How I take notes for NetGalley ARCs!
I started reading NetGalley arcs in 2024, and have really enjoyed being one of the first of many readers to read a book. To be a review that lets others decide if they want to read a book or not. I take it very seriously, even if I do fall behind sometimes.
I wanted to show how I take my notes. How carefully I jot down thoughts and feelings and little tidbits of information on what I’m reading + a summary to help me keep track chapter by chapter.
📕 Step One- The Info
Title of the book
By: the person who wrote the book
Published: when the book comes out
By: who the book is published by
Genre: what genres the book falls under listed on NetGalley
TWs: any trigger warnings I come across as I read!
(I’ll make a different post in the future on how I feel about the discourse over trigger warnings.)
📗 Step Two- The Summaries
Each chapter I write a summary of the chapter I just read, keeping track of names and relationships, as well as my feelings and thoughts on what I just read. This helps me formulate my opinions on what I’m reading and makes it easier to write a professional and well thought out review when I’m done with the book.
I don’t color code but I know many do, and I just write with whatever pen I have until it runs out of ink and I switch pens! My favorite pens for note taking are the Inkjoy Papermate 100 RT 1.0 M. They’re smooth to write with, I love the colors, and they don’t bleed or smear!
I hope seeing how I go about note taking for NetGalley, helps you with how you process books!
Taking notes effectively while reading Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) on platforms like NetGalley is essential to producing insightful and reliable reviews. A recommended method includes documenting key book details such as title, author, publication date, publisher, genre, and any trigger warnings encountered. Incorporating trigger warnings (TWs) helps maintain reader safety and transparency, allowing reviewers to responsibly alert potential readers to sensitive content. Chapter-by-chapter summaries capture plot progression, character development, relationships, and personal reactions, which are critical for building an informed opinion and crafting thorough reviews. This method also aids memory retention and ensures no important details are overlooked. Many reviewers opt for color-coding to visually organize notes, though simple pen-based notes can be effective when using smooth, reliable pens like Inkjoy Papermate 100 RT 1.0 M, known for their vibrant colors and non-bleed ink. Additionally, organizing your notes into a dedicated NetGalley journal can improve efficiency and clarity. For instance, the journal cover example "BEE 2 My New NetGalley Journal" demonstrates a personalized approach to keeping ARC notes in one place. When noting summaries, pay attention to distinctive story elements and characters—for example, as highlighted in the OCR content about Emma Lord's romance novel featuring Mack, Sam, Hannah, and Savammah, where interpersonal dynamics and plot incidents, like Mack accidentally breaking her phone, are crucial for review depth. These structured note-taking strategies not only enhance the review quality but also foster a deeper engagement with the literature, enabling readers and reviewers alike to share well-informed and thoughtful feedback with their community.
Color-coding notes sounds not my type too. I'll stick to my messy scribbles and hope for the best.