Welcome to the GameSpot Writers Round Table

A Guide to Etiquette and Posting

Posting Guidelines:

Posted work is never expected to be perfect but should be as polished as possible. The Justicars and Sages are not here to fix what a simple spellcheck or proofread can correct. We are not here as a solution to your laziness. Take pride in your work!

There is no minimum submission size though reviews and editorials should typically come in around the 500 word mark while fiction pieces should not exceed 5 pages per posting. This is a community of volunteers, be considerate. 

While we value the freedom of expression, all posts should adhere to Gamespots code of conduct. If you have any questions, ask a Justicar before posting your work.

No plagiarism. Period. Plagiarism will lead to an immediate ban from the site with possible legal repercussions varying on the degree of material plagiarized. Plagiarism is never a joke. 

Do not post others work on your own blog without their express permission. What is shared at the writers round tablestays at the writers round table.

Critique and Commentary Guidelines: 

Be respectful of others regardless of their talent or lack thereof. This is community that encourages growth while striving for perfection. Comments such as: This sucks, this is the worst review / blog / story Ive ever read and, I want the last five minutes of my life back etc. will not be tolerated.  We all started somewhere, and though some of us have published before, were all here to learn and develop our craft.

If you do find fault with another piece, express it in a courteous and uplifting manner. Explain why something doesnt work and offer solutions to fixing the problem. We build upwe do not tear down. Be encouraging!

The Writers Round Table encourages positive, albeit, constructive criticism. Posting can be hard, and often the response we receive can be less than expected, but feedback is invaluable if we remind ourselves that our peers are here to help and not hinder. Just because we dont throw a parade for everything you post doesnt mean we wont throw one someday. Be humble!

Inappropriate posting / commenting should be reported to the Justicars immediately. Do not fight fire with fire! The Writers Round Table will not tolerate flame wars, trolling, or any behavior that takes away from the sanctity of what we're attempting to establish. 

What types of features can I hope to be a part of? 

Chalk Talk:

Awesome Users Blog:

GameSpot User Reviews Feature (Name Pending):

Memoirs of a GameSpotter:  

The Justicars

Here are several links you can use to target a specific problem area in writing or brush up on a skill or technique that you may need some assistance with. This is a way for members of the Round Table to share whatever insights they have, especially with those who are having issue with fleshing out their pieces or bringing their feature to it's highest potential. 

Here is a brief subject index of threads formally known as Community Wisdom (Thanks to the CCU):  

The most important threads are indicated by a "@".

i. Getting Started

Planning Reviews by whathaxya and Draqq_Zyxorian
@@ AGuide To Writing Well - Free Source of On Writing Well by William Zinsser (and more)
@What Should I Write?by Zaps
@@The Reviewer Advice Column (HonestGamers.com) by Jason Venter
@Write Reviews When You're Done (Video) - by MrCHUP0N
Wanting To Write A Review For A Game - Communal Thread (started by _Sam_)
How Long Does It Take To Write A Review?- Communal Thread (started by Dutch_Mix)
@ReviewSpotting Do's and Don't's by DrFish62
@Writing Is Not A Contest by Draqq_Zyxorian

@ The Method to the Madness (Youtube Video) **** Kasavin.

ii. Critiques

@Critique FAQ by Draqq_Zyxorian
(How to request a critique. How to critique effectively. How to format a critique.)

A. Grammar and Mechanics

@Two Grammar Lesson From People Who Should Know Better by DrFish62
(Why grammar and mechanics matter.)

Common Errors in English by Paul Brians, Professor of English at Washington State University
Commas by Draqq_Zyxorian
@Run-on Sentencesby Draqq_Zyxorian
@"Its" versus "Its" by Draqq_Zyxorian
Hyphens by Draqq_Zyxorian

B. Organization & Structure

Length of Reviews - Communal Thread (started by Marcinkonys)
Unnecessary Words by Draqq_Zyxorian
@Avoiding Little Qualifiers by Draqq_Zyxorian

C. Content and Support

@The Importance of a Completely Spoiler-Free Review - Communal Thread (started by ZebethandZebes)
@Introduction Techniques by Draqq_Zyxorian
Do Not Overstate by Draqq_Zyxorian
Content: Sound by Draqq_Zyxorian
(For those having trouble filling that paragraph on audio with interesting material.)
Overused Phrases That You Should Avoid - GameFAQs stickied thread (started by Sailor Bacon)

@Reviewing Sports Games by OddballTECH
How do you go about reviewing an old game or free game? - Communal Thread (started by distroyer341)
Emulated Games - Communal Thread (started by Marcinkonys)

D. Presentation

@Writing With *tyle - Communal Thread (started by lukeriela)
(HGzigfried's post is particularly helpful.)
@How To Write A Review With Presentation - Communal Thread (started by iammai)
(Zaps's post gives sound advice.)
@Being Professional Is Wrong? - Communal Thread (started by Draqq_Zyxorian)
How To Make Reviews Look Professional - Communal Thread [started by JaMeS4418]
(My answer is the sixth post.)

X. Odds and Ends

@ Cleaning Up Player Reviews- by MrCHUP0N

@So You Want To Be A Games Journalist?: Part One - Feature at GameCareerGuide.com
So You Want To Be A Games Journalist?:Part Two - Featureat GameCareerGuide.com
(Part Two details the freelancing side of game journalism.)

Review Writing 'For Real' - The Process and The Pitfalls by MrCHUP0N
(An insider look on the what it takes to be a real game critic.)
What do you think of GameSpot's Review Recommendation System? - Communal Thread (started by joetd)
Writing Quality of GameSpot's Reviews - Communal Thread (started by Draqq_Zyxorian)
(MrCHUP0N and HGzigfried bring up excellent points.)
The J-Word, For Venter by Draqq_Zyxorian

Poetry: A Curse or A Blessing? - Commual Thread (started by XENOmorph00010)
Poetry: Blurbs of Wisdom- Resource: Link to Poetry-Free-For-All's Extensive Knowledge Bank At everypoet.org)