On Old Reviews and Lifelong Writing

I have no reviews today- after the exams and assessments stuffed together last week, I haven't had time to read much.

That depresses me. Greatly. 

So, in pursuit of actually posting something somewhat enjoyable for you guys to read, I decided to dig out some of my older reviews in my other goodreads account.

Cue embarrassment.

Here's a review of House Rules by Jodi Picoult a little less than two years ago.

Ingrediants for a Jodi Picoult book.

1.Child with issue.

2.Neglected  and troubled child

3.Something to do with law.

4.1 random death per story

Then, you mix and match, and create a Jodi Picoult book!

Easy,isn't it? By the time I have gotten to this book, I am starting to tire of the same storyline.I really enjoyed My sister's keeper, handle with care was okay, and now I've figured the exact ingredients for a perfect Jodi Picoult book.On top of that, it's also VERY annoying to have her keep on switching perspectives, just when we've gotten into the story.However, the reason I come back for more, is that I love her characters and the way she makes them so realistic. The rest is all gibberish to me. I mean, it's really thought-provoking, but after hearing the same message so many time,WE GET IT!

I love you, Jodi, but please do something different for a change.

Nicole and I went through a 'let's love Jodi Picoult!' stage about two years ago, before submerging into 'OMG it's the same book!' stage a few months after that. My anger was shown here with my excess use of exclamation marks and CAPITAL LETTERS- though I still gave it three stars. I wasn't the harshest reviewer then... I gave Twilight three stars at first (oh the shame). I actually found the review of it, and it was written approximately the same time as House Rules.  Here you go:

One of the really cheesy cliche books.I would have liked it more if it was more original. However, note that I did actually give it 3 stars, and that is because I think that the story line is quite a good one, and with some re-writing and some more thought put in, could be a good book that I would find more pleasant to read.But absoulutely terrible,boring to read, and I think I lost many of my brain cells just reading it.

I swear I'm being completely contradictory here. 'The story line is actually a good one' and then a sentence later 'absolutely terrible, boring to read'... I think I was trying to be nice here in this review, and not really doing a good job of being diplomatic or truthful. I'm not sure what was going through my brain at that time. And yes, I do own a Twilight book, though I may have slightly... edited it. Yes, that's the word. Edited.

Bottom line is, aside from this being slightly funny and embarrassing material for you guys to indulge in the awkwardness that was me two years ago, I'd just like to say that writing is something your really need to just keep going at and improving on. I mean, two years ago, I thought my writing was amazing for someone my age. I was using 'cliche' and being all clever with my exclamation marks. I thought I was witty with my 'list of Jodi Picoult's novel checklist' (though I still think it is somewhat true). 

I might look back on this in a year or so and go- 'WHY HAYLEY WHY DO YOU WRITE LIKE ZIS?' but the fact is that'll have proved I've improved. To be honest, I'm a little proud of these reviews still (despite the bad taste), because it's a little reminder that I used to write like that. That I've improved at least a little in these few years- although at the same time, it does also remind me that I've got a long way to go if I want to be a good author. Ever.

Any thoughts on this?