~Seven Hills Writing Contest~

Category: Short Story

Rate each criteria from 1 to 5, and total. A score of over 45 would indicate the work is publishable without modification.

Scale: 5 Excellent 4 Very Good 3 Fair 2 Needs Work 1 Poor

___ 1. MECHANICS - Do word count and format conform to contest rules? Is manuscript free of grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors?

___ 2. HOOK - Is the reader drawn into the story/character from the beginning?

___ 3. PROTAGONIST (S) - Are they interesting and believable? Do they have human weaknesses which make them real, as well as strengths to resolve the story‘s conflict?

___ 4. ANTAGONIST (S) - Are they one-dimensional "cartoon" figures, or do they have enough positive qualities to make them real? Do we get a sense of their motivation?

___ 5. TECHNIQUE - Is the point of view consistent, without jarring uncomfortable shifts? Is there a proper balance between showing and telling? Are transitions smooth? Does the active voice predominate over the passive?

___ 6. LANGUAGE USE - Is the writing fresh and free of clichés? Does the choice of words keep the reader embedded in the story? Does the writer rely on adjectives and adverbs instead of strong nouns and verbs?

___ 7.DIALOGUE AND NARRATIVE - Does any dialogue sound natural to the characters and the situation? Does each character have a unique voice? Is there a proper balance between dialogue and narrative?

___ 8. SETTING - Does the reader know where and when the story takes place? Can you see, feel, hear and smell the setting? Does it enhance or detract from the story?

___ 9. CONFLICT/OBSTACLES - Is the protagonist presented with a need/desire to solve a problem, and obstacles preventing their fulfillment? Are motivations of both protagonist and antagonists strong enough to provide conflict worth reading about?

___ 10.RESOLUTION - Does the protagonist grow or learn something during the course of the story? Is there an "aha" moment when the new reality becomes apparent?