Books in progressI do love reading and writing reviews. And although I’ve been doing this since 2010 (wow!) I still get a little thrill of flattery when an author or publisher asks me to review their work.

There’s all kinds of things to consider with a review request.  First and foremost, for me, is stating clearly  in my review policy that a request for a review does not guarantee a positive review.  But things like review policies are only the tip of the iceberg.

What’s become challenging for me is keeping track of review requests and managing them in a timely manner, while still reading and reviewing books just for fun.  Although I’ve created a separate email folder and label for review requests, I’ve found it hard for me to always stay on track and complete reviews in a timely manner.

I’ve been thinking about this for several days, and I’ve decided to make better use of the fabulous calendar I have from erincondren.com.  Yes, I’m old school and still like a paper calendar although most things are also tracked electronically.

I’ve decided I need to treat requested review reading a little bit like homework. Select a date for review publication, mark it in the calendar, then plan around that due date to read the book and write the review.  Only one thing about that worries me.  Reading is FUN!  I adore getting lost in a book, staying up late because I have to know what happens next, reading as fast as I can.  And I don’t want that thrill to go away.  I want to be able to revel in a book that just catches my eye.  That means I can’t have this process be too regimented, or reading and blogging becomes a second, unpaid job.  So, I think I am going to change my review commitments, and agree to only two reviews a month.  That should give me the balance I’m looking for, and give the authors and publishers who ask me to consider their books for review the attention that they deserve.

I’m curious to know what authors, publishers, and other bloggers might think of this approach. What works for you?