how I review

How I Review = Reviewing Cornerstone

Purpose:
It’s your “home base” for everything related to how you read, rate, and review books. Think of it as the manifesto that ties together all your supporting policy and guide pages.

🍊 Page Hierarchy (The Cornerstone Family Tree)

Cornerstone Page:
📍 How I Review → /how-i-review/

This is the overview page that links out to everything below.

Child / Supporting Pages:

  • ARC & Review Policy → /guides/review-policy/

  • Content Policy → /guides/content-policy/

  • Star Rating & Spice Scale → /guides/rating-scale/

  • Orange Reader (Mood Map) → /orange-reader/

So when someone clicks How I Review, they’ll find short blurbs and direct links to each resource — like a mini hub.

✏️ Suggested Page Layout

Header:

“How I Review — A Peek Behind the Pages”

Intro Paragraph (friendly + transparent):

“Every review I write blends two parts of who I am — a lifelong reader who loves stories that stick, and an editor who can’t resist analyzing why they do. This page is a quick guide to my review style, star ratings, and what you can expect when you read my thoughts on a book.”

Sections:

1️⃣ My Reading Lens

Explain your Orange Reader system briefly and link to /orange-reader/.

2️⃣ My Review Approach

Talk about honesty, empathy, and your balance between reader reaction + craft insight.
Maybe even mention:

“If you’ve ever seen a ‘From the Editor’s Desk’ section at the end of my reviews, that’s where my editorial brain kicks in.”

3️⃣ My Star Ratings

Link to your /guides/rating-scale/ page and summarize what each star generally means.

4️⃣ My Policies

Mini blurbs linking out to your cornerstone subpages:

  • ARC & Review Policy: how you handle requests, disclosures, and deadlines.

  • Content Policy: what you include/exclude (e.g., trigger warnings, hard limits, respectful critique).

5️⃣ My Promise to Readers & Authors

A short ethos statement — warm, honest, and brand-aligned.
Example:

“Whether you’re a reader looking for your next favorite story or an author hoping for thoughtful feedback, my goal is always the same: to celebrate great storytelling, offer fair critique, and keep things as transparent as a well-loved book spine.”

🌐 Where It Lives in Your Site Map

It sits under Guides, but it’s internally linked everywhere:

  • At the bottom of every review (“Learn more about how I review →”)

  • Linked on your Contact / ARC Request page

  • Cross-linked inside your Rating Scale and Content Policy pages

That’s what makes it a true cornerstone — it’s both a resource and a central linking hub.