I used to be a proud and active member of EPIC: Electronic Professionals International Coalition. Alas, its success killed EPIC: there was no longer a need for it with electronic books becoming mainstream. Our major activity was a contest for electronic books. Here is a list of criteria EPIC developed. I have permission to reproduce it.
With due allowance, this set of criteria can also be applied to nonfiction.
The story
Is the story engaging, compelling, interesting or useful? |
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Does the plot show continuity, strength and believability? |
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Characterisation: Were the characters compelling, captivating, motivated, did they have distinct voices, were they real or unbelievable? |
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Do any sub-plots and secondary characters enhance the story and mesh well with the main story line? |
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Does the story have a complete sense of time and place? Are you drawn into the world or feel as if you stand outside of it? |
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The mechanics
Assess the visual presentation: Are font choices reasonable? Is the order of the book’s pages logical or disorderly? Are pages out of place, misaligned etc? |
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Fact Checking / Research: Is the work well researched/fact checked? Or does it show inconsistencies/misinformation? |
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Spelling: Does the work show inconsistencies with spelling, constant homonym use, etc? Six errors in a full-length book are acceptable. Note that spelling inconsistencies might be regional (USA vs. UK, etc.). Please take that into account when considering marking down for incorrect spelling. Dialogue may also reflect local idiosyncrasies and slang that are totally appropriate for the work. |
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Grammar, syntax, and punctuation: Does the manuscript conform to the norms of grammar and syntax? Or is it awkward or badly phrased? Note that publishers have “house styles.” If an error seems consistent throughout the work, it may well be prescribed by the publisher. Please take this into consideration. Also, the author might have made an editorial choice to use unusual grammar choices to best reflect the voice of the character/s. |
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Continuity, in respect to both the story and character specifics. Were there glaring errors in the story’s timeline/plotline? Did the character’s name change back and forth, or perhaps their eye and hair colour? |
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Good morning, Dr Bob Rich! Thank you very much for giving me feedback at “SoundEagle’s Writing Guidelines” page just a moment ago.
I have earlier submitted a comment regarding my hyperlinking your “Criteria for judging any piece of writing” to my “Manuscript Assessment Criteria” page at https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/manuscript/
Looking forward to your appraisal of the “Manuscript Assessment Criteria”.
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Thanks for sharing this, Dr. Bob. I’m printing it off to keep for future reference although a writer’s perspective on his/her work may not be objective enough.
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Thank you Sandra.
Printing? As on paper?
If I did that, I’d never find it again. It ain’t real till it’s in my computer.
🙂
Bob
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Dear Dr Bob Rich,
Thank you for sharing this fantastic resource. I have hyperlinked your “Criteria for judging any piece of writing” to my “Manuscript Assessment Criteria” page at https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/manuscript/
The said “Manuscript Assessment Criteria” page provides a complete checklist for writers to evaluate and inspect their own works (either by themselves or with a group of readers or editors) before submitting their manuscripts to publishers, and also during successive edits after the previous submission(s) and before the next submission.
Please kindly let me know what you think of the Manuscript Assessment Criteria by leaving a comment there, especially if you think that it could be improved in one way or the other.
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