Opening Scene:

• Does the story begin with an interesting hook, creating a desire to read more?

 

 

• Does the manuscript begin in the right place, helping the audience understand what's going on right away?

 

 

Characterization:

• Are the characters compelling, sympathetic, and/or someone you can root for?

 

 

• Do the characters feel real and three dimensional, with distinct voices, flaws, and virtues?

 

 

• Were you able to picture the characters well?

 

 

• Are their goals clear and proactive enough to influence the plot (not passive)?

 

 

• Do their motivations seem believable, with well-drawn and appropriate emotion?

 

 

• Do the secondary characters enhance the story, or do they seem like they should be cut? Are there any names that are too similar?

 

                                                                                                                                           

• Are the relationships between the characters believable, or do they seem contrived?

 

 

• If there are romantic elements, did you want the appropriate characters to end up together?

 

 

• If there were any erotic elements, did it flow well and seem natural or did it seem cheesy?

 

 

Conflict:

• Does the beginning set up the big picture conflict of the entire novel, the issue that drives the protagonist toward his/her end goal?

 

 

• Are the internal and external conflicts well defined for the protagonist(s)?

 

 

• Are there too many conflicts going on? Too few?

 

 

• Are the conflicts believable, arising out of characterization and circumstance?

 

 

• Do the characters act or react to events in a plausible, realistic, or believable way?

 

 

Dialogue:

• Do the characters’ speech patterns stay consistent, distinct from one another, and fit their individual personalities?

 

 

• Does the dialogue reveal the world and the characters to the audience and move the story forward in a compelling way?

 

 

• Is the dialogue natural or overly narrative and stilted?

 

 

• Is there an appropriate mix of dialogue and narrative?

 

 

Pacing:

• Is the writing over-wordy, vague, and/or repetitive? 

 

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• Do scenes progress in a realistic, compelling manner and flow with effective transitions?

 

 

• Does the pace speed up with shorter sentences and paragraphs during action scenes?​

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• Does every scene seem important to the story?​

 

 

• Is there a hook at the end of each chapter or scene that makes you want to read more?

 

 

• Is the story free of information dumps or excessive backstory?

 

 

Plot:

• Does the overall plot come across clearly in the novel? Was it resolved by the end of the book?

 

 

• Is the plot interesting and engaging?

 

 

• Are there subplots in the book that work with the main plot? Are they also resolved?

 

 

• Are the themes and issues universal elements that readers will relate to?

 

 

• Are the plot twists believable yet unexpected?

 

 

Point of View:

• Is the overall POV of the book consistent?

 

 

• Is there only one POV character in each scene and is their “voice” distinct from all other POVs?

 

 

• If there is more than one POV, are there any scenes told in one POV that would be better told from someone else's POV?

 

 

• Does the author get into the head of the character(s) well, or do they tend to tell rather than show what he/she is thinking or feeling?

 

 

Tension:

• Is tension created at the outset of the book?

 

 

• Is the protagonist compelling enough to heighten tension by making the reader care about him/her?

 

 

• Are the clues and details needed to propel the story forward presented in a way that will urge the audience to keep reading?

 

 

• Is there a hook at the end of each chapter or scene that urges the audience to read more?

 

 

Worldbuilding:

• Are descriptions vivid and give a clear sense of time and place?

 

 

• Are there too many or not enough (or too repetitive) locations in the book?

 

 

• Does the setting fit the scene and serve the plot?

 

 

• Is there too much or too little description? Do these details enhance rather than distract from the story?

 

 

• Is the setting portrayed through the eyes of the characters or presented in flat narrative?

 

 

Narrative:

• Does the writing allow immersion by showing the scene with the senses, using a succinct telling style only as appropriate?

 

 

• Does the quality of the writing draw the reader in, or do the flaws disturb the storytelling and break immersion?

 

 

• Is the tone appropriate for the story? Does it stay consistent?

 

 

Concluding Scene:

• Was the ending satisfying and believable?

 

 

Additional Thoughts:

• Did you notice anything confusing or contradictory while reading? What page was it on? How can the issue you noticed be resolved?

 

 

• General: What was the overall impression you had after reading?