Review "Guidelines"

[Abaddon2005]

First of, this is ultimately a feature suggestion topic, but to get some discussion going/not interrupt any flow of the feature suggestion thread itself, it seemed best to create a separate thread.

The reason why I created this thread is because, mainly for first-time reviewers, there isn't a feature on the site which tells them how to write a review. While there are many variables of how a review can be written (track by track, regular reviews that are divided in paragraphs, concept reviews etc.) it would be nice if first timers could have a checklist or something of the sorts to base their review on, and what is expected of them when writing a review in terms of spelling and lay-out.
I think that, though there are many proficient young writers on the site as it is, especially this group might not yet have enough experiencing in writing longer articles, and it would be user-friendly to have such a feature available to them. This would also get rid of all the comments of people asking a review to be divided into paragraphs and common issues like that.

Obviously one of the things that must remained untouched is the freedom which the writer has over his/her review, and it should be clear that these are not rules, but guidelines as a form of inspiration as to what could be discussed in a review when the reviewer doesn't have a clear view of this or is out of ideas.

I realize I'm not giving extremely clear specs here, but hopefully something can be worked out. :)

[Neoteric]

We have a Writer's Block thread if that has any relevance.

[Jom]

I agree with both of you.

A few months ago Med, SOP, and I drew up a reviewing guideline / FAQ / suggestions page, but mx never implemented it because he was busy as per usual. There's a load of pages on the site that haven't been updated, especially the FAQ, about, etc. It's unfortunate, but there's nothing we can do until mx's life stops moving a trillion miles an hour.

I'm always down for babbling about the site, but unfortunately, babbling doesn't do a whole lot because the babbling can't actually be utilized on the site because it's up to the big dog to implement it.

I'm also down for discussing guidelines and tips and tricks. I put my e-mail in my profile because I'm easily accessible through that and I've received loads of e-mails from users asking for help, or for proofreading, or to help with the flow and style because their primary language wasn't English. It's been a good alternative until the site will be updated, but when that will be remains to be seen due to mx's hectic lifestyle.

In the same vein, the Writers' Block is a good place for people to ask for help, post excerpts of their reviews, etc. to get almost immediate feedback from somebody. Having that somewhat-static environment can be more beneficial than a checklist of sorts, I think.

[Abaddon2005]

Sorta, but what I was aiming at was something that was available on the front page of the reviews site, like the FAQ, and more targeted at a specific audience of first-timers/younger writers.

[Abaddon2005]

Ah, too bad. :( Thanks though Jom.

Edit: yeah, I understand the Writer's Block thread, but not all users who use the reviews site use the forums or go looking there, and likely less "new" users.

[Jom]

Ah, too bad. :( Thanks though Jom.

Well, I'm always optimistic that things will get fixed. If you asked me this or seen me about a year ago I would have been the most caustic and abrasive personality around here because I kept asking for things to be fixed [on the forums, mostly, not so much the reviews site] and I was constantly being ignored, so I got fed up with it and did and said some things that made me evolve from pessimist to raving lunatic. The good news is that people listened to me; the bad news is that it was all for naught (for the most part, anyway - example: getting Wintermute to co-admin... it worked for a few months and then he went MIA. Jom 4 Account Changes Guy '07!).

But with this perceived commitment to better the site at some point, coupled with us getting higher hits on Google and endorsement from a couple sister sites, things that need fixing will actually BE fixed... or so I hope. That's the goal, anyway.

Edit: yeah, I understand the Writer's Block thread, but not all users who use the reviews site use the forums or go looking there, and likely less "new" users.

I agree that it's not particularly intuitive, but it could be linked in such a FAQ with an explanation. Otherwise, people can just open up the threads and see what's up - I know that that's not the best alternative, but considering the circumstances there's not much else that can be done, haha. We just have to wait it out.

[Eliminator]

Boo, guidelines!

[Abaddon2005]

Elim, Elim, how could this community thrive without your contributions! :eek: