kleph
14-03-2006, 08:56 AM
Howdy! Your all-powerful yet benevolent ZTunes Czar here.
http://forum.zgeek.com/gallery/files/2/0/1/reviewform_thumb.gifSo you want to submit a music review? Great! It's not tough but we are asking for a bit more effort than the usual post with these so please be kind enough to follow a few guidelines.
If you hit the "new review" button, you will be faced with a slightly different post control panel to post with than normal (click the pic for a better view). This is how you fill it.
The first entry is for "title." Simple enough, put the name of the album you are reviewing followed by a hyphen and then the name of the band. If you are reviewing an artist, just enter the name of the artist.
Next is "byline." This is for if you would like to put your real name on the review. Pirate's goal with these sections is to make them a real resource and, as such, you will be able to take credit for your published work. If you do not chose to enter your byline, simply enter a short sub headline or just leave it blank.
You then need to come up with a "synopsis." This is probably the most difficult piece of writing for your review and, likely, the most important. Folks perusing down the review list (http://forum.zgeek.com/forumdisplay.php?f=169) will most likely decide whether or not to read your work based on this little paragraph. Make it two or three sentences and try to distill the essence of the subject of your review to its bare basics.
Finally we have the rating system. Currently we are still figuring out how this is going to work so fill it in however you feel is best.
Now, before you get down to the nitty gritty of reviewing it would be highly appreciated if you could take the time and find an image to accompany your review. Easy enough for an album - just use the cover image. For an artist review please try and find somthing nicely representative, black & white and square. (It would also be sweet if you can resize the photo to 150 X 150 pixels. This is so the art is uniform on the review index (http://forum.zgeek.com/forumdisplay.php?f=169).) When you have what you want, upload it (http://forum.zgeek.com/gallery/upload.php?&c=1) into news images and add it using the newlink feature up at the top of this here scriptbox that looks like this (http://forum.zgeek.com/gallery/files/2/0/1/newslink.gif).
Lastly, please remember to select the "music" icon before you submit the thing.
------------
Now the review. What are we looking for?
Well, we want more than a one or two sentence post saying you thought it "rocked" or "sucked." In fact, if it is less than 300 words we will most likely just send it to the regular music forum as a regular post.
Tell us why this release or band is good or bad. If you like it, why? And where does that element come from. Back up your opinion with examples but explain them clearly. We want some background either of the artist themselves or the type of music they make. Music is not made in a vacuum, and telling me where it comes from tells me what I may be getting.
Also, if you are doing a longer piece, particularly with an artist review, please upload a few random extra photos (http://forum.zgeek.com/gallery/upload.php?&c=1) to the news gallery and include them. This will help give a compelling visual element to the review and make it easier for folks to read through the whole of the effort.
When you are satisfied, give it a spell check and hit "submit." One of the ZTunes editors will give it a look see and either send you a PM with questions or post it (and then your ZCash will be on its merry way!). We do not post reviews immediately so if you don't see it for a while - don't fret - it may just be in the pipeline for posting. And feel free to PM us if you have concern.
As for the reviewing itself, no, this is not exactly easy. Someone once said writing about music is like dancing about sculpture. And that is not far off from the truth. But, on the other hand, don't make it a huge chore or you will never sit down and do it. Give yourself 20 minutes and put the music you want to review on and start writing. Then, take ten minutes to rewrite it and edit in stuff you missed and edit out the stuff that doesn't work.
So pick a band or album you really like and know a little bit about to start. If you feel strongly about the subject, you are more likely to make the effort. (But, to be honest, it is a hell of a lot more fun to write a review trashing a horrible album.)
It is probably a good idea is to read through a few of the previous reviews (http://forum.zgeek.com/forumdisplay.php?f=169) to get an idea what we are looking for. But remember, ZTunes is what YOU make it. Your reviews, your writing style, your selections are going to be what gives this section its own identity.
If you have any questions please post them here or send me a PM. And feel free to use this thread for discussion of writing reviews (but, be warned, chit chat will be edited ruthlessly).
