The Young Authors Writing Contest

Fiction Judging Criteria

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I have always told my students that the best way to become a better writer is to write – a lot! In order to encourage young authors to write and to provide them with an opportunity to see their work in “print,” The Writing Tutor will sponsor several writing contests each year. For more information about The Young Authors Writing Contest, see contest information, contest rules, or nonfiction judging criteria.
You have 

to submit an entry!!!!


Content & Organization

  • Does the writer capture the reader’s attention?
  • Is the writer’s theme or message clear to the reader?
  • Does the writer describe a setting that creates an appropriate mood for the story?
Rising Action & Climax
  • Does the story build in intensity as it progresses toward the climax?
  • Is the writer’s theme or message carried throughout the manuscript?
  • Is the writer’s theme or message developed/supported with vivid details?
Falling Action & Resolution
  • Does the writer tie up the loose ends?
  • Is there a clear resolution? (A clear resolution does not necessarily mean that the story ends happily.)

Style

Use of creative language
  • Does the writer use creative language that adds meaning to the work? (This means that the language does not interfere with the writer’s ability to communicate.)
  • Does the writer use active rather than passive voice?
  • Does the writer “show” details to the reader rather than “tell” them.
  • Does the writer use strong action verbs as opposed to forms of the verb “to be”?
  • Does the writer use strong action verbs rather than overuse adjectives and adverbs?
  • Does the writer pay close attention to word choice (diction)? (Does the writer consider the connotative meaning of a word as opposed to only the denotative meaning?)
  • Does the writer use fresh, new language rather than clichés and other trite expressions?
  • Does the writer make his/her point clearly and concisely? (Does the writer avoid jargon and wordiness?)
Does the style fit the content?

Does the point of view selected by the writer fit the content?


Syntax, Usage & Mechanics

Sentence structure
  • Is the sentence structure varied?
  • Does the language flow? (Has the writer used appropriate transitions?)
  • Has the writer avoided the following problems?*
*Exception: These sentence problems may be acceptable when used in dialogue, if they are used sparingly and for a specific purpose.

Has the writer avoided unnecessary shifts in tense?

Do subjects and verbs agree?

Is punctuation used correctly?

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