Title: -/5
Does the title look interesting enough for me to explore further into the story? Does it reveal too much of the upcoming plot? Too little? Does it relate to the story? Is it original? The title establishes the story's first impression - the more eye-catching, the better.
If the story is chaptered: Comments of chapter titles go here, but it does not affect your score.
Foreword and Description (Character chart/descriptions go here): -/10
Again, does it reveal too much or too little? Are there teasers or a prologue that sparks my interest? Does it create a basis for the characters, setting, or plot? Is it short and sweet, or does it go off with no clear purpose?
Originality: -/5
I don't consider this so important because an overused storyline can still be a great read. It isn't easy, however; descriptions must be vivid and full of detail, no typos/mistakes that throw off the tone, unexpected twists here and there, great characterization, etc. The same thing goes with brilliant plots that are ruined by the poor sense of writing. The points here are usually determined by the next factors.
Characterization: -/15
Are the characters believable? Can the readers relate to their experiences or feelings? Have you showed changes in their personality, for better or for worse? Are the characters distinct and memorable? Do the readers develop a certain feeling aimed to a particular character?
(Challenge: If you are an expert at this category, I should be able to recognize a character without the use of his/her name in the majority of the chapter. Bonus points here if you do!)
Writing Style: -/20
Is the font excessively colored/highlighted so it becomes hard to read? Do you use emoticons, text symbols, or texting language (i.e. can, u, ReAd, iT. lyk, dis)? Do you stress words too much with the use of bold font, italics, or capital letters? Is the use of sarcasm properly formatted, and does it work sufficiently when I read it? Does the tone of your writing reflect the genre of the story? Do you use 1st, 2nd, 3rd person point of view? Do you develop a clear image with descriptions and diction?
If you use POV's: Do you keep your POV's consistent to one or a few characters? Does the writing style have something that is "unique" to the character?
The writing style establishes the tone of the story – therefore, it’s really important. For example, take a look at these two stories with the same plot but different writing styles.
1. The frog jumped onto the log and croaked. After that, he went to sleep.
2. The frog leaped over 100 feet above the air, landing daintily on the worn-out log. Feeling the warm moss under its feet, it warms up by taking in a cool gust of air. He belched out a loud croak, eventually scaring all of the other animals in the pond. Satisfied, he went back to his home and slept soundly the whole night.
Now, which one would you rather read?
Spelling/Grammar/Vocabulary: -/15
Do you use capitalization, grammar, and punctuation correctly? Are you able to maintain the use of tenses (past, present, and future)? Can you spell words properly? Is the vocabulary suited for the readers? (As a warning, I should mention that I have a sharp eye for spelling and grammar. Remember to proofread!)
Spelling and grammar also establishes tone – wrong spelling can ruin a sentence, or worse, it can ruin the climax of the event. You don’t want to let that happen!
Plot: -/25
Is the plot believable? If it is a fantasy, does it have an aspect of reality or is it based on realistic situations? Is it predictable, or too cliché? If it is based on another work, do you have twists that are original to you as an author? Does it seem developed and well thought-out? Do you use too much filler chapters or events?
Story Flow: -/5
Are you able to use transitions? Does the story skip to scenes to the point where I can’t keep up? Is it clear-cut and understandable?
Total: -/100
Additional comments and the occasional pep talk go here.
