A guide to review-writing
Mar 12 '01
The Bottom Line Think about what you plan to say, BEFORE you start typing. Categorizing the information helps the reader to better understand and retain it.
Following are some of the "patterns" I have developed and honed over the past few months in writing my reviews, which tend to concentrate in the Health and Beauty, Travel, Restaurants, or Music categories. For all of my reviews, I always write a draft first, and then look at it with a "fresh eye" a day later to see if it could use improvement, before submitting it. Not only do I look for information that I forgot to add, but I also look at the flow of my paragraphs, and in particular, whether or not I accentuated the key points. Does the review appeal to the eye?.... This is usually accomplished by a LOGICAL use of paragraph breaks, and by clearly categorizing the information by using BOLD or similarly noticeable headings. The longer your review, the more essential it is that the information be divided up into "categories".
HEALTH AND BEAUTY
For me, this is one of the more "lightweight" categories. I write about how I actually USE the product, and any particular techniques I have found that make the product work better for me. I may also write about the container the product comes in, and whether or not it serves its purpose well, or whether for example it might do better in a plastic squeeze bottle versus a glass bottle. Comparing the item to other similar products is also useful. You also want to explain exactly what it is that you like or dislike about the product. A list of ingredients is also appreciated by many readers.
TRAVEL
I'd consider travel reviews to be my forte. I have developed a general pattern of breaking down my travel reviews to include most of the following categories within it: General Background, Orientation, Transportation, Restaurants, Hotels, Daytime Activities, Nighttime Activities. In addition to giving specific information on a destination, I also try to give the reader a "feel" for the place, by describing what you might see, hear, etc., during your travels. Additional information that is always appreciated is Visa/Passport info, immunization info, drinkability of the water, local customs, etc.
RESTAURANTS
For restaurant reviews, I think the dining experience is not just about the food itself, but the decor and the service, so I describe all of this. However, for me, the food quality is of the utmost importance, so that is what I spend most of my time concentrating on. I describe everything, starting with the bread basket, continuing with the appetizer, the entree, dessert and coffee. Every little thing adds up to determine my overall satisfaction with the meal. If a "gourmet" restaurant has wonderful entrees, but the bread is not homemade, and the coffee tastes like mud, these points would be factored in, and the restaurant would get a lower rating People also like to know things such as cost of the various dishes, whether they have parking, entertainment, what type of clientele frequents the restaurant, etc.
MUSIC
It was only recently that I realized that the BEST way to write a music review is WHILE the actual music is playing in the background. This way, not only can you recall all the various instruments being used, but you are in the best position to describe how the music makes you FEEL. This is a very unique element to Music reviews, and is perhaps the only instance in review writing where you can actually "experience" and REVIEW something at the same time.
Overall though, the best advice I can give for review writing is:
1
Write a draft first, save it, and then look at it again later before submitting.
2
Think of the information you plan to provide, and try to categorize it in your head BEFORE you start typing.
3
Make your review appealing to the eye. Using the same font paragraph after paragraph will cause the reader to "zone out" after a while, particularly if your review is lengthy.
4
Don't be lazy. Show that you put alot of effort and thought into your review. Be thorough. "Quickies" for the sake of making a fast buck are generally not well-received.
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Epinions.com ID:
yippee1999
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Location: NY, NY - USA
Reviews written: 84
Trusted by: 9 members
About Me:
Chocolate.Public television.Foreign/indie film.Modern art.Int'l travel.Foreign language.Performance art.Cats.Birds.Butterflies.
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