A Gleam in a Publisher's Eye!

Almost Ready for Publication

A Work in Progress

A Gleam of Hope

Captures and maintains reader's attention from first riveting sentence, paragraph, or line; reader cannot help but continue reading. [voice; presentation]

Gets reader's attention with first and other sentences, paragraphs, or lines, drawing reader into rest of piece. May not maintain strength throughout

Sentences, paragraphs, or lines lack dramatic tension necessary to keep reader interested.

Sentences, paragraphs, or lines not only lack dramatic tension but also contains cliché ideas/images (or worse, none).

Dazzles reader from beginning to end through original and interesting use of ideas, language, plot, character development, dialogue, imagery, etc. Contains no clichés or stereotypes. [ideas; word choice]

Interests reader most of the way through the piece because of mostly original and interesting use of ideas, language, plot, character development, imagery, etc. Contains few clichés or stereotypes.

Offers little originality in ideas, language, plot, imagery, etc. May contain many clichés and/or stereotypes. Reader may lose interest..

Lacks originality in ideas, language, plot, imagery, etc. Filled with clichés and/or stereotypes. Reader will not get past first few sentences or lines.

Possesses a startling dramatic tension that keeps reader riveted--possibly, grounded in a significant problem, dilemma, or paradox that needs to be addressed and gets reader involved. [organization; voice]

Possesses a dramatic tension that keeps reader reading--possibly, grounded in a problem, dilemma, or paradox that needs to be addressed.

Lacks dramatic tension necessary to keep reader reading; problem, dilemma, or paradox presented may seem trivial. Reader is detached from work.

Lacks dramatic tension; fails to present problem, dilemma, or pardox. Writer may seem as uninterested in the work as the reader no doubt will be.

Although challenging and perhaps not easily understood, work has a clarity that leaves no surface questions (i.e. "What happened in this part?") in reader's mind. [sentence fluency; ideas]

Has a clarity that leaves few surface questions (i.e. "What happened in this part?") in reader's mind.

Leaves several surface questions (i.e. "Why is the character named Myrtle on page 1 and Jill on page 4?") in reader's mind.

Is downright murky because of significant and unintentional gaps or contradictions in logic, plot, character, imagery, voice, point of view, setting, etc.

Contains no errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics (unless used for artistic purposes) [conventions]

Contains few minor errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics (aside from those used for artistic purposes)

Contains many and/or serious errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics; may interfere with reading.

Contains so many errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics that errors block reading.