Reviewing a product that wasn't your cup of tea. How do you do it?

Contributor: Nissa Nissa Nissa Nissa
I have had a g-spot vibe for a while and decided to do a review on it but something happened. I got writers block! How do you push yourselves to review something you don't enjoy? I felt utterly uninspired.
07/25/2011
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Contributor: Ansley Ansley
I outline all of the hard facts first - size, shape, color, texture, patterns/speeds, batteries and care instructions, first. Then I fill in the soft details in the experience section. I read through it about half a dozen times and then decide where I want to insert those personal comments throughout the review.
07/25/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
It's not easy, I normally start with something easy like the packaging to get my review writing juices flowing. Otherwise just try to be as thorough as you can be. Cover things you liked (even if there wasn't really anything) and cover the things you didn't like and explain whether these were things that were a no go for you personally, or if it's something about the way the toy was designed.
07/25/2011
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
I still do my best to be 100% thorough, as Sapphire Storm and Sam said. The biggest part to making a negative review useful, I think, is explaining exactly why you didn't like it. Describe the features so that someone else who is different from you can still see if they would enjoy it. I think a really good example o fthis was Emma's review of the Calla. It didn't work for her at all, but she explained which parts didn't work and why. She didn't spend an overly long time describing who would like it instead---that can get tedious, and usually most readers know what they like. So just, explain what it is, and if they'll like it, they'll be able to know.
07/25/2011
Contributor: Nissa Nissa Nissa Nissa
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
I still do my best to be 100% thorough, as Sapphire Storm and Sam said. The biggest part to making a negative review useful, I think, is explaining exactly why you didn't like it. Describe the features so that someone else who is different from ... more
Thanks so much everyone for your ideas. I submitted a review to my mentor and I'm waiting for her to look over it but I'm sure its terrible LOL. Just didn't feel it. Might eventually try it again.
07/25/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Nissa Nissa
Thanks so much everyone for your ideas. I submitted a review to my mentor and I'm waiting for her to look over it but I'm sure its terrible LOL. Just didn't feel it. Might eventually try it again.
Oh LOL, the innocence of a first review. You'll have no choice but to try it again. And trust me, there isn't a mentor on here that won't bend over backwards to help you so long as you're willing to listen to their suggestions. Sometimes it's really hard to write objectively when you just aren't feeling a toy, but your mentor will be able to give you fantastic tips and give you ideas on how to flesh out the review!

You're cherry's been popped, my dear! Welcome to Eden!
07/25/2011
Contributor: Nissa Nissa Nissa Nissa
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Oh LOL, the innocence of a first review. You'll have no choice but to try it again. And trust me, there isn't a mentor on here that won't bend over backwards to help you so long as you're willing to listen to their suggestions. ... more
Oh, I have 3 reviews already and I felt happier reviewing them in the standard review template but I hear that is slightly frowned upon. This was my first extended template and I was kind of shakey with it and confused.. hopefully I can get it worked out
07/25/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Nissa Nissa
Oh, I have 3 reviews already and I felt happier reviewing them in the standard review template but I hear that is slightly frowned upon. This was my first extended template and I was kind of shakey with it and confused.. hopefully I can get it worked ... more
I think it is always appreciated by users and reviewers alike to have the information in the standard template broken down into sections using HTML to bold headers. There are some items that an extended template isn't an option, so I should certainly hope it isn't frowned upon. Slightly or otherwise.
07/25/2011
Contributor: Nissa Nissa Nissa Nissa
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
I think it is always appreciated by users and reviewers alike to have the information in the standard template broken down into sections using HTML to bold headers. There are some items that an extended template isn't an option, so I should ... more
I just say that because everyone who I've talked to have said extended are the best and very well received. I enjoy adding personal anecdotes mixed in with my reviews and like to write in almost a free form style.. but in the future I will focus harder on getting things sorted out when I used the extended review template.
07/25/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Nissa Nissa
I just say that because everyone who I've talked to have said extended are the best and very well received. I enjoy adding personal anecdotes mixed in with my reviews and like to write in almost a free form style.. but in the future I will focus ... more
Realistically there's nothing wrong with using the standard template. I obviously can't speak for everybody else on the site, but when I suggest the extended template to a new reviewer it's so that they can get an idea of all the things they need to cover in a review before they use a template without all the extra prompts. As long as you can make sure you cover everything, use whichever template feels the most natural for you
07/26/2011
Contributor: Ms. Spice Ms. Spice
i try to list all its pros and cons; usually all toys have a place in somebody's toy box, it just might not be yours. but then you get the toy that's so bad that it shouldn't have been thought of to begin with. i'll usually list my complaints at the end
07/26/2011
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
Realistically there's nothing wrong with using the standard template. I obviously can't speak for everybody else on the site, but when I suggest the extended template to a new reviewer it's so that they can get an idea of all the things ... more
Yep, I used the standard for my very first review, but then realized I had some learning to do. I used the Extended format for about the next ten, and then switched back to Standard now that I know what to include.

Enjoy Eden
07/26/2011