Thanks for your effort! And I hope to see your work in the review section soon!
Kleph
http://forum.zgeek.com/gallery/files/2/0/1/reviewform_thumb.gifSo you want to submit a music review? Great! It's not tough but we are asking for a bit more effort than the usual post with these so please be kind enough to follow a few guidelines.
If you hit the "new review" button, you will be faced with a slightly different post control panel to post with than normal (click the pic for a better view). This is how you fill it.
The first entry is for "title." Simple enough, put the name of the album you are reviewing followed by a hyphen and then the name of the band. If you are reviewing an artist, just enter the name of the artist.
Next is "byline." This is for if you would like to put your real name on the review. Pirate's goal with these sections is to make them a real resource and, as such, you will be able to take credit for your published work. If you do not chose to enter your byline, simply enter a short sub headline or just leave it blank.
You then need to come up with a "synopsis." This is probably the most difficult piece of writing for your review and, likely, the most important. Folks perusing down the review list (http://forum.zgeek.com/forumdisplay.php?f=169) will most likely decide whether or not to read your work based on this little paragraph. Make it two or three sentences and try to distill the essence of the subject of your review to its bare basics.
Finally we have the rating system. Currently we are still figuring out how this is going to work so fill it in however you feel is best.
Now, before you get down to the nitty gritty of reviewing it would be highly appreciated if you could take the time and find an image to accompany your review. Easy enough for an album - just use the cover image. For an artist review please try and find somthing nicely representative, black & white and square. (It would also be sweet if you can resize the photo to 150 X 150 pixels. This is so the art is uniform on the review index (http://forum.zgeek.com/forumdisplay.php?f=169).) When you have what you want, upload it (http://forum.zgeek.com/gallery/upload.php?&c=1) into news images and add it using the newlink feature up at the top of this here scriptbox that looks like this (http://forum.zgeek.com/gallery/files/2/0/1/newslink.gif).
Lastly, please remember to select the "music" icon before you submit the thing.
------------
Now the review. What are we looking for?
Well, we want more than a one or two sentence post saying you thought it "rocked" or "sucked." In fact, if it is less than 300 words we will most likely just send it to the regular music forum as a regular post.
Tell us why this release or band is good or bad. If you like it, why? And where does that element come from. Back up your opinion with examples but explain them clearly. We want some background either of the artist themselves or the type of music they make. Music is not made in a vacuum, and telling me where it comes from tells me what I may be getting.
Also, if you are doing a longer piece, particularly with an artist review, please upload a few random extra photos (http://forum.zgeek.com/gallery/upload.php?&c=1) to the news gallery and include them. This will help give a compelling visual element to the review and make it easier for folks to read through the whole of the effort.
When you are satisfied, give it a spell check and hit "submit." One of the ZTunes editors will give it a look see and either send you a PM with questions or post it (and then your ZCash will be on its merry way!). We do not post reviews immediately so if you don't see it for a while - don't fret - it may just be in the pipeline for posting. And feel free to PM us if you have concern.
As for the reviewing itself, no, this is not exactly easy. Someone once said writing about music is like dancing about sculpture. And that is not far off from the truth. But, on the other hand, don't make it a huge chore or you will never sit down and do it. Give yourself 20 minutes and put the music you want to review on and start writing. Then, take ten minutes to rewrite it and edit in stuff you missed and edit out the stuff that doesn't work.
So pick a band or album you really like and know a little bit about to start. If you feel strongly about the subject, you are more likely to make the effort. (But, to be honest, it is a hell of a lot more fun to write a review trashing a horrible album.)
It is probably a good idea is to read through a few of the previous reviews (http://forum.zgeek.com/forumdisplay.php?f=169) to get an idea what we are looking for. But remember, ZTunes is what YOU make it. Your reviews, your writing style, your selections are going to be what gives this section its own identity.
If you have any questions please post them here or send me a PM. And feel free to use this thread for discussion of writing reviews (but, be warned, chit chat will be edited ruthlessly).
Thanks for your effort! And I hope to see your work in the review section soon!
Kleph