Reviewing with River

I believe reviewing is a very responsible task. A lot of things depends on it.
Anyone who submits a piece for reviewing has hopes. Continuous negative review can demotivate the writer and he/she might never pick up a pen to write again [a worst case scenario].

So as a reviewer and a writer, I feel its important to keep in mind the tone of the review and make sure whatever the review says doesn't offend the recipient.

Having said that, its also important to be truthful. That's the only way to help the writer improve and that's what reviewing is all about.

When I review, I make sure I am using the most gentle word [the fear of hurting someone frightens me] and I explain why I think its not working. If possible, I try to suggest some alternative approach to the matter as I have learned from other reviewers do while reviewing my pieces.

If the piece is boring, I try to force myself through it, if possible. If that fails, I try to skip parts, go back to it again later, like patching things up. In short, at times I end up reading it a multiple times but all in parts.
In the review I point out the positives that had worked for me. Then slowly let them know what hadn't and why. Its like breaking a sensitive news.

Well there you have it. All my secrets are out....