When
you finish your book, your first instinct is to pop it in the mail.
You're certain you'll have an auction on your hands with a six-figure deal
twenty-four hours after it arrives on the editor's desk. Take my
advice, file that manuscript away and let it rest. This will allow
you to put some distance between you and your project. Three or four
weeks later, you’ll be able to spot mistakes, repetitive words,
inconsistencies and flaws you didn’t see before. You may even think of a
more creative plot or twist for your story.
Checklist for Critiquing -- what to look
for?
Set up -- Does
the set up of the story fit the line you’re targeting? Do you use the
hooks the editors want? If it’s a romance, is it romantic?
Conflict -- Does
each character have internal conflict? External conflict? Are they woven
together to drive the story forward?
Goals and motivation --
Do
each character’s goals and motivation make sense and make you want to root
for them? Do they conflict with the other characters’?
Characterization -- Do
the characters have depth? Are they likable and sympathetic? Clichéd?
Trite? Immature? Do they sound the same, or are they individuals?
Plot -- Does
the plot make sense? Do you have turning points throughout? Twists and
unexpected surprises? Does the plot heighten the tension and the internal
conflict?
Details -- Are
historical, setting, technical details about a job, police procedural
details, accurate?
Setting -- Do
you get an idea of the setting? Does it set the mood, tone and enhance the
story?
Back-story -- Is
all the back-story up front or does the author weave it in? Does each
character’s back-story affect his behavior, emotions, conflict?
Inconsistencies -- Are
there inconsistencies in plot, character, timeline? Transitions--Do we
know where the characters are in a new scene? Is there a time change?
Point of view -- Do
you switch POVs or head hop within a scene?
Pacing --
Is
the story dragging? Is it interesting? Are there exciting turning points,
emotional moments? Is the relationship building? Are there
obstacles being thrown in each character's way, forcing them to struggle
to reach their goals?
Writing Skills -- Is the grammar
and punctuation correct? Is the language fluent? Easy to read?
Is the word choice appropriate? Do you use clichéd phrases?
Repetitive words.
Dialogue -- Does
the dialogue sound natural or is it stilted or choppy? Do you have long
speechy sections of dialogue, or long stretches of narrative between
dialogue?
Balance --
Is
there too much narrative? A balance between narrative and dialogue? Are
your chapters and scenes consistent in length?
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