Reviews and/or Writing?

[Pinotage]

Over the past 4-5 months I've started reviewing pdf products, something that I've taken to and quite enjoy. A few months ago I also started to dabble in freelance writing, and I've recently had one of my pdf products published. What I'm concerned about now is whether I can continue writing reviews and do freelance writing, or whether I should choose one or the other. Obviously I don't do any reviews for the publisher that published my pdf, nor will I do for any publisher that publishes anything I write in the future. Given that my reviews are posted here on ENWorld, I thought I'd post this here rather than in General - maybe there's some ENWorld rule about this. Any advice/opinions/comments. I hope to believe that my writing does not influence my reviews, and I'd really like to continue both. It'll be tough to choose between the two of them if I had to.

Moderators, if this belongs in General, then please feel free to move it there.

Thanks

Pinotage

 

[Morrus]

My best advice is to give a quick disclaimer before your review. As long as you're honest with your readers, I can't see anytone having a problem with it.

 

[Pinotage]

My best advice is to give a quick disclaimer before your review. As long as you're honest with your readers, I can't see anytone having a problem with it.

Thanks. Would the disclaimer need to mention the name of the publisher?

On another question, obviously if a publisher has published some of your work, I don't think I'd feel comfortable reviewing any of their products. What about if you submit something to a publisher and it's still under review and not yet published or paid for? Would it be fine to still do reviews of a publisher that is 'considering' your work?

Just a little concerned about what would be best.

Pinotage

 

[the Jester]

Like Moruss said, just start each review with a disclaimer, such as "I have a product under consideration by these guys right now, but I will attempt an impartial review nonetheless."

 

[Crothian]

Ya, with the disclaimers in place you should be find. Once you get work accepted by a publisher you probably shouldn't review their stuff anymore.

 

[arwink]

In addition to the disclaimers that others have mentioned, I'd probably suggest avoiding anything that could be construed as a conflict of interest - publishers your working for are the obvious example, but so are products that fill a similar niche to something you've worked on professionally. Personally I have little issue with freelancers writing reviews - I mostly think it gets complicated when publishers do the same

 

[Pinotage]

Thanks for the advice. I think it's easiest to draw a line that any publisher you're submitting work for, writing for, or has published some of your work be excluded from reviewing. I'll certainly accept your advice, arwink, on reviewing similar products, and add disclaimers in my review to indicate that I have some work published. Fortunately, right at the moment I can't see the 'similar product' being a problem, but it may be in the future. Maybe I'll eventually just have to decide which one I like better - writing or reviewing

Thanks!

Pinotage

 

[pogre]

When I discovered I was having a PDF published I jumped out of the review scene. I think you are wise to be sensitive to the issue, but a disclaimer should take care of it.