A Checklist

Here's an interesting guide compiled by Jessica Faust and designed to give her interns something tangible with which to assess the merits of a submission.

• What was the book about?

• Did the overall idea seem different and unique?

• Was it a common theme, but executed in a unique way?

• What did you think of the author’s voice?

• Did the characters seem real and likable?

• Was the plot seamless and did it make sense or were there a lot of holes?

• Did the multiple plotlines blend together to create a whole book or did they seem choppy and disconnected?

• Did the dialogue seem real and believable or did it feel forced?

• Were you able to easily figure out what happened or did the author keep you guessing?

• Is this a book that would seem to have viability in the market?

• Are there other popular books you could relate this to?

• Are there too many similar books to make this stand out?

• What is the author’s platform? If nonfiction, is this an author with a great deal of visibility in the market (TV, radio, speaking engagements, etc.)?

• Has the author been previously published? With whom?

• How was the writing? Did the writing feel professional, like you were reading a published book, or amateurish?

Don't forget to include blue cheese in your novel.