Is your manuscript Ready to Submit?

OPENING – Is there a hook to capture the short-attention-spanned reader’s interest? Does the book start in the right place, or is there too much backstory

1. Does the first page COMPEL the reader to turn the page, not interest or encourage, but leave them no choice?

2. Ten pages to hook the reader into the story.

3. The reader should know what the story is about in the first 20-40 lines, not pages

CHARACTERS – Are the hero and heroine vivid, likeable characters? Do characters have that “something special” that makes them come alive? Are they described well? Do they change and grow from beginning to end?

PACING – Does the pacing flow throughout the book? Does the reader want to keep turning pages?

DIALOGUE – Does the dialogue sound natural and realistic? Does the dialogue build characterization and move the story forward?

SECONDARY CHARACTERS – Are the secondary characters believable? Do they provide a valid addition to the story?

SETTING – Is a time and place established? Is the setting easy to picture without taking over the story?

POINT OF VIEW – Is the POV for each scene wisely chosen? Are the POV transitions smooth and important? Does the writer avoid head hopping?

STYLE – Is the author’s style unique and appealing? Does she have a voice all her own?

CLICHES – Does the writer avoid cliches in plot, characterization, dialogue and narrative? (This doesn’t mean tried and true plot devices can’t be used. But they need to be done in a fresh way that makes you want to read on.)

Would you recommend this book to a friend?