A SOCIAL MONTH CONTEST!
Best New Review Template
The Premise
First, there was the YWS Critique Sandwich that started it all. Created by @Nate in 2010 it's the bread and butter (and meat and cheese) of YWS reviewing! The sandwich consists of a compliment, a critique, and a conclusion and is such a wonderful basic way of organizing reviews as well as teaching new reviewers to dig a little deeper than just initial observations or cursory comments.
Ten years later, in 2020, I introduced a slightly sweeter take on the YWS Sandwich inspired by a pun about YWS and S'mores that was going on, and called it the "YWS'More". This option asks reviewers to organize their reviews starting first with an interpretation to give the reviewer something to hold on to (top Graham Cracker), then some specific critiques (Slightly Burned Marshmallow), then specific praise (the much-loved ooey-gooey Chocolate Bar), and then the final analysis and sign-off that holds everything together (closing Graham Cracker). I personally liked this approach because I found myself using an initial interpretation of a poem or chapter as a great way to ground my review, and really appreciating the more specific feedback given to my own works, so wanted these two aspects to be incorporated into a new template.
Four years later, in 2024, thanks to more people picking up the classic S'more and then even making it their own with new thematic interpretations and emphases, there have been many spin-offs of the templates we started with and some of them are getting really fun and creative!
The Challenge
So this year for Social Month, I want to challenge you to submit your best new themed Review Template, modeled after the classics. Your template can have up to 6 categories, you can use different headers and color text formatting to make it your own if you like, though actual content is going to be the biggest factor of judging rather than the look of the template.
The Rules
> The theme of your Review Template must be unique to you. (ie. Don't use Sandwich or S'mores or copy another user's template theme)
> You can use similar categories as the above examples (ie. praise / critique) but try to make some of the aspects your own, with your unique language.
> Template can use up to 6 categories
> You can submit up to 3 entries
> Templates must be Family Friendly
> You can write a paragraph about how you came up with your template or why you think it's the best if you like! Read the submission guidelines for more information.
The Prize
The winning "Best New Review Template" will be chosen by me based on:
> Creativity of Template
> Cohesiveness to Theme
> Ease & Clarity of Use
> Ability to Prompt Good Review Writing
The user who submits the winning "Best New Review Template" will receive 1000 points, a Squills Advertisement (to run for 3 issues), and their template will receive a rush submission to our Resource Crew to be considered for approval to be placed in YWS's Knowledge Base, which would make it an official KB resource that generations of users could use to write their reviews in the future. Based on Resource Crew feedback some edits may be suggested to final template of the KB submission.
How to Submit
Go ahead an post your entries below in both a code form and a quoted form. Each user can post up to 3 templates. Each review template needs to have been used in an actual review (you can link in your submission) so that I can see how it works in practice. Deadline for submissions is February 29 midnight EST
Questions? Reach out below! Good Luck!
Gender:
Points: 144000
Reviews: 1228