Approaching reviews

In recent weeks, you all gamely submitted yourselves to the ring of fire. That is to say, that sometimes uncomfortable moment when you allow others to read your writing and, yes, sometimes comment on it.

In writing, this is called disrobing, and we all have to drop our defenses and get comfortable with it. That's how writing can become a collaborative effort. And talking about our writing can be one of the most productive activities of this class.

Well, what's fair is fair. So I offer three short samples of my own writing as we shift from writing preview stories to writing reviews. When we discuss them Tuesday, you should feel free to critique them  — mention what you like and dislike, what you think works and doesn't work.

The main illustration here is that there are different ways to approach a review. You don't have to be the be-all-end-all expert on a subject to write a review. The first is an example how to incorporate solid reporting as the basis of a review. The second is an example of how to rely more on intense observation as the basis of a review. And the third is an example of writing on a subject on which you feel you have true expertise to comment. 

Here is an example of an expert opinion review: here (Sorry about the previous broken links.)

To get started, think about a particular reviewer or a particular publication or a particular style of reviewing that you think is effective, engaging and readable. Next, do a short filter post in which you refer us, your readers, to an exemplary example you'd like to emulate. Remember, it doesn't have to be arts-and-entertainment oriented. Reviews also can be about products or services, about stores or businesses, even about teams and sporting events.

Over the weekend and before Tuesday, write a 500-word review and post it to your blog as a separate page. Remember to include all elements of the story package: headline, byline, photo, cutline, photo credit and, as with a preview story, a gobox if people can experience the thing you are reviewing.

On Tuesday (or maybe Thursday), we'll do a Big Reveal to share our reviews and talk about our blogs. We will also begin reading each others blogs and leaving comments for our colleagues.

Reviews are all around us, and we are all natural-born reviewers. We'll talk about how to make our observations and opinions more professional, more credible and more reliable.