Manuscript Title ______________________ Entry # ____________
Category____________________________ Judge #_____________
In each of the 10 categories below, score a 1, 2, or 3 depending on how strongly you agree with each of the five statements. A score of 1 or 2 needs an explanation so the author can see how to best improve their work. A score of 3 should be accompanied by specific praise that will help the author understand what they did right.
ALL Judges ARE REQUIRED to make specific comments on the manuscript AND on the score sheet, ie: “Your hero’s dialogue sounds too modern for the 15th century.” VS. “Your hero’s dialogue doesn’t sound right.”
Please note: On the actual score sheet, the comments section for each topic will expand to hold whatever a judge wishes to write.
| PLOT 1 = Needs work 2 = Good 3 = Excellent | ||
|
A |
The story is fresh, creative, and original, or is told in a new or fresh way. | |
|
B |
The story has a fitting subplot(s) or a strong, well-drawn main plot that can support this length story without it/them. | |
|
C |
Author demonstrates skill in developing the plot to reveal story and build interest/suspense. | |
|
D |
Each scene advances the plot | |
|
E |
Story is plausible, believable, engaging, and well researched. | |
| Subtotal 15 points possible | ||
| Comments: | ||
| GOAL / MOTIVATION / CONFLICT 1 = Needs work 2 = Good 3 = Excellent | ||
|
A |
The story has, or shows potential for, strong and believable external conflict(s)—such as a villain or situation—appropriate for its type and length. | |
|
B |
All main characters (hero, heroine, and/or villain) demonstrate, or show potential for, strong, believable internal conflict (May draw from synopsis). | |
|
C |
GMC is spelled out well enough to this point in the story to intrigue and emotionally invest the reader | |
|
D |
Characters’ motivations are plausible, believable, strong, and true to their nature. (May draw from synopsis.) | |
|
E |
Characters’ initial goals are clear and plausible to this point in the story | |
| Subtotal 15 points possible | ||
| Comments: | ||
| POINT OF VIEW 1 = Needs work 2 = Good 3 = Excellent | ||
|
A |
POV is used correctly and logically throughout | |
|
B |
The author shows skill using and/or varying depth of POV appropriate to each scene and character. | |
|
C |
Each POV character has a distinct and interesting narrative voice. | |
|
D |
The author shows skill in building characterization through POV | |
|
E |
POV is clear at all times and any transitions are made smoothly | |
| Subtotal 15 points possible | ||
| Comments: | ||
| DIALOGUE 1 = Needs work 2 = Good 3 = Excellent | ||
|
A |
The dialogue sounds natural and is distinct for each character | |
|
B |
Tags were used when necessary and were unobtrusive | |
|
C |
Tags and attributes contribute to scene description and character actions without slowing the pace. | |
|
D |
The dialogue is entertaining, advances the plot, evokes emotion, and/or contributes to characterization. | |
|
E |
The dialogue is easy to follow, and any use of dialect, slang, historical terms, and/or jargon does not interfere with clarity and ease of reading. | |
| Subtotal 15 points possible | ||
| Comments: | ||
| CRAFT 1 = Needs work 2 = Good 3 = Excellent | ||
|
A |
The reader is not pulled or jarred out of the story by: confusing or awkward sentences, word misuse, rough transitions, repeated words or phrasing, or other errors in usage or construction. | |
|
B |
The entry is reasonably free of typos, grammatical errors, punctuation errors, etc. | |
|
C |
Pace is appropriate to this type of story and helps hold the reader’s interest. | |
|
D |
The author demonstrates skill in the use of “Show” versus “Tell”. | |
|
E |
The author demonstrates skill in the use of Active vs. Inactive and Active vs. Passive voice. | |
| Subtotal 15 points possible | ||
| Comments: | ||
| STYLE & VOICE 1 = Needs work 2 = Good 3 = Excellent | ||
|
A |
The entry is pleasing to read and has a smooth flow. | |
|
B |
The style and voice is appropriate for this sub-genre. | |
|
C |
Word choice is natural, interesting, and contributes to the enjoyment of the story, without being obvious or overwritten. | |
|
D |
The entry is free of author intrusion and/or other obtrusive elements that interfere with reading enjoyment. | |
|
E |
The author shows skill in the use of figurative language, metaphor, and simile, and does not rely on cliché and over-used terms and phrases. | |
| Subtotal 15 points possible | ||
| Comments: | ||
| CHARACTERS 1 = Needs work 2 = Good 3 = Excellent | ||
|
A |
There is a clear sense of, or good potential for, attraction and/or sexual tensionbetween the hero and heroine. (May draw from synopsis) | |
|
B |
Each character’s actions and thoughts are appropriate, consistent, and believable. | |
|
C |
The reader cares about, can root for, and/or is emotionally invested in the central characters (hero, heroine, villain) by the end of the entry | |
|
D |
Secondary characters are necessary and well-written, or the story works well without them to this point. | |
|
E |
The author shows skill in building characterization through POV choice, exposition, dialogue, description, and/or narrative. | |
| Subtotal 15 points possible | ||
| Comments: | ||
| DESCRIPTION 1 = Needs work 2 = Good 3 = Excellent | ||
|
A |
Physical descriptions draw clear pictures, give the reader a true feel for time and place, and/or enhance the mood of the scene. | |
|
B |
Descriptions add to the story and characterization without slowing the pace. | |
|
C |
Author uses all five senses where appropriate. | |
|
D |
Description is done with an evocative style from character’s POV | |
|
E |
All description is necessary and appropriate to the scene in which it appears | |
| Subtotal 15 points possible | ||
| Comments: | ||
| OPENING & CLOSING HOOKS 1 = Needs work 2 = Good 3 = Excellent | ||
|
A |
The opening paragraphs ground the reader in time, place, and what is happening or leave the reader curious to purposely build tension and/or mood | |
|
B |
The opening hook grabs the reader’s attention and pulls him/her into the story | |
|
C |
The opening scene, action, and/or set-up gives necessary information without resorting to info dump or insertion of extensive back story | |
|
D |
The author shows skill in building tension and interest with the use of scene and/or chapter openings and closings. | |
|
E |
The closing hook leaves the reader craving more of the story. | |
| Subtotal 15 points possible | ||
| Comments: | ||
| EMOTION & FEELING 1 = Needs work 2 = Good 3 = Excellent | ||
|
A |
The reader is able to feel and share in the characters’ emotions and experiences | |
|
B |
The reader had a strong desire to keep reading. | |
|
C |
Each of the main characters makes a strong, memorable impression | |
|
D |
The author shows skill in evoking emotions in the reader, such as compassion, affection, sexual desire, sadness, empathy, pride, amusement, anger, etc. | |
|
E |
Setting, time, and description of surroundings contribute to the mood and help evoke an emotional response in the reader. | |
| Subtotal 15 points possible | ||
| Comments: | ||
| ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: |
| JUDGE (check as many as apply) | |
| Published in Romance | |
| Published in other genre and/or non-fiction | |
| RWA PRO member | |
| RWA PAN member | |
| Finaled/Placed in one or more RWA chapter contests | |
| Pre-published | |
