06-01-09, 12:56 PM
How do some people get so many other people to read their reviews?
When I first found out about MAL, one of my most favorite features on the site was the option to create reviews based off your experience either reading a manga or watching an anime. It felt great that I could get some practice writing over this great art form and not feel stressed at all while doing it. My english teachers are always saying that writing a research paper is so far from writing a review that its ridiculous to think that I could get practice on the site. But to me, writing these things is enjoyable and helpful at the same time, because I get to construct a message for the reader. Its just like proving a thesis in a Lit paper or even a history paper. I don't go into a show analyzing it and researching it as I go, I do that after, (or else what the fuck would be the point of anime and manga's entertainment value), but when I do I have to find details about each show or chapter to back up my ideas and its awesome. Its great to let someone know the good or bad things you found out about a particular piece and leave it for them to decide. The problem with all this effort, however, is that alot of people won't even get a chance to experience your writing on the site because
A. Your writing a review for a show that has 1 million of them (all usually 8's, 9's, or 10's) So that affects your score purposely because you think "damn, I might have to lower the score just to get people to look at my flippin piece". Even with that, If you mark down a popular show, you'll get obliterated (not to say its all about how many people LIKE the piece, its just that all the fans will deter genuinely interested readers from gaging your ideas with a clear mind)
B. Your review will only get a maximum (probably) of 12 hours on the "most recent" section before it flutters away into the confines of the past pages, and never be looked at again. Unless your writing for a piece that barely has any reviews, it'll never be read again, which just makes you ask yourself "why the hell did I waste all my time writing this review..." I mean if your writing doesn't get critiqued subjectively you cant learn all too much. I guess some people are gonna say, "this isn't a review site, if you want that leave for another site." But this is the perfect anime and mnaga site for me and the fact that there are reviews on here only makes it better! Why should I leave? And for that matter, why is there even the review option on this site? Is it just to look good? Most likely you'll only get 20 people reading your review over a month,
C. So now I ask, how do some people on the site have triple digit numbers for their reviews? Is it due to the sheer fact that they were here on the site right when it opened? Or is it because they just pump out 10 reviews a week? Is that what I need to do, just fly through my anime and manga and write about them monotonously, without enjoyment, constantly analyzing to get a higher oppurtunity for my reviews to be read? That would suck, that would be just like homework almost.
I could use some feedback on this issue. Ironically, I have just as much of a low chance to get people to read my blog as much as I do with my reviews, so only 5 people will look at this, but for you 5, I'd appreciate the help. I didn't want to put this on the forums because I hate when people just stray off topic or bash without details to back up their claims.
A. Your writing a review for a show that has 1 million of them (all usually 8's, 9's, or 10's) So that affects your score purposely because you think "damn, I might have to lower the score just to get people to look at my flippin piece". Even with that, If you mark down a popular show, you'll get obliterated (not to say its all about how many people LIKE the piece, its just that all the fans will deter genuinely interested readers from gaging your ideas with a clear mind)
B. Your review will only get a maximum (probably) of 12 hours on the "most recent" section before it flutters away into the confines of the past pages, and never be looked at again. Unless your writing for a piece that barely has any reviews, it'll never be read again, which just makes you ask yourself "why the hell did I waste all my time writing this review..." I mean if your writing doesn't get critiqued subjectively you cant learn all too much. I guess some people are gonna say, "this isn't a review site, if you want that leave for another site." But this is the perfect anime and mnaga site for me and the fact that there are reviews on here only makes it better! Why should I leave? And for that matter, why is there even the review option on this site? Is it just to look good? Most likely you'll only get 20 people reading your review over a month,
C. So now I ask, how do some people on the site have triple digit numbers for their reviews? Is it due to the sheer fact that they were here on the site right when it opened? Or is it because they just pump out 10 reviews a week? Is that what I need to do, just fly through my anime and manga and write about them monotonously, without enjoyment, constantly analyzing to get a higher oppurtunity for my reviews to be read? That would suck, that would be just like homework almost.
I could use some feedback on this issue. Ironically, I have just as much of a low chance to get people to read my blog as much as I do with my reviews, so only 5 people will look at this, but for you 5, I'd appreciate the help. I didn't want to put this on the forums because I hate when people just stray off topic or bash without details to back up their claims.
Posted by alex264 | 06-01-09, 12:56 PM | 3 comments
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kiriska | 07-05-09, 6:16 PM
The most important thing is just to have a well-written review that's free of grammatical and spelling errors. A good overall structure is also helpful; you don't necessarily need to mark off each section, but your paragraphs should flow well together and transition properly. Indeed, many things you learn in English definitely apply to review writing. Your review should make sense, no matter what your opinion of the series is; people should be able to follow your logic, etc.The other major thing is just patience. Reviews accumulate views and votes over time, so it's not a big deal if your review disappears off the panel view quickly. Participating in the community also helps -- if you're active on forums, just having a link to your reviews in your signature will drive views, especially if you're offering insightful comments on the forums. Yes, reviewing popular series helps, especially if the series recently finished airing, but it's still more important to have a well-written review. |
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yakyuu-addict | 06-14-09, 1:13 AM
You raise some interesting points. I've been thinking about writing reviews, but now I am reconsidering.
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Juliab | 06-01-09, 7:24 PM
I think it's a combination ofA. writing a review for a popular series B. writing something better than "omg this anime is teh best i cry every time i see it" C. dumb luck Hope that helps? For my part, I only write reviews of stuff that doesn't already have like a hundred reviews. |