Book Reviewing - Diversity vs Specialization

[neadods]

Malice Domestic is at the end of the month, and it marks my first anniversary as a book reviewer. Reviewing the Evidence relentlessly advertised itself and I was quick off the mark (even though they were looking for authors more than reviewers.) Almost my first dozen reviews were done of books I'd received at Malice as I worked off my apprenticeship (they don't put you on the free book list until you've proved that you're serious about it, which makes sense.)

I always intended to add a second online reviewing job to RtE once the TBR stack was down to non-gargantuan levels. And I should be there by the end of the year.

The question is... what? I carefully made a list of fantasy review sites at WFC and Worldcon (and then carelessly lost the thing, damNATION!) Branching out into a new genre would mean a whole new set of eyeball sporkingly bad books to have wandering in for free. But it would also mean catching up on the background, authors, and history of a whole different group while I try to get a more solid grip on the mystery world.

So I'm wondering if I'm better off digging deeper into the mystery culture, maybe joining Sisters in Crime perhaps, and keeping F&SF, Romance, and History as pleasure reading. It's not like I'd have to show a genre passport to go to Worldcon, or would be barred as an outsider from WFC.

One adds breadth, the other depth. And I'm not sure which way to go.

Comments

[chickwriter.livejournal.com]

Malice Domestic is at the end of the month

EEP!!!!

::quietly freaking out now::

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I've got a really stupid only-been-to-Malice-once question: do they give you a new totebag when you show up every year? Because I've got people lining up to get my "extra one" if they do.

[chickwriter.livejournal.com]

Yep - new bag every year. I've got quite a collection. ::g::

[shawan-7.livejournal.com]

Spend another year reviewing mystery, then branch out if you have time or energy.

eyeball sporking, eh? Well, 90% of everything is....

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Good advice. Although I'm finding that 90% of everything is only merely bad; it's maybe 9.9% that is really most sincerely bad.

[kefiraahava.livejournal.com]

Which genre do you stand a better chance at getting a second paid (in books or cash, whichever) reviewing job in, given your experience thus far?

From what you've said, it sounds like delving deeper into mysteries is the way to go, FWIW. It's not like you can't still read the other stuff, as you say.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Which genre do you stand a better chance at getting a second paid (in books or cash, whichever) reviewing job in, given your experience thus far?

I do not know. At WFC I got a personal introduction to and business card from someone who runs a F/SF/horror review site, who turned me down for lack of experience. Of all the addresses that I've lost, that's the one that's killing me the most. There's also a romance review site that I've found, but I can't tell if they give you books or not. (I'm not sure that would be a good idea in the long run anyway, as romances are the largest single group in the TBR shelves... but the smallest single group in the "keeper" library.)

I'll keep my eyes and ears open at Malice and Bouchercon to see if I get any leads.

[lagilman]

I really should get my backside to Malice at some point....

My frontside, too.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

....and every other side you've got. Why not, it would be free advertising for the Retrievers series!

Open offer - you can stay with me and I'll feed you breakfasts and dinners. That would mean you'd only need the entry fee, metro fare for 3 days (~$16) and lunch money.

[chickwriter.livejournal.com]

ooh - yes, Malice is a great place for mystery/fantasy fans. It's one of my favorite cons. Besides, not only do we need more crossover writers (Charlaine and I try to hold down the fort!), but I'd love to meet you.