25-4-25 Score Sheet--This is How Your Entry will be Scored.
​We include this for reference, but we do not share scoresheets with contestants.
 

 
Book Title_________________________  Genre_______________________
 
Scores range from 1-5 for each question. 3 is average, 5 is superior, 50 points maximum. One point will be awarded on each of the five components of the question for a maximum of 5 points awarded per question.
 
1. Is the manuscript presented and free of grammar and spelling mistakes? _____

• Title on the first page
• Formatted correctly: 1 inch margins; 12 point font
• Free of spelling errors
• Correct punctuation and grammar errors
• Double Spaced

2. Is there a sense of time and place? _____

• Is the prose appropriate to the setting?
• Has the physical environment been established: time of day/month/year/season?
• Has the location been firmly established: indoors or outdoors?
• Is there a sense of the genre? Historical, contemporary, paranormal?
• Has the writer built a believable world?

3. Does the story have compelling characters and believable dialogue? _____

• Does the internal and or external dialogue fit the character(s) and the situation?
• Does the internal or external dialogue fit the genre?
• Are the character's actions believable?
• Are the goals and motivation of the character believable?
• Are the hero and or heroine compelling?

4. Does the story have an intriguing situation? _____

• Does the writer have an interesting set - up?
• Is the plot compelling?
• Is the plot believable?
• Is what's happening clear?
• Has the author planted the seed that ultimately drives the story forward?

5. Point of view _____

• Is the POV consistent?
• Is the POV smooth and logical?
• Does the writer use POV to strengthen character development?
• Is the scene in the right POV?
• Does the writer head hop?

6. Is the writing vivid and evocative? _____

• Has the writer used the senses (smell, touch, vision, etc.)?
• Has the writer overused adjectives and / or adverbs?
• Is there repetitive word use?
• Does the writer effectively show versus tell?
• Is there an overuse of cliches?
• Is the writing active rather than passive?
• Do reactions follow actions rather than vice versa?

7. Conflict? _____

• Is the conflict present or implicit?
• Are the character's actions and reactions appropriate to the situation?
• Is character's motivation and goals clear?
• Does conflict stand in the way of the way of the hero/heroine achieving their goal?
• Has the writer avoided contrived conflict?
• Is the conflict strong enough to carry the story?

8. Has the writer begun at an interesting place in the story?

• Is the opening sentence/paragraph strong?
• Is the pace appropriate for the genre?
• Does the pace draw the reader in and create a plot the reader will want to follow?
• Did the author begin the story in the optimum place?

9. Has the writer avoided any unnecessary details? _____

• Does the  writer allow the characters go off on tangents?
• Has the writer avoided excessive use of backstory?
• Has the writer avoided a multitude of metaphors?
• Are descriptions of the setting/clothes/characters, etc. too long and detailed? Too sparse?
• Do the characters interact with the setting?

10. Do these pages hook the reader? _____
 
Total Score _____
 
Comments:
 
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