Curious Incidents of a Flailing Mermaid

Reviewing: It's good! I will, I will

September 30 DBC. Day one: Today's prompt is simple...Take a look at everyone who is taking part in this month's challenge. Pick one member, go into their portfolio, and review one of their items in your entry. Then, suggest an item of your own you'd like to see reviewed.

Right, hi! I signed up for 30DBC, then went on holiday to Vegas - as you do. I got back on Thursday, but half forgot about/half avoided getting up to date with the prompts. Which, to be honest, is fucking dumb. On Thursday, I only had three entries to catch up on, now I have six! In the world of Fran, this makes me less likely to catch up (ever) and more likely to feel unnecessarily overwhelmed But, I've decided that I refuse to be beaten... for now anyway.

I will talk about Vegas over the next 24 days, or so. But it's 5:30am and I've been up for about two hours. Therefore, you're lucky I'm even constructing sentences, let alone remembering stuff (see "Note: *Whistle* How do you do that thing? You know..." for a perfect example).
I would love to blame being up and awake at this time on the fact that I'm jet lagged That'd be a nice, normal reason, wouldn't it! Shame! I ain't normal! I'm just awake because I take medication that, if I was normal, would knock me out into a nice, relaxing snooze ... Yeah, as I said, I ain't normal

I signed up for 30DBC this month for a few reasons. 1) I said, somewhere, that one of my goals for 2015 was to do 30DBC two (or was it three?) times... this will be my second of the year. Given that I don't think I've achieved any of my other 2015 goals, I really ought to try with this one!
2) I seriously, seriously need to start writing again. I've had tons of creative ideas recently, but not one of these has been transformed into written work - in any way, shape or form. I try and journal most days at the moment. But that tends to be mindless scribbles that haven't turned into anything (hey, don't worry, I have nothing against mindless scribbles!) I've also been making stuff/coming up with artsy ideas, and creating activities on here. All of this is great... and it's fun too... but I do miss words binding together in my head to make poetry or stories!
I just figured that, writing every day, like this, might help!

However, and it is interesting the challenge should start with this prompt, I will be sticking to my ye oldie stance that: The 30DBC prompts are there to inspire a blog post, not to dictate what is written.
No, no, this is not a criticism towards ANY of the prompts. I just feel blog posts should reflect you, what's on your mind, and your personality. For me, posting links to a review doesn't do this. However, the prompt CAN (and will, in a sec) inspire me to write stuff about reviewing ...

I've been thinking about reviewing a lot recently actually. In fact, I woke up thinking about it one night, while we were in Vegas. I honestly cannot remember the last time I did a decent review. Maybe some time earlier this year? Last year even?
Reviewing is good. I need to do it more! I think it really helps with a person's own writing skills. While you review, you get a chance to read. As I'm always saying, reading is important for any writer since it can inspire you AND you are able to reflect on what you do or do not like to see or read. Therefore, establishing what it is you do or do not want to write. Further, the mere process of writing a review hones your skills as a writer as you attempt to clearly point out the great and awful to others, in a way that is encouraging and concise... without fluff and guff!

So, I've been thinking. I reckon reviewing would help me on my path to writing recovery. More so than anything else I can think of (apart from 30DBC, of course).
If you know me, you'll know I'm all about challenges. I've been thinking of setting myself a big ol' reviewing challenge. However, for once, I'm going to be sensible... I need to go into training first!

I have lots to catch up on. But, by the end of the week, I will have reviewed at least one thing! I will!

Quote of the Day: A bad review is like baking a cake with all the best ingredients and having someone sit on it ~~ Danielle Steel