Do you find it difficult to write in the standard format?

Contributor: bayosgirl bayosgirl
I have noticed lately that it's challenging for me to write cohesive reviews using the standard format. It seems like the extended template really helps the "flow" of the review. Does anyone else have this problem? I wish the extended template were available for all reviews, not just certain ones.
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
Yes, I do find it challenging
bayosgirl , BabyL0ve , ksparkles16 , Nazaress , MistressDandelion , Vegan Silk , Augustxsins , MamaDivine , pootpootpoot , Thomas90 , ghalik , GONE!
12  (38%)
Not for the most part
Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama , Silverdrop , mpfm , kittycatgirl , Beck , unfulfilled , Ms. N , dhig , OhMy! , Ciao. , sunkissedJess , Jul!a
12  (38%)
Not at all
P'Gell , darthkitt3n , Shellz31 , Petite Valentine , ToyTimeTim , Woman China , Lilith Bealove , Peggi
8  (25%)
Total votes: 32
Poll is closed
04/13/2012
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Contributor: Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama
I am about to start reviewing again and I plan to do more of the standard than the extended format because I think I can make it flow better that way. Also I think it will hopefully keep me from being too wordy.
04/13/2012
Contributor: ksparkles16 ksparkles16
Yes, I like the extended review format because it helps prompt me on what to write next.
04/13/2012
Contributor: Silverdrop Silverdrop
I find the extended format especially helpful for 'meh' reviews, when a toy is neither great nor awful. But the standard format lets me focus on what I believe is the most important characteristics of the item I'm reviewing.
04/13/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
I was writing reviews for nearly a year before I used the Standard Format regularly. I now prefer it, although I usually go over the word count and need to edit the review.

In fact, I do a lot of DRs for the product pages, and I get frustrated because you must do DRs in Extended Format. I would rather do them in Standard, because I can write it up first on my laptop in Word and just copy and paste onto the review. I find myself repeating myself with the Extended Format and I get really frustrated. But the Product Page is set up in Extended, so we have to do the Descriptive Review this way. I rarely run out of room in Extended Format, though.

I think until you have a lot of reviews under your belt and a lot of experience, the Extended Format is the best way to do it. EF prompts you so you don't forget things, and also helps with the flow of the review. Once you get your confidence a a lot of experience (I found a year of writing reviews was when I needed the Standard) you may like Standard.

Although some things (like I believe lingerie) only let you write in Standard Format. You could write in in Word in Extended and then edit it to fit into the Standard Format when the review requires it, if you like. That might help you coalesce your thoughts and then pare it down to fit.
04/13/2012
Contributor: Shellz31 Shellz31
No I don't find it difficult at all cause I made up my own template layout which I follow no matter which format I go with.
04/13/2012
Contributor: Vegan Silk Vegan Silk
depends on what I'm reviewing. Some things don't fit the template anyway...
04/13/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
I make up my own template using bold and Italics. It flows better that way.
04/13/2012
Contributor: unfulfilled unfulfilled
I don't find it hard at all, but I rarely use it unless it's for lingerie reviews and I Bold everything to keep my sections seperated. I don't like that there's a word limit on the standard format so I ended up having to cut alot of what I'm trying to say so I like the extended format.
04/13/2012
Contributor: Woman China Woman China
The Extended Review template is great for products I'm not too keen on. But I am like P'Gell when it comes to the word count. I just seem to go over the 800/500 limit a little too frequently.

With the Standard template I can put in my own "voice" and with the Extended, I feel it is more technical.
04/13/2012
Contributor: dhig dhig
i'm still new to reviews. i definitely prefer the extended format! oh, i guess that would mean i mis-voted. gah. but yeah, i'll be using the standard for a lingerie review so we'll see how it goes.
04/13/2012
Contributor: MamaDivine MamaDivine
Quote:
Originally posted by bayosgirl
I have noticed lately that it's challenging for me to write cohesive reviews using the standard format. It seems like the extended template really helps the "flow" of the review. Does anyone else have this problem? I wish the extended ... more
Since I switched over to the Extended format, standard is pretty hard for me. I tend to leave out things that are important if I do standard now. I love the extended, but it used to be more challenging for me. I think the extended is great, especially when You have a product that is maybe somewhat "dull" or doesn't have a lot of features or good things to say about it. This helps walk you through it and find stuff to write about.
04/15/2012
Contributor: Ciao. Ciao.
It depends a lot for me on the type of product I'm reviewing. That usually drives me to either write a really nice and eloquent set of paragraphs or keep it to a shorter, more functionally oriented review. I'm glad both options are there, I think it helps me to write better even if I'm not as keen on a particular product or don't have a lot to say about it from an experience standpoint.
04/15/2012
Contributor: Kirsten A Kirsten A
I'm new to reviewing, and working on my first review. Where do you find these templates? I have gotten a general feel for how reviews are supposed to be, but a template sounds very useful.
04/15/2012
Contributor: Lilith Bealove Lilith Bealove
I prefer the standard format and actually even dislike reading in the extended format.
04/15/2012
Contributor: Thomas90 Thomas90
When i was constructing my first review, i found the extended format really easy to use and i found it helped a lot in showing me what kinds of things i should be mentioning etc.
04/16/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
I did find it difficult for a long time, but one day I came up with a fun way to write them and now I choose to do most of my reviews in the standard format.
04/16/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
Yes, I do unless I really figure out how I'm going to make it work and where to put what.
04/22/2012