STORY CONTENT
1) Hook – How does my story begin? A strong hook should introduce a main character or initiate the plot, excite the reader and create interest in reading further.
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| Now, here's a strong hook! |
3) Voice/Tone/Mood - Voice, Tone and Mood derive from an author's unique literary style in telling the story. Most importantly, I should keep them consistent throughout and create the specific impact I intend.
4) Creativity/Uniqueness - Is my storyline unusual? Does it offer a fresh treatment of a common plot or even a new and unique theme?
WRITING
5) SPAG - Spelling, punctuation and grammar. Occasional typos are to be expected in a manuscript, but very few such errors should be in the final version. In this day of spell/grammar check, significant SPAG may be interpreted as a lazy writer who did not bother to review the entire work.
6) Quality of description - Narrative imagery and descriptive dialog should exhibit high standards of writing and feature the concept of "Show; don't tell." Good balance between narration and dialog provides my readers with different perspectives and varying pace.
8) Pace - Pace enhances the reader's experience. It should rise and fall at critical points to generate energy in the story. Artists and advertisers have long known the value of “white space” for making their subject matter stand out. Pace serves that same purpose. Slowing pace allows readers to “rest” after fast-paced story elements and whets their appetite for more.
9) Genre clarity – Some authors mix genres successfully while others drift from one theme to another. I always try to stick to the main genre. I hate buying a mystery novel and discovering that the first half of the book is a romance story that the author thinks will build better reader-character connection.
SUBMISSION
10) Guidelines and Formatting - Did I follow submission guidelines? Submission guidelines are clear, and there is NO excuse for deviating from any requested manuscript formatting or submission requirements.
How does your WIP stack up in these critical areas?
Great things to keep in mind. I love that you lined it out so clearly. I like step by step guidelines :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julia. If you found a few nuggets in there, I'm pleased. Thanks for taking a minute to post...Dean
DeleteGood list. I want to stress agreement: There is a place for flat and static characters. Not every one can be round/dynamic. Trying to do so derails the plot and pacing, minimum.
ReplyDeleteInteresting thing happened in my current MS with my agent. After reading it, she asked for more development on a lesser character that she liked. Couple of my beta readers said the same thing, so I obliged. Glad I did! Thanks for your usual good points...Dean
DeleteNice job, Dean. I would add "POV." Attention to point of view is critical. A ms that shifts from omniscient narrator to some other mode is jarring. I always ask: who is offering that detail and how do they know it?
ReplyDeleteBrad, I consider POV to be the foundation of Voice/Tone/Mood. The window through which an author shows his story to readers depends on POV and sets the Tone for the story. As you say, consistency is critical to story flow and reader enjoyment. Thank you for pointing that out...Dean
DeleteMy ms. was in the hands of an agent for months, frozen. Meanwhile, I felt I grew as a writer and therefore knew it didn't measure up to what I could do with it, so I requested that it be withdrawn from consideration at this time. I'm not sure when I'll resubmit, so I'm mid-overhaul. A case of a query that worked and a ms. that needs to cook more.
ReplyDeleteGood decision, Dave. Better to keep that bridge open than to get a rejection and struggle to overcome it. Smart move, and thank you for sharing...Dean
DeleteLove these pointers. thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lucy. I hope you found some helpful tidbit of information in that list. Thank you for commenting...Dean
DeleteThank you Dean, some great tips here.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Daniel. Thank you for dropping by...Dean
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