As a reviewer, do you prefer free form writing or using the new template?

Contributor: Adriana Ravenlust Adriana Ravenlust
Quote:
Originally posted by spicywife
I noticed that when I wrote a review with that template. For my next review I'm going to try the basic template again.

I kept forgetting what I put in the other sections and also I would try to write "free form" and found that I ... more
I like the idea of it, too but think that certain templates just aren't good for me? So far I've used the template for vibes and it's definitely more work than it's worth for me.
07/10/2009
Contributor: Luscious Lily Luscious Lily
Having finally managed to write a template review I felt comfortable with submitting, I like them a bit more now than just as an idea. They may never be my format of choice for dildos and vibrators, but for other things they do help me. I was trying to write a review on a product type I'd never done before (a paddle), and was having a hard time writing it due to this and writer's block. I had intended to use it as an outline as usual, but it finally came out like a real review, instead of feeling like a lifeless outline.

So for me, I think the templates are a mixed bag. I love the idea, and I love all of them for outlining. But when it comes to writing the actual review, some of them are easier for me to write with than others.
07/10/2009
Contributor: Alan & Michele Alan & Michele
Quote:
Originally posted by Luscious Lily
Having finally managed to write a template review I felt comfortable with submitting, I like them a bit more now than just as an idea. They may never be my format of choice for dildos and vibrators, but for other things they do help me. I was trying ... more
We've been practicing with them a bit offline, and you're right, they can be pretty helpful in some cases.
I think the hardest thing for us is the order that the template sections are in. For example, "Packaging" is way down at the bottom, but that's one of the first things a reviewer observes, so it requires a bit of backtracking in the thought train when we get to it.
07/27/2009
Contributor: PurpleReign PurpleReign
Having gone AWOL with the demands of real life for a number of weeks, the review template came up, and I didn't know about it. I guess it is tied to descriptive reviews for formatting etc.

It does take some adjustment after the previous 'looser' format.

I'm glad the latter is still there for books and things (or at least the choice) as I think it makes for a better, smoother review. The new template...well, I have a pending review to do, and we'll see how that works out.

May take two or three (and a lot more pre-submit editing, I find) before it feels as comfortable as the older template.
08/08/2009
Contributor: Red Red
I wrote my first review in the new template today, and it was awkward to do. In the future I will stick with the old skool one, however, I did like that the new template made me focus on specific things, so I think I will always double check to make sure my reviews cover all the individual points required in the new template...

but I will still write free form whenever possible.
08/13/2009
Contributor: spicywife spicywife
I wasn't sure about the new template either but now I really like it. I have been reading a lot of reviews lately and I've compared the ones that use the new template and the ones that use the free-form. I found myself favoring the reviews that used the new template because it was easier to read and all-around more enjoyable. I could easily check the different points (care and maintenance, etc). For the free form, I found a lot of people who were not keeping their review structured, it was hard to read and they missed out on a lot of valuable points. So, I am pretty much sold on the new template!

Also, when I was done reading the review and I wanted to re-read another point (like the material, for instance) I could easily just scroll to that section instead of having to hunt for it in a review that was written with the free-form style.
08/13/2009
Contributor: Rayne Millaray Rayne Millaray
I'm new to this reviewing thing and I'm finding I left things out of my first freeform review (not on this site). So the template is actually really helpful for me. It helps me to focus on exactly what I want to discuss for each feature of the toy.

However, I also enjoy freeform writing. Freeform allows me to put more of my personality and the personality of our relationship into my reviews. I think that makes a normally dry review a little more fun.
08/13/2009
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
No doubt I'm a free form author. typical guy - I have very little interest packaging or colors. I put in a review what I'd like to read about;

Size, shape, texture & quality
How did I or my partner respond to the toy
What techniques worked best
What types of users might like the toy (beginners, size-queens, etc)
11/01/2009
Contributor: removedacnt removedacnt
Quote:
Originally posted by Gunsmoke
No doubt I'm a free form author. typical guy - I have very little interest packaging or colors. I put in a review what I'd like to read about;

Size, shape, texture & quality
How did I or my partner respond to the toy
What ... more
Actually, you don't have to include packaging and colors in the templates. Many of those are optional. The only ones that aren't optional are the ones you already said you prefer.

