User editorials seem to be growing more and more common on Gamespot, caused partially by the soapbox and perhaps fastesttruck's Emblem Union. Also, people want to get their opinions out there in the open about gaming and its world, and thus write editorials. The main goal, of any editorial is of course to be well-written and well-received. But for a Gamespot user, there is always a sneaking desire to be featured in the Soapbox. Now I have been featured in it and read many other user's editorials, and can see why they are featured. On the other hand, reading of other people's blogs reveals to me why they are not. This post is all the unsaid criticisms I have been bottling up, and is meant to help, not to criticize. Please, don't take it the wrong way. There are better writers than me out there on the soapbox. I will make an example of nobody in a negative way. In a few cases, I may refer to my editorial, not because I am conceited, but because I feel it is a good example.

This is also posted in the Editorial Union, of which I am an officer.

1. Remember what an Editorial is. - An editorial is an opinion, an opinion about a topic or idea. On this website, it happens to be gaming. Webster's states the definition of an editorial this way: "An article giving the views of the editors or publishers". This is very important. I have seen many editorials that lack this simple aspect, the heart of an editorial. Some are simple declaration of fact. Others are merely fanboyism, which yes contains an opinion, but with such bias, the editorial is difficult to recommend, which leads to my next point.

2. Bias- We all have bias. That is one simple fact that holds true no matter who you are. I, myself, am slightly biased towards Microsoft, and against Sony and Nintendo. I am no fanboy, or "Lemming", but I am biased to a small extent. When writing an editorial, try to be fair. Don't criticize Sony then glorify Microsoft. Microsoft has its problems, and Sony has its. Politics can factor into this as well. Although an editorial is an opinion, try to keep it fair. Obvious bias will only cause arguments and invalidation of the points you are attempting to make.

3. Length- Editorials are not meant to be pages and pages long. Some of you out there write editorials that are so long that people can be turned off (me included). My editorial took up about one and a half pages on Microsoft Word, and definitely got the point across. If you are going to write a very, very long editorial, try to break it into multiple parts. Release it over a few days. Or, simply, make your point without dragging on so long about every little possible detail, only boring those that read the article. Editorials are meant to be medium-length, say fewer than two (On Microsoft Word). Well, perhaps a three page max, but only if you are a captivating writer. Otherwise, is just goes on and on, and readers can be turned-off. If you want to go longer, it is less of an editorial, and more of a "writing" piece. Basically, keep it succinct, but powerful. Difficult indeed, but it is a good skill to practice.

4. Justification- Nothing is worse (well, maybe one thing) than an editorial that makes unverified claims. Some of you out there even make good points, but without some sort of justification of the "trend" you are discussing, or without a game to fit your description, your editorial loses power. Here is a good example of providing verification for your point. In dannyodwyer's recent editorial, he discusses the problems facing deaf and colorblind gamers, and what the industry is doing, or should do about it. To quote an excerpt: (If you have a problem with this Danny, I'll remove it).

"Some games do it better than others. STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl, has incredibly fast subtitles that are almost impossible to read If in combat. Mass Effect's conversation system is cleverly managed by small selections of sentences, but this renders deaf gamers at a huge loss. It's not exactly easy to check If a game is approachable for a deaf person either. The majority of DVD's have details about subtitles on the back of the box, but no such standard exists for games."

Here, he offers an example of two games people have played or are curious about, and mentions how DVDs offer support for the deaf, but games lack that feature. His point is strengthened by this little piece. In my editorial, I use the number of Editor's Choice Awards handed out over the years to strengthen my point of the declining game industry. Without some sort of verification of my point, my argument has no strength. Don't say "I think EA is going down the toilet" without some justificaton. Otherwise it is an unverified claim people will ignore. Simply put: please, justify your point with more than just empty claims.

5. Only Write an Editorial on Something You Care About- I hate to see impassionate editorials. There is no point writing about something you don't care about, that's what school is for ;). Only write an editorial on something you have strong feelings for. Otherwise, the writing is simply not as effective.

6. For God's Sake, Please Proofread Your Writing- This is the most annoying part of a bad editorial. Countless spelling and grammar errors STRONGLY detract from the message. I know some people write better than others, but please use spell check at least. It isn't foolproof, but it'll catch most of the stuff that's wrong. Grammar is something that is harder. Read your writing out loud, and make sure the sentences sound like you would say them. I have seen so many "It seem that people agreeing with my topic" or something similar that it makes me want to puke. For younger users, this is will be difficult for you. But if you are a college graduate there really is no excuse, even if you were a math major. This is coming from a sixteen-year-old, so please wake up :P. I do not claim to have perfect grammar, but my sentences are mostly free of little things like that above. Reading your writing out loud, or letting another person read it will help. But please, try your best to write in a correct way, it makes you look more intelligent, even if you are notJ. Also, on Gamespot you can edit your entries after posting them, if you catch something later on.

7. The Final Point (for now...) - Organization- Write your editorial in a way that makes logical sense. Don't jump around, as people will not know what you are talking about. In your mind, jumping around makes sense because the idea and all that go with the idea is in there. But to others, trying to learn about the topic at hand, well, they will get lost. Put your ideas in a logical order. Again, this can be difficult, but having another person read it can help.

Whether you agree or disagree with what I have said here, as I have said before, in my words lay some truth. I am not perfect and do not claim to be, but the pursuit of it is a task undertaken by all. Everyone, including myself, needs improvement in some respect. I hope you can improve your expression by improving your editorials, and f but one person read this and became a better writer, the effort was well-worth it.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Cube