Firstly, I want to start with how nervous I was! As an online student, I decided to take a chance at writing and editing because I wanted to become more involved and gain experience in a field I hope to work in someday. At the same time, I wasn’t an English major, which made me wonder if I would fit in. But after speaking with Stephanie Pearmain (Director of Pine Reads Review), completing my orientation, and attending my first meeting, I realized I had found something special. By the end of that first meeting, I was excited to be part of something that I initially thought would simply push me out of my comfort zone. Little did I know that it would become so much more than that.
I started off as both a writer and editor. At first I felt more comfortable editing, but I really wanted to challenge myself by writing as well. Looking at reviews on social media and Goodreads, I assumed there was some kind of formula and that I would need to deeply analyze every aspect of a book, which was a little intimidating since I’m a fairly casual person. But working alongside other talented writers, having an incredible writing lead, and being exposed to a variety of writing styles helped me realize that there wasn’t just one “right” way to write a review. I grew comfortable sharing my honest thoughts and developing my own style, rather than following a strict structure. Editing was surprisingly more challenging for me because I wanted to preserve each writer’s voice while still offering meaningful feedback without overstepping. When October came around, I decided to take on social media as well, which looking back, was quite a lot to add to my plate. Still, I loved it! Creating graphics and helping maintain Pine Reads’ social media presence was so rewarding, and having such a supportive team made the experience even better. Learning multiple roles within Pine Reads Review pushed me beyond my limits, but it’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world.
One of the biggest ways I grew during my time at Pine Reads was by stepping outside of my usual reading habits. A core part of Pine Reads Review is serving as a gateway to diverse and emerging authors, highlighting books that may not be mainstream but still deserve to have their stories heard. Because of that, I found myself reading from new perspectives and giving different tropes a chance. On the way, I discovered interests I never expected to have. Thrillers, for example, have somehow worked their way into my top three favorite genres. Looking back, all it really took was a little push to explore what was unfamiliar to me, and I’m thankful Pine Reads Review gave me that opportunity.
Oh my goodness, I have way too many to count! From writing blogs about authors I admire to having the opportunity to interview an author I had looked up to for years (and needing a moment to calm myself down beforehand), there were so many memorable experiences throughout the year. One of my favorite memories was getting to meet people who shared the same passion for books and reading that I did. Whether it was collaborating during meetings, chatting about what was happening in the book world, playing book-themed games at events, or our end-of-semester socials, every experience helped me feel more connected to Pine Reads Review. As someone who isn’t the most extroverted person, those moments made a lasting impact and became some of my favorite memories from my first year.
Pine Reads Review was definitely something I needed to validate my future aspirations, and I’m proud of myself for taking the chance to try something new. There’s a lot of goals I’m making right now of what I’d like to accomplish, just so I can look back at this in a year and either be happy, or at least content because I tried my best. So here’s to year two at Pine Reads Review, and I hope to see you all there!
Keonte Emerson, Pine Reads Review Co-Assistant Director, Lead Writer, and Social Media Manager