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1 HOOK: Is the reader immediately drawn into the story and/or 2 STORY GOAL: Do you get the sense that there is something at stake here? A problem that must be solved? A situation that must be changed? Are you made to care about something going on in the story? [ ] No, [ ] Somewhat, [ ] Yes, [ ] Excellent 3 PROTAGONIST(S) and ANTAGONIST(S): Well-developed, interesting, believably motivated? Are these opponents matched well enough in strength to sustain conflict? Does the protagonist have a worthy goal readers can care about? [ ] No, [ ] Somewhat, [ ] Yes, [ ] Excellent 4 SECONDARY CHARACTERS: (a) If any, are they well-developed? Do they contribute to the story without distracting from it? (b) If none exist, does the story work without them?[ ] No, [ ] Somewhat, [ ] Yes, [ ] Excellent 5 CONFLICT (might be external or internal; antagonist may be another person, society, nature, technology, or self): Are motivations strong enough to create sufficient conflict, or does it seem contrived? Is it strong enough to move the story forward? [ ] No, [ ] Somewhat, [ ] Yes, [ ] Excellent 6 DIALOGUE and/or INTERNAL MONOLOGUE: (a) If used, is it handled in a smooth, natural, and interesting manner? Is it in character? (b) If not used, does the writer involve the reader well enough so that dialogue/internal monologue would not improve the presentation? [ ] No, [ ] Somewhat, [ ] Yes, [ ] Excellent 7 SETTING: Do you "experience" the time, place, and mood with visual as well as other senses? Does it seem appropriate to the story? [ ] No, [ ] Somewhat, [ ] Yes, [ ] Excellent 8 ORIGINALITY and STYLE: Do all of the above elements work together in a way that makes the story seem compelling and unique? Is necessary "business" handled skillfully (such as back story and information reader needs to know, etc.)? Does the writer’s use of description contribute to the reader’s enjoyment and understanding without up staging the story? Does the language flow smoothly? [ ] No, [ ] Somewhat, [ ] Yes, [ ] Excellent 9 MECHANICS: Is the manuscript prepared neatly and properly? Does it follow manuscript format as given in the guidelines? Is it free of grammatical, punctuation, spelling, capitalization errors? [ ] No, [ ] Somewhat, [ ] Yes, [ ] Excellent 10 SCENE & SEQUEL: Is there a back and forth movement between scene (real time action) and sequel (internal response, consideration, planning, goal setting)? [ ] No, [ ] Somewhat, [ ] Yes, [ ] Excellent |