, Tumblestar, by Sandra Cox: “Romance, gunfights with buffalo hunters, and wonderful scenes with a wild stallion who won’t be tamed- an entertaining and fast-paced read.”
    Heading over to Dan’s now.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. I am currently reading the Last Bookshop in London. It combines three of my favorite topics: World War II, London, and books. The heroine is appropriately stressed–assistant bookseller by day, an Air Raid Precaution (ARP) Warden 5 nights a week. London during the Blitz is well described.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  15. Thanks so much for reblogging this, Teagan. I (almost) finished “Top Banana” by Bradley Lewis. It’s a book about four early comedy starts and I like the insider insight Brad shares with the readers (a product of experience and research). Maybe I’ll get more comfortable with reviews if I give up the notion that they have to be comprehensive.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. Great review, Teagan, and I agree, reviews don’t need to be complicated and long (although I have difficulties making mine brief, as you know). I just finished reading a book by Liane Moriarty, due out next week, called ‘Apples Never Fall’ and what I particularly liked is the way she shows a long marriage, with its highs and lows, by sharing the perspectives of the different members of the family, and she adds a mystery to the mix.
    Congratulations to Dan and to you both. ♥

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Olga your reviews are brilliant. The details you bring out are always useful to me — particularly since I have “issues” with the kind of things.
      Thanks for coming out to play with this pinpointed version of one. You’ve made Apples Never Fall sound very interesting just with that one thing. Hugs on the wing!

      Like

      Reply

  20. Dan wrote a fantastic review of your series, Teagan. Everyone can write reviews, they don’t have to be long or complex. I recently reviewed Brave New World. I love the fact that after 90 years the ideas in the book are still relevant and just as frightening and compelling as they were when the book was first published.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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