What's in a name?

According to my Apple dictionary, admittedly not a definitive source, a ‘consideration’ is a thought, reflection, meditation, concern, rumination etc. I would like this blog to do those things. I’m hoping I can keep the posts positive because, as someone once reminded me, it is important to practise the habits of mind that you value and want to foster. For me those are: positivity, curiosity, openness and self-reflection (hence, a blog is a good forum).


Also, I’m calling them 'small' because I would like to try to get into the habit of blogging briefly but often. That way I can reflect on everyday occurrences and make this form of writing and thinking a habit, hopefully.


Monday, 26 January 2015

Reviews: is there anything more transitory?

I just finished reading a light, quick, holiday read, then rated in on GoodReads. While reading others reviews, I learned an important lesson that I'll need to hold onto as a writer. Likes and dislikes are highly subjective and are often inconsistent. I quite liked the book and ignored the minor problems with the writing, whereas others hated it and didn't finish it before writing a detailed, negative review of it. It's not that I didn't know people have different opinions about things, especially subjective topics like art and literature. This was particularly clear last night at my book club when four of us expressed differing perceptions of a currently popular book. I need to hold onto this understanding when my writing is subject to reviews. What someone says in a review is more about them and their perception of your piece than it is about the quality or validity of your work. If one book can range from one-star, I have nothing nice to say, all the way to five-star, I've never read a better book, then that has nothing to do with the author. The negative reviewers all picked up problems which I noticed but wasn't bothered by. Interestingly, many of the issues with this book were things I'd criticised in the last book I reviewed. It all comes down to your mood and your particular sensitives at the time of reading the book and writing the review.

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