Most Difficult Part of Review Writing

[Dani257]

Everyone has a different part of the reviews that gives them the most trouble. For some it may simply be finding things to review (That's happened to me). For me, two things. 1. The stupid bottom line. I'm weird in this respect, because not only do I have trouble trying to write a whole lot (I tend to write short, although you probably wouldn't know it from my reviews) but trying to condense my feelings into a tidy 30 words is extremely difficult as well. My topic sentences in my English papers were always pretty weak. So, my solution? I avoid the bottom line altogether. But, I'm running out of quippy ways to say that in each review.

My second problem is coming up with a good title. My titles are usually thrown on at the last minute. I try harder with them than I do with the bottom line, but occasionally, I do just say forget it, and use the title of either the book or the movie as the title of my review.

So, what aspect of review writing has you grinding your teeth and pulling your hair?

[purplewiz]

Two parts: the introduction and the conclusion .

Seriously, I nearly always have deep issues coming up with a punchy introduction. I get around it most often by writing something weak and stupid as a placeholder, just so I can get started with the meat of the review. When I'm done, and know what I'm introducing, I can usually go back and rework it.

I also tend to just abruptly end - I've said all I wanted to say and so I'm done. I usually have to go back and flesh it out more. (On the other hand, minimalism isn't always a bad thing.)

This is why I'm eternally grateful to my husband for acting as my first line editor - and better yet, he enjoys it!

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

The title. Definitely the title. A few of my reviews have been edited several times, and usually it's been just the title. Still not happy with some of them.

mj

[soxfan[$]]

Definitely the intro (with everything, not just reviews). It usually takes me a long while to figure out what angle I want to use ... which means it takes forever to come up with the lead.

Ailsa

[theeye]

I remember how I used to write lit papers back in college.

I'd head over to the Reference Room of the library (it stayed open until something like 2 or 3 am) and I'd find a carrel way back in a corner somewhere.

I'd sit down with a stack of blank paper and a pen.

I'd stare at the paper for about half an hour.

Then I'd write a sentence.

Then I'd stare at the sentence for usually about two hours or so.

Then I'd cross it out.

Then, all of a sudden, I'd write at a maddening pace and write essentially the entire paper in one clip.

I'd head home, exhausted, with a bunch of nearly illegible sheets of paper, do a little bit of editing and head for the typewriter. (Yup, the typewriter. Remember those? )

Ah, the good old days.

[theeye]

To answer your question more directly, I've also always found the lead in to be the hardest part.

One technique that I've used is to try to frame a review with an anecdote or distinct thought that I break up between my intro and my conclusion -- I figure if it's compelling enough, I can trick my readers into sticking it out through the boring middle.

I can think off-hand of two of my reviews in which I did this -- if you want to take a look, PM me and I'll tell you which they are.

[ThePirateKing]

I don't usually have trouble with the lead-in... I just have trouble with getting it finished. There'll be one piece in the middle that I still have to write, and I'll end up putting it on the back burner for weeks.

I am a lazy bum.

[Grouch]

Feeling too enthusiastic about what I need to review. I let my emotions carry me away and I end up rambling on and on and filling the screen with cliches instead of precisely telling readers what it is that makes the book or movie work so well. I have no problem slamming Mission to Mars, but when it comes to capturing my enraptured joy over the latest John Irving novel, my brain turns to Jell-o.

The Bottom Line: I also hate the BL feature. Never liked it, never will. I've already given the BL in the body of the review and 30 words just isn't enough room to

[rich2003dm]

My biggest problem is finding something to write about. Here I am on a product site, and I don't do products...or movies...or music...and only rarely will I do books.

I look for essay topics, of which there really aren't many.

Once I do find a topic, I usually have to spend quite a bit of time coming up with a slant, angle, or theme for the essay. I sometimes abandon the topic altogether if I can't think of a good one.

However, once I have my topic and theme, I can usually roll right along without a problem.

Rich (Who very often wishes he enjoyed doing product stuff, since it would make his life much easier.)

[kurt_messick]

Getting up the energy to do one is the hardest part. Once I start, it seems to just flow. I have the same problem with articles, sermons, academic papers, etc. Once it starts, fine. But I'll have no luck until the situation becomes desperate!

[kurt_messick]

Oh, and my best time to write reviews for Epinions is when I procrastinating writing something for someone else. Then the ideas for Epinions flow freely!

[THMeeks]

Kurt, you hit the nail on the head. Since my addiction to epionion writing began two days ago, I've had to stall my paying clients. I'm now two pages into the first draft of a short story that has to go out by the end of the month. I'm thinking of yanking the phone line out of the back of the computer until I can finish it. Of course, I have several notes on possible epinion pieces. The immediacy of the feedback is like a drug.

[vonboob]

If I start correcting my text, then I am in trouble. It never looks right. My writing has to be done fast and posted before I change my mind.
Best regards,