SCORE SHEET PAGE

SCORE SHEET PAGE
The following score sheet represents what will be attached to the synopsis
when the entry is sent to the judges.

MAXIMUM SCORE POSSIBLE: 145
SCORE SHEET FOR "WRITING 101" SYNOPSIS CONTEST

ENTRY NUMBER: ________________	TITLE OF ENTRY: ________________
JUDGE NUMBER: ________________	TOTAL SCORE: ________________

SCORE RANGE

0 = Not Included	1 = Poor (Rewrite)
2 = Below Average (Rough draft quality	3 = Average (Can be submitted but needs work)
4 = Very Good (Ready to submit with minor revisions)	5 = Outstanding (Ready to submit as is)

1. CHARACTERS AND GOALS - (20 point possible for this section)
_____ Are the natures and personalities of the main characters defined?
_____ Are the motivating traits of the main characters clear and believable?
_____ Are the main characters' situation and objectives established?
_____ Do the secondary characters contribute to the main characters' story without taking over?
Comments:

2. PLOT - (40 points possible for this section)
_____ Is it unique, or, if not, then a fresh approach?
_____ Is the conflict believable and suitable to the genre/category?
_____ Is the conflict serious enough to sustain the story?
_____ Are the progressive crises that move the story forward revealed?
_____ Is the progression logical and are the crises believable?
_____ Is there sufficient potential for a truly agonizing black moment (when all seems lost)?
_____ Are the pivotal incident which provides the story's resolution and the resolution itself revealed?
_____ Is the resolution satisfying?
Comments:

3. PACING - (15 points possible for this section)
_____Does the opening "hook" grab your attention?
_____Is every scene essential to the story?
_____Are sexual and/or dramatic tension maintained?
Comments:

4. STYLE - (15 points possible for this section)
_____Are active verbs used? Does every word count?
_____Is interest generated? Does this synopsis make you want to read the book?
Comments:

5. MECHANICS - (20 points possible for this section)
_____Is present tense used?
_____Is genre/category/type of novel defined?
_____Is approximate word count included? Is it appropriate to the genre/category/type of novel?
_____Overall, are grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling professional enough to pass an editor's standards?
(Please note specific problems.)

6. SETTING AND STORY BACKGROUND - (15 points possible for this section)
_____Is the setting clearly defined without extraneous description?
_____Is the setting realistic and accurate?
_____Is backstory unobtrusive? Are only necessary details used?
Comments:

7. OVERALL - (20 points possible for this section)
_____Does it clearly show the story line from beginning to end, leaving no loose threads?
_____Is it free of repetition, dialogue, and unnecessary detail?
_____Does it give you a feel for characters and moods?
_____Is there a good balance of beginning, middle, and end?
Comments:

Is this synopsis ready to submit to an editor or agent?

____________ TOTAL SCORE FOR THIS ENTRY
(145 points possible. Please add carefully. Record score here and in space at top of first page.)
Judge's Name (Optional):
Published?

For additional information about Coeur de Louisiane, send an e-mail to Dennis Clarkston at dennisc@cp-tel.net

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Last Updated: September 6, 2000