HUDSON VALLEY SCRIBES
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25-4-25 Score Sheet

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 per question.
 
1. Is the manuscript presented  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 (if any)? _____
  • Does the internal and or external dialogue fit the character(s)?
  • Does the internal or external dialogue fit the genre?
  • Are the characters’ 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 situation compelling?
  • Is the situation 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 in the three pages?
  • Does the writer effectively show versus tell?
​

7. Conflict? _____
  • Is the conflict present or implicit?
  • Does the character struggle with internal as well as external conflict?
  • Does conflict stand in 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?
  • Has the author created characters readers will care about?
  • Did the author begin the story in the optimum situation?
​
9. Has the writer avoided any unnecessary details? _____
  • Do 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?
  • Do the characters interact with the setting?
​

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

 
 ​
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • History
    • Current Board
    • Mission and Diversity Statements
  • Membership
    • Benefits
    • How to Join or Renew
    • Current Members
    • Hall of Fame
    • In Memoriam
  • Meeting Schedule
    • Driving Directions
    • Past Meetings
  • Contact
  • Contests and Special Programs
    • 25-4-25 >
      • 25-4-25 Disclaimer
      • 25-4-25 Scoresheet
  • Speakers Bureau
  • Rules of Critique