Tallahassee Writers Association

Category: Creative Non Fiction

Creative nonfiction is a work of factual literary prose. Unlike other types of nonfiction, such as technical writing or journalism, the emphasis in creative nonfiction is on factually true yet elegant literary expression. Submissions in this genre could include (but are not limited to) memoir, food or travel writing, personal essays, new journalism, biography, nonfiction stories, and nature writing. For more information about creative nonfiction, see this Wikipedia definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_nonfiction

The following are simply guidelines. Every work must be considered on its own merits.

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 work from the beginning?

___ 3. NARRATOR: Does the narrator come across as interesting, engaging, and authoritative?

___ 4. OTHER CHARACTERS: Are they revealed with significant details and/or motivations so readers get a full sense of who they are and what they mean to the narrator?

___ 5. TECHNIQUE: Is there a proper balance between showing and telling? Are transitions smooth? Does the active voice predominate over the passive? Is tone appropriate to subject matter?

___ 6. LANGUAGE USE: Is the writing fresh and free of cliches? Does the choice of words keep the reader embedded in the work? Does the writer rely on strong nouns and verbs, rather than adjectives and adverbs?

___ 7. DIALOGUE, NARRATIVE, EXPOSITION: Does any dialogue sound natural to the people and the situation? Does each person have a unique voice? Is there a proper balance between dialogue and narrative? If exposition is used, is it balanced by other forms of telling, and does it help the work explore and develop ideas thematic to the piece?

___ 8. SETTING AND SCENE: Is the work grounded in time and place? Can you see, feel, hear, smell, and taste the setting? Do settings enhance or detract from the work?

___ 9.  STRUCTURE: Does the structure suit the material?  Does it help move the piece toward its resolution?  Did the writer find the best entry and exit point?  Is every scene necessary? Is the ending earned and yet unexpected?

__ 10.  ORIGINALITY: Does the work seem fresh and original?  Does it have its own twists on character, plot, setting, form, or argument that make it unique?

___ 11. FACTS: Are any arguments well-supported with facts? Is any research artfully woven into the prose? Do the details strain credibility, or are they believable?