I always said I was more of a free form person too. But there are some products that are actually much easier to do by using the extended template. So now I use both, depending on what I'm reviewing. Keep that in mind the next time you're reviewing something and having a tough time putting it all together or finding enough words to describe the product.
11/01/2009
Contributor: EffinSara EffinSara
My very first review here was using the template format. I liked using it in that case because it made me feel more confident that I didn't leave anything out. However, I wrote the next three in free-form, and will probably continue to do so. It gives me the flexibility to highlight things or relate things that would otherwise be standardized by the template.

It's the most comfortable way for me to write, but if readers find the template format to be easier to read and more helpful, I could be persuaded to switch.
11/01/2009
Contributor: Rose Rose
The template seems a bit helpful and a bit constricting at the same time. A lot of sections seemed to overlap a lot, and the flow wasn't so great. I do think it'd be easier to use if sections could be merged or could be rearranged. But for a first review, it was definitely helpful.
11/01/2009
Contributor: Adriana Ravenlust Adriana Ravenlust
Quote:
Originally posted by Rose
The template seems a bit helpful and a bit constricting at the same time. A lot of sections seemed to overlap a lot, and the flow wasn't so great. I do think it'd be easier to use if sections could be merged or could be rearranged. But for a ... more
I agree about the sections/flow
11/01/2009
Contributor: Rockin' Rockin'
I'm kind of bothered by the word count limitation of the free form format. I've used the extended template just to get around word count restrictions. It's kind of annoying because I don't like that tremendously long reviews are allowed in the extended template yet the free form word limitation is much lower.

On a different note, I try to be concise but the extended template seems to extend my reviews because of the separate sections, whereas I might combine things into the same sentence or series of sentences in free form.
11/01/2009
Contributor: Gary Gary
I think that once you get used to it, it's not really that big of a deal. I personally find it a bit easier to use the free form template to write a review. But, I also feel that the extended template forces me to write a BETTER review. I have to stop and think a little bit more. It does up taking a little longer, and being a little extra work, but I think that's a small price to pay for submitting a better review.
11/02/2009
Contributor: Adriana Ravenlust Adriana Ravenlust
Quote:
Originally posted by Gary
I think that once you get used to it, it's not really that big of a deal. I personally find it a bit easier to use the free form template to write a review. But, I also feel that the extended template forces me to write a BETTER review. I have to ... more
I don't want to cross over too much into the reader's review but I've seen several reviews where the extended template actually helped to make the review bad. I think it only helps you if you already don't suck at writing (and I wouldn't say you do, Gary).
11/02/2009
Contributor: Sir Sir
The thing that I MAINLY like about the sections is that the limit is more - I can write more of what I have to say without the hassle of it telling me that I've gone over!

Speaking of which, I think that the pros and cons should have a bigger character count. Like 150 - 200.
11/02/2009
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
I think it's a good guideline to work from and a good starting point.

I copied the template into a doc and start my review from there. I figure that in a few more reviews, I'll go more to a free form that's not as restrictive.

I am a llama too...
11/02/2009
Contributor: Dragon Dragon
I've decided that I REALLY prefer the free-form reviews. I can't always make things flow the way that I want with the template sections. Especially when I'm forced into them and don't have a choice of either free-form or template.
11/02/2009
Contributor: Kdlips Kdlips
i like em boyh
08/26/2011
Contributor: Apirka Apirka
I like the template because it helps me make sure I don't forget anything.
02/19/2012
Contributor: Breas Breas
I prefer the standard template
02/19/2012
Contributor: Silverdrop Silverdrop
I started with the extended format, but I'm leaning more towards the standard template lately. I think extended is great for beginners, because it keeps you from leaving anything out, but writing in the standard format feels more natural.
03/21/2012