Page 1 of 1

list of benefits for mini-review writers

Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 2:58 pm
by livelove
related discussion: How often do you write Mini-Reviews?

mpowell wrote:yeah, the mini-reviews are one of the most interesting parts of Criticker, and you're right that we should be doing more to highlight them.
As the site owners agree with, mini-reviews are one of the best parts of Criticker.
They clearly are of enormous value to the readers of the mini-reviews.

But what about the advantages of writing mini-reviews for the writers themselves ?
I'm sure there are some, yet they seem to be less obvious.
Can we, together, in this thread, make a list of benefits for writers of mini-reviews ?

I'll add them here:
(You can click on the numbers to jump to the posting. List items without link are my own additions.)
  • (1) reminder function:
    (a) helps to recall what movie it is
    (b) helps to recall what I originally thought about a movie and why I scored it the way I did

    (2) writing down my thoughts compels me to clarify them, which helps in accurately scoring the movie

    (3) self-affirmation and self-verification (feels good when someone stars something you're proud of)

    (4) expressive outlet (when a film puts me in a weird ecstatic frenzy)

    (5) experiencing the feeling of sharing something with(in) a community

    (6) creative challenge

    (7) self-examination + self-reflection: "when reading (own) older reviews: a reminder not to take myself too seriously"

    (8) helps understand others: "easier to appreciate other peoples' efforts when you've had a go yourself"

    (9) It's like a diary entry. Not for a day but for a film. I like diaries.

Re: list of benefits for writers of mini-reviews

Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 8:54 pm
by paulofilmo
are you after these sorts of subjective things? i might be misreading you


    when reading (own) older reviews: a reminder not to take myself too seriously
    feels good when someone stars something you're proud of
    can set little creative challenges that i wouldn't otherwise bother with*
    expressive outlet when a film puts me in a weird ecstatic frenzy
    easier to appreciate other peoples' efforts when you've had a go yourself
    sharing/community. sort of. loosely.

*pithy; long; visual; 'awkward film summary'; surreal; one-word; retire a gif, etc. etc.

benefits for writers of mini-reviews

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 4:33 am
by livelove
hello paulofilmo. Thank you for your contributions. Yes, ANY examples are legitimate and very welcome.

Re: list of benefits for writers of mini-reviews

Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 4:16 pm
by philamental
The only reason I personally write mini-reviews is so I can better recall in the future what I originally thought about a movie and why I scored it the way I did. Before I did this, I found I could look back at a ranking I had given years previously and have little memory of why I scored it the way I did.

I do also get some of the benefits mentioned by paulofilmo, but they are secondary and I wouldn't bother writing mini reviews if it wasn't for that primary reason.

Re: list of benefits for writers of mini-reviews

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2018 12:39 pm
by SinnerMa
For me, I pretty much ignore the ratings given without a review. I may be wrong (usually am) but I feel someone who has gone to the trouble of writing a review has also, even if subconsciously, given some thought to the rating entered not just input a figure "on the fly" so to speak.

Reviews also give me a snapshot of the product and help me in deciding it it's "for me". I especially appreciate mini reviews on non mainstream product

The reverse of the above is why I do minireviews....and, yep, getting a star is a little buzz :lol:

So, thanks to all the Criticker mini reviewers for their collective assistance.

Re: list of benefits for writers of mini-reviews

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:01 pm
by BillyShears
I flash my stars when I go out to eat and get asked to leave quietly.

Re: list of benefits for writers of mini-reviews

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:49 pm
by livelove
@BillyShears: Sorry, what does that mean?

@SinnerMa: You list advantages for the readers. What benefits do you see for the writers (aside from "getting a buzz" which is already in the list) ?

Re: list of benefits for writers of mini-reviews

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 4:51 am
by livelove
ribcage @ www.criticker.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5506#p52382 wrote:I do have a fairly bad memory, and my main reason for mini reviews is simply to put to writing enough words to hold a movie in my memory.